“I… I might have an idea, butit’squite a stretch,” I warned.
“Let’s hear it,” Teagan pitched in, and I noticed as she motioned for me to continue, therewas a long slice down her forearm, still bleeding. Chess must have not noticed yet, orhe’d havealready patched the princess up.
“I think we should—” I quickly cut myself off as a blur of black feathers caught my eye from afar.
I gasped, realizing that despite everything else we were juggling,I’dmade a promise to a stranger—to Valenia.
“We’ll be right back,” Isaidto theValwain, taking hold of Byn’s hand and shadow wielding us in the direction of the black feathers. My wielding felt a bit sluggish, causing us to move slower thanI’dhave liked. I nearly lost sight of the blur of black, but I moved just fast enough to keep him in mysights.
He crossed through the hole of the wall, where the navy—whichseemed to befull of kind-heartedfaedespite their profession—was guiding the prisoners out of the encampment. Some fell to their knees when they made it past the wall, asthey’dnever been beyond the confines of this place until that moment.
Breezing passed one of those kneelingfae, I shed the shadows that were carrying us as we finally caught up to the oneI’dbeen after.
“Kaison!” I called out toward the young male, who was a few strides ahead of Byn and me.
He came to a stop, turning around slowly. His frame was much too small for a fledgling of his age—ten, if I remembered correctly. His dark hair waslimpand his clothes were barely more than rags hanging onto his pale, too-thin form.He’dmost definitely lost weight since whenever the portrait of him had been painted, though it was stillhimstanding before me.
“How do you know my name?”heasked hesitantly, his gaze shifting from me then to Byn, and then back to me. Even his voice sounded weaker than I imagined it should have.
I slowly dropped into a crouch as I pulled the portrait Valenia had given me out of my pocket. It had become slightly crumpled at the edges, but itremainedwhole as I unfolded it and held it out towards him.
“Your aunt sent me,” I said gently as he drew near and took the picture from my grasp. “Her name is Valenia, right?”
His head snapped up at the mention of her name, as though beyondsurprised. Then he nodded.
“She… she really sent you? Is she here?” Kai began to look around.
“It’s just us, sweetheart,” I said softly. “My name is Aviva, and this is my husband, Robyn. Your aunt asked us to keep an eye on you for her—just until she can come for you.”
“Aviva as in the Princess of the North? I heard you were taken by the South, and yet…”Hisgaze slid to Byn, who had crouched down next to me.
“I promise, there’s much more to the story than what you’ve heard,” Byn reassured him.
Kai nodded, though he had a curious glint in his eyes.
“Would you do me a favor, Kai?” I asked him, drawing his attention back to me.
“Of course,” he responded.
“Would you be willing to come with us so I can uphold the promise I made to your aunt to keep you safe? And I promise—youwillbe safe.” I held out my hand toward him, palm up.
The fledgling paused for a moment, contemplating. I watched as he looked down at the portrait in his hand, his younger self staring up at him.
“Auntie Val always said names were important. That youcan’tgive somebody your full name unless you trust them,” Kai said, shifting his gaze toward me. “But she gave you her name. And if she trusts you, then I trust you, too. So…yes,I’llgo with you.”
I smiled as he placed his hand into mine and handed the portrait back. I slipped it back into my pocket as I lightly gripped the young male’s hand.
“You won’t regret this, I promise,” I assured him.
“I know,” Kai said matter-of-factly.
I felt Byn’s warmth in my own chest as I reached for his hand with my spare one. Walking back in the direction of theValwain,Bynfinally asked what I knewhe’dbeenwondering.
“What was it you were going to say to the group?”
I bit mylipat the question, wondering howstupid ofan idea it was. But at least if itwastruly that bad, Byn could tell me and save me the embarrassment of presenting the idea to the rest of theValwain.
I sighed, leaning toward him so Kai couldn’t hear me as I finally said what I’d been considering.
