Wisdom could feel his temper rising at the thought of something happening to her. “We don’t have time for this! Chronicles could attack at any moment, and she’d be the first one in his sight!”
“I’ll get her,” Shy suggested, with Katherine nodding in agreement.
“I’ll go with you. We’ll bring her back safe.”
“See that you do! And if she gives you any trouble...” The prince removed the sapphire necklace from around his neck. After pulling both his sword and staff from within to have by his side, he tossed the jewelry to his brother. “Use this to keep her safe, and don’t come back without her!”
*****
Did I make a mistake? Glory stared out over the water near the ship’s stern, watching the water’s surface churn with foaming whitecaps. She had never felt so homesick, and it was not for where she was headed. It was what she had left behind. Does he even care to look for me?
She could tell by the way the sky darkened that they had entered the coastal waters belonging to the Realm of Sapphire. All crew cast a nervous gaze to the flexing black clouds trailing just over the seaside cliffs. It was not the most welcoming sight, especially with the strong wind that came from it. It tore into the sails several times, swiftly drawing the men into a frenzy of working to ensure the vessel stayed on course.
A shiver drew her arms into a fold, having wished she had brought a traveling cloak. Smart thinking on my part! The men aboard ship had welcomed her along after hearing her request to visit her family in Lexington. Glad they did not stare, like many others, their duties toward the vessel’s departure kept them busy.
And yet, Glory spent the majority of her time facing the rear, not forward. That longing ache in her heart only worsened with the storm’s announcing thunder. Now, she wished Wisdom by her side and wondered why she bothered to leave in the first place.
All over something I probably misinterpreted. A sigh while glancing over at the storm clouds. Wisdom was right; I can see it growing!
And where do you think you’re going?
Glory turned swiftly at the familiar voice in her mind. When she did not see anyone, her gaze flicked toward the sky until two birds gliding alongside the ship drew her attention. Not the standard seagulls seen diving down for minnows, these birds begged a different reasoning to be seen. Even the ship’s captain took notice, and with a hand signal, the sails went slack for the birds to land safely.
The greenish glow of shifting soon took over, expanding upward into their human forms. Having been acquainted with the prince’s transformations, the sailers only saluted the two Healers as they stepped from fading feathers to face the lone woman at the back of the ship.
“Really?” Glory rolled her eyes. “So he sends you instead?”
The strawberry-haired female next to Shy leaned closer to whisper. “So this is your brother’s chosen?”
“Unfortunately,” came a response. “Quite the runner, this one.”
“She’s gorgeous!”
“Thank you,” Glory said without much emotion. “And you would be?”
“With me, of course!” Shy snapped as the two approached.
“With...you? As in...betrothed?” At a nod, Glory laughed. “Well, I’d watch this one, if I were you. He has a habit of leaving girls stranded in desolate locations.”
“Not this again!” Shy folded his arms in a huff. “Will you leave that be? This isn’t about us anyway. It’s about you!”
The younger female placed a hand on his shoulder to calm him. “Let me try.”
Her long hair swept over a shoulder in the passing breeze. Overhead, the flap of sails tugging on their rigging soon quieted when the vessel began moving again.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you; I’m Katherine. Your Wisdom and I were friends growing up. He sent us to bring you back because it’s not safe anymore for you to travel alone.”
“Then he knew I left!”
“Not until someone else saw you leaving the port,” Shy said. “I swear, Glory! You left Lexington because you wanted to be with him, and now you want to go back? I don’t get it.What is it you’re running from this time?”
“He...” Tears threatened to spring into her eyes. “He said he didn’t love me anymore.”
“What?” Katherine glanced to Shy for clarity, but the Healer only shrugged. “Don’t be ridiculous! He’s throwing a fit right now because you’re missing! Of course, he loves you!”
“Then why didn’t he come for me himself?” Glory turned away. The waters stretched as far as the eye could see, and faded out over the horizon in a white haze. From behind, Shy continued speaking.
“Glory, why do you think?” he said. “Are you really that desperate for attention?”
“Glory,” came Katherine’s soft tone, and before the young woman could turn away again, the teen was in front of her. “Perhaps you haven’t heard, but Lexington is about to get overrun with war.”
Glory’s eyebrows lowered in confusion. “What war?” She glanced over her shoulder at Shy. “No one’s mentioned that here.”
“Doubt they would,” Shy looked around at the men. “Seemingly, they sailed before word got out.”
Katherine took the woman’s hand in her own to gain her full attention.
“Wisdom couldn’t come himself because he has to prepare the clans for a possible attack. Since he can’t be in two places at once, he sent us to bring you back before it was too late.”
“But what war, and with who?”
“Well...us.”
“What do you mean?”
Swearing softly, Shy gave Glory a brief rundown of what their clan leader had in mind. It was all Glory could do to keep from diving over the edge and swimming back to her love. Emotions mingled together. She felt foolish for leaving. At the same time, her thoughts traveled to her family. How could she go back now when they sat in immediate danger?
“My father doesn’t know!” Glory begged. “Don’t you see? I can’t go back now!”
