To Learn To Fall (Sequel to the Other Side)

Chapter Thirteen

The wind blew strong and fast, and the light gray clouds above hid the sun away from prying eyes. The coolness of the day was refreshing, and quite welcome, but I could hardly hear anything over the wind's roaring song.

"You don't see anything?" said Belletra, struggling to keep up with me. Her voice was just audible over the wind whipping through my hair.

I shook my head and slowed my rapid flight. My wings beat against the wind as I surveyed the green fields below.

"I'm too high."

"You can't go any closer to the ground if they're there. They'll hurt you."

"Well, I don't really have a choice, do I?"

"Do you see Philip at all?"

After swooping down to land in a nearby tree, I scanned the ground once more. No luck. He wasn't anywhere near me.

I closed my eyes and concentrated until I found a spike of energy that I identified as him.

"They're over there," I said, lifting my chin to his direction, just west of us. "Are you ready to head back now?"

Belletra landed on the branch just a little ways above my head and stared at the wood. Her beak fell open, and she shook her wings out. "I guess that's the only thing we can do."

I extended my arm out to her, and she landed on my hand. I brought her close to my face and kissed her head before setting her down in the insides of my jacket. "Hold on, okay?"

"Will do." It's strange how much I missed the sarcastic remark she usually would have had in response. But I suppose the threat that was posed by word that the king was near and looking for us was enough to get to even Belletra.

I used the branch to launch back into the sky and flew back over the deep emerald green fields covered in clovers and grass. It was rather a pretty sight, and it was too bad I couldn't take the time to enjoy it. Maybe, when this is over and if I'm still alive, Alexander and I could take a walk here.

If.

I forced the thought away as I continued to fly, watching the ground the entire time.

Thirty minutes flew by before I hit the ground again.

Lafayette, who was sitting on a large stone, started at my sudden appearance, but he relaxed when he realized that it was me. "Well?"

Philip was leaning against a tree next to Lafayette, and he looked up as well, though he was quiet.

"I didn't see anything, but that doesn't really mean that nothing's out there." I looked over my shoulder. "I think we should go back now."

Lafayette shook his head. "We can't. Not yet. Not until we figure this out." He was rolling a pebble between his fingers, staring down at it as if it would contain all the answers he needed.

I don't know what made me do it. Perhaps it was the daunting thought that my days were limited. I reached out and gently placed my hand on his arm.

"You need to calm down." The remark was softer than it usually would have been.

"I am calm," he said after a moment, surprised by my gesture.

"You are not calm," Philip finally said. He straightened himself and crossed his arms. "What are we going to do?"

"The best thing we can do is go back to Washington and tell him we didn't see anything."

"Do you think we can just do that?"