The two giant beasts fought each other while the Marauders did their best to save their ship. They dropped sails and tried to catch the winds that would take them to safety.
Gisela returned to her bird form to escape while the others were occupied.
But as she returned to the skies, she glanced back at the whale and squid.
Diflyn turned into an orca and when he did so, the whale vanished.
She gasped as she realized the whale had to be another shifter. One who’d been willing to help her. Why?
Wait a second. Could that possibly be…?
“Ronan?”
The odds seemed to be against it, but who else would have helped her?
At the moment, it didn’t matter. She needed to get herself out of this mess as quickly as she could.
Flapping her wings, she headed for shore. As soon as she was past the docks, she returned to her human form, then conjured clothes to wear.
Sadly, she couldn’t manifest weapons or do any other useful magic like others of her ilk could. But she’d take this, as it allowed her to blend in with the crowd. With any luck, Diflyn wouldn’t be able to find her now. There were too many other humans about for him to locate her.
At least, she hoped that was true.
“Gisela!”
She paused at the call from an unfamiliar voice. It’d been a woman.
Turning about, she tried to find the source.
No one seemed to be paying any attention to her at all.
Maybe she’d imagined it.
That was her thought until she tried to turn down an alley. Out of the shadows a shorter woman emerged to block her way.
The gold star in the center of her forehead was similar to the one the Marauder captain had borne.
When she tried to step around her, the woman refused to let her pass. “Ronan sent me after you. I’m Mischief.”
Of course, she was. It made perfect sense. “How did Ronan know I was here?”
“Xaydin sent word earlier that you were missing. We were about to begin our search when the giant squid attacked my brother’s ship.”
“Your brother hates fairies.”
Mischief laughed. “You have no idea. But it’s a hatred they deserve.” With her hand on the hilt of her sword, she stepped back and gestured for Gisela to go first.
“Where are you taking me?”
“To wait for Ronan to join us.”
Even though it made sense, she was reluctant to follow. She didn’t know this woman. Why would she give a stranger her back?
Mischief quirked a grin. “You don’t trust me.”
“Why would I?”
“Fair point. But I mean you no harm. I am an Outlaw. I’m here to help you.”
