"How many more villages are left Varis? It's getting late, we need to get back to the barrier." The General calls out, his jaw set in a hard line.

"This is the last one General, it is also the closest to the barrier so we will make it back before sunset." I answer, holding onto the reigns loosely.

The elders had informed us there was only one woman of age in their village while looking disappointed they couldn't offer more. I had hoped for more, but we had already collected two others and the other parties were sure to collect more.

We approach the house in question, most of the houses looked the same, small sad looking dwellings, mostly of stone and wood and looked liable to fall at any moment.

Outside stood a woman and her young children and she bows her head as we approach. The two young girls smile at as with wide eyes.

"Greetings," The General calls out. "We have come to collect your daughter of age." He says in a hard tone.

"Yes My Lord," The woman nods and looks around nervously. "My daughter, Daella, is of age, she..." She looks to the side of the house again, eyes wide and panicked. "She was just here, only I think she may have gone to the back of the house, I will go fetch her."

The scent of fear is strong even from my horse. It was normal for a mother to fear for her daughter at the offering, losing a child and knowing you would never see them again would be a normal thing to fear, but this was different.

"No," The general interrupts her, raising his hand. "Two of my men will go." He calls out their names and they instantly dismount and head towards the back of the house.

There was never normally any issues when it came to the offering, the people knew it was the price they paid for the treaty we had made with them, and we were generous with our terms and the amount of time we left in-between the collections. There had been a few instances when young human males had reacted violently, but for the most part we bought the soldiers with us to provide an escort for the human females.

Once they were chosen they became extremely valuable to the kingdom. Among the very first of our collections some of the women had tried to run, injuring themselves along the journey. There had been cases when warring kingdoms had interceded our group and tried to steal the women from us.

The King had ordered more soldiers and more protection for the women as time went on, ensuring each offering was always made in full.

I glance over my shoulder, the two other females we had collected sit in front of their allocated soldier, both with wide eyes, looking around with hesitation and fear. Again it was perfectly normal for these young fragile humans to be afraid. It wouldn't be until we had passed the gates into our Kingdom that they would be truly safe, and then even more so once they were inside the palace walls.

I wonder what is taking so long to fetch the human girl when I hear a small sound of struggle then the approaching footsteps of the returning soldiers.

The mother watches as the soldier's return, one holding the girls arms behind her back, mud and dirt cover part of her face and dress and she wears a scowl.

"Daella..." Her mother whispers, looking towards the General and back to her daughter.

"What happened?" The General asks his guards.

"She tried to run Sir, we informed her that it was the day of offering and she was to come with us." Greyvar answers, looking to the girl still struggling against the hold. It was strange to see, it had been some time since one of the women had struggled, and even now, seeing the army at her doorstep and knowing there would be no possible way for her to get away, still she struggles. "She then attempted to fight Mathias until he was able to capture her without harming her Sir, she struggled on the ground for a bit." He answers, perhaps sensing the Generals next question about her state of appearance.

"Bring her forward then, clean her face, let the healer look at her." The General barks with a wave of his hand.

The guards bring her forward, she scowls at Greyvar who stands beside her, keeping an eye on her like he is expecting her to bolt at any moment, and I have no doubt that if given the chance, she would.

The healer comes forward, wiping her face clean before beginning his check. His hands hover over her face for a moment, before moving to her chest. She watches him with suspicion and anger before her eyes find mine. Bright blue sapphire eyes find me, unblinking and determined.

"The girl is in good health and everything is in order General." The healer says with a nod before returning to his own horse.

"Very well, she will ride with Mathias and Greyvar will be at their flank." He says with a determined nod. "Your offering will be rewarded Mother, we thank you for your service." With those words, words he had said many times before, he presses his heels into his horse and is off.

"Mum, I don't want to go, I want to stay, I'll be good, I promise, I'll be better..." The girl calls out to her mother, still straining against the guards as they guide her to their horses.

"Dae, don't be scared, this is your best future." Her mother returns holding her young son as her younger daughters stand watching, their wide smiles now gone as they watch their sister being dragged away.

