“Is that an osa?” Sev asked as a ball of furry brown flew out to greet them.
“Actually, that’sCelina’sosa. With the battle and everything that followed, I forgot about him.” Guilt pulled at him that he hadn’t thought to look for the animal. Celina would be worried if she woke up and the osa was gone.
“Shh!” came from Cass, who knelt in front of the small creature.
She began making the unusual sounds again, communicating in a series of caws and deep-throated sounds. Standing on its back legs, the osa responded animatedly, paws moving as it talked to her in short bursts. She made a few distinct hand movements, signals Rodric didn’t recognize but which had an almost military abruptness to them. After a few more minutes of communication, the osa bounded into the woods, making a high-pitched whooping sound that was its natural call to others of its kind.
Cass stood and turned to face them. “Don’t ask. And don’t try to repeat what I just did. Ever. If anyone could figure out how to duplicate it, it would be a pair of knucklehead hunters. You could seriously screw up something that has takendecadesto establish.”
“But how…” Sev trailed off, hand in his hair as he stared into the forest.
Rodric could relate, awe mingled with shock stealing his voice. As veteran hunters,they tended to be the ones with skills and knowledge no one else had, at least when it came to animals and nature. He’d never seen anything like that with an osa or any other wild creature, and judging by the stunned look still on Sev’s face, neither had he. Then again, osas were known to be smart and inquisitive. Add a bit of magic…
“That was amazing. It will relay the message to others and another osa will connect with someone else?” Sev asked.
“Give it a day. If we don’t get a response, we’ll move on to a different plan. Celina will be slow tomorrow anyway, and another day will give the kid a chance to improve before we move him.”
“Does Celina know you’re using her pet as a message carrier?” Rodric asked.
“I thought you were determined to send it back to the forest.”
“You may be changing my mind.”
Cass laughed, shaking her head as she ducked into one of the tents.
Sev turned to his friend, wide-eyed. “Seriously, why aren’t we moving to Calderre? I want one of those.”
“A secret message-relaying osa or a magical shadow warrior?”
“Both. I knew I should have gone with you to Calderre. You’ve beat me on both fronts. And you’ve still got my favorite horse.”
Chapter 17
Pushingherwildhairout of her face, Celina sucked in gulps of frigid, but thankfully dry, air. Waking up panting, out of breath, and drenched in sweat was an unpleasant side effect of straining her magic.
Shaking off the vestiges of memory that always followed a deep healing, she made her way outside, pausing to get her bearings. Darkness greeted her, the wind blowing through the trees chilling the sweat dampening her body. Shivering in only her thin undershirt for protection, she embraced the cold, letting it wake her fully.
A hard crash like that was always difficult, always bringing back memories of the first time… of her mother’s death. This time though, the nightmares and tendrils of memory had been tempered by a cascade of crystal blue. The majestic light dimmed all the other colors of the event, shining brilliantly against the dark.
Surprisingly, she had woken alone, without Rodric, but maybe that was for the best. Her world was still spinning, leaving her feeling a mix of strong emotions. Despite the worry, elation that she’d broken through to Rodric, that he’d come to her, reigned strong. Suddenly nervous about their bond, she reached out, running awestruck fingers over it in a mental caress.
Deciding she could definitely use a moment to collect herself, she slipped out into the night. The sounds of the forest were crisp, calming her with their normalcy. Not everything had changed. Dahlia and Zora whickered softly to her as she passed. Stopping, she gave both of them some attention before moving on. A large flat stone stood out under the trees ahead, calling to her. Finding a comfortable position, she settled on the rock.
Thanks to their newly formed bond, she felt Rodric approach before she saw him. Purple-hued moonlight danced around him, illuminating him just enough for her to see. Strong shoulders led the way, his feet nearly silent as he came toward her. Sitting next to her, he remained quiet, letting the night surround them. Shifting, she turned sideways and picked up his hand.
“You saved my life last night.” The life of the boy, too, but she knew she probably needed to ease into that discussion.
“I think we saved each other. I had no idea…” His voice shook, and he dropped his eyes to look at their entwined hands.
“What really happened to your family, Rodric?”
She’d thought a lot about it since he’d told her about the fire. There had to be something more that he was reluctant to remember and share. Something more directly involving magic. Instincts honed by years of working with traumatized youth convinced her she was right.
He squeezed her hand tightly, seemingly unable, or not ready, to answer. At least he wasn’t running from her this time. She searched her own heart for something to share with him. To help him cross the bridge.
“I told you that the first time I used my magic was life or death. That I wasn’t able to save my mother.” She quavered, scents of wet earth and evergreen filling her nose as she imagined the moonlit night long ago. “The gold of my magic erupted from the dam holding it—that should have held it in for a few more years. I intuitively flooded Sam with it, strengthening him temporarily. I kept doing it, continually bringing myself to the brink in order to keep him alive. That instinct to save wrapped so strong around me as I knelt between him and my mother.” She stroked his hand in a soothing rhythm.
“If you know the risks, why do you do it? Why do you let yourself get so close to burning out? I could have lost you.”
