And why couldn’t they have waited to discuss everything together with their father? We could’ve invited Holis, Mana and Cal to that conversation, too. I’m sure the King would have no problem with that. The idea was already forming in my mind after Red Falls, but the Princes decided that interrogating the two brothers was the right course of action instead.
I nearly scoff, but then I think of Cal.
Oh, Cal.
The look of pure confusion and hurt that graced his features tonight was raw and genuine in its emotion. It took everything in me to watch him retreat into himself, watch as he gave the twins a cold look that has never once graced his features before. He’s been traveling with Holis and Mana just as long as I have, and never once has he questioned their intentions. All of us have just enjoyed each other’s company.
Two yellow eyes flick towards me in the darkness of the night. Stormfall circles around my shoulders and then glides softly at my front to follow him. I obey the Bird of Ash and watch as his wings tilt into the forest to our left, into a thick clustering of trees. I follow him with a frown, swearing that Golem and I walked much longer down the road before the men dipped away, but follow Stormfall nonetheless, especially when a path comes into view that looks similar to the one before.
“Wet stone,” I take a deep breath.
I don’t remember the scent on my adventure with Golem, but Stormfall is still flying sure and strong, weaving through the woods as I follow behind him. Perhaps he knows of a different way to the Hidden City.
“Slow down, Storm,” I call out, “I have to take my time around all the trees.”
The Bird of Ash doubles back and circles around my shoulders again, gliding even slower before he perches on a tree limb and waits for me to catch up. I follow him like this down the path for a long while, eventually moving into an unusual clearing in the woods.
“Storm…?”
My eyes go wide at the sight in front of me. He’s led me into a large clearing within the forest, one that has thick and lush green grass that reaches all the way up past my ankles. The forest surrounds the whole of theclearing in a cozy embrace, forming an almost perfect circle that opens up to the sky above. It’s just a field of grass without any trees or woods, though there is a wide boulder directly in center that looks a bit out of place.
I walk into the middle of the clearing and turn around to marvel at this unique section of flat land. It’s definitely not a path to the Hidden City, but it is a beautiful and serene area of the woods to relax in.
“This isn’t where I need to be,” I tell Storm, watching as the Bird of Ash circles above the boulder before dropping down on top of it, “thank you for bringing me here, it’s beautiful, but I want to spend the night in the Hidden City.”
Stormfall chirps and cocks his head down at me, not moving from his spot. I reach my hand up and beckon him to get a move on.
“Come, Storm. This isn’t the right place. We need to double back to the road and continue further down.”
Stormfall’s yellow beady eyes hold mine without a single twitch.
“Stormfall,”I chide, reaching my hand higher, “let’s go.”
“A fitting name,” an amused voice states from behind.
I freeze in my stance at the power in that voice as an unnatural chill runs down my spine. Stormfall caws from above in recognition of the stranger, his wings flapping to his side as my own hand slowly dips down to my bicep.
“No need for a weapon, Alex,” the voice says from afar.
I scowl when my fingers meet the silk of my long-sleeve, forgetting that both of my daggers are hidden within my boots.
“Show yourself,” I turn around to the voice, ignoring his comment about the weapons as I reach down quickly for my blade. My hand is immediately stopped by a cool sliver of forest air, the force unseen but holding it in place. I watch in horror as my fingers still just above my knee, my whole arm and hand caught in some type of magic, unable to move.
“What in the Old World…” I whisper.
This should not exist.
Air summoning should not exist!
“I said, no weapon,” the voice repeats.
I quickly glance to the dark forest surrounding us, unable to spot the summoner. I glance back down to the invisible force still holding my hand in place and try to push against it.
“Storm,” I glance to the beast in help. His yellow eyes watch me from atop the boulder, the glance warming with affection and not a single hint of fear.
“You will receive no help from him right now,” that voice replies in amusement, “the Bird of Ash is mine.”
My body completely tenses at the words.
