Page 67 of Storms of Allegiance

After the hours alone with Ember and Phoenix, the sound of human voices sounded strange and jarring. By the time I found their owners, two men had nearly reached me, running heavily across the rocky desert ground.

I stopped, waiting calmly for their approach. They were carrying drawn blades, but as they neared and saw that I was one girl, traveling alone, their posture changed, their weapons dipping.

As soon as they were close enough to hear me without having to shout, I spoke.

“I’m Delphine, and I’m here to see Grey.”

“Here to see Grey?” One of them repeated, looking incredulously at the other. “Just come for a social call, have you?”

I tried to keep my tension from my face. “I’ll discuss my purposes with Grey, and Grey alone.”

“Will you now?” The second man stepped forward with a threatening air, but Ember’s growl from near my ankles made him pause, his eyes jumping from her teeth to Phoenix’s curved beak. The bird was regarding him with a steady eye, and the man quickly halted his approach.

“I’m not here to fight.” I stretched my arms wide. “I carry no concealed weapons. All I want is to speak to Grey.”

I had no idea if either of them were healers, but it seemed better to assume they were and watch my words, no matter who I was speaking to.

Once again the two exchanged looks, and this time they shrugged.

“Go on, then.” One of them indicated with his sword that I should proceed, walking toward the green patch ahead.

I did so, forcing my head to stay high and my pace steady. The two men fell into place on either side of me, their swords still drawn. Given the careful distance they kept from me, they were either concerned I might be a healer or worried about my animals. Either option worked for me.

As we approached closer, the green ahead took further shape. The cliff side here stabbed inward into the desert, creating a sharp ‘v’ shape that must have a clean water source based on all the green that grew inside the sheltered area. The green I had glimpsed from afar was the tops of trees, but when I peered over the edge, I saw plants of various types below.

The men directed me to lead the way down an established path that snaked down into the crevasse. It was much easier to follow than Nik’s temporary creation, and Ember was even able to walk at my feet.

Our height made us stand out, and by the time we reached the bottom, a small crowd was converging on the path. Many of them were of a similar age to me, but a few stood out from the others, their faces bearing the marks of greater age and their hands resting on sword hilts at their waists. Before I had time to be intimidated by the number of people, however, someone thrust through the middle of the crowd, pushing the others out of the way.

“Delphine!” Miranda screamed my name before throwing herself into my arms.

I clung to her, murmuring her name as I squeezed her tight. So many of the memories of my childhood had been marred since leaving Tarin, but Miranda remained as a bright spot.

I pulled back so I could look at her properly, holding her by the arms and examining her from head to toe.

“Are you all right?” I asked.

“Of course!” She beamed at me, her expression slowly growing confused. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Well…I…” My words trailed off as I remembered the last time I had seen her.

Had she forgotten being threatened by Grey and carried off over his shoulder? Had she forgotten his casual attacks on first Serena and then me? It occurred to me that Miranda had been half out the window at the time and might not have seen him take out Serena. But she must have seen him stab me.

Her head cocked to the side, and her brow creased, as if she was wrestling with a large and confusing thought.

“I’m so happy to see you, Delphine. But what are you doing here?”

“I came to get you.”

“Me?” She gaped at me, as if the thought were unimaginable. “But that can’t be right. No one wants me back.”

I frowned. “Why would you say that? Of course we do! Your father was devastated when you left.”

“He…he was?” She slowly shook her head. “He must be very angry then. I heard he disowned me because of it.”

“Don’t be silly!” I said bracingly, remembering the lies Grey had told before Serena’s departure. “He’s waiting for you to come home.”

“No…” She frowned, looking lost and confused. “That can’t be right. My father never wants to see me again.”

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