Page 107 of The Poison of the Earth
Kai spins and levels a glare at him. “If you think I won’t putyouover my knee and paddle your bare ass as well, you’re mistaken.”
Finnick sputters and my eyebrows are in my hairline.What in the world is going on with Kai? Just out of sorts with having to share Ollie?I’ll have to find time with him soon. Or maybe hejust needs to hold Ollie down and take her ass again. I rearrange my dick.Now is not the time for these thoughts.
A griffon swoops in and circles on open wings to the floor. It looks at me and walks over. I think it’s the one I rode here. I offer it my hand which it rubs its beak against.
Finn helps Ollie saddle Feather as the groom helps me with my griffon.
There’s a ruffle of feathers and Kai yells, “Princess! Fuck!”
I look up just as Ollie’s laughter dances down. She flies through the open window out into the clear sky. I bite back a grin. “It’s a shorter flight, Kai, she’ll be alright.”
“She’ll be alright until I tan her hide.”
I hear Finnick snort and I turn, giving him a conspiratorial look. He cracks a small smile at me and tosses himself on a griffon with a pure-white back end and launches into the air without waiting for Kai and I to follow.
The flight south is only about two hours, given that we had the wind at our backs. A low, dark blanket of clouds rolls in. I use the time flying to get my head on straight. I cannot be fucked up about decisions that have already been made. I gotta roll with them. There’s decades of planning on the line, we cannot change course now.
We land well out of eyesight of the town, to the northeast. Finnick swings down easily and I spare a moment to wonder what his skills are. We’ll have to talk after this particular fire is put out.
He goes to Ollie and gently pulls her out of the saddle. Even though jealousy flares, part of me is glad to see the tenderness on his face as he looks at her. Kai hops off his griffon just as the rest of the flock land. He immediately picks Ollie up and tucks her face to his chest, making as much body contact as possible as he warms her. Korben and I pace over.
“What’s the battle plan?” Finnick asks.
Kai frowns, obviously not ready to share details yet but I answer. “I don’t have a good one, to be honest. I was hoping I could fly in alone and get the lay of Alder’s men. And what manner and stage of attack they are using.”
“One griffon could probably go unnoticed, even so much as to get over the city walls. But the flight of them?” He shakes his head.
Ollie says, without moving from Kai’s arms, “Korben could you fly closer on your griffon and go spore?”
Kai shakes his head even as Korben answers, “It’s too cold. If I spore out here I won’t reform until spring. Sorry, Ollie.”
“Stop, don’t apologize!” She insists quickly. She chews her lip a moment then asks, “How long has Alder had Fae camped outside the town?”
“A month, give or take.”
“So, he’d have to be bringing in food and water?”
I shrug. “Food yes. He probably has brought in a herd of cattle and is butchering them as needed. As for water, he may have water wagons, but this part of the realm has a high water table. He likely has had wells dug.”
Ollie wiggles, pushing off Kai and he reluctantly sets her down. A slow grin grows on her face. “Think you can get me into the camp?”
“What? No! Why?” I blurt, just as Kai and Finnick both sputter denials.
Korben grins. “Whatcha thinking, Ollie?”
She shrugs. “I poison their wells.”
We all stare in silence for a moment, shocked by this flat statement from our little mate.
“‘S a good plan,” Korben says, still grinning. “How do you do that, exactly, Ollie?”
Kai and I exchange glances.
“I just need to get to them, I can put my hand in and let my magic seep out of my pores.”
“No,” Kai says flatly. “Can I take some of your poison in and I’ll do it?”
I see Ollie’s jaw harden. “Only if you take a piece of my flesh.”
