Page 106 of Oath of Rebellion

She nodded and set the book down before following him. Every step brought more clawing fear and worry into her stomach. She wasn't sure that she'd be able to swallow past the knot in her throat, but she practically inhaled the stew as he talked.

The more he explained, the more worried she grew. A harder stab of pain made her gasp. Then she pushed her bowl away and stood. "Thank you so much for your hospitality, for helping me return from the Beyond."

Guilt weighed on her for not cleaning her bowl, but the dwarf didn't seem to mind. The pain subsided into a pulsing ache between her ribs.

He shook his head, taking the bowl to the sink. "I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. I don't know how you came back, but I suspect it has something to do with that dragon of yours."

She bit her lip and looked outside. There was a wind blowing through the trees, and it called to her. That was the answer, the way to find him.

"I need to find Knox," she said, something shifting in her chest. "I need to find him now."

It wasn't this growing worry anymore. It was immediate, and she had to take action. There was no more time to waste seeking answers.

The old dwarf shook his head. "No, we told Knox we'd keep you safe. He'll come back for you."

She spun on her heels, her hands going wide. "No, he won't. You don't understand. Something's wrong, and I need to find him now."

The dwarf shook his head and opened his mouth, but Eirwyn threw the door open and ran into the clearing. He shouted behind her, but the wind whipped through her hair, and she threw her head back.

Pain shot through her again, like someone was punching her in the side. It had nothing to do with her stomach, which she was grateful for. But the driving need to find Knox battled with the pain.

She spread her arms, letting the wind and light surround her as she tried to stretch her sides. The surge of magic was stronger than ever before, flowing through her at lightning speed.

When she opened her eyes, she blinked. Surrounded by clear blue sky, she looked down. There were several dwarves outside the lodge now, pointing and staring up.

Her heart raced. What was going on? She turned to see her hands still outstretched, light and shadows wrapping around them to form wings.

The wind shifted, and she began to fall. She pushed more wind into her wings, flapping and turning her body by instinct. Now parallel with the treetops, she looked over the forest below.

She had to find Knox. With a flap of her magical wings, she looked to the south east. It was like a beacon was in her mind. It called to her to hurry. Find Knox before it's too late.

She shot through the air, the wind flowing over her face and making her eyes sting at first. Then she blinked and her vision shifted. The wind was cold but she didn't feel a chill. It welcomed her like a long-lost friend.

Chapter 38

"COME OUT, COME OUT, wherever you are," came a playful and insidious deep voice around the corner of the tunnel.

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