Page 14 of A Blightress of Wrath
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“AndsoIsaid,‘Humansneed more time to think about things, butI’llask.’ and thenIflew here to tell you, and that’s been my morning.Whatabout you,Karus?Youseem angry or something.”
IwishedIcould fly as fast asMoria.
IwishedIcould portal.
Itwould be so much easier ifIcould just create a portal likeRevand transfer acrossFelgrenback to theFortressin an instant.Betteryet,IwishedIcould portal like theBlightresswith no restrictions on how many beating hearts could go through.Ireached down to grab more of my black skirts asIran, cursing myself for not bringing the lumens with us.
“I’msorry,Moira,”Ihuffed in response. “I’mgoing to have to speak to you more about this later.Ineed to get toPompeii.”Sheflew at my shoulder, keeping up with my jog back down the pathPhiliusandIhad walked.He’dstopped calling for me to wait for him and was now just keeping pace behind me.
“Iwish you had wings,Karus.Maybeyou just haven’t grown them yet.You’repart fae after all, and fae tend to change, you know.Overtime we become new.”
Iscrunched my face, glancing at her above my shoulder.
“It’strue!” she giggled.Thesound echoed through the trees. “Youhave fae blood, so maybe you’ll grow some, and we can fly through the forest together, or,” she gasped, “maybe your parasite will be born with them!”
Iglanced at her again, relieved to see the tall black towers of theFortressahead. “Mywhat?”
“Thatthing you’re growing.Itis a parasite, isn’t it?Clairanniasaid it would take parts of you and consume them.”
Islowed to a walk, instinctively pressing a hand to my belly. “Moira,”Ipuffed, “that’s not…that isn’t...”Irubbed my face. “YouandIneed to sit down and have a real talk about this.Butnot now.I’msorry, my friend, butIreally need to speak toPompeii.”Inodded toward the front doors of theFortress. “Meetme here before dusk?”
Sheshrugged. “Sure.Bring?—”
Iwaved her off. “Yes, yes, bring bread and butter.Iwill.”
Shewaved at me and then fluttered toPhilius, flying around his head several times while he failed to swat her away.Herlaugher lit again before she flew off in a streak of shimmering wings.
“She’sannoying,” he puffed, catching his breath.
“She’sparticular,”Iretorted, waving atPompeiiwho stood on the black stone steps in his usual green livery. “Goinside and gather the other channelers inViridisfor me, would you?”
“Iwant to hear?—”
“No,Philius.Idon’t know what this is and cannot risk you hearing whatI’mabout to say.”
Hescowled but nodded. “It’llbe hard to getRellandRennout of bed.They’reprobably still green.”
“Helpthem then.Youknow what they need.”
“Alright.BestIcan do is get them toViridisin forty minutes, but they might be uselessly hungover today.”
Henodded toPompeiiand headed up the stairs into theFortress.
“BaronKarus,”Pompeiigreeted, offering a hand to help me climb the steps. “You’requite flushed.Icame as soon asIfelt your call.”Hegrinned and whispered conspiratorially, “You’regetting better at thisBaron-Overseercommunication, you know.Iwas only tugged halfway out of my chair this time.”
Ichuckled, taking his hand, though only out of politeness.Itwould be a while beforeIneeded help climbing stairs. “I’mgladIdidn’t send you to the ground like before.Let’shead to the study.Ineed to speak with you on something urgent.”
Hewaved me in first through the massive wooden doors of theFortress.Istrode across the foyer in haste to the studyRevichandIshared.Afew of the servants dipped their heads toward me, addressing me asBaron.Ismiled at each warmly, though still feeling a bit out of place with the title.
Pompeiifollowed me into the study, andImoved behind the desk.Iopened the leather-bound bookIwas currently using to journal my time asBaron, finding the next blank page.Imotioned forPompeiito sit across from the giant oak desk.
“Ihope everything is alright withBaronRevichandMychael,” he started, lowering to the chair.
“Theyare just fine and will return together this evening as planned.”Idipped my quill in the bottled black ink and wrote the day’s date at the top of the page. “Ineed to ask you something strange.”
Herose a brow, but nodded.
