“They aren’t all against us.” Though even as I said those words, I wondered. We were going after a member of the Royal House, the son of an upstanding Nobleman. If that got out… sentiment could very easily turn against us.
Whatever it was we were going to do next… we had better be very careful doing it.
Chapter 13
I slepton the tiny bed with Dove. When she woke screaming, I comforted her and made sure she settled again. Neither of us slept well. When daylight came, I was bleary eyed and tired, but Dove was still sleeping. I left her and went out for some fresh air. A thick fog hung heavy over the land, washing me with mist. It was refreshing, and I tried to find some sense of peace in this blanket of vapor.
“Sparrow came in the night.”
I jumped at Midnight’s voice next to me. I had been too tired and not using my spider-senses.
She chuckled softly. “Sorry.”
What had she just said, before that?
Sparrow came last night.Auwei said.
Right, thanks.
“Sparrow?” I asked.
She nodded. “The master and the others from the city will be here around lunch, and hopefully… so will the new arrivals.”
I raised a brow. She smiled. “Jack, Silence, and Foggy are on their way to the capital in disguise. They’d been planning on stopping here before they go in. Once everyone’s here, we’ll all meet up and discuss next steps.” She half turned, then turned back. “I returned to the city last night and gathered a few things from your sister’s rooms. I didn’t know what she might want, but I was sure she wouldn’t want to go back. I took what I could, including some of your things. It’s all in the trunk on the back of the carriage.” She motioned with her head. “I’m going to keep an eye out,” she said and was then flying away as a bat.
Had she even slept?
She didn’t look tired at all.
Probably a Fey thing. So is the fact that she’s older than Maverick but looks your age.
Right. Fey.
I went to the carriage and lifted the trunk off. It was heavy, but I lugged it inside to the room Dove was in, before rooting through it to find a simple blouse and skirt. I checked my bandage. The wound was still bleeding, but not in a stabbed-with-a-large-knife sort of way, more of an exceptionally-deep-scratch way. It also hurt like The Black Pits now that myHerogift had worn off. I redid the bandages and changed, taking the bottom of the blouse and tying it up above my belly-button. I wanted to be prepared, just in case.
I came out again as the sound of hooves drew closer. Maverick and Amber had arrived on horseback. A small bird accompanying them quickly became Sparrow.
The small woman ran to me, throwing her arms around me in a tight embrace. “I’m so glad you’re well,” she said, voice muffled with her face in my shoulder; luckily not my injured one. She pulled back enough to be clear when she spoke next. “When Midnight said you’d been attacked, I was so worried.” Her deep, forest-green eyes were filled with concern.
I found myself reaching up to smooth her dark hair as I held her close.
The fog was clearing, no longer the heavy mists around us, but still lower overhead, billowing and ominous.
“She’s harder to kill than that. A tough one is our Legs,” Maverick said swinging down off his horse and grabbing the reins as he came to us. He winked at me, though he too looked concerned. So far, he was the only one who knew about the specifics of my spirit-gift.
I was a bit surprised in the next moment when Sparrow put her arms around my neck and pulled herself up for a kiss, even if a quick and chaste one.
“Do I get a kiss too?” Amber teased as she sauntered by. As always, she looked amazing, even after a ride out from the city.
“I missed you,” Sparrow whispered once Amber was gone.
We’d only been apart for two days.
I kissed her again, this time, lingering a little before leading her inside. “You’ll get to meet my sister,” I said. “Just… she went through a lot last night and she may be a bit fragile, so go easy on her.”
Sparrow nodded, smiling.
I left her in the kitchen and returned to Dove’s room. She was awake, sitting up in bed, looking a bit stunned. She looked up at me, when I came in, flinching a little.
