Chapter 38
DAVE WAITED FOR US, HIS scales letting off an orange glow in the light from the setting sun.
“Do you have it?” he asked, after I detached myself from Aven.
I held the bundle out for him in both hands. “I can’t quite believe it, but yes. We have the horn.”
“Congratulations.” His tone indicated he was less than enthused, his green eyes locked on the bundle in my hands.
My fingers clutched the cloth, the horn unbending beneath. “I know you’re wary about what the mages have planned for this. But Aven and I will fix it. I promise. Whatever it is.”
Dave acquiesced with a nod. “I know.”
Aven hadn’t moved from where I’d kissed them. They were staring confusedly into the distance. “How… how is the sun setting again?” They scratched along their jaw. “Did we… go back in time?”
Fire flickered out from between Dave’s teeth as he released an annoyed sigh. “You’ve been gone a full day.”
“What?” I asked, almost dropping the horn in surprise.
I quickly pushed it into Aven’s hands, then wrenched the parchment from my saddlebag.
The candle had burned down to a puddle, the inked flame flickering, the wick almost completely gone.
We had no time for moral dilemmas. I had to return to the Griff-Inn as soon as possible or all of this would have been for naught. “Can you fly us through the night?”
“I’ve been hunting only in the night for years. I think I can get us back to your village.”
Aven frowned. They handed over the horn once I was securely on Dave’s back, then climbed up behind me. Dave took off, flying low back the way we’d come—over the slabs of rock, the sunken castle, the rough, white-capped green of the Northern Sea, then inland across the rolling plains.
Aven’s breath was hot against my neck as they held on. Their voice a whisper on the wind, so I almost didn’t hear them when they said, “Take me to the castle.”
“What?” I asked, twisting in my seat. “Why?”
“Because I need to go. I have something to do.”
“But… the horn… the mages… my brother.”
“I know. But it’s important, Ellinore. I wouldn’t leave if it wasn’t.” The moonlight lit their expression with a soft glow, and they smiled. “Trust me.”
I did.
“Dave,” I called, leaning over his neck. “We need to drop Aven off at the castle.”
Aven kissed me after we had landed discreetly inside the castle walls on a patch of grass near the stable. They tugged me toward them with a hand on the back of my neck, making my toes curl in my boots and my mind go blank.
“I’ll see you soon,” they said, stumbling back as we finally parted.
“You better.”
“I promise.”
“Good. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I do know I’d like to face the aftermath with you.”
They smiled. “Same.” They stumbled another step on the green grass of the lawn.
I clambered up onto Dave’s back, one hand clenched on the leather strap, the other clinging to the horn.
“Goodbye, Ellinore the Brave,” Aven called in the still night. “Have fun. Try not to die.”
I laughed and shook my head at the echo of my own words from the day of my supposed retirement. “Just go. You’re embarrassing me in front of Dave.”
Aven waved and disappeared into the dark, footsteps fading as they crossed the courtyard into the keep.
Dawn broke just as we landed outside my childhood home.
Rainbow, Bleep, and Bloop were right where we’d left them in the paddock, joined by Bluebell, Starlight, and Carrot. They’d made it back!
The sheep bleated, and Dave’s stomach rumbled, his tongue lolling out between his razored teeth.
“My brother would kill me,” I said as Dave eyed them. I slid from his back, horn in my hand, saddlebag looped over my shoulder. I leaned against his side in my version of a hug. “Seriously. He loves those sheep. And we think that Rainbow might actually be a fauness.”
Dave snorted, a curl of smoke rising from his nostril. “And I might kill your brother if I don’t eat soon.”
I paused. “Dave?”
“It’s been too long. I must find food.”
“Okay. Well. Let’s get done with the mages, and then you can go hunt to your heart’s content in the mountains. I promise. Just a few hours more.”
“Ellinore,” Dave said with a quiet rumble, “you don’t need me. You can handle this.”
“But… I don’t have any way to call you if I need you.”
He smiled. “Then don’t need me.”
“But—”
“You are Ellinore. That’s all you need to be.”
Flapping his wings, he took off. He lazily made a circle, the sun glinting off the gold of his scales in a dazzling sight. Then he flew toward his lair.
Leaving me alone outside with the sheep. I shook my head and pushed open the door to my home.
Rylan stirred a pot of something over the hearth that smelled amazing, while Farrah dusted the windowsill, humming a ballad I didn’t recognize. As I entered, Rylan dropped his wooden spoon and Farrah squealed.
