Page 109 of Swift Wings Shadowed Heart
We are leaving behind more than half of the new Skyriders and reinforcing our numbers with a few veteran ones. We have Prime Emberstone, Henry Cliffbecker and Quincy Sparkcaller, the last two a veteran Skydune and a Skybolt respectively. Fire, earth, and electric power will serve us better in the mountains, not to mention my wind power along with Rhealyn’s.
Dragons circle above us. I’m ready to give the command for the Skyriders to rise and mount when a messenger appears at my side.
“High Prime Stormsong, I was asked to deliver this earlier. I apologize. I… I fell asleep.” The young Claw’s face is red with shame.
I snatch the message from his hand and read it. I feel my face pale.
“Delivering this message late,” I wave the note in his face, “it’s as if you hadn’t delivered it at all. Understood?”
“Yes, High Prime.”
“I’ll deal with you later.” He’s the only target available for my anger, so he gets it in full force.
Crumpling the message in my fist, I approach Prime Emberstone. “Something came up. Go on without me. I’ll join you as soon as I can. Leave immediately.”
Emberstone looks concerned, but she doesn’t ask any questions. She only says, “Yes, High Prime.”
Panic roars in my ears as I head toward Commander Voltguard’s office. I need to put an end to this ridiculous situation.
* * *
I enter the office,still angry, my efforts to calm down as I made my way here rather short of their mark. Chief Inquisitor Victor Cragmere stands half-turned in my direction in front of the Commander’s desk. He looks as smug as ever.
“Where is she?” he demands.
I play coy. “Where is who?”
“My note was clear. I’m here to arrest Rhealyn Wyndward for the murder of Neutro Mortimer Cindergrasp.”
“Note? What note?”
Commander Voltguard stands, wearing a disapproving frown. “If you didn’t receive the Chief Inquisitor’s note, why are you here?”
“Exactly,” the little man bites back.
I address the Commander. “I came to say you are right. Dakar should come with us. Silas Pyrewing is a good Skyblaze, Emberstone vouches for him. Dakar could work with him to enhance his fire power if needed.”
The Commander and I disagreed on this last night. I insisted that Dakar should stay. He leads the Skysingers in my absence. I was reluctant to leave them under Eleonora’s authority. I fear she might misinterpret any trust I place in her.
“I’m glad you agree,” the Commander says. “Though it seems you’ll lose Skysinger Wyndward. I imagine you will replace her with Phoebe Breezehart.”
I sigh with fake regret. “I’m afraid that change won’t be possible. I’ve sent the contingent ahead of me already.”
“What?!” the Chief Inspector exclaims. “You did that on purpose.”
“Excuse me,” I say, raising my voice. “I don’t like what you’re implying.”
“I don’t care if you like it or not,” he barks back. “You got my note and let thatcriminalslip out of the law’s grasp.”
I have no idea why this asshole insists on coming after Rhealyn, but she assured me she didn’t kill anyone, and I believe her. This slimy, pathetic man is grasping at straws, eager to pin this murder on someone to hide his incompetence.
“That is uncalled for,” Commander Voltguard says with authority. “High Prime Stormsong is a man of integrity. You have no right to come here and make such accusations.”
“My apologies,” he says, showing no contrition at all. “I flew all night to get here, and I must admit the lack of sleep has me on edge, not to mention my call and need to administer justice. You must bring Rhealyn Wyndward back right away.”
I cross my arms. “Like I said before, the contingent is on its way already. You will have to wait until our return.”
His waxed mustache twitches. He seems ready to argue, but instead, he raises his thin, graying eyebrows at the Commander. He wants her to contradict me, to tell me I must do what he says.
