The Vandawolf has landed with his head on my chest, his torso half on mine, his legs on the ground. My left shoulder took the brunt of the fall, but by some miracle, I don’t sense any broken bones.
Once more, I find myself staring up at the night sky, except that this time, it’s filled with streaks of unnatural lightning and the thunder of wings as a cascade of birds stream toward the castle and veer toward different platforms.
Moments later, the two fae warriors Elowynn chose earlier place the stretcher down beside me. They’re joined by two more women, each staring down at me, apparently waiting for me to drag the Vandawolf onto the bed.
I tell myself it will be the last time I need to do this.
I convince myself I’m not already pushed beyond my endurance.
Maneuvering him onto his back, I fight the pain, which has become my constant enemy—or maybe my friend, since it spurs me on.
Somehow, I get him back onto the stretcher and then I drop to my knees beside him, aware of how quiet it is now that all the birds have landed.
The women lift him into the air and then they’re carrying him away.
I stumble upright, but I pause for a moment to incline my head in a small gesture of thanks to the bird for bringing us here. “Thank you for not tipping us off. I apologize for threatening to harm you. And for falling through your wing.”
Concord responds by inclining her head, her feathers rustling a little.
Ahead of me, Elowynn has been joined by Gliss, although my brother hangs back near me.
Somehow, I move.
I’m too tired to care about the mistrustful expressions of the fae women around me and the way they narrow their eyes, as if I’m their worst enemy.
Perhaps I am.
I stay close to the stretcher as our path takes us inside the castle.
I pray I’m not about to step into a nest of vipers worse than the one in the wasteland.
Chapter13
Elowynn and Gliss drop back so that they’re directly in front of the women carrying the stretcher. Gallium stays close on my right as we enter the castle and descend down a wide, sloping walkway to an equally large hallway with arched doorways on either side. The doorways reveal rooms lined with saddles and armor all neatly laid out on shelves or hanging on the walls.
I have no hope of memorizing the path as we navigate a maze of corridors and chambers that extends much farther back into the mountain than I was expecting.
There are no explanations from the women surrounding me, only their constant, soft footfalls.
Just when I think we can’t go much farther into the mountain, the path seems to veer outward again and the air becomes fresher. Gallium is a constant at my side, his arm lifting when I stumble, but I steer clear of his touch.
My brother is loyal and kind. My decision to bring the Vandawolf with me may deeply concern him, but there’s no accusation in his body language now. Nothing but worry as he risks reaching out to support me.
“Commander Dawn,” he calls to Elowynn, who has remained ahead of us. “How much farther?”
Elowynn casts a glance back at us. Her focus lingers on him, but it’s sharp on me. “The Queen is in the ballroom, entertaining her chosen companions for the evening. We’re nearly there.”
Sure enough, the women ahead of Elowynn quicken their pace and within moments, they split to either side, lining the walls and stopping there.
Elowynn and Gliss continue ahead of the stretcher bearers while Gallium and I follow.
We approach a brightly lit opening that’s arched like the doorways along the corridors, but much higher and wider. Lilting music wafts from the room ahead, the slight echo in the melody indicating we’re about to enter a much larger room than any we passed.
As we approach, my chest fills with a scent I don’t recognize. It’s reminiscent of the smell of vanilla cakes that would float from bakeries when I was a small child and my parents didn’t yet know I would be different than other Blacksmith children. It was a sweet smell that clashed with the harsh reality of the lives of the humans who baked those cakes.
Behind me, five of the fae I thought would remain on guard against the wall peel off as I pass by and follow at my back.
When I finally step into the ballroom, they form a line across the opening as if to block any escape. I pay them no mind. I could decimate them if I wish.