“Ellinore!” She tossed the rag and ran to me, barreling into me and enveloping me in a fierce embrace. “You made it! Do you have the horn?”
The relief at seeing them both alive and whole and there took me by utter surprise. “Yeah,” I said, swallowing hard to keep the happy tears at bay. “I do.”
Rylan’s eyes widened. “You killed the Elder Beast?”
“Of course not. I made a deal with it. It’s a long story, but the point is, I have the horn and we’re going to save Zig. Speaking of, where is he?”
“Resting,” Farrah said, fingers twisting in front of her. She pushed back a strand of dark hair. “We made it back late yesterday evening, even using Lord Ethan’s gold to fund some bribes and flashing his sigil to get us privileges.”
“And how is he…?”
Rylan and Farrah exchanged a worried glance. “He finished off the dragon potion last night,” Rylan said, brow furrowed.
“I’m fine.” Zig drew out the vowel of the latter word. He stood propped against the doorway to the only other room, face drawn and pale, arms crossed to hide the tremble of his hands.
“Really? Then come over here and say hi.”
Zig cocked his head to the side and squinted. “I’m comfortable where I am.” He leaned most of his weight against his shoulder. “But did I hear correctly? You have it?”
“Yeah. I have it. I’m going to the Griff-Inn right now.”
Rylan’s mouth went flat, and he bit his lower lip. He turned away from me, his shoulders up to his ears. He flicked his wrist, and the spoon flew from where it had fallen on the hearth into his hand. Huh. That was a new trick.
“Rylan,” I said. “I know you’re worried about the fallout. But we’ll handle it. You know, if you would want to keep questing with me. You and Farrah both.”
He spun, mouth agape. Farrah blinked; then a beaming smile stretched across her face. She embodied the midday sun, her hands rising to her cheeks. “All of us?”
“Yeah. It seems like my retirement will be postponed for a while. And you will have to get permission from your family to be on the road.”
She squealed again, jumping in place.
“And I have a specific job for you, Rylan, that I know would please the Elder Beast.” His mouth fell even farther. I was scared a fly might buzz in. “I’ll tell you more after this mage business is dealt with. But would you be interested?”
“Yes!” he yelled. Then he swallowed and composed himself. “I mean, yes. I would love to join.”
I smiled. “Great. Well, I’m leaving now because our time is almost out.”
“Oh!” Farrah gasped. “We have to ready the mounts!” She flung open the door and disappeared.
“That’s assuming we’re coming?” Rylan asked.
“I wouldn’t mind the backup.”
He grinned, then followed after her.
With those two out of the house, I approached my brother and engulfed him in a hug.
He sagged into me, his forehead on my shoulder, his hands loosely clasped around me.
Even though he was right there in my arms, he almost felt…
insubstantial, like he could blow away on the wind.
I held him tighter, needing the reassurance, needing him to stay corporeal.
“Where’s Aven?” he asked into the fabric of my tunic.
“At the castle. We’ll see them again soon.”
“Good. So you’ve worked it all out with them?”
“Mostly.”
Zig pulled away, his brown eyes dull but his lips ticked up at the corners. “You’ll be a princess after all. You’ll need an animal companion to complete the vibe. May I suggest Carrot?”
I laughed and pushed him gently. “Ew. I won’t be a princess. Ever. Even if it were possible, I wouldn’t entertain anything until after this is sorted. And I clear things up with the monarchs. And I take a short rest in or out of a dungeon. I’m tired from the stress.”
Zig chuckled. “You and me both. I thought you pushed us hard. Farrah is a whole other level.”
“Really?”
“Oh yes. Rylan and I were trying to come up with ways to get her to camp for the night, short of falling off our mounts.”
“Oh, Zig.”
He shrugged. “Do you have a plan for meeting with the mages? Last time didn’t go so well for me… or you.”
“I have an inkling of a plan,” I said.
“Better than last time?”
“Marginally.”
Zig snorted. “Great.”
“Don’t worry.” I opened my arms and gestured to myself. “I’m Ellinore.”
“Yes, you are. And you’re my sister, so I feel obligated to tell you how bad you smell.”
Mortified, I felt my face heat. I’d just spent several hours with Aven clinging to my back. “Really?”
“Oh yeah. Maybe wash up before you confront Forto and Quip,” Zig said with a wan smile. “And comb your hair. You look like you’ve been flying on a dragon.”