“And?”
At that, I stood and began to pace the small space, my anxietyobvious.
“I have some requirements,” I said, not looking her way.
She sat up straighter than before. “Let’s hear them.”
I curled my hands into fists at my side to keep from wringing them together as I paced.
“I wouldlike foryou to do more than train me,” I started. When shedidn’tobject, I carried on. “I would have youleavethis tower and join me at Gatlyn Castle. You would remain there, but unseen and unheard byalmost everyone.You’dbe ashadow, ifyou will. I would keep you clothed, fed, and healed, but youmustremain hidden. Also, aside from training myzirilium,I’dlike to consult youwheneverI please aboutanythingI please. You would act as an advisor ofsorts. I imagine you must know more about the South and their weaknesses than I, so together, we will defeat themonce and for all.”
I paced as I spoke, the possibilities in my mind becoming endless.
Yes. That would work.
Ithadto.
When Motherdeignedto answer, I paused my steps and cast my gaze towards her.
Her expression had been carefully crafted into neutrality, as though it was a lookshe’dpracticed often. Eventually, her shoulders sagged slightly, and she loosened a soft breath, as ifshe’dalready come to terms with her fate.
“So?” I inquired.
I wanted to know what she was thinking.
It was times like these that I wishedI’dhad my twin’s gift of naturally being able to readfaeas easily as the booksshe’dloved so dearly.
Ever so slowly, she got to her feet and stood, pushingoff the wallso as not to lean on it. Thealychitechains around her ankles clattered together as she moved, but shedidn’tseem to notice as she tilted her chin up to meet my gaze.
And when she finally spoke, she said exactly whatI’dbeen hoping to hear.
“When do we leave?”
***
Dusk fell overall ofNeokellswiftly. The sound of hammers and pickaxes hitting stone echoing off the surrounding landscape quieted as the encampment’s residents made their descent down the mountain.
Each day, they repeated the same routine.
They woke up before dawn and ate before the sun rose, headed up the mountain that housed the old mineshaft, labored the entire day away by collecting the very material used to trap them there, trekked back down the mountain for their second puny meal of the day, and then they were sent to the cabins and the surrounding areas to rest for the night.
And then they rose the next day, simply to do it all over again—adults and children alike.
It soundedfairly miserable, but considering the vast majority of thefaekept at the camp were Southerners, I couldn’t find it in me tocareall that much.
Though, Ididn’tfeel guilty for the Northerners forced into that camp, either. They were solely ones that had done something wrong and got caught—from petty crimes to murder. Each Northerner who was there had also had their wings clipped to stop any escape attempts from happening. After that, there was no chance of them flying to their freedom.
I caught sight of the moon through the tower’s slits, realizing that most of the encampment’s inhabitants had hit the hay after their long day of labor already.
Which meant it was time to get going.
I looked down toward the final stretch of the spiral staircase within the tower, careful to keep a firm grip on Mother—just in case. She was still weak, and the tower was extremely tall; the stairs had been achallenge in themselvesfor her to get down in one piece.
Once westeppedonto level ground again, Mother let out a softhuff, as though relieved. Val stood next tothe only door that led in or out of the structure, guarding it exactly asI’dordered.
Val and Ihadboth dressed in ridingleathers. Mine were so black I realizedI’dblend in against Ziana with ease, while Val’s had been colored a dark shade of maroon—the same as before, but with no brown in her outfit that time. We both had various weapons strapped to us, and if all had gone as planned on Val’s end, both of our griffins should be right outside with the rest of our things.
My Right Hand’s eyes widened slightly at the sight of my mother, but Ididn’thave time toattemptreading into her expression. We needed to get going.
