Page 121 of King of Storms and Feathers

“Lately, communications from the Mydorian reavers to Auryinnia have been stilted, a shift in tone. We elves should have realized something was wrong. Arrow, this is my fault. I should never have let her flee alone.”

“What you shouldn’t have done was withhold information from me,” I said, getting to my feet and holding my hand out for Ari to grasp. “We must go. My Aldara’s life is in danger. Get up.”

Ari smoothed her tunic as she rose. “Arrow, we should—”

“King Arrowyn,” said a voice behind us. “Pardon the interruption, but you’ll want to read this immediately.”

The guard hurried over and held out a small scroll. I snatched it, tearing it with clumsy fingers as it unraveled. “Who’s it from?”

“A raven courier from the Earth Realm.”

I scanned the words on the parchment, then flicked my gaze to Ari who hovered next to me. “It’s from her brother, the supposed King Regent of Mydorian. He writes to inform me of the city’s existence and invites me to visit him. Says his city has run on the illegal gold trade for centuries, and he wishes to discuss establishing legal routes between our lands. He believes I’ll be particularly interested in his terms. This doesn’t mention Leaf at all.”

“Zali,” Ari reminded me.

“You can call her whatever you like, but she’ll always be Leaf to me.”

“Because you can’t bear the thought of her being a princess or a queen?”

I scoffed. “I don’t care what she is as long as she’s mine.”

Facing the waiting guard, I said, “Send a lightning courier to this regent prick. Tell him… tell him I shall see him very soon.”

“Nothing else, My King?”

“No, I think that should be enough to make him piss himself. It’s perfect.”

Smirking as the guard’s silver head disappeared down the stairs, I lifted Ari into my arms. I clapped my wings together and launched off the pavilion into the sky.

“Arrow,” Ari yelled against my ear as the wind howled past us. “Please, think about this. Zali’s brother expects a royal visit, which would give you a perfect excuse to take a group of armed attendants with you, as Raiden advised. Plan this properly and—”

“Close your mouth,” I said with a laugh. “Or it will soon be full of insects.”

Chapter 31

Arrow

Night creatures stirred as Ari and I landed in the Earth Realm forest. Recoiling from the jagged energy of an invisible forcefield, I whipped my wings back and shoved her behind me.

“Arrow, let me go. I’m fine,” she said, wobbling on her feet, still dizzy from our rapid flight.

I glanced down at her. “Was that the reavers’ cloak?”

“Yes. I’ll take us straight through.” She shivered, rubbing her bare arms.

The air was much cooler here than in the Light Realm.

I reached out toward the field of translucent energy, drawing back fast as it crackled and burned my fingers. “How do humans with no reaver blood get through this damn thing?”

“Elves gift all Mydorian children with a sigil that grants them access. Listen to me, Arrow, when we’re inside the city, I think we should tell the gatekeepers straight away that we’ve arrived for our audience with the regent.”

“We won’t be doing anything. As soon as we’re through the barrier, you’ll return to Coridon, and I’ll find the regent and fry his fucking brains.”

“Don’t be stupid,” she said, raising her arms and chanting as she led me through the thick veil of magic.

On the other side of it, I groaned, my eyes rolling back as I leaned over my thighs, dry retching from the pain of crossing a magical boundary.

Ari rubbed my back. “You must insist that the regent’s sister attend your meeting. Then he’ll have to keep Leaf alive, which will at least ensure her immediate safety. If she is dead… well, you’ll soon know it.”

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