“Those errands might draw attention to my leaving, our leaving, and I’d rather not others notice me in the company of a Falk princess.”
If only Caelo could glamour us.
But that was out of the question. Caelo might be well enough to walk and ride, but he was magically depleted. It would take days of rest and eating and more healing arts from Rynni before Caelo should push himself. When we left Vitvik, it would be with thick hoods covering our faces as our only disguises.
“If you’re a dragon, why can’t we fly out of here and ride on your back?” Anna asked.
I cringed when Rynni stiffened. Anna likely did not know that Rynni would see the question as rude.
“I can shift and can carry you all,” Rynni said, her tone sour. “But I cannot breathe fire well or have any othermeans of defending myself besides my teeth and claws, which I’d rather not use because that would mean close combat. I’ve spent my turns healing, and fighting is not a strength of mine. Consideringwhowould be riding on my back,andthe attention a dragon would draw in this kingdom, I believe this course of action to be unwise. That is, unless one of you is an illusionist and could mask me from those on the ground?”
“None of us,” I replied. “Not to mention that with you flying, we would be less able to defend or fight from her back. Overall, I agree with Rynni.”
“I’m still learning.” Anna held up her hands.
“I’d tell you if I couldn’t make it on horseback,” Caelo repeated, clearly irritated. “We’re not that far from Riis Tower.”
Normally, I’d say we could cut close to the lake and ride the horses hard, completing such a journey in two days, but with his injuries and a new fall of snow, it was sure to be a three-or four-day ride.
“Very well,” I said, content to drop the subject. “I?—”
A knock came. Rynni froze, her face paling as she stared at the door. “Who could that be?”
“There’s only one way to find out,” Anna replied and stood. “I’ll get it. My face isn’t the one plastered on all the wanted posters.”
“No!” Rynni rushed forward. “Why would I havea humanin here? All of you need to hide.”
I took Neve’s hand and the four of us retreated behind a thick curtain, into the back room of the cottage—Rynni’s private quarters.
The door to the cottage creaked open.
“Hello?” Rynni said. She sounded unsure, as if she didn’t recognize the person at her door.
“Hello. We’re here looking for friends.”
I jolted, and met first Neve’s gaze, then Caelo’s.
“Luccan?” I whispered. “It can’t be.”
“Who are you?” Rynni asked.
“My name is Luccan Riis,” the reply came like a balm to an injury. “I believe you may have been the one to send a raven from acertain someoneto my family’s home in the midlands?”
It was a relief to hear my friend’s voice—the words of my blood brother, though he did not know that yet—but why in all the nine kingdoms was he here? In the letter, I’d stated we were soon to make our way north. I’d not mentioned Vitvik, but I supposed they could have guessed where the letter had been sent from by the brothel’s raven. No matter the reason for them coming, Luccan being here was risky. I wasn’t sure I liked it.
“What was that person’s name?” Rynni snapped, not giving away that she had sent a note on my behalf.
“Are you always this inhospitable?” another voice asked.
“Thantrel!” Neve scoffed. “Anna, peek and make sure it’s them.”
Though I found it difficult to believe that this was an elaborate ruse, much was on the line, and these were the oddest of circumstances. My mate was right to be prudent. We pulled open the door slightly, enough for Anna to peek out. She chuckled.
“Oh, it’s them!” Anna stepped into the healer’s working portion of the cottage.
“What are you doing!” Rynni sputtered.
“They’re friends,” Anna explained. “Let them in before Thantrel attracts too much attention with all his gold eyeliner and blazing red hair and justbeing him.”
