I froze, and my face fell. The voice had come from the opposite door. I scowled at the knob and looked around, finding a small eyeliner brush. I snatched up the brush and shoved the tube into the keyhole.
Marc’s voice floated through the door. “You’re unprotected, Miss Larkin.”
“I’ll only take a moment, Mr.-um, Mr.-”
“Marc.”
“Torvus,” Ramaro corrected him.
I rolled my eyes. “How about both of you go away from the doors, leave me alone for just a few minutes, and I’ll come out safe and sound?”
Heavy sighs were my reply, and I heard them shuffle away. I snorted and shook my head as I went about my business, silently thankful for their care.
Chapter 29
Sleep came and went, and I was awakened all too early by the bright light shining through my window. That, and a bird careening through the open glass. I had been lazily dozing when the poor creature shot through the open window and crashed into the wall near the door. The poor thing hit the drab wallpaper and dropped like a rock onto the floor.
I shot up and stared blankly at the tiny creature. The bird stood and wandered about like a drunk.
“Oh my gosh!” I yelped as I flung aside the covers and raced over to the bird. I scooted it up and cradled the dizzying creature in my palms. “Are you alright?”
The bird shook its head before it lifted its beady black eyes to me. It was a magnificent specimen, slightly larger than a woodpecker and with bright blue and black plumage. Its yellow beak blended with the black of its hooded head, and its tiny claws tickled my palms.
It cocked its head to one side and opened its mouth. “Of course I’m alright!”
My mouth dropped open. “Did you. . .you can talk?”
“And why not?” he countered as he strolled off my palms.
And collapsed face-first onto the floor. I yelped and scooped him up again, so he lay on his back. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
Every word from him was punctuated by a hop of his whole body. “Of course I’m sure! Why shouldn’t I be?”
“Because you just fell onto the floor. Again.”
“I was merely getting my bearings,” the bird insisted as he sat up and ruffled his feathers again. “There shouldn’t be any reason for you to think I’m not alright.”
“B-but I. . .that is, you crashed through the window-”
“Crashed nothing,” the bird argued as it preened some of its feathers. “I always land that way.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Always?”
“What’s wrong with that?”
I leaned back and shook my head. “I-I don’t know. I mean, I’m not a bird, but it looked and sounded, well, painful.”
“I’m made of tougher stuff than mere humans,” he boasted as he stretched himself to his full half-foot height. “Besides, I’m not the one who’s in trouble here. You’re late for practice.”
I blinked at him. “Practice?” God, I hope it wasn’t learning how to fly.
He used a wing to point at the open window. “Marc and that lizard are waiting for you out in the garden. They told me to fetch you at once.”
I lifted an eyebrow at my tiny friend. “Why did they send you?”
He hopped onto his legs and puffed out his chest. “Because I am the fastest flier in the whole garden.”
“But you can’t land,” I guessed.
