CHAPTER FOURTEEN
My necklace pulsed again. But I couldn’t stop staring at the fletching of the arrow, buried deep in the trunk of the oak tree.
I gaped at it, opening and then closing my mouth.
As if sheer disbelief could invalidate its existence.
My mind looped the same thought over and over in shock.
Somebody shot at us! Could it be an accident?
An inept hunter shooting game along the river?
I scanned the riverbank, but it was uninhabited.
Thwack.
A second arrow hit the ground. Nope! Definitely intentional!
Corvin cursed loudly. In one fluid movement, he rolled his powerful body, taking me with him.
Thwack.
A third arrow burrowed itself into the dirt at our side.
“We’re flying out of here!” Corvin called out frantically, tugging a feather off his cloak.
As it dropped, crimson tendrils of magic exploded into life.
The next moment, we both vanished from sight.
Corvin turned us invisible! It took me several moments to see through the illusion.
This wasn’t Fae magic. This was…something different.
New to me. Powerful. Corvin gripped my hand, hauling me to a standing position.
I scanned our surroundings in a blind panic, but there was no sign of our adversary.
Soft lips brushed my ear. “Don’t let go!”
“Wha—”
My question died on my lips as Corvin slid his strong arms under my knees, hurriedly lifting me up until I was cradled against his chest, my arms wrapped around his neck.
He shifted his majestic midnight-black wings into being.
Whoosh. They flapped repeatedly as he bent his knees, tightening his grip on my body at the same time.
Thwack. An arrow whizzed past my ear, so close I could feel the air it displaced.
My stomach dropped out from under me as Corvin launched us upward in a powerful leap, taking to the sky. I nestled my nose into the side of his neck, too terrified to give it a second thought, swallowing a scream. “Don’t drop me!” I screeched. It didn’t really need to be said.
Corvin’s voice was reassuring. “I’ve got you, Elvira. I won’t let you go. You can relax. We should be safe up here.” He flapped his wings, taking us even higher into the sky. He flew in an erratic pattern, even though we were still invisible.
No more arrows found us.
The landscape rapidly faded out of view as we continued to gain altitude.
I looked down at the winding river below and the cityscape farther ahead.
The cool breeze walking next to the river had been pleasant.
Now that we were flying, the air turned uncomfortably cold, harshly buffeting my face, causing my eyes to water and a strand of hair to escape my braid.
I didn’t dare tuck it back behind my ear.
I stopped looking at the scenery so I could focus on Corvin holding me.
I kept losing sight of him, my distraction causing his appearance to flicker in and out of sight.
Even with Fae Sight, I was finding it difficult to consistently see through his invisibility.
The fact I was flying for the first time didn’t help my concentration.
“Kygraw is going to kill me for using a Sigbin feather.” Corvin muttered gloomily.
“I’m flying us to the city gate. Do you have any idea what that was all about?
Without your necklace warning us to get down, we might very well be dead right now.
How does it work?” And we hadn’t even started our true mission yet.
“I’m not certain. But it seems to help me when I’m traveling. I don’t think it works otherwise. I’m learning that moonstone can be very powerful. One of the books in my study called it a traveler’s stone. At least, this necklace seems to protect me and help guide my path when I’m out on the road.”
Corvin grunted. “That’s useful.”
“What’s a Sigbin?” I asked, stuck on his first comment.
“Huh? Oh, terrifying creatures. They turn invisible when hunting for blood at night. Very rare. They sort of look like a hornless goat, but their tails are sometimes feathered.”
“I don’t care how terrifying they are—if I ever meet one, I’m thanking it.
” My voice turned remorseful. “I don’t know what to say.
I didn’t actually think… Well, it doesn’t matter what I thought.
Someone is clearly trying to kill me. And I should have warned you sooner—I’m so sorry.
An acquaintance of mine visited the island.
Told me someone approached him for hire. Offered him money to attack me.”
“What!? Who? And for what possible reason?” Corvin tightened his arms around me.
“I don’t know. He couldn’t remember their face, like he’d been glamoured. It might be a Fae from the Spring Court. I’m still trying to puzzle it all out. We could still be in danger. I wonder if they’ve been tracking me all this time.”
“Maybe. Or someone was stationed at the river. Waiting for you.”
