Page 73 of MidKnight
Blue landed on Fuzzy’s back and pecked at him, tweeting more. Fuzzy just batted him away, too intent on sleeping.
Blue flew over to the bed and hopped underneath, chattering at Shiter. Shiter didn’t exit the bed. Frustrated, Blue emerged and flew back to my shoulder. He perched on me and gave what could only have been a birdy sigh.
“Sorry, little fellow,” I stroked his breast. “I kind of wish you could talk.”
Declan snapped his fingers. “Wishes! That’s it!” He stood, letting go of my hand so he could pace. “Cheryn has djinn. They make the perfect puppet soldiers because you can wish them to do whatever you want! Isla figured out who Avia is and she got Sultan Raj to send that djinni after Avia, disguised as Abbas. I bet his sons aren’t even sick! That was just a ruse to keep them out of the way while he went after Avia.”
“Why not use his sons?” I asked.
“His sons aren’t even full djinn,” Ryan dismissed. “Except for the young one.”
Blue tweeted his agreement.
“And why put his heirs in danger if he had someone else?” Declan added. “He could just spread the rumor that they’re ill.”
Blue flew over and pecked Declan’s hand.
“Ow!” Declan smacked at the bluebird and I had to rescue the poor thing.
“Sometimes his bird instincts take over,” I said. “I’m guessing the same happens to Fuzzy.” I jerked my head at the snoring bear. “Bears are mostly hibernating now.”
I pulled Blue close to my chest and nuzzled him. “Sorry, little man. But you can’t peck my knights, alright?”
Blue gave a sad little tweet.
“See, he’s sorry.”
Declan just glared, unconvinced.
Back to the grown-up conversation and not Bloss’s menagerie obsession—Quinn’s voice interrupted us.
“It’s not an obsession! And it’s not my fault that someone keeps cursing people.”
As I said, on more adult topics, Sultan Raj’s sons certainly aren’t at the palace or anywhere near,Quinn thought at all of us.So, the idea he got his heirs out of the way before he launched an attack is plausible. I’ve also counted twelve more groups of Raslen soldiers.
I look around the room at each of my knights. There’s still something that doesn’t make sense. “So, Isla and Raj are angry at Sedara and us, by extension. They steal Avia. But, why not just renegotiate treaty terms? If they have Avia, they have the same power mother had.”
Declan’s lips pressed together in a thin line.
Ryan stepped forward. “You only want to negotiate if you think you’ll lose, Little Dearling. In war, if you think you’ll win, you press your advantage.”
“That still doesn’t explain why Isla’s here now. And it doesn’t explain how they think … how could they possibly win against Sedara?” I asked.
I stared at three solemn faces.
“That’s what we don’t know,” Declan admitted. “Because we still have no idea who or what Avia actually is.”
Chapter Eighteen
“Ithink it’s safe to say that either she or her family are incredibly magically powerful, if Cheryn and Rasle feel confident enough to go to war with Sedara,” Ryan muttered.
Connor nodded, “I agree. Evaness has gotten treated with kid gloves in comparison to the other nations.”
Quinn’s voice in all our heads was grim.What if Avia’s family did want her back? What if they’re the missing link here?
“That’s why Sedara’s worried,” Connor chimed in. “That’s why they care. They know Avia’s family could damage them.”
Declan’s brow furrowed. “I can’t think of anyone in recent history who could do such a thing.”
