Page 132 of Bane of the Wild Hunt

“She does not need nurturing. You will learn together how to be a team,” I assured her with a smile as I watched Pyrope reacting to her rider’s deeply sought touch.

“She… betrays how I feel. I cannot hide it.”

“Ah,” I grunted in understanding, glancing at Serafin who was licking Pyrope’s forehead as if taking my cue to offer her comfort. “They are an extension of us. I too have struggled with that aspect of the bond. I have been told it is easier if you can embrace your authentic self.”

“You mean… don’t conceal any of my feelings?”

“Find a way to be comfortable with who you are and how you feel. It is not easy,” I admitted, and the complete hypocrisy of my statement was certainly not lost on me. “You should get dressed before Rian calls us.”

My parents had come back with food, some of which I had packed into our saddlebags, by the time Summer was finished getting dressed. I donned a heavier cloak, but my fire magic shielded me against much of the more severe weather in the Raveina Mountains.

After we had eaten breakfast with my parents, I waited patiently for Summer to get the nerve to pull herself up into her new saddle. It was clearly easier for her to mount Pyrope who was far better suited to her size than Serafin. The dryad sat upright in the saddle, shifting around to get comfortable, and she looked grudgingly impressed.

“It is certainly much more comfortable,” she admitted, and then she gave me a smile. “I’ll miss your warmth.”

“You will be able to create your own using my magic once you are initiated,” I assured her before the words could impact me too visibly. Especially with my parents watching and listening tothe conversation. “But for now,” I said, trailing off as I focused on summoning my armour onto her like I had before. “This will keep you warm.”

Summer cooed happily and wrapped her arms around herself as if she were hugging my armour.

“Gods, I love how warm it is! Is it magic?” she asked, and I nodded wordlessly while Rian spoke in my mind.

Tràigh Tùr now, he called us, his voice echoing down the bond to all the riders except for Summer who was still marveling at my gauntlets.

“How does it fit both of us so perfectly?” she asked.

“You felt the weight of it forming on your body before the armour solidified?” I confirmed, and she nodded as I walked toward the open middle of the tent. “That is the armour altering its shape to fit the form I have called it to. I cannot drastically alter its shape, but it accommodates different sizes,” I told her before I began to form a portal. “There is some fruit in your saddlebag if you want it for the flight. We have been summoned,” I informed her.

“He really did mean we were going early,” she sighed, sliding down from her vargr. “Do you ever sleep in?”

“One day soon I will let you sleep all day,” I swore.

My father kissed my mother on her forehead, and then the three of us stepped through my portal with the vargr close behind.

We emerged at the top of Tràigh Tùr, and I turned in anticipation to see Summer’s first reaction to being on the glittering coast of the Iar Mar. I watched as she closed her eyes to appreciate the sun on her face, and her nostrils flared as she breathed in the warm, salty breeze. Then her eyes opened to take in the coastline and myriad of tropical islands, ships, and barges. Her gaze swept southward from the Feurin Fjord on the right to the breathtaking peaks of the Nabaneese Mountains and tropicalforests on the left. Then she turned, the wind whipping her hair which I had combed free of mud and leaves the night before and then rebraided. She looked at the army on the plains below the watchtower and beyond to the grasslands and farmland.

I’d always known she would love it here, but the pure rapture on her face made me wish we’d had time to come so much sooner.

“Welcome to the coast of Iar Mar,” said Rian’s voice, and we both glanced behind us where my cousin was already astride his vargr. Darragh was also seated next to him while Ciaran finished tightening his saddle. I was the only one not in armour, but I was not bothered by it when I knew how badly the cold affected Summer.

“It’s incredible,” Summer admitted as she looked back down at our army below the tower. “How many?”

“Why would you want to know?” Ciaran demanded, even more moody than usual after such a short sleep.

“Aw, did you not get your beauty rest?” she retorted immediately, every bit as intolerant as him on little sleep.

Ciaran turned slowly to glare at her, but she merely gave him one of her sharp, taunting grins that seemed to dare him to retaliate. His eyes swept to me instead.

“Where is your armour, little doe? Still cannot manage to summon it to you?”

“Children, please do not fight,” Rian begged them as Summer flattened her ears at Ciaran, and then my cousin nodded to my mother. “Thank you for accompanying us to Aes Mirr. Though we seem to be miserable company this morning.”

“Anything you need, Rian,” she told him, and I did not miss the significance of her tone. I could tell she wanted nothing more than to hug her nephew, but she knew as well as I did that he would not welcome or allow it.

“Where is the witch?” Summer asked as she planted her foot firmly in her stirrup to mount her vargr again.

“She is resting. You will have the opportunity to meet her once we have returned,” Rian advised all of us.

Serafin consented when I used our bond to ask him to carry my mother, so I climbed into my saddle, and gave her a hand to pull her up behind me.

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