Page 37 of Shadow Wings
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The Phaetyn princedropped back to ride beside me. After an uncomfortable moment, he continued his apology, “I hadn’t anticipated bringing Lord Tyrrik with us, so I had no time to prepare mypeople.”
I glared at him. “I wouldn’t think you’d have to prepare your people. He’s riding with us, so he should be safe. And what about your talkingtrees?”
“Of course. You’re right. I had notified our elders, however the forest is large and our people spread throughout it. Not everyone would have been alerted, and Drae are our naturalenemy.”
Tyrrik wasn’t their enemy any more than I was. My gaze caught Dyter’s, and I read the caution in his eyes, so I bit my tongue instead of yelling at more Phaetyn and skimmed over the now gathering crowd, searching for any lurkingthreats.
The gathered Phaetyn crowd contained a mixture of wide eyes and gaping mouths as well as others who just plain ol’ glared at me, their jaws set into rigid lines as they took in my blue scales and what felt like my reptilian eyes. So much for them being a peaceful race. My body was reacting to the threat theyposed.
I remained hunched over Tyrrik as I scanned thearea.
That central tree didn’t seem to be getting any closer, and the serenity I’d felt when I first stepped into the forest was ebbing away. Taking a closer look, I noticed the crowd had divided into two distinct groups on either side of our escort. Those to my right didn’t seem angry at me, but rather at the rest of the Phaetyn. Those to my left were all young men and women, and judging by the glares aimed my way, they didn’t like me and Tyrrik one bit. I wasn’t so sure Kamoi’s twelve guards would hold them all off if they charged. I would go full Drae if they didn’t watchout.
“How much farther until we’resafe?”
“Not much farther,” Kamoi said with a frown. “Ryn, you are safehere.”
“Mm-hmm,” I replied, making sure to be just as helpful as he’dbeen.
The guards halted and faced outward, banging their spears and shields together with a loud clatter. I turned to look back, and a wave of energy rippled over me from the direction of the tree. I gasped, staggering with a deep and sudden sense ofyearning.
I forgot about the guards, the faction of young Phaetyn, and almost Tyrrik as I slid from the horse to the ground. I released my hold on the Drae, watching for any signs of agony, but Tyrrik’s limp body remained draped over our horse. We’d moved into the central safe zone,apparently.
Giving into the new yearning with a sigh that I felt soul-deep, I moved toward the ginormous gnarled elm reaching into the sky, its branches extending out as wide as the limbs extended above us. The rough bark was warm beneath my palm, and I ran my fingertips over the trunk in a soft caress, my heartshuddering.
A sense of home washed over me. A deep feeling of belonging, a tenderness that reminded me of my mother, the love she’d had for me, deep enough that she would sacrifice her life, and this brought tears to my eyes. I dropped to myknees.
The feeling didn’t stop but expanded, and images flashed behind my closed eyelids.A beautiful Phaetyn woman, laughing as she ran through the forest, her lover chasing after. The two of them kissing in an obvious binding celebration. A crowd of Phaetyn cheering as she spoke to them.This was their queen with her mate? The images shifted, and shadows fell over the forest.Blind panic was etched on the faces of Phaetyn, young and old. The numbers of Phaetyn dwindled, and the queen addressed her people, resignation on her face. The queen kissed her mate, she and a few of her attendants leaving the forest. As she left, the queen pulled the rocks up into jagged teeth, the jaws surrounding Zivost in a protective barrier none couldpenetrate.
At one with the trees, I longed to reach out for her and was crippled by my loneliness when she didn’t return. The images receded, fading into shadows of gray before dissolving into a canvas of solid black. A whisper of curiosity brushed my mind, but when an image of Irdelron standing over me surfaced, I broke contact with the elm with agasp.
I closed my eyes, the bright light blinding me with stabbing pain in comparison to my time spent within the tree’s memories. Sitting, I pushed my palms into my eyes and put my head between myknees.
“What did you see?” Kamoi asked in a hushed voice. “Did the tree show youanything?”
I processed what I’d seen, opening my eyes and blinking so they’d adjust. “What happened to her? The previousqueen?”
Kamoi’s lavender eyes darkened. “LunaNuloa?”
I nodded. Her name fit her, like a sliver of moonbeam, delicate butstrong.
“She—”
“Highness,” a guardyelled.
A crowd of Phaetyn marched toward us.Drak.
“I thought you said we’d be safe here,Kamoi.”
Prince Kamoi puffed his chest and extended his hand. “I did say that,Kealani, and I meant it. This is sacredground.”
I let him pull me up, but as soon as I was standing, he released my hand and went to theguards.
Their murmuring was an indistinguishable chorus, but the low undercurrents betrayed their angst. Three of the guards waved their arms at me, and I ran to where Dyter stood by my horse andTyrrik.
“This is not good,” Dyter said, stating the obvious. “I had no idea I was agreeing to take you into the middle of awar.”