“I can give you a temporary rune,” he says. “Best to put it behind your ear, where it can’t immediately be seen by your adversaries. Press the rune like a call button, and I’ll come back.”
I don’t know what a ‘call button’ is, but the intent is clear enough. I’m not sure how I feel about him placing a rune on me, though.
Halle exhales heavily. “Fine. But go before I change my mind and make you both stay. You’re a darn sight safer here than out there.”
Orlan steps back toward the open door, his quick steps telling me that Halle really might be in danger of stopping us.
I give Anarchy a quick hug and my brother a nod. Lucian learned to distrust hugs, but my pack is working on that.
Soon enough, I exit the cold landscape and take a last look back at the place the keeper created before the door closes behind me.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Iarrive on Mount Greylock in a crouch, Orlan’s hand resting on my shoulder.
I’m immediately aware of the crunch of fallen leaves beneath my boots and the shadow of trees around me.
I blink against the influx of light, judging that it must be early morning out here.
I’m glad I thought to cover my eyes as I assess my surroundings: the trees and the steep slope ahead.
Rising to my feet, I listen for the sounds of anyone nearby.
Orlan remains beside me, also rapidly surveilling our surroundings, both of his hands raised, ready, no doubt, to call his magic if needed.
Everything is quiet.
The tension remains in Orlan’s shoulders as he continues scanning the trees. “Continue toward the summit, heading east, and you’ll find their cabin.” Then he points in the other direction. “There are hiking trails and skiing facilities that way, and you don’t want to encounter any humans who holiday there. There’s also a War Memorial tower near the summit, but again, stay east of that.”
I understand hiking, and I can picture what a memorial tower might look like, but I’m not sure about skiing. I don’t waste time asking.
Now that we’re away from the Underworld, where there could be many listening ears, I ask Orlan the question that could influence his ability to help me. “Halle seemed a little more concerned about your welfare than I was expecting. What are you to her?”
One corner of his mouth twitches up and he casts me a quick glance. “Just another orphan who needed a home.”
He focuses on the side of my neck before I can ask him more. “Ready for the rune?”
I sweep my unruly hair to the side to expose the left side of my neck, suddenly aware of how clumped the strands have become. I lived for years with matted tresses. My hair was never so well-kept as it became over the last month of living on Ryuji’s island.
Now it’s messy again.
Wild-Haired Woman.That’s what the keeper smugly suggested naming me. It might not be such an inaccurate descriptor, after all.
Orlan quietly presses his palms together, slowly pulling them apart to reveal a single, glowing symbol floating between them. It’s about the size of my thumb.
Still moving carefully, he taps the side of the rune with a forefinger to gather it up and then presses it to my skin beneath my left ear.
Meanwhile, I remain alert to our surroundings, but we’re still very much alone.
From the corner of my eye, I catch Orlan peering at the spot beneath my ear, a crease growing on his forehead.
“What is it?” I ask.
“The rune is starting to fade already. Your body must be rejecting my magic.”
As annoying as that is in this instance, I’m not sorry my body is taking care of the external magic placed on it. “How long has it got?”
“Maybe an hour at most. If it’s still there, you’ll feel three little bumps. The bumps will disappear as the rune’s power fades.”
