The silence that followed her statement was heavy, thick with unspoken threats and simmering power. Ignis stared at her, his golden eyes unreadable, his expression a mask of calm indifference. But the air around him still shimmered with a latent heat, a reminder of the volatile energy he controlled.
"You're a wise woman, Keybearer," he finally said, his voice a low, smooth purr. "Few mortals understand the nature of fae bargains. They see the power, the glamour, and they think only of what they can gain. They rarely consider the cost." He folded the parchment with a deliberate, slow motion, the sound of creasing paper unnaturally loud in the quiet room. "But you are correct. I do not offer gifts. I offer exchanges. And the price is always... equivalent."
He tucked the folded parchment back into his coat, his movements graceful, unhurried. "However. the map is equal to me in value to the key for you. In my own way, of course. You may see it differently."
