I spun around, noticing Curtis’s face for the first time. Had I been so wrapped up in my own problems that I’d ignored the troubles of the people around me? Sure enough, Curtis’s face was scratched from temple to jaw. More down the length of his neck. Across his hands. The raw red marks were dried with blood. They’d been gouged deep enough that I knew they would scar.
“Is that true?” I stepped closer to both guards. Finch was the only one who seemed unharmed.
“It is, milady. It is not that we were afraid of them.” He cleared his throat, indicating otherwise. “But we were instructed not to harm them by Queen Ravanna. And we could not reach you to ask you what to do.”
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “She didn’t want you to harm her birds, of course. But surely, you could have reached me at some point. The birds didn’t fly away to eat or sleep?”
“There were so many,” Dover explained. “And they were downright... vicious.”
He was larger than Curtis and bulkier. But both men were strapped with muscles and weapons. How had birds kept them from guarding me? Why had Ravanna allowed any of this to happen?
I turned to Finch. “You seem unharmed.”
He nodded, bowing his head. “I did not try to cross the threshold. I have seen this behavior before.”
Magic was what he meant. I didn’t need him to say it for me to understand. I noticed a necklace around his throat with a single charm—a horse and its rider. Was he Cavolia?
“We will discuss this later,” I said meekly. But before I turned to meet Caspian, I said, “I’m sorry I did not check on you sooner, Curtis. Dover. I... I truly did not expect you to be in trouble. But I will make this right to you. I promise you that.”
Curtis bowed his head. “We were assured you were safe, milady. Had we thought otherwise, nothing would have stopped us from getting to you.”
I knew that to be true, and I trusted him to be faithful to his word. But what a peculiar reason for dropping his duties. I would have to talk to my uncle later to see what he thought about the matter. Well, if he was in any state of mind to talk.
But I thought he might have some insight into the birds at Fenwick Keep. And what their behavior was like. If this was normal. If it could be stopped in the future. I wasn’t sure of anyone else who would have knowledge of Ravanna’s homeland.
Of course, I wanted to speak with Taelon about all of this. And I would. But I owed it to my guards to at least try to get to the bottom of this. And seek justice on their behalf if at all possible.
Caspian was waiting for me in the library. This was where Tyrn spent a great deal of his time, so it was more unfamiliar to me than I would have liked. Libraries were the singular place I felt most at home. I could not wait to make this one mine.
He stood as I entered the room, dipping into a short but respectful bow. He looked fully recovered in his Vorestran embroidered tunic, a dusky pale blue accentuating his tanned skin and dark hair. He looked so different than when I’d first met him weeks ago. When he’d surprised me in that hallway. He reminded me of the night sky, or just before the sky turned to night. When the moon had yet to appear but stars started blinking from the still blue twilight. All glittering light and earthy browns.
And those ghostly light eyes of him. Out of place with the rest of his shadowy corners.
I had grown fonder of him since he saved my life. Much fonder of him than I’d expected. And the sight of him now whole, healthy,breathing, made my spirit sigh with relief. I still did not fully trust him. But I was very happy to see him not dead on my account.
“Caspian,” I greeted as he stood. “I did not know you stayed.”
His wry smile made his pale eyes twinkle. “I have only just been permitted by your healers to move around. While you were off on your tour of the countryside, I was here, fighting for my life.”
I felt guilt wash over me, and I lunged forward, grasping his arm. “I’m so sorry, they told me you were all right, but my uncle wanted me to leave and—”
His smile widened. “I’m teasing, Tessana. I have been well this whole time. Merely immobile.”
“You’re well? Truly?”
“Truly.”
“Thank the Light. Do you know what’s happening in Heprin? Has news made it here?”
His brows furrowed. “Yes, I know, but how do you know? I was planning to tell you. A rider only just arrived, and I overheard—”
“It doesn’t matter how I heard. I need to encourage my uncle to do something, but he doesn’t seem fit to make decisions. Caspian, he’s not well, and I—”
“There’s more,” he whispered, drawing me close. “Heprin fell, that’s true. But the Ring of Shadows plans to take Tenovia next.”
“They have enough of an army to occupy HeprinandTenovia?” My heart dropped into my stomach and sloshed like a capsized ship while I tried not to lose my lunch.
“From what I’ve heard, there is not much left of Heprin to occupy.”