"Come on maiden, we need to get moving so we make it back before nightfall." Mathias instructs, willing her to go with him.

Greyvar helps him lift the girl onto the horse as she continues to struggle and wrestle against them.

I move closer, my horse nearing theirs. "Bind her hands to the stirrup." I tell them quickly. All three turn to me, the guards with questions in their eyes, bright sapphire eyes wide and wild.

"Don't do this, just let me stay, I won't tell anyone I swear." The girl says as Greyvar and Mathias work together to bind her hands together.

I smile at the girl, my voice calm and gentle. "This treaty has been in effect for over one hundred years girl, you are only one of many who have been offered to our Fae Kingdom and served our realm. This is your future now and it is best if you accept it quickly."

She only stares at me, eyes still wide and the scent of fear heavy. She turns her head trying to look back at her family.

"If she continues to resist then have Bainewyn calm her until we are able to get her securely behind palace walls." I instruct, knowing there was a reason we always had at least one with Bainewyn's magic come with each of our groups. It was never a bad thing to be prepared for anything.

It is barely an hour into our journey home when we are forced to stop.

I sit watching as Bainewyn approached the girl who has continued to struggle and ask for help, ask to be let go.

"Don't worry child, it won't hurt," Bainewyn says as she pulls away from his outstretched hand. He touches her wrist, her skin glowing green for a moment before her body slumps, her eyes become hooded and she leans back into Mathias. "It should last until we get back My Lord," Bainewyn informs me before returning back to his horse.

By the time the Kingdoms walls come into view I am eager to return to the palace and see what the day of offering has bought us. It never came on the same day, or the same amount of years, once the other kingdoms had started watching us early on, we needed to make sure our collection days were always random and short noticed to ensure a safe return journey.

We had the largest population of humans closest to our Kingdom and it was something the other fae kingdoms resented. It didn't take long for them to follow in our course of action once it became clear that it did indeed work and we were able to successfully breed with humans. The half fae children born to them were treated no differently than full fae children and the success had led to the other kingdoms following our solution and creating their own agreements with their neighbouring human villages.

The day of offering was now something sacred to our Kingdom, the woman bought back would help populate our Kingdom and continue to grow the fae race.

I eased my horse closer, wanting to get a count on those we collected and start the sorting process as quickly as possible before they would be presented to the court.

Once I hear word that all of the groups that were sent out this morning have returned safely I then start collecting each report, tallying the girls.

"How many were offered to us?" The King asks from his perch on his desk chair. It is late in the evening and as is tradition I return to his rooms after the day of offering.

"Twelve your Grace," I answer with a small bow.

"Good, three more than the last one. Did you have any troubles?" He asks, leaning back in his chair.

"No real trouble Your Grace, there was a small inconvenience with one of the girls, but Bainewyn was there to ensure a safe return journey."

"Good," He nods, lifting a crystal glass of amber liquor and staring at it. "Make sure the human women are treated as they should be and are all ready to be presented tomorrow night."

I bow my head. "Yes Your Grace." With a simple wave of dismissal I turn and leave his office, passing his guards at the door. The closer I get to the living quarters the busier it becomes, maids and servants scurry about quickly.

"Agaile," I call out to the head keeper as she instructs one of her servants.

"Yes my Lord, how can I help you?" She asks with a nod.

"The girls, are they all settled in?"

"Yes My Lord, all have been bathed and fed My Lord, only one..." she stops herself. "I sensed Baine's magic in her."

"Yes, she was a little resistant, which is why I wanted to speak to you. I am having extra guards posted to her doors, she tried to run when we went to collect her today. I am unsure if she will try again but there is no harm in being safe."

"Very well My Lord, I will instruct the girls serving her to be cautious."

"I need all the girls to be dressed and ready tomorrow morning, the presentation will be tomorrow night and I need to determine how much work each of them will need." I say holding my journal tightly.

"Of course My Lord." She only nods.

I turn and leave, returning to my own rooms.

This will be another successful offering and all will go to plan as it has for all the other years.

A pair of sapphire blue eyes stare at me in my minds eyes trying to tell me different.