“You don’t think he’s telling the truth?”
“About the illusions? Oh no, I think he’s truthful.” She turns her head to snarl softly at the bird on her back. Talton clicks his beak at her. “I don’t know how the magic of warrior librarians works. If imagined or remembered things appear as real. If they become real. Or if it’s in his mind, the same way a nightmare is, real to the one who is plagued by it, but invisible to everyone else.”
“You’re wise for a lion,” I mutter.
“And you should appreciate animals more.”
I laugh. “You’re wise for a human, too.”
“So I’ve been told.”
“What were you two discussing without me earlier?” Talton asks. “No secrets allowed. Tell me.”
She growls at him. “We’re discussingyou. Talking about how insecure you are.”
He ruffles his feathers. “That’s mean, Druna. I’m your friendly neighborhood raven and basically your only friend.”
That line… reminds me of something, but I can’t put my finger on it.
“Have you been reading?” I ask him and he croaks.
“Books? I’m abird.”
“A bird who thinks and talks like a man.”
“Ravens are intelligent. Some say more intelligent than men.”
“But not more intelligent than women.” Ardruna’s ruby tongue lolls. She looks like she’s laughing. It makes me snort.
I shouldn’t be horsing around with them. I’m badmouthing their friend, apparently, and sooner or later I’ll have to face Roane again. Face all three of them. A united front.
On cue, Ardruna turns and pads into the building. “Roane was teasing you, Tal. This is our home. Come on. And you, girl. If you don’t feel like you’re too good for our company, then you’d better come inside.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
GETTING WARM
ADELINE
We enter the dim temple, cool air rushing to envelop us in a scent of wet stone and minerals. Ardruna nudges the huge doors shut behind us, but then she and Talton don’t wait for me, disappearing in the darkness.
I’ve upset them.
I need to get my act together.
First off, I need to find the way down. Exhaustion clings to me like a leather mantle, heavy and constricting. I take my time locating the stairs, then descending one careful step at a time.
“These people are awful,” Olm mutters.
“No, they’re not. They helped me.”
“But now they don’t care anymore.”
“That’s not true. This is my fault.”
“You want to live in denial? Suit yourself.”
“Great.” I climb down the stairs, trailing a hand on the wall for balance, the other pressing the griffin egg to my middle. “Everyone is upset with me. Roane, Ardruna, and now you.”
