Page 139 of Crown of Briars
“You need your strength.”
“You silly humans always underestimate us. Just tell me what you need from me.”
“I need you to fly over Chesser Road and tell me if anything is amiss.”
Azure was silent for a moment.“Chesser Road is too far for us to communicate.”
“I know. But this is important. You’re the only one who can get there quickly enough. Warwick said he would rendezvous with his allies at Chesser Road today. I need to know if anyone is there.”
Azure hesitated.“I don’t like leaving you.”
“Varius will protect me.” Even as I said it, my stomach knotted again. He was avoiding me.
Regardless, I knew he would ensure my safety. He had made that much clear last night when he’d saved my life.
Azure sighed.“Very well. But I won’t linger for very long. I’ll return before sundown.”
“Thank you. Please be safe.”
“You too, Sybelle.”
I knew how worried she was because she called me by myname instead ofhuman. I prayed I was making the right choice in sending her away.
I left the bedchamber in search of the library. But when I opened the door, I found myself in an unfamiliar hallway. Frowning, I made my way down the hall, searching for landmarks I recognized.
I froze when echoing voices drew closer, followed by soft footsteps. My instincts told me to return to the bedchamber, until I heard a child’s wailing cry.
My heart jolted in my chest, and I hurried forward without thinking. When I rounded the corner, I froze, eyes wide.
Clermont was leading a large crowd of fae through the hall. Upon seeing me, he stopped and went rigid.
My eyes roved over the crowd of fae behind him. They certainly weren’t nobles. Their faces were smeared with dirt, and their clothes were ragged and torn. And…
They were families. Several adult males and females, some with younger fae standing alongside them.
A few of the female fae were clutching small children in their arms. My eyes fell on one, a child with purple skin and cat-like eyes, who was writhing in his mother’s grip. She was attempting to shush him to no avail. His screech bounced off the walls.
“My lady.” Clermont stepped in front of me, drawing my attention to him. “Can I help you with something?”
“I’m just—” I was going to say I was looking for the library, but my gaze was fixed on the screaming child. “Clermont, what is going on?”
“These are refugees from the Pern District. Their homes were destroyed by the shadows, and they need a place to stay until the village can be rebuilt.”
My heart twisted with horror and pain. I stared at the faces of the fae before me, seeing them in a new light.
Their homes were gone. Their lives uprooted. They were in a foreign place, and they were frightened.
In this moment, I had never felt so helpless. The fear in their eyes was so potent it stole my breath.
I inhaled shakily and approached the fae with the screaming child. Clermont uttered a protest, but I ignored him, drawing closer to the child with slow and careful steps.
The mother’s eyes widened at my approach, and she tried to clutch the child more tightly to her, but he thrashed even harder.
Hesitantly, I spread my hands. “May I help?” I asked in Agnarrish.
The woman stilled, clearly surprised by my use of her language. She said nothing, so I didn’t try to come any closer.
Raising my voice over the child’s crying, I said, “Do you want to see something funny?”
