With a rush of wings, Raska landed in front of Valenna and reached out her scabrous beak. Fighting back sobs, Valenna lifted her bloodied hand and touched it.
As if washed clean by a torrent of rain, the tarry black on Raska’s plumage melted away. Beneath it, her feathers were pure white, tipped with gold.
“Raska?” Valenna breathed, looking up through swollen eyes. “All this time?”
Raska lifted her resplendent head and sang a mournful song, an elegy.
The Dread Five crew whirled around, then dropped to their knees, their heads bowed.
The sunbird had spoken. Valenna’s magic bore witness. She was Tahlia’s heir, the bearer of spring. The Botania.
Valenna didn’t notice or care. She stared through tears at Evander’s face, stroking the hair from his brow and running her fingers over the gash in his cheek. She had recalled this wasteland to life; perhaps she could summon him as well.
But Valenna’s magic had no such power.
Raska—the sunbird—edged closer.
“Could you still take him to his mother?” she asked. “Even if you no longer need her magic?”
With a slight hesitation, Raska nodded.
“But I promised,” Valenna choked. “I promised him I wouldn’t.”
The bird seemed to understand.
Clutching his body, Valenna looked down at Evander again and realized it was the last time she would ever see him. In a moment, she would have to hand his body to some stranger who would bind him in cloth and take him away to be buried in the cold, lonely ground; every piece of him, lost—a treasure dropped into the sea.
She would never again bask in his lovely smiles, or feel his gentle hands, or wake up beside him in the gray morning light.
She couldn’t bear it. She might as well climb into the ground with him, bury herself at his side. How could she live without him? What would be the point?
“WAIT!” she cried.
Her splendid wings spread and ready to fly away, Raska paused.
“Take him,” Valenna said. “Take him to his mother. If she can save him.”
Raska hesitated.
“I know.” Valenna bent over Evander’s body. “I shouldn’t … But I can’t bear it. Just take him. Please.” She touched her forehead to his and sobbed. “Forgive me. I’m so weak, and I don’t know how to let you go.”
With a sorrowful hum, Raska bent down and touched her brow to Valenna’s.
“Please,” Valenna whispered. “I haven’t the courage to let him go.”
Raska waited while Valenna kissed Evander’s forehead and ran her hand once more down his cheek. She studied every detail of his face so she would remember him. Then she eased him onto the ground again and sat back on her heels. Raska took Evander’sbody gently in her massive talons, flapped her wings, and bore him away.
Valenna watched through a blur of tears as Raska disappeared into the clouds. When she could no longer make out the bird’s form, she hugged her ribs and wept.
Chapter fifty-nine
Valenna
Evander could not be gone. It was impossible. No, any moment, he would walk into the lean-to, beaming with victory and awaken her from this suffocating nightmare. He would kiss her, they would embrace, and she would be folded, safe and warm, against his chest. She would lie her head down and listen to the steady thrum of his heartbeat.
After all, he promised he would wear his magical shirt, so he couldn’t have been killed. Why would he take it off, knowing the danger?
But Evander never came.
