Ember circling overhead, scouting in close range above them.She had been quiet and brooding during the past month, even more short-tempered than usual.Though she hadn’t responded to any prodding, Daya suspected that Ember’s attachment to Connor had extended to encompass Veda as well.She rarely let the girl out of her sight.
Ereven, any sign of Connor’s people?Daya’s mind reached far to connect with her winged partner who was out scouting much farther ahead.
Yes, I’ve found them.Two with magic.A day’s ride out.
We’ll wait and camp near the river then.
Visiting the fortress was one thing, but she didn’t want Veda having to sleep there.She usually left Veda guarded by Neka and Ember at the river while she saw to the prisoners.She hated to leave Veda alone for even that short amount of time, but it had to be done.The sooner the prisoners left, the better.She only hoped that keeping them alive served to assist Connor in his hunt.
Thetwotravelersmadetheir final approach with intense speed, as if they knew exactly where they were going.Dressed in dark shades with weapons visible, they looked like typical mercenaries for hire.
Ereven flew with them, an escort of sorts, as they rode onto the fortress grounds.
Stay back with Neka and Ember,Daya reminded Veda.These people are very dangerous.
To us?Veda asked.
I don’t think so, but stay hidden until we’re sure.
Despite their appearance, there was nothing average about the man and woman who rode toward her.Their energy was familiarly lethal.Thrumming like the sharp edge of a dangerous weapon that invoked caution to those around.
Daya breathed a sigh of relief as she assessed the feelings she and the mountain were getting off the strangers.Cass had sent Wolflumen to pick up the prisoners, not another Lightning Team.She hadn’t recognized how nervous she’d been to interact with another team of warriors until the burden had disappeared.Wolflumen, she was okay with, even eager to meet.
The man leapt down from his horse and stepped forward.“Dayanara of Hannelore?”
Besides Connor, Cass was the only living person who knew her given name.
“Cassia sent you?”Daya asked, remembering to use the name her Wolflumen clanmates used.
“To retrieve two troublesome packages from the mountain’s guardian, yes.”The man smiled, sun-wrinkled cheeks crinkling with the movement.It made him seem much less threatening than he actually was.“I’m Kovvar, and this is Evie, of the Wolflumen clan.”
“I’m Dayanara,” she confirmed and gestured to the sky.“And your escort is Ereven.”
“Ah, yes.We met earlier.”Kovvar gave a respectful nod upward to the hawk.“Cassia told us the hawks would lead the way once we got close enough.”
Evie nodded a silent greeting, staying on her horse as she assessed Daya from afar.Startling eyes—one pale blue and one brown—shone with intelligence even from a distance.Her dark hair splayed around her shoulders with an energetic charge of its own, as if recently struck with the powerful charge of a lightning bolt.She was at least a decade younger than Kovvar, only a handful of years older than the teen girl they’d rescued, if Daya had to guess.
“Thank you for coming,” Daya said.“Cassia wanted these two alive for questioning but couldn’t take them at the time.I’ll be glad to have them off my mountain.”
“It’s no trouble,” Kovvar said.“We’re happy for a reason to return to Calderre, actually.It’s been a while.Living out of safe havens is not the same as being home.”
Though an intensity vibrated from him as it did Cass, he had Connor’s charm and friendly demeanor.Not what she would have expected in another Wolflumen.
Kovvar looked back at Evie.Some silent communication must have passed between them because Evie finally jumped down from her pure black horse and came to join them.
“What condition are they in for travel?”Kovvar asked, turning back to Daya.
“Uninjured but weak.They’ve been locked up for a month with water and minimal rations.I don’t have horses for them.Didn’t want to leave any here with the risk of them escaping.”
“No need to make life easy on them,” Evie murmured.
“We’ll have to fetch a few from that town we passed,” Kovvar said, scratching his chin.“Evie, you want to stay or come with?”
“I’ll stay.”Evie gave Daya another assessing glance.“Is it just you?”
“No.”
Though her instinct was to keep Veda hidden and isolated for her own protection, she didn’t want to stifle her.Determined to make her own way and not be controlled by the past, Daya took the risk.
