My eyes immediately move around the room to find Keane. He’s watching the two of us with his arms folded over his chest, his own eyes narrowed and intense.
“Thank you for everything, Morose,” I bow deeply, “I’m sorry I worried you and Golem.”
“You did what you had to do, girl. Do not apologize for it.”
Prince McQuoid clears his throat, “if we’ve all said our hellos, I think it’s time we heard from Lady Alexis her account of the last three days.”
Morose gives me a final look-over before turning back to the table, walking towards her seat as everyone else does the same. I look around thetable and catch Princess Clair pulling out an empty chair at her right, smiling in my direction. I take the seat just as Keane sits at McQuoid’s side with Desmond next to him and Cal next to me. All eyes turn to look at me once everyone is seated.
“Come on, then,” I sigh at the attention and slowly bring my hand up to my shoulder, “you need to make introductions with the rest of the crew.”
The baby beast purrs into my neck and digs his talons in deeper, not wanting to move.
“You can’t hide forever,” I tell him sternly.
The bird pushes against my neck again, completely comfortable where he is. I bring my finger up and gently caress the top of his beak, smiling at the purr that grows louder as he gently nips at my skin.
My eyes immediately rush to Morose.
“You said he is the Bird of Ash, father to the firehawks, yes?”
Morose’s milky blue eyes narrow on my shoulder as she nods.
“And what do firehawks eat?”
The baby beast finally steps onto my finger, his wings expanding fully at his sides in a proud stretch for the room to see.
“Meat,” Princess Clair replies, “lizards, mice, crickets, grasshoppers. I’ve seen many attack and feast on a snake if they’re big enough.”
I nod at her in appreciation and set the baby beast down on the table.
“I’ll need to take a walk into the town’s forest tonight, then.”
“I don’t believe that’ll sustain this little beast,” Morose shakes her head, “from what I’ve been reading over the last day he may need red meat,rawred meat, and lots of water.”
I turn to the Prince and Princess and see McQuoid already standing from his seat.
“I’ll let the boys know to bring something with dinner,” he nods and walks off.
“Thank you,” I smile, looking at the bird again. His yellow eyes stare back at me, his chest puffing up proudly as a few Pyrenese boys walk into the room and bring in a round of drinks. Cal turns in his seat and accepts two mugs for us before quickly placing one in my hand.
“How did this happen, Lady Alexis?” McQuoid asks when he returns, “how did you come about this creature?”
I take a deep drink of ale and reach out to the proud chest in front of me, stroking the soft feathers as the bird purrs even more.
“I’m fairly certain that he was born from the ash in my hands. It crystalized into a hot ember that nearly resembled an egg. He pushed himself out of it with a force that mirrored the sounds in the sky…”
I shake my head, recognizing that I must sound a bit crazy, but then remember the red ember and the black cracks that matched the booming from above.
“It wasextraordinary.”
“Born from ash,” Princess Clair murmurs, “do you mean the ash that fell from the storm?”
The little beast chirps as I remain quiet, the memory of him and the book that provided the ash still stirring my guilt.
“Some,” I nod, looking to Morose to change the subject, “what else have you been reading about him?”
The old woman stares at the bird in quiet awe.
