That was what he wanted now. He just needed to get his bearings and evade Meara and her troops.
Those were his thoughts until they reached the lodge where he’d originally planned to hide out.
At first, like Dreama, he had no idea who they were. Just an odd collection of beings lounging about for unknown reasons.
Until Aderyn walked into the room. He knew her by sight. She was one of the commanders for the High King’s cavalry. A beautiful dapple-gray unicorn with stocking and a large star in the middle of her forehead that highlighted her orange horn, she was a beautiful brunette in human form.
The other he’d never seen before. A dark-skinned woman with gold eyes. A red-headed man and another man who could have passed himself off as part mountain. The last of their group was a frail woman who reminded him of the fey. But he’d lived among them long enough to know that she wasn’t one of them.
She was something else.
“Elpis?”
She turned toward the mountain, and the moment she did, he saw the tiny horns on her head and realized that she was an oni. His breath caught. The oni rarely involved themselves in the affairs of any other species. They preferred their own kingdom and only left it for war.
Why would one of their breed be here?
It didn’t make sense.
Holding his hand out to silence his companions, Bink crept closer, wanting to hear what was going on.
Aderyn folded her arms over her chest. “Should we send Chrys to Dash to let him know what’s going on?”
The mountain scratched at his beard. “Forewarned is forearmed. He needs to know what he’s walking into.”
The red-headed man let out a tired sigh. “I just wish Ryper or Xaydin were here. They’d know what to do.”
The mountain laughed. “They’d have already wiped out at least half of them.”
“Very true.” Aderyn inclined her head to them. “I’ll go send Chrys off. I’m the one least likely to be noticed here.”
“Leave Chrys to her nest. I’ll go in her stead.”
They all stared at the mountain over his offer.
“What?” he asked defensively. “I can get there quicker than she can, and evade others if need be. Y’all stay here and wait. I’ll get back with news as soon as I can. Hopefully, Dash won’t be far behind.”
“Be careful, Ronan,” Aderyn said. “We don’t know what’s between us and the elves.”
“We’re about to find out. Y’all be safe here. Keep your eyes open.” Ronan turned himself into a peregrine falcon. “Someone want to open a door or window for me?”
The redhead tsked. “Should have thought of that before you changed forms, old man.”
“Don’t start with me, Cadoc. I’ll peck out your eyes.”
Laughing, Cadoc moved to a window not far from Bink and opened it.
Bink motioned his companions to crouch down lower. His heart pounding, he held his breath until Ronan vanished into the sky.
That was close. Grateful they hadn’t been seen, he motioned his companions off to the woods.
“What’s going on?” Dreama whispered.
“They’re friends of the king.”
Her eyes widened.
Fort pulled the cloth away from his stillbleeding lips. “What are we going to do?”
