“Alright, but I do expect you to beg my forgiveness,” she said over her shoulder, suppressing a grin.
Just then, something brushed over her head, bullet-fast, knocking her hat loose. She ducked. It flew back around, slower.
A falcon. It had something furry in its claws.
As it passed her again, it dropped the bundle at her feet.
A mouse’s severed head.
“She brought you a gift!”
Heart leaping at the familiar voice, Anya rose and turned. A woman her age, a bit taller, with cropped, feathery, yellow hair, a flask of brandy and a rifle. The falcon landed on the custom leather pad on her shoulder. “Her taste is questionable, but we do appreciate her efforts!”
Perrine, Anya’s one and only friend. A fellow hunter, who she saw only in winter at Hivernal Lodge. Only in winter, because Perrine lived on the opposite side of the Lichtenwald, the Preule side, just as rife with sport as the Gescany side. A licensed Preulian hunter, one of their king’s own – not a poacher, like Anya. She had no reason to be on this side of the forest, no reason to risk the fines or the international scandal it could nevertheless cause in the unlikely chance she were caught by one of Edgard’s foresters, let alone the magic that thrived this deep.
Which meant one of two things: either that was not really Perrine.
Or Perrine was hunting the phoenix.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Before, sitting at the table set with silver by silent servants had forced him into a semblance of civility. But now, surrounded by nothing but an endless sea of trees, by birds and beetles, Sy found himself unwilling to keep up the charade.
Especially not with Terrence. He was sure he was not the only one effected by the wild air, and though David trusted this boar, Sy did not.
“What are you doing out here?” he demanded bluntly. “Where are the others?”
“A fine hello,” Terrence returned. “David and Bertrand have wandered off for firewood. I, far more sensibly, am looking for food.”
“What of your wagons?”
Terrence stood up straighter. “Seems yourcompanionrelieved our wheels of their axles in the night.”
He must have found some sleep, then, for he had believed her to be asleep beside him all night.Light sabotage, indeed. He felt both amused and unaccountably defensive. “You’ve no proof it was her.”
“You’re right,” Terrence jeered, waving his hands. “Must have been thespirits.”
Sy winced. He couldn’t believe he’d let himself have anything in common with this creature. “I asked you where the others went.”
“Most of them took the horses and went home, but those of us left stuck together. You’ve always been a bit soft, so let me give you some advice. Safety in numbers. Keep yourself to the center of the herd, and you’ll be the last one standing.”
Sy folded his arms over his chest, impatient.
Terrence lifted his, acquiescent. “We were together, but then Claude and Aquila snuck off on their own. Sabina was with us too, but she disappeared.”
Remembering the distressed sound that had led Anya away, Sy felt his blood drain. Since he had little to spare, it nearly made him swoon. “And you didn’t go after her?”
“We tried, but she vanished,” he said, yawning. “We decided to make a camp and let her find us.”
“You seem to be taking it well,” Sy said through clenched teeth. “There should be someone there to meet her, if she finds it. She could be injured. Afraid.”
“Don’t worry your pretty head, Sylas. David and Bertrand may be back already. And I’m going back soon. I’ll have to.” Again, he yawned, stretching casually. “I’m exhausted.”
“The day’s barely half over.”
Terrence frowned. “It’s nearly sunset.”
Alarmed, Sy looked up. What he had taken for morning light was in fact late evening.
