12
It’s faster to ride the Phoenix, so Indira and Erit agree to travel on the firebird with me. The street through the Grievous village isn’t wide enough for the Phoenix to land but it finds a clearing further up the mountain.
Indira leaves the clan with strict orders to remain on lookout while she’s gone. When Erit moves to help her climb onto the Phoenix’s back, she gives him a stern look. At the last minute, he picks her up and carries her up the bird’s wing. She looks like she wants to pummel him. He cocks an eyebrow at her and she kisses him instead, snuggling into him as they sit together.
Once I find my place at the front, the Phoenix soars into the sky. The firebird trills in my mind:You have a new headpiece.
I’m learning not to be afraid of it.
And what of the elves? I sensed a dark presence in the sky. It’s why I left Elyria to come to you.
I say,Grayson Glory seeks my surrender. He is a very powerful sorcerer. I fear for my friends.
He is not as powerful as you.
I sigh.That’s the theory. I will need you, Phoenix, before the month is out.
The Phoenix’s answer is comforting:I will be ready when you call.
Thank you. And for looking after Elyria. But… how is she?It’s such a small question. I want to ask more, but I’m not sure how. Outlier Senturi said that Elyria would go through a transformation now. I saw one part of it: that she is now visible to everyone, but I’m worried about what other changes she might experience.
Jasper is looking after her. He has a way with her, helping her heal, but she has a long road ahead.
When we land at the deep springs, the cliff around Crimson Court is packed with young gargoyles. It’s now mid-afternoon and the sound of children travels across the ravine.
Even from this distance, it’s easy to pick Baelen out from the crowd. He stands above the others, positively gigantic next to the children. My heart burns. I need to see him, tell him what happened on Mount Grievous.
Indira sidles up to me. I’ve remained on the Phoenix because I need a way to get across the ravine but she and Erit have already alighted. Erit waits at the entrance to the springs while Indira peers in the opposite direction, her jaw dropping.
“Is that… Baelen Rath?”
I’m surprised. Even the Phoenix’s appearance didn’t draw this much interest from her. “What do you know of Baelen?”
“Only stories… of a wild elf in the wastelands.” Her voice lowers to a conspiratorial whisper. “They say he isn’t afraid to look Sighted Ones in the eye. They say that talon crows fall to their bellies at his feet and all he has to do is growl at a shadow panther and it slinks away. Unless he kills it first.”
I try to hide my smile. Maybe she doesn’t know that he’s with me. But at the same time, that sort of reputation would explain why the Priestess calls him Wrathful One—and why the gargoyles avoid him. Even Howl was worried when he first realized Baelen’s sleeping body was in his possession. I thought it was because Howl had killed Baelen’s father. But it sounds like Baelen had already made a reputation for himself among the gargoyles—whether he wanted to or not.
Indira frowns and then shrugs. “I thought he had a beard. Oh well.”
Erit draws her toward the deep springs, but pauses to tell me they won’t come straight back to the Royal Residence.
“There’s a place I want to show Indira,” he says with a smile. “We’ll come back tonight.”
“That’s fine, Erit. Return when you’re ready.” I wish them luck, knowing that when Indira emerges, she will be able to fly again.
The Phoenix ferries me across the ravine, causing a stir among the gargoyle children who point and chatter. I choose to leap off its back because there’s no room for it to land.Thank you, Phoenix.
I will see you soon, Princess.
Finding my feet, I seek Baelen across the distance. He has already spotted me, his focus immediately zeroing in on… uh-oh… the dried blood all over the front of my shirt. Maybe I should have asked Indira for a clean shirt…
“Marbella?” His intensely unhappy growl cuts across the diminishing distance between us. A little boy clings to his chest while Adalie trots along beside him, running to keep up. A trail of children follow him like little ducklings and I can’t help but smile as he unconsciously pats the head of the nearest child as if he’s checking that the little girl is still there when he draws to a halt in front of me.
His glower tells me I definitely should have changed into fresh clothing.
I answer firmly, pulling the ripped material away from my shoulder to show him. “I’m fine. See?” I release the shirt and go straight for a diversion, smiling at Adalie. I’d expected to find her in the crook of Baelen’s arm. “I see you gave up your favorite spot.”
She becomes solemn. “He needs Bae-Bae more than me.”
