Page 34 of Songs of Retribution

Where are you?His voice came panicked. I'd told him about my harried escape from the palace the night before and how Aila and so many others had helped.

I don't know. Somewhere in Landre still. Sai is trying to get to me, but I don't know where this is. I was lost in the dark last night. Can I trust any of these humans?

Lennox paused for a long moment, though I could still feel the connection between us, the hum of concern and Lennox's essence, as purifying and cool as the falling rain.No. Our father has incited too much fear in them.

My nose flared, and I clamped my teeth down hard. I struggled not to sway on my feet. Between my drained magic and the exhaustion of running through the rain overnight, I was barely holding on.

I wish I had glamour magic, I said. Then I could change my appearance and use human coins Aila had given me. However, they were useless with so many guards looking for me and likely asking any humans who I might purchase food or a room from.

I wish you did too.Lennox's voice was desperate, strained, with a tinge of anger that I suspected was directed at Sai. Something had happened between them. I'd been too distressed to ask about it, but I could feel anger burning from both of them when the other came up.

I have so little magic available currently, it wouldn't matter. Don't worry about me. I'm going to get out of this.I tried to infuse my words with more strength than I felt, but I wasn't sure it worked.

We're traveling today,Lennox said. I'll be available all day and I know most of Landre. If you see any landmarks, reach out to me, and I can help you determine where you're at.

You're traveling already?

A flood of disappointment washed through the connection which took my breath. The Froh hadn't aligned with us then. Lennox's tone remained steady.We'll discuss it when you get back. Focus on getting safe.

Okay. I love you.

I love you, Lira. Return safely to us.

His words tied together the loose ends of my resolve. I was exhausted, lost, and desperate. But Sai was close—he thought likely within a few hours of me if I could figure out where I was. And Lennox wanted me to return. Their love fortified me as I took a deep breath and slipped past my hiding spot.

My feet dipped into shadows, and nothing moved in the distance. The farm was still bathed in the quiet of pre-dawn. My feet squelched through the soaked grass, mud making it up to my ankles and keeping my already-damp stockings wet.

I reached a small building with a thatched roof and pressed my body to the wall, edged around it, and looked carefully at the yard. There wasn't a soul in sight, just mist rising in sapphire tendrils and the faintest kiss of gold on the horizon beyond trees in the distance. I crept along the side, pulled open the shed door, and slipped inside. Golden hay filled the room, making the air sweet and dry.

I dropped to my knees and barely had the presence of mind to bury myself in the hay, out of sight, and call Sai to let him know I'd found a place to rest. Exhaustion pulled me down and I gave into it, drifting away.

A thunk near me and hay shifting and scratching my skin woke me, and I screamed before I had time to think better of it. The woman who stood in front of me dropped her pitchfork and released an echoing scream, her brown eyes going wide. She wore a cranberry-colored headscarf and sturdy boots beneath her homespun dress.

For a moment we stared at each other, and I clumsily wobbled to my feet.

"For God's sake, child," she said as she splayed a hand over her chest, "you gave me a fright."

"I'm… I'm so sorry."

"Nae bother." She squinted at me, her eyes raking over my fine clothing. "Yer the girl the King is lookin' for, ain't ya?"

Warmth drained from my face, and I stumbled back a step and bumped into the wall. I was trapped. This shed had no windows and my magic still puttered low in my body, drained.

"No, no." She waved her hands around. "I don't mean to scare ya', child. Yer safe here." I doubted that, but she nodded towards the house in the distance where a puff of gray smoke from the chimney blended into the misting rain. "Come have a bite to eat. You must be half starved."

She lifted the pitchfork slowly, keeping my gaze as she did, then leaned it on the wall, released it, and stepped outside into the rain, clearing the door. Part of me wanted to make a dash for it, run past her, compel her to forget about it, and get as far as I could.

Another part of me was still too bleary and weak. I took an uneasy step forward and made it out of the stable. The woman gestured and strode across the grass, hunching in the rain, towards the house. She didn't look back. I could escape.

Instead, I followed her and pulled my bag tight to me. I needed food and warmth and rest. Then I could use my magic to make the people here forget me, even if it left me feeling endlessly guilty. The gold in my bag was useful, though, and I could leave some as compensation for them.

When we reached the house, I stopped walking, and she looked back at me. Away from the darkness of the shed and under a porch where the rain didn't obscure her features, fine lines around her lips were visible. Color had risen over her cheeks, and she had deep blue eyes. "No need to worry, child," she said. "It's just me and Mags here. I'm Janet. We won't do you any harm, I swear."

She opened the door and walked in, leaving it open for me to follow or not. I swallowed and stepped inside.

Another woman crouched in front of a fireplace, pulling a tea kettle off, and spoke without looking back. "Manage in this weather? Is Emerald losing her damn mind over it?" She chuckled.

Janet shucked her cloak. "I'm afraid I didn't make it out to the barn. Found something else up in the hay shed instead."

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