Savine nodded. “Thank you for listening to me, Little Flower. I think you’re right.” He stood, pulling her up to her feet. They went to their rooms and changed into thick winter clothing before venturing into the forests.
Savine
The horror that Morgan had shared with his council was nothing Savine expected, and it left him reeling with concern for his own folk’s safety. If what Morgan said was true, Goldothcould travel up river from Nephel and be at Orofine’s doorstep by midwinter. His newly reunited kingdom could be under siege by an outside nation before the Long Night.
“You believe Morgan, don’t you?” Avery asked as they walked into the still and silent forest.
Savine knew he’d made a terrible mistake when he didn’t trust Morgan upon her arrival at Orofine. “I have no doubt in my mind that Morgan is telling the truth. I was wrong when I doubted her loyalty to you, and that won’t happen again. She may choose to take a different path from yours, but she would never try to harm you.”
Avery smiled up at him. “Thank you for believing her.”
The day was sunny and cold, the sun’s reflection on the snow stung his eyes as he looked toward the forest nearby. Avery covered her arm across her face. “I’m adding sunglasses to my list,” she muttered to herself.
“Sunglasses?” Savine asked. Another human contraption, he supposed. Humans seemed to have an endless supply of gadgets to make their life more comfortable.
“Yeah, they block out the sun’s rays. They’re going on my list for when I figure out how to travel safely between our realms.”
Savine chuckled. “What else do you plan to bring back with you?”
“More like what am I not bringing. But really, my winter gear. I’m tired of wearing a dead animal to keep warm. Toothpaste, a fresh toothbrush, human birth control-—that tea Hyacinth brews me tastes like dirt—tampons, and a ton of food. You’re going to love coffee. Oh, and beer. Plenty of beer. It would be fun to bring my bike too, and skis of course.”
He loved hearing her daydream of how to blend their cultures. He hoped her dreams came true and he could see her homeland, as well as bring back anything that she lacked in the fae realm. “I think I will need to start expanding our rooms sooner than Ianticipated, just to accommodate all your human items.” Savine pointed to a copse of pines and firs nearby. “We’ll go to the pines there. They can begin relaying our message south.”
Savine approached a tall ponderosa pine. He’d often come here when he needed to check on news quickly since coming into his throne. Using mycillious, he said,“Hello friend, tell me of the stirrings beyond our borders. Send messages south toward the borders of Goldoth and the Wastewater.”
The tree began to slowly shake, stirring its high branches.“What you ask will be long in coming.”
“How long?”Savine asked.
“Not until the sun sinks below the mountains.”
Savine looked at the sky. It was still early morning.
“Very well. I specifically need to know what the Goldoth army is doing. If their warriors are on the move, what direction?”
“War stirs too soon on the throne of so young a ruler.”
“Rulers often do not have the luxury to know when their rule will be tested. It appears the time is now.”Savine said before he turned from the tree and walked to find Avery watching from a distance. She looked anxious as she eyed the tree, still stirring from his conversation.
“What did it say?” she asked.
“We should return home. It will be a long time before the trees have answers to what I seek.” He slid his arm over her shoulder, thankful that he was once again touching her as they made their way back to the King’s Residence.
Chapter 48
Morgan
The Tower of the Moon was silent; the dark, unlit halls eerily similar to the cave she’d fled only a week ago. A chill ran down her spine and she tried to keep herself from running.Running from what exactly?There was nothing there to chase her. Nothing threatening her life. Just the hall of the place that had begun to feel like home.
Morgan had left Susan at her own room, saying that she would see her in the morning. She knew she needed to check in with her early, but Susan seemed so weary Morgan hoped she would be alright alone for the night. Morgan was also bone-tired, butthere was no way she could sleep without first seeing Rylo and reassuring him that she’d done what he asked.
She’d tried his private rooms, but no answer came. There were no guards nearby either, making her think he must be somewhere else in the Towers. She padded through the dark interior hall on slippered feet, tired of wearing the heavy leather boots and layers of furs to keep warm during her flight on the eagan. Morgan would give up and go to sleep if Rylo wasn’t in his private library.
She found the hidden space that led to Rylo’s hidden sanctuary, but she couldn’t get in on her own. Despite all the time she’d spent in this room, she still depended on Selene or Rylo for entry.
Her heart skittered as she knocked against the empty wall. She could hear shuffling within the room and the entrance dissolved. Morgan stepped into the room. The smell of old books, leather, and dust hit her senses like a familiar friend. But it was the smell of honeyed spice that made Morgan’s breath catch.
Rylo was there, dressed in a remarkably casual grey sweater and loose pants. He looked at her with a half smile and walked close enough to her that she could feel the warmth of his body on her chilled skin.
