Wylde Magic | Book 3

Forty Six: Messenger Bird

My nap aroused no suspicion among the eyes Peyorla had watching us. Or at least, they didn't show any signs if it did. Calming my heartbeat as Spaulder and Schula analyzed the Mother's dream with me was challenge enough. The factor most on my side in this was the waterfall behind our quarters that added enough noise to cover my heart.

So many revelations all at once. That whatever kind of savior I felt the need to be for Thanantholl... it wasn't me who was meant to save it. I didn't realize what fabrication I had my head wrapped around with that notion anyway. It probably boiled down to my need to protect what's precious to me. Mother and Stars know I've lost things before, and now with the power of the Wyldes at my fingertips and the craft of the witches in my mind, I was not going to let things go so lightly ever again.

'The first thing we need to do is assess the state the Autumn refugees are in,' Spaulder commented. 'I could simply fly over the city and have a look for myself.'

We appeared to all the world as though we were a triquetram having a lazy day in the warm grass by the pond. But within, our discussions were of the utmost seriousness. If any of them suspected that Spaulder's conversation could be for our chosen minds and not just to everyone around him, it wasn't addressed. Maybe Peyorla already suspected, but what could she realistically do to separate a dragon from his loved ones?

Other than threaten our people.

I sighed, rolling on my side to look Spaulder in his golden eyes.

'The question then would be if Peyorla would retaliate or not,' I added. 'If she decides it's an act of resistance from us, will she take it out on the Autumn court?'

'She said she wouldn't,' Schula said. 'And I'm inclined to believe her. Fae aren't ones to lie and there was little room to twist the truth in what she said before. Besides, if her true pursuit is to rule as her father had, then she sees herself as the peace keeper of the Wyldes, albeit a twisted version of it. She wouldn't take our actions out on the innocent.'

'If we had outside eyes this would be no problem at all,' Spaulder said with a huff.

My hand went to my pocket where the acorn and the ring still sat. I bit my lower lip, maybe now was the time, though I still didn't know who it was that wanted my attention so badly before.

I wrapped my fingers around the contents of my pocket, taking a calming breath as I looked around the pond to all the Summer creatures that had been stationed nearby. None of them too obvious, but they were there and their intent was plain to me. I couldn't risk pulling the ring out in front of them, but if we suddenly moved inside would that be suspicious?

'Actually,' I started slowly, 'There might be someone-'

Trumpets cut me off. They sounded from down the mountainside, into the open fields we had come from in the first place.

"A returning hunt?" I could hear one of our guards asking her companion in hushed tones. Not quite hushed enough to hide it from me, even with the waterfall behind us. 

'This is no hunt,' Spaulder said, lifting his head and staring down across the city. 'This is...'

From such a high vantage point, there was little he could not see. I could understand why the throne of Yusellia was built here.

The Summer court around us was now on high alert. A mix of curiosity and caution that wouldn't be so prevalent if this were an ordinary occurrence to them.

I stood slowly, reaching over to use the sturdiness of Spaulder's shoulder as I got up.

'What can you see, Spaulder?' Schula asked, also rising to her feet.