Solar Reign

X L V I V

"WHAT WAS her problem?" Callum seethed the moment they were in the in-between. He had his hands fisted in his hair as he spun wildly to Andorra. "I know I warned you, but I didn't expect her to be quite so-"

"It's okay," Andorra said softly. She put a hand on Callum's arm, peering into his pissed gaze. The shadows under his skin pressed to the surface, begging to be released. "I don't take it personally. She's just worried about Anlithamy. I mean, I get it. A new, young Queen travels to Averotho and brings back word of war. I'd be pissed, too."

"The word you're looking for is bitch. She was being a fucking bitch." Nohx interrupted. He rubbed at his own temples. "But I didn't mean to flip like that. I know you can handle your own shit, Andy, but she just... fuck."

"Bitch." Callum tested out the word. "Humans do have such colorful language."

Andorra shrugged, turning back to Nohx and threading her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly. "I'm glad you froze her. She deserved it. And I don't hate it when you're all protective like that." Andorra peeked up at him with a little grin.

"Okay, okay. Enough with the mushy love. We still have the Blooming Clan, and then we'll see Eolande. We're not out of the weeds just yet." Callum shook out his hands, letting shadows drop from his fingers like globs of liquid. "Good news is that the Clan Leader of the Blooming Clan is not as much of a... bitch. She's actually pretty decent. Normal, even."

Andorra let go of Nohx. "Do you think she'll go for it?"

"I think Lolma will be open to listening to you. She's level headed. Doesn't put on a show like Crille does. But, I do have to warn you, I know her daughter. There is bad blood there, and again, it may impact this visit. I understand if you want me to stay behind because of it."

Andorra waved that suggestion away. "You? Wanting to stay back? I never thought I'd hear that from you. Are you feeling alright, Callum?"

Callum shot her a dark look. "I'm trying to be helpful."

"Of course you're coming with us. That's not up for debate. If your brooding nasty personality hasn't gotten in the way before today, then it won't when we meet with Lolma. No offense, but everyone knows who you are and are taken aback by it wherever we go."

Andorra pictured Pyatt and Viir in her mind, creating the gate to them and stepping out into the refreshing spring air. Pyatt chirped as soon as he saw Andorra. "How did it go?" he asked eagerly. His eyes wandered up and down Andorra's body, checking for injuries.

"Not great. She wasn't very happy with me. Nohx froze the entire inside of the house."

Pyatt looked over at Nohx and gave another chirp. Then, Pyatt lowered his wing to let the two of them step on.

Callum was staring at Viir. "I should've competed in Cadmus. Would've made this so much easier."

"You would've been absolutely horrendous in Cadmus. Mad at everyone. I bet you'd be a cheater, too." Andorra's voice was teasing, and Callum knew this. Still, he flipped her off as he slid onto Viir's back, refusing to look at her as he did so.

Nohx wrapped his arms around Andorra's back, pulling her into the cradle of his body. He pressed a kiss right behind her ear. "Don't worry about Crille. I have a feeling she'll be there when Kaeberon shows up. She's very prideful."

Andorra managed a stiff nod as Pyatt shot into the sky. She leaned with her firebird, her mind teasing apart every word she had said to Crille. She could have handled it better. Her stomach twisted, and she wished she could redo it. Word things differently. Brooch the topic in a way that would be easier to swallow.