Page 90 of The Anointed's Paladin

“Talon? Kaine?” I rasped, my mouth dry and voice rough. A face shifted into view. It appeared to be mother Leihandra, but she must have been in a minuscule form, because she was peering up at me, a tense expression on her face.

“Oh. Greenmother. I’m so sorry,” I said, scrambling to bow for her. My limbs felt thick and heavy, and I swallowed back the lump inmy throat. My head spun and my vision was warped, nothing quite making sense.

“Slow down,” she said, reaching up a hand to steady my shoulder.

A terrible guilt filled me. “I haven’t managed to get to the tower yet. I was going to…” I trailed off, eyes darting to the ocean. My eyes burned. “Did they make it?” I asked quietly, my voice trembling.

“They’ll be fine,” said Leihandra. “You, however, came very close to death.” She took my hand. “Your body was gravely injured. But your…Talon kept your mind alive just long enough for me to find you.”

“And you healed me?”

“Better,” she said with a smile. “I gave you this new form.”

I blinked at her. Blinkeddownat her. And then I looked around, properly. My vision wasn’t warped. I just wasn’t used to seeing everything from so far up.

“Ashes and cinders,” I whispered, standing to my feet and looking down. My hands trailed over my body—familiar, yet new. I still had my fluffy ears and long hair, but as I reached around to my shoulders, they were smooth. No hint of my wings. My breasts looked the same butfeltdifferent. I trailed my fingers down my navel, following the trail of hair and blushed before stopping. I shifted on my feet. My muscles felt thicker; stronger. I closed my eyes, a smile spreading over my face. Finally. I had shed the remains of my sprite form, and with it, the barrier to becoming my own person. I could be someone new. I could befamilywith Talon and Kaine. I could experience everything I’d been missing.

“Thank you,” I said, looking at Leihandra, voice trembling.

“Don’t thank me yet,” she said. “Your body as a sprite was beyond saving. For now, you will only be able to exist in this form.”

My hand hovered over my chest. My throat tightened. “That’s all right.”

Leihandra took my hand. “I can give you a sprite form again. But not now. You will have to be patient.”

I nodded, tears running down my face.

“Nidori. My task still awaits. But your companions… complicate things.”

“Don’t worry,” I said. “Kaine’s going to help me.”

“It’s the Paladin I am worried about. He is faced with death if he fails.”

“What?” Cold flooded through me. “But…no. He can’t die.”

Leihandra pursed her lips and reached her hand into her cloak. She pulled out a necklace, with a softly glowing gem hanging from the simple chain. “This could save him. He will know what to do with it,” she said, pressing it into my palm. I tucked it into my bag, my fear not quite alleviated.

I knelt down before her and pulled her into a hug. She was quite bony, and stiff at first, but then she wrapped her arms around me.

“I’ve done what I can for you,” she whispered. “I’m sorry to ask so much. And I’m sorry to put you in such danger.” She pulled back, gazing into my eyes. “I wouldn’t ask this of you if it wasn’t so important.”

I shook my head. “Mother, even if I had died there, I wouldn’t have regretted anything. You gave me my freedom. Helped me find the family I’ve always wanted. Thank you.”

Her face was pained as she looked at me, and she hesitated, as if she were going to speak, but thought better of it. Instead, she kissed me on the forehead and stepped back.

“Good luck. Your companions are heading to the tower. You should find them if you hurry. I will let the trees know to guide you to them.”

With that, she blinked and stepped back, disappearing from the beach and leaving only a faint smell of pine behind.

I grinned and started up the path.

I was long gone by the time another boat reached the shore. I didn’t see the fluttering wings and tiny hands that examined the remains of my cocoon. But, aware or not, I was not done being followed.

41

A nice heat source

Talon

---