No, I’m good. You both?
We’re good,I send back.Can you ask Nox to go back and help Rauk?
His bonded doesn’t want him there. He doesn’t want the enemy to see him.
I make a sound of frustration.I know that, and I get that. But they’ve already seen you; they already know we have dragons. Tell him to tell Rauk to use the dragons...all of them. Let the people fight back and end this thing once and for all.
I’ll tell Nox, but I can’t guarantee he’ll tell his bonded any of this.
I know.I try to get more comfortable on Red’s back. I can’t afford to think about the long, cold ride ahead of us, so I focus on Auri instead. “How did they get to you?”
“They came for me only a little after you and my brother left. They killed all the guards with us.”
“What about Elowen?” I ask.
She sucks in a breath; I can feel it. “I don’t know. They took me from her; I don’t know what happened to her after that.”
I lean forward and put my forehead against her temple. “Well, at least we finally got you on Redara.”
“This is pretty amazing.” I have to lean forward to hear her words, but I catch them. I watch as Nox banks towards us and moves in close to Redara; then he turns. I watch over my shoulder as he flies back the way we came. I watch him until he’s too small to see anymore.
You okay?I send to Redara.
Yes.
She doesn’t give me any more than that, and I let it go. Auri settles more fully against me as we continue to fly, and I get lost in my thoughts. It's definitely nicer flying during the day than at night. It’s still cold, and the wind rushing at us is brutal; but it’s better than the dark of night. Hour after hour passes, and I keep expecting Auri to ask to stop. But she’s a trooper. I try not to bother Redara with checking in with Nox. Nox definitely isn’t one for details. The first time we reached out, they were still fighting. So I haven’t reached out again.
Hour after hour drags by. I try to think of anything and everything to make the time pass. I tell Auri stories of my growingup. We look for things as we fly; we try anything that will keep our minds off what’s going on. My face has long-since gone numb, and my back aches. My body feels like it’s been through the war. I focus on just keeping us seated and making it one more hour. Finally, when I don’t think we’re ever going to make it, the outline of the Wolf Kingdom comes into view.
Is that it?I ask wearily.
It is. We made it. Where do you want to land?
Can you take us to Rysden and Farrah?
A few minutes later, we land in the open area outside Rysden and Farrah’s castle. I take in the castle, sort of amazed that we made it. My body is too stiff to move, and I can’t help but think about the last time I was here. It feels like a lifetime ago. The front door opens, and I turn towards it warily. Rysden steps out, and Farrah follows him a moment later. “Harper? What are you doing here?”
I look down at them. “Hey, Guys.” Even I can hear the weariness in my voice. “We came here for safety. Is it okay if we stay with you for just a little bit?”
Farrah looks at Rysden in concern. “Of course, but what’s going on?”
“This is Auri,” I tell them. “Auri, this is King Rysden and his mate, Farrah. Rysden and Farrah, this is Auri, Rauk’s sister.”
“Hi, Auri,” Farrah says with a small wave.
I turn my gaze to Rysden. “I need help to get her down.”
And then Auri, in Auri fashion, says, “I can’t walk.”
To their credit, neither of them bat an eye. “I’m thinking maybe I can kind of pass her down to you, Rysden.”
He nods and steps close to Redara. Redara, bless her heart, lowers herself to the ground, making it a little easier. I manage to get Auri’s legs free from Redara, and then I hold her with shaky arms around her chest. “I’ll catch her,” Rysden says. And I let her go a little further and a little further. Eventually, I have to let her go and hope Rysden catches her. He does, and I release the breath I was holding. I try to move my own legs and can’t get them to respond; they’re numb from sitting for so long. Eventually, I make my way off of Redara’s back.
Farrah’s in my face the moment I’m free from Redara, and then she’s hugging me. I pat her back. “It’s good to see you, Harper. We’ve missed you.” She finally releases me.
“I haven’t been gone that long,” I remind her.
I can see the questions in her eyes, but I don’t answer any of them. I turn to Rysden. “Do you mind carrying her inside?”
