cascade | kotlc

8. Riverdrift and Inexplicable Conflicts

"I thought we were going to Lady Cadence's house," Sophie said as the scenery glittered into focus.

They were at a river so wide it looked more like a lake. White swells crashed against the dark rocks, and the roar of water tickled Biana's ears.

Thank god Linh wasn't here. Her powers were incredible, but according to Tam her control had worsened over time, and Biana really didn't feel like dealing with tidal waves and maelstroms after what just happened.

"The best anyone can do when visiting Riverdrift is to find the general area," Mr. Forkle explained, pointing south, to where the water cut through a tangle of unruly woods. "The rest we'll have to do on foot."

Wind whipped around June as she floated into the air and whistled. "That's amazing. I can fly. Two riders."

"Me," everyone except Faye said immediately. "No, not them. Me."

June giggled. "I'll leave that to you, then. Fitz gets a reserved spot."

"My feet are still recovering from the eight thousand stairs you already made us climb," Keefe whined, slumping against Sophie's shoulder. Her eyes flicked around a bit before she anxiously stroked her hand through Keefe's hair. Keefe made a content noise that sounded like a cat's.

Eventually they decided on June taking Fitz and Sophie. Faye reluctantly accepted Tam with her, though she'd warned him of 'sudden and unexpected electric shocks, heart attacks, and/or third-degree burns', and of course Keefe was left alone. He had to walk.

"We're getting on a boat?" Tam asked when they saw the boat. It was a very big boat, and there were too many miniscule details for her to comprehend. Faye had dumped Tam halfway before they reached Riverdrift, and Biana missed her slap, which was a shame.

"A houseboat," Mr. Forkle clarified. "King Dimitar refused to let Lady Cadence establish any sort of permanent home in Ravagog, but he did agree that she could set up something temporary, so Riverdrift was her solution. She designed the vessel herself and kept it docked along the Eventide, until the Council made her sail back to the Lost Cities to mentor Sophie."

Speaking of Sophie, she shrieked as she tumbled from June's arms. Biana cursed, jumping over and catching the girl milliseconds before her head hit the grass.

June dropped down ten feet, landing on the ground and groaning.

"I thought I told you to hold on," she chastised.

"You try holding on when a bird slams into your face," Sophie grumbled, gagging when she noticed -- was that bird poo? -- on her nose. Keefe laughed, coming over and helping her wipe off the brown-yellow goo.

"Ugh, I'm never going to forget that," Biana complained. "I'm going to be permanently afraid of birds now."

"I won't let that happen to you," Tam assured her, flicking his finger and making darkness swirl around him. Birds squawked as feathers exploded and disappeared into thin air, shadows coating around them and forming a vortex of sorts before the wind stilled into nothing but shades of grey.

"I'm scared now," she said, but she still squirmed into Tam's waist and made him wrap his arms around her. His warmth was, well, warm, but also comforting, and it made Biana forget everything. His shadows were unmoving, calming her nerves as they seeped into her. It was as if she was in bed, the lights off around her, the blankets warm around her grip. Obviously she wasn't in bed with Tam.

She pouted slightly as Tam hauled her onto his shoulders.

"I can walk, you know," she chided him, twirling his hair around her finger and playing with his scalp.