Page 1 of An Archer's Reckoning

Chapter 1

Declan

The sun still rested at the base of the mountains, casting a glow across the blue of the endless sea. I sat on the front steps of Larinda’s house, leaned comfortably against the railing, watched as villagers began their day. Passing locals greeted me with broad smiles and vigorous waves. A few offered respectful bows. I stood and breathed deeply, closing my eyes to fully enjoy the clean, salty breeze that never stopped rolling in from the ocean.

Thewhooshingsound of flapping wings startled me out of my reverie.

When I opened my eyes, Órla stared up at me from the ground a few paces away. I marveled at how quickly she’d grown from an awkward, fuzzy baby owl into a majestic, fully grown adult. The dusty brown that had dominated her feathers now shimmered snow-white. Her only remaining color was the breathtaking gold of the feathers on her chest that glimmered in the sunlight. Inall my time in the mountains, I’d never seen a creature with feathers, skin, or fur to rival her golden plumes.

“Are you ready to resume our journey, Bond-Mate?” Órla asked formally.

I quirked a grin. “I can’t recall the last time you used that title with me, little one. Feeling nostalgic?”

“Hardly. I found you lost, stumbling through the woods, not even recognizing your magic within. It is better if we keep our eyes on the future, not the past.” She turned away and began picking her feathers with her beak.

I shook my head and watched her preening ritual.

Órla’s feathers weren’t the only things that changed. Her voice, once childlike and playful, now carried the husky tones of a woman in her middle years. Her rich timbre warmed me as she spoke, comforted me even, though her pensiveness was unsettling. That was new as well.

“Are you all right? You seem more, I don’t know,seriousthan normal.” I crouched down, then reached out and stroked her neck.

“The currents are stirring. I fear we have little time.” Despite the obvious pleasure of my scratching, her deep rumble and strangely formal words were more of a warning than the flames of a signal pyre atop a mountain peak.

Before I could reply, the door behind me flew open and Larinda barged out, the gold-turbaned Keeper in tow. Larinda smiled at me, warm and toothy.

I climbed to my feet and offered a hasty bow.

“Ah, m’ boy. ’Tis a sad day seein’ ya leave us.” She wrapped me in a tight, bony embrace. I eyed the Keeper. He chuckled at my discomfort but held his tongue.

Larinda stepped back as Órla flapped to rest on the railing. The old woman turned to the owl, and the skin around her eyes crinkled as her smile broadened. She placed a palm on Órla’sback and held it there for a long moment. I couldn’t hear what passed between them but was certain they had spoken volumes.

“Come inside. I have a few t’ings for ya,” Larinda said, turning abruptly toward the door.

“I love presents, and she’s ancient. This should be really good!”Órla whispered in my mind as she flapped to my shoulder, the tiny girl resurfacing with a giggle. I couldn’t suppress a grin at her sudden change in tone.Thatwas the Orla I knew and loved.

We walked through the building to the lush atrium in its center, Larinda’s walled-in paradise of trees, flowers, and pond containing brightly colored fish. Órla hopped from my shoulder and dove into the pond, where she began bathing and ignoring the humans who obviously didn’t know a good opportunity when they saw one.

Larinda settled onto her oversized wicker throne and motioned for the Keeper and me to sit in a pair of smaller chairs facing her.

“Declan, why ya never wear a collar like everybody on t’ mainland?” Larinda asked.

I furrowed my brow. “Uh, well, I never knew I had magic before. Until I came here. I didn’t deserve the gold.”

“Pshaw! Dumbest t’ing I ever heard!” She waved a hand in the air, eyed me a moment, then shook her head. “Guess I can’t blame ya for not knowin’.”

“Sure you can. He really was a blind little baby until I took him under my wing!” Órla squawked from the pond, unable to miss a free shot.

“Thanks a lot,partner.” I turned and winked at Órla. “Nice to know you’ve got my back.”

When I turned back toward Larinda, a small bundle wrapped in burlap tied with rough twine rested in her gnarled hands. As she stretched it toward me, her lips curled and her eyes sparkled.

I stood and took the bundle with both hands.

“Spirits, no!” I cried as the garden suddenly began to blur and spin.

Nausea welled in my gut as something inside Larinda’s gift flashed through the burlap with the brightness of a noonday sun.

Faces flashed before me. Towers and fields. Armies and banners. Ancient, forgotten places.

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