“You leave at first light,” Chandres said, snatching back his pendant.
“As do we all,” Abghar agreed.
My mouth was dry as they left us. Dry because I was worried for our family even with this bargain meant to protect them. Dry because all was not as I had hoped. Dry because Abghar had taken this risk for me and I must take it, too. The last place I ever wanted to return to was Glorious Ingvar and the husband who waited for me there.
When at last they were out of earshot, Abghar seemed to sag with relief, but he turned to us both with a grim smile and planted a hand on each of our shoulders.
“I’m proud of you both,” he said in his deep voice so like my father’s, “and so would our parents be had they lived to see what fine young people you are. What are we?”
“Relentless,” Awet whispered, though his voice quavered. He knew as well as I did what kind of risk we would be taking tomorrow. Even more so now. Our family would fight in every battle. Which meant more chances that one of us would not return. And we would have to leave our most vulnerable members behind and hope beyond hope that the blood oath held.
“Relentless,” I said, trying to keep the waver out of my voice.
But I hadn’t succeeded. Abghar grabbed us each with one of his huge arms, pulling us in for a tight, furious hug. And even he was trembling a little when he let us go.
“Try to get some sleep,” he advised. “Dawn will be difficult.”
Chapter Thirteen
DAWN WAS DIFFICULT as Abghar had predicted. I’d managed to catch an hour of sleep cuddled next to Osprey but as the first rays of gold appeared over the horizon, I rose with the others, drinking tea hastily, checking weapons, packing supplies. I left Osprey’s swords with him and as the others ate a quick breakfast, I sat cross-legged beside my sleeping hunter and opened my palms, whispering to my bees. Their buzz filled me, and I leaned into it.
“Come to me, my swarm,” I whispered. “I need you now. You’re a family just as my House is a family. But now we must go our separate ways and I need you to go with them. You are my heart and my hopes. Fly with my family. Warn them of danger. Set yourselves as watch holders and flare brightly in the presence of evil so they can be warned. And stay connected to your swarm. Keep me connected to my family so I can know if they succeed or fall, know their hearts and struggles. Be my eyes. Be my ears. Be my voice of encouragement.”
I blew gently on the golden swarm and they scattered through the room, landing on shoulders, or spinning haloed loops around the heads of my family.
Anfrea looked up with a faintly amused look in her eye and Retger swatted irritably at his, but the bees weren’t going anywhere. I kissed Osprey’s cheek, trying hard not to think of it as goodbye. He was deep in drugged sleep. If all went well, he wouldn’t wake until I returned. Then I rose and joined the huddled ring in the kitchen. Tension painted every face and while Retger and Oska were putting on brave faces, Helissa was crying a little, clutching her husband like she feared he might never return.
“I’ve set my bees to watch you for me,” I said.
“Not necessary,” Retger grumbled.
“They’ll flare very bright if they sense danger.”
He snorted at that but seemed mollified. Raquella tilted her head and reached for the bee curiously, seeming delighted when it landed on her hand and walked up her arm.
“Can I pray?” I asked and wordlessly we huddled around as I reached out like I had before in the undertrails and then in the tower, stretching my heart up to feel that presence up and beyond the sky and stars. “Flight of wind protect us, mercy of the skies fly over us, give us peace and protection, let us soar from this terror on the wings of eagles. Guide us in the right paths. Give us courage to face today.”
My voice faltered, but Adigale picked up the prayer in her strong voice. “In the ever-changing nature of life, in the storms and stillness, shine your light on us.”
And then the tear-thick voice of Helissa joined her, “Grant us peace in this time of trouble.”
And when she was finished there was a flurry of hugs and whispered goodbyes and I could hardly manage to keep the tears from falling. It felt like it was tearing me in two to leave them when I’d only just been returned to them.
“We’ll look after your injured friend,” Helissa assured me as she hugged me goodbye. “Come back quickly and maybe he won’t even wake until you return.”
Raquella snorted. “Friend. Is that what we’re calling it?”
Helissa gave her a censorious look. “And you be careful, Raquella. It would be just like you to tie up your own poor captive and drag him back here.”
And then we were being handed small parcels of food and waterskins and we were checking our weapons quietly.
“We’re in a tough position,” Abghar announced quietly. “But today will be a decisive blow one way or another. Those who remain here are essential. You need to keep the children safe and watch over our injured allies – Wing Ivo and Wing Osprey. You also need to protect General Victore. Let’s hope he regains his mind.”
Adigale made a murmur in the back of her throat that suggested it was unlikely.
“We’ve tried to leave as many behind as we can,” Abghar continued. “And they’ve split us up which leaves us all nervous, but here are my last words to you. Those of you who are staying behind, Anfrea has taken charge of the defenses here and she will give the final call if you must leave this place or withdraw to another. We will all return here or send word here as soon as we are able, to set our family’s minds at rest. Whichever battle each of us finds ourselves fighting in, the rest of our hearts are with you. If you are taken, we will come after you. If you fall ...” he paused. “Don’t fall. And now, we depart.”
He kissed his wife and we followed him grimly out into the half-light of dawn. Little tendrils of mist rose from the ground as the warmth of dawn began to spread over the cold earth.
We clasped hands in goodbye as Oska peeled off to the side with Raquella to join a group assembling where the archery butts had been last night.
“Don’t think I didn’t hear you two last night,” she whispered in my ear, making an over-enthusiastic kissy sound with a wink as she left.
Royn was next to leave us with Alect. I gave my younger brother a tight hug.
“Be safe,” I murmured, and he winked, too, as he trotted off behind Royn’s wide figure, striding toward where a group of about thirty was already assembled near the fletcher’s workshop.
And then it was our turn. I hugged everyone and caught Zayana’s eye from where she stood in Retger’s shadow. She hardly seemed to leave his side.
“I’ve barely had a chance to talk to you,” I told her. “Will you be okay?”
She sniffed like I was being ridiculous. “I’ll be safer than you. I have Retger and we’ve been chosen for one of the easier tasks. You, on the other hand, are as suicidal as you’ve always been.”
“I prefer the word ‘brave,’” I said with a smile and then Abghar was motioning me to hurry and I gave her a hug and hurried to catch up with him. His face was grim as we left the others.
“I’m sorry that you’ve been put in this difficult spot because of me,” I whispered as we strode over a little bridge that spanned the creek. I could see Essena waiting for us near the gap where I’d entered with Osprey. Her owl was on her shoulder, glowing a milky white.