“Yes, you are!” Shy started to take out the necklace his brother had given him when Katherine halted the move.
“Shy, this is her family!”
“I’m not going to be the blame if something happens to her!”
“You won’t,” Glory said. “It’s my choice. Please! I’ll...I’ll do as you say, only if you agree to take me to my father. We’ll come back together.”
“Glory...” but again, the young woman insisted. “I don’t like this. It’s too risky.” Turning away to pace the deck, he left the two alone while he thought out a better plan.
“We’d get there a lot sooner if we flew,” Katherine suggested.
Halting his pace, Shy turned to her. Frowning, he finally nodded. “All right. We go. We fly. We get there.” By then, Glory had her arms wrapped around in his neck in thanks. Shy, however, did not return the embrace. “But the moment my father shows, we leave. Got it?”
“I promise not to run off!”
“That, I’ll believe when I see it.” He held up the sapphire stone. “Katherine, take her hand. I’ll transport you both inside. Don’t worry, you’ll be able to see where we’re headed. Straight there. And straight back.”
As soon as the two were safely inside, Shy headed out over the waters in the form of a hawk. The storm was behind them now, though its rumbling could still be heard.
“Sure hope you know what you’re doing,” though Shy continued to doubt his own actions. Sure hope I know what I’m doing.
*****
Abraham never realized how heavy a Black Wing was. Even for a half-breed, the weight of Corrigan’s wings nearly doubled Abraham’s task of prying the harpy from bed. With an arm around his shoulder, and being careful of the talons, Corrigan was finally pulled to a standing position.
“Think you could adjust yourself? You’re squashing me!” Abraham grunted under the harpy’s weight.
“You’d be dragging too if you had to stay in bed for months at a time!” Corrigan mumbled and blinked severa
l times to clear his gaze. Carefully, he moved each wing to test their agility. The movement nearly sent them airborne.
“Save it for when we’re outside!” Abraham warned. “If Jenario comes up here, you’ll have to fly.”
Corrigan just snorted and allowed the young man to help him over to the balcony doors. “Took you long enough to figure the spell.”
Abraham breathed in deeply once the harpy’s weight was against the balcony wall. “Wasn’t easy. Only way to get his mind off magic was to bring up the past.”
“Add the horn to the mix, and you had your work cut out for ya, huh?” Corrigan sneered.
Abraham nodded grimly.
“Suppose I can’t complain. I’m out, and I thank you for it.” The harpy attempted an awkward bow while still holding to the wall for support. It was not until the click of lock shifted his gaze past the young man and toward another standing just inside the patio doorway.
Abraham needed no hint as to who stood behind him. In a single motion, he turned toward his father. “Fly….” he breathed.
From behind, he could hear Corrigan’s talons scraping over stonework. Though he kept a steady gaze with his father, the muffle of movement over the balcony wall confirmed the harpy had descended.
“I won’t let you take him back.” Abraham raised a hand in defense as his father stepped outside. A spell was already forming on his tongue when Jenario just shook his head.
“There’s no need for that.” He waved the comment aside. “Corrigan’s usefulness had long since run out.”
A thrash of underbrush below the balcony suggested the harpy had reached ground level. Although still weak, Abraham knew the harpy’s wings could still deliver a good blow. There came a distant crack of twigs and rustling leaves from the Black Wing’s entrance into the forest before all was still, save for the constant rumble of overhead thunder.
Abraham kept his distance as his father stepped over to the balcony wall. There came a chuckle.
“Expecting the horn, I see,” Jenario said softly, his gaze sweeping over the shadowed land. “But let it be known that it was my every intention to see him free.”
“By using others!” Abraham said sharply. “I see how you work. I see how that thing works. It uses you the same way you use others to get what you want.”
There was a brief moment of silence while Abraham studied his father’s unusual cool attitude. “I haven’t seen your assassin in a while. Did you finish using him as well?”
“Indeed.” Jenario’s change from relaxed pose to an intense stare-down caused beads of sweat to line the young man’s forehead.
What was I thinking? He could feel power drawing around his father. I’m not strong enough to stand up to him or the horn. They’d obliterate me by mere thought!
A sly smile spread across Jenario’s lips, and the eyes lit with an inner flame.
“Now what purpose would that serve when you still have potential?” the horn spoke gently. “As for Nathanial...” A shrug. “Let’s just say, I sent him into early retirement.”
Abraham lowered his eyebrows in disgust. “Maybe my father doesn’t see you as a puppet master, but I do. And I was not about to see that Black Wing’s demise!”
“So you did.” That crooked smile never left his lips.
“And I will not allow myself to be used for your gain either.” The young man started to back away. When the horn said nothing, he turned and dashed for the bedroom door, only to find it locked. Heart pounding, he raced for the secret passage. Flinging aside the paneling, he stared stupidly at the dark void of swirling portal blocking his path.
In frustration, Abraham slammed the paneling shut and whipped around. His father had moved to the only exit the room contained: the balcony.
“As I said once before,” the horn cooed, “should something happen to the harpy, you’ll be taking his place.”
“I’ll not be kept under your spell!”
