Ezer slid behind a rack of blankets and saddles, crouching down to catch her breath. Her heart roared in her ears as the Eagleminder marched past, her cloak soaring behind her like wings.
‘I want to know who in theEhverloving helljust ruined my display,’ she growled.
Ezer waited, motionless from her spot in the shadows. A spider scurried across her knee, but she didn’t dare move to sweep it away.
She blew out a breath, still stuck in her crouch as the Eagleminder’s voice faded.
She didn’t realize there was someone behind her until he chuckled softly.
‘A dangerous thing, to mess up Zey’s demonstration. And before the Masters, no less.’
Ezer yelped and spun to find a white-cloaked figure sprawled out across a bale of hay, a book in his lap. He looked at her with a lazy smile as he corked a small vial back in place.
A vial that hung from his neck on a gold chain.
‘Y-your Highness,’ Ezer sputtered.
It was Kinlear Laroux.
And they were completely alone.
9
Oh, gods.
Her eyes went right to the dagger on his hip.
It was sheathed, but there was no mistaking the bone carving that made up the hilt. A fine blade that she knew all too well from her dreams.
‘You’re not supposed to be here,’ Kinlear said. ‘This ismyhideaway when I need a bit of peace and quiet.’ He quirked a dark brow. ‘You’ve come a long way from the woods, Ravenminder.’
There was something dark on his lips. He quickly licked it away, then set his book aside and reached for the white cane on the bale beside him, wincing as he stood.
‘I … I got lost,’ Ezer stammered.
He raised a dark brow.
‘A difficult thing, to miss the enormous staircase in the center of the Aviary. One could say nearly impossible for anyone with a decent pair of eyes in their head.’
Fool,Ezer chided herself.
He adjusted his grip on his cane and stepped forward.
She took a step away … until she heard the footsteps behind her again and wondered if the Eagleminder was coming back.
‘I’ve spent my life learning how to read the body language of war eagles,’ the prince said. ‘Communication comes in more ways than just words,’ he added with a wink, a nod to their first conversation. ‘They’re quite similar to humans, actually. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out, Ravenminder … you’re afraid.’
She was going to throw up again.
Because his hand was moving towards the dagger, and she swore – oh gods, was he going to kill hernow?
‘Strange, that the doors to the Aviary even opened for you,’ Kinlear said. He moved towards her with a rap of his cane.
She backed away another step.
And then she heard Zey’s voice again, coming around the corner.
‘You needn’t fearme,’ Kinlear said, as he watched Ezer with a narrow gaze. ‘But Zey?’ He tskedand shook his head. ‘A dangerous thing, to get in the way of her demonstration. That fledgling was minutes away from being cleared for moving onto saddle work. After that, it would have been cleared to make the Descent, ready to make a difference in this war.’
