“Ferrol?” Rain asked cautiously.
“Is that it? You work for the bitch-queen?” Tressa accused.
The crow reappeared just then, flying in and landing on a nearby branch that rocked with its weight. Brin was once again impressed that the limb managed to hold it. The crow must be as heavy as a passing glance.
“I hold no fidelity to the Queen of the White Tower,” the Fhrey declared. “Speaking of which.” She looked over at the crow. “Hello, Orin,” she said to it, then looking at the rest of them she asked, “Have you met? He is the queen’s servant. One of many. Orin is her eyes and ears.” She tilted her head to peer at the crow. “Orin, I hope you understand. This isn’t personal.”
Spooked by her words, the bird pushed off the branch, but it only took two wingbeats before bursting into a cloud of black feathers with a loud pop! Everyone gasped. Brin took a step back as she watched the onetime bird’s plumage spiral slowly to the ground, where it made a tiny pile.
The Fhrey laughed as she watched the feathers fall. “That never gets old.”
She walked over and picked up the black feathers. Wadding the pile into a ball, she threw them into the air. Upon release, they became dead leaves that fell to an indifferent ground.
The conversation died along with the bird. Brin wondered if she was going to explode all of them as well. By the looks on most of the other faces, they were thinking the same thing. The exception was Moya.
The Keenig’s Shield was getting her feet back under her—both physically and figuratively. She stepped between the Fhrey and the dwarf. “I don’t care who you are or what you want. If you have a problem with Rain, then you have one with me as well.”
“You can put your fur down. I have no quarrel with Rain. And oh, by the way, you’re welcome.” The Fhrey smiled sweetly at her.
Moya only glared. “If you don’t work for Ferrol, I don’t—who are you, and what is it you want with Rain?”
“My name is Fen, and I’m not here to cause trouble.”
Moya gave a glance at the dead leaves, suggesting she might suspect differently. “Why are you here?”
“Because I wagered Beatrice that no Belgriclungreian by the name of Rain was up on this ridge near the Rel Gate. I came here to prove I was right.” Fen adjusted her cloak on her shoulders. “Thank you for costing me a favor and granting Beatrice bragging rights.”
“Beatrice?” Rain asked.
“She’s been going on about you for centuries.”
“Who is she?” Rain asked. “How did she know I was—”
“Long story, and one we don’t have time for right now. Orin isn’t Ferrol’s only servant. It won’t be long before the queen learns of your arrival and comes looking.”
“She already knows,” Roan muttered.
“I’m sorry? What was that?”
“We already met the queen,” Gifford said.
“In a world of overachievers, I suppose you don’t rule by being slow or stupid. But how is it that you are still here if—”
“Roan got rid of her,” Gifford said proudly, taking her hand in his.
Fen took a step closer and studied Roan with a critical frown. “Not to be rude, but you don’t look capable of defeating Ferrol.”
“She was going to hurt Gifford,” Roan said. “Make him burn himself in a fire I had made to scare away Grin the Brown, so I put the flames out.”
A puzzled expression appeared on Fen’s face. She looked at Roan, Gifford, the others, and then back at Moya.
“What is it?” Moya asked.
“You hopped through the forest in agony on one leg.” She pointed at Roan. “And she made a fire and extinguished the queen.” Fen shook her head. “You’re a very odd group.”
Fen led the way back through the forest toward where she and Brin first met. Despite her earlier apprehension, Moya followed the Fhrey, and everyone else followed Moya. The others gave the newly reunited couple some private space, so Brin and Tesh brought up the rear.
“Tesh,” Brin said, taking hold of his arm with both of hers. “I can’t believe you’re here. I missed you so much. I wanted us to be together, but I was cruel and selfish. I’m sorry for so many things. But what happened? How did you get here?”
“I went into the pool.” He hung his head.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m ashamed it took me so long.”
“Why did it?”
“You know why.” Tesh looked ahead at the others. “Have you told them?”
Brin shook her head.
“Why not?”
“We had to break into the afterlife; I met my family and discovered we were wanted by the local officials, whom Moya had insulted; then we had story time with a god, and got into a fight with a huge one-eyed brute; after that, we destroyed a palace before taking on Queen Ferrol and an undead bear.” She shrugged. “Been kinda busy.”
Tesh nodded.
They continued to walk, and Brin patiently waited. He would tell her, but Tesh, who was always quick in battle, was slow with words.
“What you said,” Tesh began, quietly, “about me becoming like them. I couldn’t understand why you would say such a hurtful thing and why you suddenly hated me. I got angry. After you went into the pool, Muriel was still there. She had been watching. I told her, ‘I thought she loved me. How could she leave me like that? How could she do that to me?’
“Then she said, ‘Perhaps, she could tell you don’t really love her.’
“ ‘How can you say that!’ I shouted.
“Then she said, ‘The love of your life just killed herself in the hopes of saving another, and all you can think about is how it affects you? I’m not an expert, but I don’t think that love grows well in such bitter soil.’ ”
He sighed. “The witch left me then. Alone, I sat and stared at that terrible pool. I had nothing but that memory of you sinking and my own thoughts.”
“Why didn’t you leave? Go back to the Dragon Camp?”
“I wish I could say that I realized you were right and found a way to overcome my hatred, but that wasn’t it. Honestly . . . I think it was the pain. I wanted it to stop. I kept replaying your last minutes, seeing the fear in your eyes as you went under. I’ve never experienced anything so unbearable. I couldn’t live with that. The pool was there, and I wanted to die, so taking the plunge seemed obvious. It wasn’t the best solution. It means I’ve failed at everything. I’ve disappointed my family, neglected my duty to my clan, and failed you because I couldn’t convince you not to die. I’m sorry, Brin.”
“Tesh, don’t apologize. It’s me that should be sorry. I got you into this. Gave you that terrible ultimatum. But, Mari help me—and I know it’s totally wrong—but I’m so glad you’re here. I missed you so much.”
Tesh nodded, but the sad frown spoke volumes. Her words hadn’t helped. Rather than saying more, she squeezed his hand, kissed it, and walked with her head leaning on his shoulder.
They left the trees and reached the cliff. Far below, the battle continued. Each stood in awe as they beheld the sight, in much the same way that Brin had.