Standing, I shook my head and looked at Fisher and Amalee who sat near the nearly extinguished fire. “Are we going to sit here all day?”
Zalzre shifted and peered up at me, only bothering to open a single golden eye. Leaning down, I tentatively rubbed a hand over the smooth, taut skin of his neck. When he pressed into my touch, I quickened the stroke to an aggressive pace. The wyvern shifted and promptly kicked a frenzied foot into the king, sending Grave flying several feet down the hill.
“Hey!” Grave huffed and scrambled to his feet.
The beast let out a trilling noise and continued kicking out its foot in rapid succession until I stopped scratching. He was nothing more than a large domesticated animal cloaked in the skin of a nightmare.
“Everything okay over here?” Fisher closed the distance, wearing an unamused expression.
“Yeah, the king got booted by his trusted mode of transportation.” I cocked my head as Grave dusted off his pants. “So, everything’s perfect.” I smirked at him.
“I see.” Fisher eyed Grave suspiciously. “What’s the plan? Are we leaving?”
“Yeah, let’s go.” Grave tossed an object to me before walking away, not looking to see if I was prepared for the catch.
Thankfully, I’d reacted quickly enough; otherwise, my still-warm breakfast would’ve been lying buried in the grass. I brought it to my nose and breathed in the heavy scent. A mixture of bacon and eggs filled my nostrils; my mouth watered when I opened it up to see the soft roll cradling its contents.
“Is he bothering you? Because I’m pretty sure that wasn’t part of the agreement.” Fisher shifted and glanced in the king’s direction.
“It’s nothing I can’t handle,” I said, taking a bite as a creamy garlic and herb sauce hit my tongue. The familiar zing reminded me of a similar concoction my mother used to make with parsley and sage from our garden.
Fisher grumbled and moved to roll up the bedding.
I shoo’d him away and pushed my food into his hand so I could clean up. “When did you know Ryder made the deal with Grave?” I asked.
I’d been contemplating just how much Fisher knew but hadn’t bothered to tell me. Over the last few weeks, I’d nearly forgotten he wasn’t my friend and was working for the prince. The reality was a harsh reminder that Fisher was a guard first and foremost.
“When I dropped you off at breakfast,” he said, not hesitating.
I raised an eyebrow and doubted he was telling the truth.
The guard threw out a hand. “Had he given me advancenotice, don’t you think I’d have brought other clothes from home, and not just the spare uniform I keep at the castle? Do you really think this was some big ploy that I was in on?”
Zalzre rose to his feet, took several steps forward, and shot into the sky in a flash. I nearly tumbled back from the gust his wings created when he launched.
“I hate those things.” Fisher cringed. “They’re nothing but death and destruction.”
“Says who?” I watched the creature soar high above with Ralti. “They’ve seemed fine enough so far. I mean, they aren’t the cutest to look at, but I imagine the gryphons aren’t either—though I’ve only ever seen one in a sketch.”
He huffed. “Wait until you’ve seen a wyvern in battle. Stay alive as long as I have, and you’ll realize they are brutal. They’ve torn my friends to shreds just for the fun of it.”
Rivale hadn’t seen war in over thirty years, and when it had, the witches attacked along the entire western coast of Crofea. The book I had read said there were rumors that Kuroden had colluded with Oras witches, which only solidified why Ryder hated Grave as much as he did.
I finished rolling up the bedding and grabbed the sandwich from Fisher. The sun continued to rise as I finished my breakfast and admired the dancing lavender on the rolling hills; the area really was beautiful. The ground stuttered as the two wyverns landed near the fire. Zalzre promptly extinguished the remaining embers with a mouthful of water, sending steam into the air.
“I could’ve helped if you had asked.” Fisher looked at Grave and gestured to the fire ring. “No need to have your beast flying around and terrorizing the locals when I can conjure water.”
The king shrugged. “Your type is weird about magic. Why would I ask when doing so is considered rude?”
I rolled my eyes. Suddenly, he’s concerned with civility?
Grave continued, “Though I suppose you’re one of the few your prince allows to even use it. Must be nice.”
Fisher scowled.
“Don’t turn your temper on me. It’syourleader who’s banned it.” The king grabbed my bag and took it to the harness strapped around Zalzre’s chest. “But we’re no longer in Rivale, so those rules don’t apply anymore,” he said, and turned to me, “to either of you.” Zalzre bowed down into the lavender, and Grave gestured with his hand. “Let’s go.”
The ride was filledwith silence as the sun finally sank past the horizon. We flew toward a dark chasm. Dim lights from the land below came into view and brightened as we grew closer.
