Page 139 of Flame and Sparrow

“An unsettling blade, that one,” Rieta said, her gaze following mine as she reemerged from the washroom. “Its magic keeps me on my toes. Every time I walk in here, I can feel it rumbling.”

“I can’t really feel anything from it.”

“No, I suspect a mortal wouldn’t. But it’s restless on that shelf, make no mistake. Maybe because the energy doesn’t really fit in this territory.”

Restless.

That made two of us.

I wanted to carry it with me today, I decided. To see it in action and watch how it worked when Iwasn’tflailing around and trying not to drown in the Ocean Marr’s raging waves.

Rieta agreed, somewhat hesitantly, with my plan, and she went to fetch a fine leather baldric to go with my riding attire so I could carry the weapon properly. With it strapped into place, Ilookedmore prepared to ride out and face the day, even if I didn’t truly feel ready to do so.

* * *

I walkedoutside an hour or so later and found Dravyn already there, still occupied by his meeting with Valas. Both of their faces were grim.

Their conversation trailed off as I approached, and Valas’s frown quickly gave way to a grin as his gaze fell on the sword I carried.

“Off to slay monsters, are we?”

“Or maybe middle-gods who can’t keep their mouths shut.”

His smile brightened. “You don’t need a sword to slay me, love. Your looks alone are sufficient.”

“Maybe so, but I think I’d rather stab you.”

“Is it strange that your threats only make you seemmoreattractive to me?”

“Yes,” Dravyn answered on my behalf, pushing past him and heading to the tack room. “Now if you’ll excuse us, we have places to be.”

“I think we’re making him jealous,” Valas said, giving me a wink.

I rolled my eyes but found myself fighting off a laugh; he had that effect on me.

Allof them were having an effect on me, despite how I’d tried to guard myself against it.

The questions that had started in my room returned, louder than before. I was smiling, but only halfway listening to Valas as he listed off all the different ways we could make Dravyn jealous. I wanted to laugh and joke along with him. I wanted to feel like I belonged here—like I belonged anywhere at all. As if I wasn’t caught between two warring worlds.

Today will bring more answers, I reminded myself.More facts.

Then I could put at least some of my questions to rest, and hopefully figure out what to do next.

Valas excused himself—off to go fulfill his duties of annoying Mairu, he told me.

Dravyn returned with our equipment a moment later. He summoned and saddled Farak quickly, avoiding making eye contact with me as he did so. We were riding rather than using transport magic, he explained, because the energies around the Edgelands were difficult to navigate through, and he didn’t want to risk making me sick when I was finally recovered from all my trials of the past weeks.

I hated the reminder of my mortal frailty, but I didn’t hate having another opportunity to ride on Farak’s back. It had ultimately proven therapeutic yesterday; maybe it would help calm my nerves today, too.

Moth soared into view just as we prepared to set off. He swooped around Farak’s face, flicking his flame-tipped tail and swatting playfully at the beast’s slender nose. The selakir snapped at him, coming alarmingly close to catching the griffin’s backside with razor sharp teeth.

Dravyn scolded the fluttering creature, and Moth made a disgruntled noise before shooting off toward the sky.

He followed us as we galloped into the hills, staying high above and occasionally disappearing from sight; there were no clouds to get lost in here in this realm, but there were occasional pockets of brighter light that swallowed up his pale golden body.

I watched him, trying to see if I could spot a pattern to the bright places, trying to keep my nerves under control.

We kept a fast pace.

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