Page 63 of Phixmery

“Why is he concerning you?” the deep voice of Killian rumbles as he joins us on the battlement.

Talyn greets him with a nod, not removing his worried gaze from me. “He’s rambling and distraught.”

“So, the usual. What makes this different?” He assesses me, like he can physically spot the turmoil within me.

I just need to get it over with, tell them my insane irrational thoughts, let them tell me I’m crazy and move on, going back to finding out her secrets… But wouldn’t this explain everything? I turn away from them, gripping the stone wall of the battlement so hard my nails chip, letting the biting pain center me. My thoughts run over everything that happened one more time, enjoying the thought of ‘what if’ before they’re quashed by my brothers. But something in my chest pulls at remembering the injured, beautifully naked, stubborn female as she fought off her attackers. I push the picture of her away, focusing back on the necklace, squeezing my eyes shut so tightly it damn near aches.

The words leave my lips in a hushed whisper, letting the gentle night breeze carry the forbidden words to them. “I think Cadet Ravina Solace is Princess Maeven Pendroko, Heir to the Damorleia throne.”

THEY WOULDN'T HEAR of it. Killian shut down in a silent rage and Talyn went silent. They wouldn’t even let me explain my reasoning. All I got from Tal was, “Soon. Let’s just get this meeting over with, but Jesp, she’s dead. Zorn searched for her, remember?”

Tisur has been much more understanding, humming and hawing at all my inner ramble. I just wanted to explain it to them, get it over with, go back to how things were before this preposterous thought wormed its way in. But I can’t help thinking of the ‘what if’s, and most importantly, why doesn’t she recognize us? Why wouldn’t she have sought us out and asked for our help? We would have done anything for her. But we were only mere fledglings at the time. Even so, she could have found us when she was older.

After taking our dragons out for a flight, we land near the forest where the first trials took place and silently head inside. The tension between my brothers and me is palpable, but we can’t let it get in the way of our goal for the night: meeting Evander and sending a message to Zorn. Getting Cynder out is an absolute must. She was safe in the Craven household, but it’s clear that isn’t the case any longer.

Evander appears in his pixie form and snaps to his life-size one right before our eyes. His short, messy red hair is wild from travels, and his deep violet eyes land on me, checking me over for what I’m assuming are injuries. I nearly scoff. If anyone should be worried, it’s me. My younger brother is gallivanting with rebels and thieves. I mean, I’m no better with the trouble I get myself into, but it’s my job. Not his.

I try to tamp down on the frustration at his choices. Cynder. This is for Cynder.

“Brother, it’s good to see you again,” he says softly, worried that I’ll ignore him yet again.

This time I manage to jerk my chin down in a slight nod before turning my attention to our self proclaimed leader: Talyn.

He takes a step towards my brother, resting his hand on the pommel of his sword. “As you have guessed, we need to get a message to our mutual friend. I need to arrange safe passage and a place for Cynder to stay. It’s not safe anymore, and I need her out of Allondë before The Choosing, preferably sooner rather than later.”

My brother’s voice becomes confident, steady as he answers. “You know he’s already offered to get her out, you just needed to say the word. I can arrange to get her out by the end of the week, although you may not like how it happens.”

I snap towards him. “You’re not using those damn pirates that you’ve befriended!”

His eyes narrow on me. “They’re good males, Jesper. I trust them with my life.”

“A life you seem to have little regard for,” I snap. “I’ve spent my whole life making sure you and mother were safe, out of the reach of the lords and evils of this realm. And what do you do? You fly into it all head-first!” I bellow, letting my temper get the best of me, but I don’t care, not right now.

He steps towards me, his face tight with rage. “You’ve been doing the same thing, Jesper. What’s the difference if I do it too? I’m helping fae, nulls, lessers, my people too!”

“Yeah? And who’s going to be there for mother if we’re both dead?”

“Enough, both of you. Now is not the time for this!” Talyn roars. “Can you promise me that no harm will come to her? If anything does happen, I will take Zaddro and I will sink their ship before hunting each and every last one of them down.”

He places his hand on his chest and tips his head. “I swear on my life and my crew that no harm will come to her,” he murmurs solemnly.

Talyn glances at me, and with reluctance I nod. He would never swear on his life if he didn’t mean it, especially after the threats Tal just bestowed upon him.

I let them sort out the details, but the less we know, the better. Evander will send a sign when the task is done and she’s heading to safety. Now all we have to do is get a message to Cynder so she doesn’t make a fuss about being taken in the dead of night—fates know she would go down swinging. Her and Maeven would have gotten along well together.

Before my brother leaves, he nods his head at me before shrinking down to the size of my index finger and zooming away, faster than the eye can see.

When he’s long gone, Talyn lets his shoulders droop, the only sign of relief he shows and only momentarily before he murmurs, “Explain.”

Killian curses but doesn’t move, wanting to hear what I have to say about my lapse in my usual insanity.

So with only minor hesitation, now that we are in a place safe for speaking, I inform them of what happened in the bathroom between Evera, the blonde wench who is glued to her side, and Little Mouse. I leave out the scars for some reason, knowing that it’s not my place to say, and for some reason I want to keep that information to myself. Maybe it’s so one day I can hold it against her if I need to, who knows.

I’m not sure how long we stand there in silence, with nothing but our breaths and the sounds of the forest to fill in the dread and hope that’s forming in my chest. Why aren’t they saying anything? Why aren’t they telling me that I’m crazy?

Finally, Talyn breaks the silence. “I would have recognized her scent,” he states.

“We all would have the moment we saw her,” Kill grunts, crossing his tree trunk-sized arms across his chest.

---