Though the king visibly paled, he nodded and lifted a hand.
Without warning, the group of warriors fell through into court, wings flying open to soften their fall, though they still hit the landing and the stairs with a heavy thud.
When they shifted into formation, it revealed one of them carrying—
“Wait...” I turned to Soren, eyes widening. “Is that Peregrin?”
“Indeed it is,” Soren replied with a wide grin, not looking surprised in the slightest.
His words came back to me when he’d talked about Peregrin earlier.His task. Taking longer.And then what he’d said a few minutes ago:I really hopedhe’dbe back by now...
He meant Peregrin!
Audible gasps came from the folk below as the warriors spread out across the top of the stage and the stairs, taking up defensive positions in an organized triangle shape.
Lore and Julian didn’t seem quite as relaxed as Soren, but they each waved at Peregrin, where he’d been set down beside one of the winged fae, until they caught his attention.
He gave them a grin and a tiny wave back.
“You planned this, didn’t you?” I whispered to Soren, then stopped. “No, better question: What’s happening right now? Are we under attack?”
“Not at the moment,” Soren replied unhelpfully.
The army of winged fae, with their impressive shoulder plates and buckles, watched as their leader stepped forward, lowering his head in a slight bow to King Mordeus.
“Who are they?” I whispered.
But they answered my question before Soren could, as the leader straightened up and formally introduced himself to everyone in range. “My name is Alaric Fenewyn. I and the rest of the Grimhollow clan request an audience with the Hollow Court king.”
“ISENT PEREGRIN outearlier with an urgent message,” Soren whispered to me while King Mordeus gave Alaric and the other winged creatures a long formal greeting. “When we discussed your mother, you seemed to believe that she trulywouldact on her family’s behalf if she knew, so I concluded that perhaps someone should make her aware.”
He said it so simply.
But if he hadn’t told me about it, he must not have been sure it would work.
I searched their faces a second time.
