I strode to the far side of the enclosure, where I slept on castoff blankets, and moved aside my bedding. Moving on instinct, I willed a small hole to open in the ground. It was an alien impulse—we do not bury our dead—but it felt right. Before placing the owl in the earth, I inspected it one last time. What life had it lived? How many times had its wings lifted it into the sky? How high had it flown? How had it managed to be caught?
Within sparse minutes, the owl was buried in the ground and covered by my bedding.
The creature was at last safe, as safe as I was able to provide, and while a sense of peace fell over me with the deed accomplished, sleep would not come.
Nor would the dread dissipate.
Seven
Xenith was beautiful, even from a distance. Stirred by the movement of his wings, a whirlwind of rust-colored leaves rose up around him as he lighted upon the ground. He looked every inch the prince he was. Clad in only a nearly sheer golden tunic, his skin glowed. He was timeless. The only thing separating him from the human gods of ancient Greece and Rome were his massive luna wings.
I stepped from my hiding place, even more desperate to speak to him than usual.
He saw me instantly. Though he smiled, he lifted a hand and motioned me away.
Moving back into the foliage of the old cedar, I searched the sky for anyone else who might be with him, ruining our planned meeting.
I saw no one.
Minutes ticked by, and no one joined Xenith, but still he waited, slowly pacing in a large circle.
A quarter of an hour passed before the reason for his hesitation became clear. Even as I watched, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
A blond servant girl, one of the humans, emerged from the other side of the clearing. Even from my secluded distance, I could see the state she was in. Damp hair clung to her forehead and cheeks. The hem of her skirt was muddied and ripped. We were miles from the royal boundaries. It was a long walk for me, but even without my wings, it required no effort. Moving through the forest was like breathing. Fairies were as much a part of nature as the deer in the forest and birds of the sky. We were kin. Not so for humans.
The girl approached Xenith, paused and offered a slight bow, then extended a silver pouch.
Xenith stretched out his hand, opening his palm to her, waiting for her to drop the parcel.
She did so, then hesitated.
“Leave now.” Xenith’s voice held irritation in a tone I’d not heard from him before.
With another bow, the servant turned and trudged clumsily back into the forest.
I waited long past when she was out of view. Even ignoring Xenith when he motioned me from my hiding place. He’d never brought anyone with him before, servant or otherwise. As certain as I was both of us would hear her if she returned, I couldn’t force myself to take the risk.
After motioning once more, Xenith closed the distance between, cocking his head as he peered quizzically at me. “She’s gone. Come out. What are you doing?”
“What amIdoing? What amIdoing?”
He flinched, hurt flashing across his face.
His expression was so innocent, so much like when he was child. The memory only served to make me angry. I stepped out of my hiding place, my caution forgotten. “What are you doing, Xenith? Why did you bring someone with you?”
He held out the silver pouch to me, a bright smile across his lips. “It’s for you.”
Bewildered I took the pouch, then carefully pulled on the drawstrings. A sting of fear shot through me a moment before I titled the bag to empty the contents. I pushed the sensation away. Whatever was going on, Xenith had nothing to do with it. There was no evil in him.
He noticed my hesitation. “Go on.”
I lifted the pouch the rest of the way. A small pile of gemlike stones spilled into my hands. I looked up at him, more confused than ever.
“Jewelberries.” His grin broadened. “From last night’s New Moon celebration. They’re your favorite. Remember when you used to bring them to me when I was too young to attend?”
“I know what they are, Xenith, but why are they here?”
He flinched again at my tone. “You haven’t had them in years. I took some with me last night. I thought you’d enjoy them.”
