Page 157 of Flame and Sparrow

Chapter42

A rough handshook me awake sometime later. I mumbled curses as I sat up, rubbing my eyes and blinking until Rieta’s face came into focus.

“You didn’t look particularly comfortable curled up down there,” she said, frowning. “And I know you were waiting for his return, so I thought I’d let you know he came back a half hour ago. And the first thing he did was ask about you.”

I blushed as my sleepy mind slowly processed her words and realized she was referring to Dravyn.

“I wasn’t reallywaitingfor him, I just…”

“Spare me.” She huffed out a laugh. “You’ll find him in the gardens behind the eastern tower, I suspect. That’s where he usually goes after coming back from a visit to our old home.”

“Ourold home? You mean you’re from the same mortal kingdom he is?”

“Another story for another night.” She sighed, and then nodded toward the door. “Go on. He didn’t want to disturb your rest, but I think he needs to see you tonight.”

“Okay,” I mumbled, getting to my feet and stretching before heading toward the door. I hesitated there, casting a longing look at my bed. It would have been easier to crawl into its piles of fluffy blankets and try to sleep off all my doubts and fears.

But I’d rarely taken the easy way out of things, and I didn’t do it now.

I grabbed the cloak thrown over a nearby chair, wrapping it around myself as I stepped into the dark hallway.

It was late. I had no idea how long I’d slept, but most of the palace seemed to have retired for the night. My footsteps echoed on the marble, and the crackling torches lighting my way threw long, uninterrupted shadows across my path—much calmer and less unnerving than the ones that seemed to have taken over my room earlier.

These halls had been frightening when I’d first arrived, but now they felt familiar, like a place I’d called home for years rather than months.

As I made my way outside, I pulled my cloak more tightly against the slight chill. The air was tinged with its usual soft smokiness, but there was a sweet undercurrent of honey that I’d never really noticed before, too. The sky was a deep purplish-blue—beautiful, though I had to admit I missed seeing the stars of the mortal realm’s night.

Could I ever get used to this strange sky?

Assuming I stayed here. Assuming there was any chance that I could ever call this placehome…

Shaking my head, I tried to stop thinking about my future, focusing on remembering my way to the gardens.

I spotted the black iron gate that marked the entrance to the winding path I was searching for, and soon after, I caught a hint of cedar among the smokiness. I followed the scent and found Dravyn, as expected. He was reclining in a chair near a short, vine-wrapped wall with his head tipped back and his eyes closed.

He looked exhausted. I thought he might have been on the verge of sleep, but as I approached, I saw a corner of his mouth edge upward. Still aware of me. Still happy to see me, despite all the sharp words and arguments we’d exchanged over the past week.

“Hello, Sparrow.”

“Hello.”

He opened his eyes. They were beautiful in the light of the strange sky, their silver sheen shifting closer to blue as they focused on me.

My breath caught as I stared back, heart swelling painfully in my chest as I realized, all at once with a pounding certainty, that I cared more about being with him—making sure he was okay—than I did about continuing any of our arguments.

And maybe I could finally put down my daggers, as he’d asked me to all those days ago, if it meant freeing up my hands to reach for his.

I unclenched my fists and stepped closer to him, busying myself with tracing the vines along the wall while I tried to find the courage to reach, to say all the things I wanted to say.

“Are they all right?” I asked him after a minute.

He sat up more fully, giving me a curious look.

“Mairu told me you went to check on your family in your old kingdom.”

“Ah. They’re fine. Dealing with the typical threats and obligations of mortal politics, but otherwise, safe. Nothing to concern ourselves with.”

“Do you go back to visit them often?” I asked, picking at the little white flowers interspersed along the crawling vine.

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