As I flew over the two neat piles of floor cushions arranged around the table, a black cat jumped out of one pile. With its belly wider than its head, the cat waddled toward the open window.
“This is the fattest cat I’ve ever seen,” I muttered under my breath.
“Hey, no fat-shaming,” Dawn laughed. “Zala is going to have kittens soon. Quite a few kittens, judging by the size of her belly.”
Her laughter startled me for a moment. Other than Elaine, I’d never heard anyone laugh before. At yet another reminder of her, my heart squeezed with longing so strong, it nearly choked me. I cleared my throat, swallowed hard, and followed them out into a spacious room with a long table and enough floor cushions for all of us to sit around it. I hovered in the air, unwilling to break the protocol again by sitting down first in the presence of the prince.
A few weeks ago, I would’ve done whatever the fuck I wanted. Royal opinion was the least of my concerns. In fact, I would’ve probably welcomed the opportunity to show all kinds of disrespect to the only son of Queen Abeille after her army had disposed of me as promptly as they had.
Things had changed, however. I needed Prince Rha’s help. But there was more to it than that. I was looking forward to coordinating an attack once again, to being useful. I didn’t have to fake my respect. It was genuine, and it came from hope and gratitude.
“Please take a seat, General,” Prince Rha solved my dilemma by inviting me to a cushion with a flick of his wrist.
Servants entered, then left with the orders to summon Prince Rha’s top general and a few other officials he wished to consult.Someone brought in an armload of maps rolled around into thin wooden rails.
The prince rolled out the map of Alveari Kingdom on the table when the general arrived. The prince greeted her, then introduced us to each other, though the introduction was unnecessary.
General Oskura was a well-known warrior. I’d met her back when she was a lieutenant. She reminded me of Valeni, a fierce leader, just like her, who commanded respect from her warriors and instilled fear in her enemies.
She frowned, taking in my eyes, claws, and the rest of my unflattering appearance. Subconsciously maybe, but her hand moved to the handle of her curved sword at her hip.
“General Timur has come with a proposition for us,” the prince explained. “Please join us, General Oskura. We have much to discuss, and we’re short on time.”
Oskura moved her shoulders, as if trying to shrug off the unease of my presence.
“General Timur?” She squinted, giving me a closer look, then tilted her head in recognition. “It’s good to see you again,” she said, taking her seat across from me at the table. “It’s good to see you alive.”
Within minutes, I had a plan and an army.
While we waited for the royal lieutenants to assemble Prince Rha’s warriors, the prince rolled up the maps with the location of Ashgate that I’d marked on them. General Oskura got up and walked around the table to my side, then stopped awkwardly next to me.
“How are you…um, doing, General?” she asked, clearly unused to expressing concern and unsure how to do it now.
“I’m well, thank you,” I said politely, and for once, it was actually true. The absence of pain felt almost like a bliss I could only sense through Elaine before.
“I heard of your dismissal, but not much since. Many claimed you had died.” She remained true to herself, somber and direct.
I lifted a corner of my mouth in a half-smile. “Well, I’m very much alive, as you can see.”
“That is a relief.” She nodded briefly.
She stood in front of me while I continued to sit on the cushions. Gesturing at my legs, I felt the need to explain.
“My apologies, General Oskura, but my condition prevents me from walking or even standing. Please don’t take it as an insult or a sign of disrespect.”
Her eyes widened. “Your apology isn’t necessary, but if you can’t walk, how will you participate in our attack?”
“I’ll fly.” I rose to my knees and unfurled my wings.
Oskura gasped, bringing her hand to her mouth. The shock and wonder on her face gave her the unguarded expression of a woman much younger and far more impressionable than the seasoned, battle-hardened general that she normally was.
“How marvelous,” she exhaled, sliding her gaze along my entire wingspan.
Dawn stepped between us, her eyes pleading.
“I can’t come with you, General Timur, and not just because Rha wouldn’t let me. I don’t want to get in the way or slow you down. But I need to know…I need to.” She raised her eyes to mine, fearlessly meeting my red, glowing gaze. “Promise me you’ll bring my friend back.”
“If that’s the last thing I’ll do in my life,” I vowed, standing on my knees in front of her, which made us almost the same height.