“Of course not. You’ll just undo it. No, I have better plans for you. But for now,” the horn turned away from the bedroom, “there’s a war about to rage, and I plan to attend its final outcome.”
“What war?”
“One your father has prepared so nicely.”
Abraham slowly ventured over to the doors once Jenario stepped back outside, only to find the space vacant.
The distinct sound of a four-legged animal clopping over barren soil drew his attention below. While only a glimpse of the unicorn was seen before entering the forest, Abraham could not help but feel trapped. Jenario had locked the door when he had entered, and a dark portal blocked the secret passage.
He leaned over the wall to judge how far he was from ground. The tower room was one of the tallest structures on the building. Just thinking about climbing down sickened his stomach.
There was a whoosh of wind at his back, followed by loud flapping. A strong pair of hands gripped under his arms and lifted him out over the balcony. With a yelp, Abraham dangled helplessly in midair.
“Thought you might need a lift,” came the voice of Corrigan as the two sailed out over the trees.
“You came back!” Abraham glanced up, then swung his feet to avoid hitting a limb. “Watch it!” His legs pumped to keep from hitting anything.
“I can’t lift you any higher!” Corrigan called. “We’ll be landing shortly anyhow!”
“Not out here!” Abraham shouted as a streak of lightning lit the sky. “You’re going to kill us both!”
The Black Wing angled his descent, circling Jenario’s home in the process to look for a place to land. The storm cloud was intense, shadowing the land with its enormous size.
“Somehow, I doubt that’s his plan, or we’d been long gone by now!”
“The horn mentioned something about a war!” Abraham said. “Do you think Keith knows?”
“We’ll soon find out!”
A fresh breeze signaled freedom near the borders of Sapphire. Even with the storm looming around them, the feel of Jenario’s power grew fainter. Holding tight to the feathering around the harpy’s arms, Abraham allowed himself to be carried, hoping and praying he could somehow play a role in stopping whatever his father had started.
CHAPTER 1
There was an eerie silence throughout the city of Lexington. People hastened their business with merchants in hushed tones as a dense fog settled in from the south. Fingers of dark mist crept through back alleys and poured over the cobblestone streets. It did not take long before all of Lexington was in its grasp.
Yet Lexington’s inhabitants were not the only ones unsettled by this uncanny arrival. Surrounding hillside provided the perfect lookout points for Healers to amass. Extending their animal senses from gained shifts, they alone could detect human movement and smells within the gray covering. Among them was Chronicles, ready to signal his people forward at the first sign from either Jangus or his son.
A White Wing brushed past some leaves to join his side, his wings neatly folding in a fade. Squinting at the haze of gray, Rusha turned to the other Healer.
“I hope this doesn’t last,” he said. “A fog like this will prove hard to navigate through in mid-flight.”
Chronicles flicked his gaze over to the harpy before refocusing on the city.
“Nevertheless, it will help conceal your attacks.”
“Until we hit their structures!”
“Leave the buildings to us.” Chronicles held out a hand to demonstrate his words by calling forth a small vine from the earth. “We’ll level everything they’ve built until the only mark of their existence is a barren field!” He clenched his fist, and when he did the vine crushed a small stone beneath the soil.
“As long as you’re certain,” Rusha said. “Why wait for your son or Jangus?”
“I want confirmation.” Chronicles waved a hand to dismiss the Wing’s presence. “Be ready to send your people.”
Disgruntled, Rusha let a throaty chirp escape his lips before leaving. A rustle of feathers slipping into fligh
t soon confirmed Chronicles was alone. He then turned his attention to the southern skies.
Something dotted the horizon. With dilated pupils, his gaze sharpened until he could just make out the raven form of Jangus.
*****
It was the dense fog that covered a young thief’s tracks. Holding tightly to her stolen prize, she rounded a corner and darted into the security of darkness. She needed no light for guidance, as the narrow alleyway had been traveled so many times she knew it by heart.
Her hand traced the familiar wood texture along the row of buildings. Without a misplaced step, she neatly turned corners and avoided a broken crate.
I can’t wait to show the others at the guild! Excitement urged herself onward, though she wished there was some light to study her prize. The weight of it suggested worth, as it was budding with jewels. Just a little further.
She was still a couple of alleys over from the Thieves’ Guild when the fog began to shift. Slowly, blackness became a dim haze that offered a chance to view an outline of her surroundings. In eagerness, she lifted the jewelry close to inspect it.
A faint clack of boards shifting against one another startled her. The fog was still quite dense, so she could not see far. Somewhere ahead, a roof shingle creaked.
She held her position.
A sudden flurry of feathers swept past, cawing loudly in her ear. She cursed, then pressed on toward the guild.
“Stupid bird!”
It had gone to the rooftop. She could still hear its claws scraping the shingles until there came a thud in the dirt.
Probably a loose shingle. These alleys are full of ‘em!
A single flap suggested the bird may have come back down. There was a strange cooing just ahead. Still, she kept walking, though her pace slowed. As she came closer, a mound of feathers began to take shape.
“Poor thing. Did ya lose your way?” She reached out to touch its silvery feathers when they suddenly recoiled in a throaty growl.
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