Cautiously, I crack open my eye, expecting a fanfare, golden streamers and fireworks, angels drinking merrily from a river of wine.
The reality, however, is quite a bit different.
I’m not dead, as it turns out. I’m still in the Greenwood, surrounded by the Bandits, who appear to be engaged in conflict, screaming and shouting, stabbing their fingers in the air or brandishing their weapons. Only, I can’t hear them. It’s as if I’m behind glass.
I frown, puzzled, and glance around for my companions.
Spinner’s eyes are wide and frightened. Beside her, Sheen is on his feet, one hand raised defensively towards the Bandits, the other directed at me.
And at last I understand.
The moment he drops the forcefield, a deluge of voices comes pouring in.
‘Iknewit,’ snarls Darrow, retrieving his hatchet from where it must have rebounded and buried itself in the trunk of a tall maple.
‘All of you, stayback!’ Briar hollers.
‘Etheri!’ Posy shrieks, recoiling from Sheen, Spinner and me as if we were her nightmares come to life. ‘Etheri! Etheri!’
I stagger to my feet, my arms raised in surrender. ‘Easy.’
‘Not another step,’ Darrow warns.
‘Look,’ I say, gritting my teeth. ‘Yes, we’re Etheri. No, we didn’t declare ourselves.’
‘Why not?’ Briar moves to stand protectively in front of Posy and the little ones.
‘We thought we’d be less conspicuous travelling as Fidra. And because you made it quite clear that you despise our kind, which, I might add, is rather generalizing.’
‘Flint,’ Spinner hisses.
‘What? It is. Holding hundreds of thousands of people accountable for the actions of only two.’ I take a deep breath, watching Sheen’s violet eyes flick among the Bandits. ‘Listen, I’m not going to stand here and defend the Earth Cleaver. The boy’s a sadistic prick –’
‘Harglade,’ cautions Sheen.
‘But as for the Storm Weaver,’ I continue brazenly, ‘I can promise you that she did not drown the empire deliberately. How could she? She was only a baby. It wasn’t her fault, but believe me, she still hates herself for it. She carries it with her every day.’
There’s a long, stunned silence. Even the trees seem to be staring at me.
Sheen half closes his eyes. ‘Let me guess,’ he mutters. ‘Oops?’
Briar’s voice is barely a whisper. ‘Youknowher?’
I square my shoulders, resolved. ‘Yes, I do. Rather well, in fact. And I know that she’d be devastated to learn of your situation.’
At that moment, I hear a voice.
Hervoice.
It’s unmistakable. As familiar to me as my own.
‘Flint?’
My heart races.
But for some inexplicable reason, Briar shakes her head in warning. ‘No. Don’t listen. It’s not who you think it is.’
‘Flint?’ Blaze calls eagerly. ‘Flint, is that you?’
