I pluck a fistful of long grass for Furia. “Tell me about Kahol Bannock.”
I’m expecting Morrgot to soar higher to evade my question, but instead, he asks,What would you like to know?
“Everything. How did he meet my mother? How long were they together? Is he dead?”
Morrgot doesn’t answer me right away. Is he sifting through his memory of the man to figure out which parts of his life are safe to share with a stranger? I would most definitely think twice about sharing anything about myself with this bird.
Your father and Agrippina met through Bronwen, and since Bronwen trusted her, Cathal did too.
“And you?”
I trust very few people, Fallon.
“Do you trust me?”
No.
I bristle that he doesn’t hesitate, especially after all I’ve done for him.
You’re offended.
I stare straight ahead, at the endless field of silvered grass, and harvest another bunch. “I’m risking my life to save yours.”
You’re risking your life to conquer your beloved prince’s heart.I’m merely a stepping stone on your path.
My cheeks blaze that he’s aware of my reasons for agreeing to collect the iron crows. “Bronwen’s the one who told me of the prophecy; I didn’t come up with it.” Not that I owe him an explanation.
The tension that lingers between us blots out any and all camaraderie that may have developed between this talking bird and myself.
After a long while, I finally shatter the silence. “So, Kahol. Is he dead?”
No.
“Then where is he? Why did Bronwen seek me out instead of him? Why did he abandon me?”
Because he’s imprisoned.
“Where?”
Morrgot stares at the shimmering ocean that spills out from beneath the mountain like the train of a pureling gown.Beneath the ocean.
My skin prickles. “In the galleon? The one that Marco sank.” My whisper is so loud, I worry the Lucin troops chasing me will have heard it.
You know of the galleon?
“Antoni mentioned it the night he told me about the Battle of Primanivi.”
And Bronwen believes he’s trustworthy . . .
I snap my neck back to glare at Morrgot. “The male’s done nothing but fight for your cause.”
Do you really think he’s doing it out of the kindness of his heart?
“Perhaps his fight isn’t completely selfless, but I can assure you, Morrgot, he didn’t touch upon any great, forbidden secret when he told me about the battle waged before my birth.” I’m breathing heavily, partly from my pace and partly from my annoyance that this suspicious creature thinks so poorly of all those risking their livelihoods to bring him back to life. “You know what? Ihopehe has something to gain.”
Bronwen promised him heaps of gold.
“Gold from the Regio coffers, I presume.”
