Page 5 of Phoenix Chosen 3
“What’s happening?” Tyler groans unhappily. “What is it?”
A look of confusion, then anger flashes across Zona’s already stern face. She stands up, grabs my arm, and ushers me into the neighboring room.
“I know we share the understanding that the less I know about my patient’s matters, the better,” she says. “But you’ve kept somethingveryimportant from me, Kalistratos.”
“What do you mean?” I say, even though I know exactly what she’s talking about.
She gives me a hard look. “Don’t insult me, Kalistratos. I’m doing you a favor.Areyou?”
There’s nothing for it. I nod my head.
Zona doesn’t reply. She stares straight ahead, her gaze hard with thought. When she finally speaks, her voice is quiet, like she’s speaking from within a memory.
“I always sensed you weren’t just a human, especially the way you could heal from your injuries. But I can’t believe I didn’t realize thatyouof all people were one of them.” She makes a quiet sigh. “I was so certain I would be able to know.”
Hearing this puzzles me. Was Zona looking for a Phoenikos?
“I’m sure you can understand why I kept it a secret.”
“Of course,” she says. “But this is information you should’ve told me. This is no ordinary delivery.”
“Because every healer would kill to get their hands on a newborn phoenix. Because of what they believe they can provide. The ‘power of rejuvenation,’ right?”
She shakes her head. “That’s not what I mean. I don’t believe in any of that. Kalistratos… do you not know anything about how phoenixes come into being?”
Why would one need to give any consideration to how they were born? It was not something I’d ever given any thought to, and if my parents had ever spoken to me about it, I don’t remember. I barely remember who they were.
“Most of what I know about my people I’ve learned in the last three days,” I say with a wry smile. “Perhaps when I was born, I popped out of a hole in the ground or dropped out of the sky. I don’t know.”
She looks sad for a moment. And it is sad. Sad that I should be ignorant of such a fundamental part of life. But such knowledge is a luxury.
“Phoenikos aren’t born, Kalistratos—they’re hatched.” She points towards the doorway. “Your mate has already reached the second stage of delivery, hours ahead of when I would’ve expected it to happen. The egg is coming, and I will need to change my approach to make sure it’s delivered safely.”
I feel like a fool.
Ofcourseit would be an egg. As much as I hate acknowledging Tyler’s jabs, it’s true—Phoenikos and chickens share more in common than I want to admit.
Zona turns to go back out to Tyler.
“Wait,” I say in a voice that’s commanding but as calm as I can muster.
She pauses. “Don’t worry,” she says. “I didn’t build up such a reputation by giving up people’s secrets. No one will know you two are Phoenikos.”
“Thank you, Zona.”
She glances back at me. “You’re being hunted?”
“It’s likely.”
She sighs. “You certainly have a habit of making things complicated, Kalistratos. I would say this one is going to cost you extra if I had any hope of being paid.”
“I swear on the Gods, I’ll pay you back tenfold what I owe you.”
“Don’t make a promise you can’t keep!” she says with a laugh. “You’d need to give me a feather from the Great Phoenix himself to settle that amount.”
We return to the room. Zona speaks to the twins, and they work hurriedly, preparing whatever it is they need to do to deliver this egg. Tyler is too preoccupied with the labor to even notice. I go to his side and help him sip water from a jug with a reed straw. I dab the sweat from his face with a cool towel.
“Kalistratos,” Zona says. “We must move him.”