“That’s a terrifying thought.”
“It would make sense if they knew you were leaving.”
I frowned. “What are you implying?”
“That Terani tricked you,” Corvin declared, his voice dropping to a low growl. “Helped lead you into a trap, convinced you to journey into Kothia, just so that archer could attack you at the river.”
“No,” I refuted. “I don’t believe that; she needs my help.”
His mouth cut a hard line. “People lie.”
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean everyone does. I don’t think she deceived me.”
“Why aren’t you more suspicious?” he spluttered, a passionate edge to his voice. “I think you should at least entertain the idea she wasn’t being truthful with you—”
“Why are you so certain she betrayed us in the first place?” I questioned heatedly. Did he really think I was that naive? I may be sheltered, but I had good reason to trust Terani’s word.
His tone darkened. “Because something similar happened to me when I was a child. I flew too far from home, befriended somebody who meant me harm. He gave me gifts, convinced me to tell him things I shouldn’t have.
In the end, my mother gave her life protecting me and our home from his betrayal.
I still have a scar on my chest where he stabbed me. ”
The air deflated from my lungs. “That’s…I didn’t…I didn’t realize…”
“I’m just saying you can’t trust everyone you meet. We might need to rethink our plans.”
“You’re probably right to question her after what just happened, but I trust Terani.
I trust her because of the magic in our bargain.
That’s how I know she didn’t trick us. When she visited my island, she offered me a moonstone, and I could feel her intentions imbued within it when she placed it in my basin.
I don’t know how else to describe it, but I know she wasn’t lying to me.
That her motivations for seeking my help were pure of heart.
” We dipped downward, my stomach flipping at the sensation.
“Besides, Fiere the phoenix sent her to me, and I don’t think lies or trickery would be his approach if he meant me harm.
I appreciate your concern, but I think the danger we just faced is unrelated to the danger ahead. ”
Corvin was still flying evasively, doing what he could to keep us safe.
“I didn’t know.” He laughed darkly. “I much prefer us pursuing the danger. Not the other way around.”
I let out a weak chuckle in response. “You don’t have to continue with me. I underestimated the danger.”
Corvin’s voice was resolute. “I’m seeing this through with you to the end.”
“Because of your debt? It’s really not—”
“Because I promised to help you. And I keep my promises. It’s not just that though.
You told me Rogam imprisoned a phoenix. You’re not the only one with enemies.
Mine are people like Rogam, people who spend their time building cages.
Regardless of what happens, I’ll do my best to help you free Eterna.
Now that I know what happened, I’m not going to turn my back on either of you. That’s not who I am.”
“Thank you,” I replied. “About your mother. You know it’s not your fault, right? You were just a child. I can’t imagine what that must have been like to lose her in that way. I’m so sorry that happened to you.”
Corvin didn’t respond. Not knowing what else to say, I shifted my arms, gently pressing my palm against his neck, as I settled more fully into his arms, letting him fly the rest of the way in silence.
We landed outside the gate, still invisible. Corvin set me back down on the ground, his hand briefly lingering at the small of my back. “I’m grateful we’re both unharmed,” he commented. “And I’m sorry about the misunderstanding.”
“Me too,” I replied. “I should have shared more about the bargain with you, and the threat to my life, before we left the island. Thank you for flying us to safety.”
“Anytime.”
He raised a finger, pointing ahead. “That banshee warrior is questioning people at the gate.”
The City of Tardide supported a nearby military outpost. It was no surprise then that a banshee warrior stood stationed outside its walls—maintaining order, inspecting saddlebags, and verifying the paperwork of merchants who wished to gain entry.
The city’s proximity to the Sivellian border, even with a mountain range providing some separation, explained the military’s heavy presence.
“Perhaps we should take advantage of your magic while it lasts—slip on through?” I suggested.
“Makes sense. Should we sneak closer then? Look for an opening?”
“We’re not going to suddenly become visible, are we?” I questioned pessimistically, wary of drawing the warrior’s attention.
“No, that feather was rare. It should last a few hours or until I dismiss the magic.” He visibly cringed. “Of course, now that we’re not actively being shot at, I can think of a dozen feathers I should have used instead.”
“You didn’t exactly have time to think.”
“Guess not,” he replied, sounding unconvinced.