By the Earth, the Sky, the Sun and the Moon, I release ye from your pledge to the Seelie Court of the North.
Nectan’s voice haunted Thomas as he entered the welcome darkness of the trees. He stumbled and tripped over roots and rocks in the darkness as he fled the Gathering, his normal Fey-footedness abandoning him as completely as Nectan had.
The moment played over and over in his mind. As the shock faded, reason returned. It was easy enough to guess the cause of Nectan’s action. Strang must pose a bigger threat than they had thought. Perhaps Nectan had cause to think that Strang would try something at the Gathering, using Thomas as the excuse. And so he had cut Thomas loose, just as Oswy had done. But why hadn’t Nectan warned him?
After tripping for the tenth time, Thomas caught himse
