Rise needed answers. “Do you have wings?”
Without even looking over his shoulder, Atta nodded and shrugged. “Yeah, but they’re too small for me to fly. Mom said they would grow, but they haven’t yet.”
“Where are your mother and you from, Atta?” A glimmer of something Rise couldn’t name began to bloom in his mind. If Rise were any indication, he had to come from a warrior class of people. If there were others like him, maybe he could gather more fighters. Maybe he could convince them that his fight was their fight. Maybe, just maybe, he wouldn’t feel like such an outsider.
“I don’t really remember where we came from. We got lost or something.” He sighed dramatically. “I just want to find my mom.”
Rise could feel Liv’s gaze on him. In a low voice, she said, “You know, his mom would probably have the answers to your questions.”
He knew she was right, but just the thought of what they would have to do to find her was enough to make him surly inside. With a growl, he said, “I don’t have time for a side quest.”
“I have a feeling it’s all connected somehow. I think we’re supposed to find her.”
That glimmer of whatever was building inside of him bloomed once more. What if she were right? What if by finding the boy’s mother, they could find a permanent way to defeat Grawl forever? He still wasn’t completely convinced though.
“What about your own mission to find your curse breaker or whatever?”
“Call it a hunch, but I get the sense that we’re supposed to help him. I think it will all come together if we do.”
“I thought you didn’t know what sorcery powers you had. Are you telling me you get premonitions now?”
“I don’t know if what I feel has anything to do with my abilities or not, but we’re meant to find his mother. Of that, I’m certain.”
Rise shook his head slowly back and forth. If she were right, how did they even begin to search for a woman who could be anywhere, with anyone. So far, the kid’s information had been lacking in detail. “And, just how do you propose we get started finding a bad man with cold eyes and an angry mouth?”
Liv pursed her lips, clearly irritated with him. She turned her attention back to Atta. “Can you tell us anything more about the person who took your mother? Was he alone or did he have people with him?”
“Lots of creatures. All kinds of them. They rode on horses, like his.” He pointed toward Rise, who had introduced Atta to Nick as he placed the feedbag on Nick’s head before going into the cave.
“Can you remember anything else? Anything that might help us figure out who it was?”
Atta’s eyebrows dipped in concentration for a few, quiet moments before his demeanor brightened and he shouted, “I remember something! There was a picture of a crown with hornsgrowing out of it on the side of the wagon that the mean guy was riding in.”
Rise heard Liv’s intake of breath. Something had clicked with her.
He turned his gaze toward her. “What? Do you know this symbol of which he speaks?”
She nodded. “Lord Thrait. He’s an ally of Grawl’s. That’s whose household wears that particular banner.”
“Do you know where to find him? Where he would take Atta’s mother?”
“It’s been many years, but I think I could probably find his lands. He and his people lived in the swampy region between Grawl’s lands and the Wilder Sea.”
“I know where that is. It’s not too far from an exit portal on the other side of that ridge. We could probably make it there before nightfall if we go now.”
“So, you’re on board? We’re going to save the boy’s mother?”
“We still don’t have time for a side quest, but we can assess the situation and make a decision once we’re there.”
Liv gave him a knowing smirk, but, for once, he didn’t take the bait. Let her think she had won. They were pushing closer to Grawl, even with a march through the swamps. If he happened to find some answers about his origins, he wouldn’t say no to that.
Clapping his hands together, the kid piped up, “Great! I’ll get my friends! They’ll be so excited.”
The realization of exactly who Atta meant hit him like a rock to the head. “No! Dammit, no! No friends! I don’t have time to babysit a kid and a sexy, deadly warrior princess, matter alone a couple of lethal monsters that might attack at any moment. Absolutely not! They can stay here, but they’re not coming with us.”
Rise’s words replayed in his mind when he saw the confused look in Liv’s eyes.
“You think I’m…deadly?”
