“Yes?” Dal opened the door.
“Hawk Lord, the King's guards are here. They have this for you, and they are waiting for you downstairs.” He passed Dalsharan a letter.
But Creshal wasn't alone, one of Dal's knights was with him. He stepped past the steward and knelt before the Hawk Lord. “I have failed you, my lord. Please, forgive me.”
“Stand up, Brevis,” Dalsharan said, a grim look crossing his face. “You tried and that is all I can ask of any man.”
Brevis stood with a stricken expression.
Dal took a deep breath, cracked the seal on the King's letter, and opened it. As he read, his jaw clenched and his shoulders straightened. He finally folded it and looked at Creshal. “We will be leaving today, Creshal. Have our things packed and sent to the property in Larinesse.”
“How long will you be gone, my lord?”
I got out of bed, a knot forming in my belly.
“I don't know. You may have another lord for a while.”
“What?” Creshal's face fell.
“I have acted without the King's authority and was unsuccessful in my endeavors,” Dal said, the words coming out strained. “I will do my best to make amends but it may not be possible.”
Brevis made a strangled sound but went silent when Dal shot him a quelling look.
“I understand, my lord.” Creshal bowed. “I am ever your faithful servant, no matter what you have done. I will pack our things and journey to Larinesse with them.”
“You don't have to do that, Creshal.” Dal laid a hand on his arm. “You have family here.”
“My family will understand, Hawk Lord.” He bowed. “Shall I tell the King's men that you will be down shortly?”
“Yes. Very good. Brevis, prepare the Guard.”
“Yes, Hawk Lord.” Brevis followed Creshal out.
Dal closed the door and turned toward me. “The Lion Lord caught Brevis in his camp. He's furious, but at least he was honorable enough to send Brevis back to us unharmed. The King is officially stripping me of my title and banishing me from court to appease the Lion King.” Dal sighed deeply. “I'm afraid I've lost a friend today.”
“A friend?” I gaped at Dal as I climbed out of bed. “You've just lost your position as warlord and your home.”
Dal lifted his chin. “Those, I shall get back.”
I shook my head and headed for my bedroom. In the dressing room, I slipped on my Valorian's robe and padded back to Dal barefoot.
“Get dressed and fetch the flight rig,” Dal said when he saw me. He was already dressed in his war robe with his circlet over his shining braid. “It will be a long flight.”
“I can handle it.”
“Do not disobey me today, Ravyn.”
I let out a long sigh, but went back to my closet and changed into a tunic, pants, a thick jacket, and boots. I tucked my robe into a satchel with the flight rig and as I did, I caught sight of my old trunk. I flipped it open, pulled out my sword and belt, and strapped them on. Although the satchel could have held everything in the room, I left the rest. Creshal would pack it. But, honestly, I didn't care about the fine clothes, only the Hawk Lord. I slid the satchel over my shoulder and went back to Dalsharan.
The Hawk Lord looked me over and nodded. We went down to the entry hall together, standing in the elevator in silence. I nearly took his hand, but he had a look about him. I knew that look; I had worn it myself once when I had walked down the main street of my hometown and straight into a recruiter's office. It was a hard look, one of stone, but stone that could crack if struck the wrong way. The best I could do for him was to stand beside him and make sure he didn't break.
We stepped out and across the beautiful floor, the Hawk Lord's bare feet making no sound, while my boots echoed hollowly. Four men in royal uniforms waited for us.
One of the men stepped forward and bowed deeply; he held a box in his hands. “Hawk Lord, I am ashamed to speak these words to you, but also relieved that I may be the one to see you off with the respect you're due.” He looked up at Dal with a broken expression. “We all know that you did nothing wrong, my lord. Your sacrifice will be remembered among the Royal Guard.”
“Thank you.” Dal removed his circlet. “I assume that box is for my circlet and amulet?”
I gasped. I hadn't considered that he'd lose the Hawk Soul too.
“Yes, Hawk Lord.” The man opened the box.
Dalsharan set his circlet inside, then removed his amulet and lay it within the band of gold.
The soldier closed the lid reverently and bowed again. “We will guard this well until it is returned to you, Hawk Lord.”
Dalsharan nodded and strode out of his home. I followed him outside, where the royal carriage waited for us. His personal guard stood there as well, all wearing war robes. When we got into the carriage, they got into one of Dal's to follow us. I strapped myself into the flight rig while we were taken through Kestria, to one of the landing docks. Dal was silent as we were escorted down to an empty platform, obviously cleared for this purpose.
The Hawk Lord didn't give his guards the option to stay, he had already warned them that this might happen, and they had sworn to follow him wherever he went. So, they all shrugged out of their robes and shifted. I collected the war robes and stuffed them into my satchel. Once Dal and his men were settled in their Hawk bodies, the royal guards saluted us.
With a shriek, the Hawk Lord dove off the platform, and his guards followed instantly. Inside me, a bird screeched at me to follow. To spread our wings and fly. Instead, I stood at the edge and waited for my lover to take me. For a second, I thought Dal was going to leave me behind, but then I saw him surging up the side of the mountain toward me, wings spread wide. I spun around so we were facing the same direction and braced myself as Dal's talons snatched the loops of my rig. He lifted me up and out, higher and higher. The city of Kestria spread beneath us, its grandeur sparkling beneath the rising sun. Then the Hawk Lord turned toward the East and flew straight, his guard falling into formation around us.
I stared down at the saluting royal guards and wondered if we'd ever be back. If the people of the Hawk Kingdom would ever know the sacrifice their warlord had made for them.
Chapter Thirty-Six
The city of Larinesse lay on the Eastern coast of Varalorre, a barrier of mists hanging over the sea several miles before it. Beyond that ward, across the Bellor, lay Alantri and the Farungal. But we were safe in the Hawk city, safe in the palace the King had awarded his Hawk Lord for bringing him a Valorian.
The palace spread along a length of imposing cliffs, overlooking the water, and the city sprawled at the base of those cliffs. Larinesse wasn't a mountain city like Kestria, it ranged over wild coastland and spread inward toward towering forests. A vacation spot for the wealthiest Sidhe. The trip there hadn't been nearly as long as the one we'd taken from Stalana, and I knew I could have flown it easily. But I also knew that Dal needed the responsibility of carrying me. He needed something to focus on as he left his home—a home he'd only just returned to and now, may never see again.