Wind Wielder

Chapter 37- Judgement

The next morning Zara almost felt bad for what she had asked Rhys to do last night. She almost contemplated throwing all her plans away for rotting in her bed again, or hopping on a boat to the southern continent. Almost.

Zara felt ceaselessly restless with the recent events of last night, between Azriel and Eris. So instead of throwing a tantrum, or falling into a pit of despair, or outright fleeing, Zara began scheming.

Zara was courteous enough to wait for Rhys to finish his ridiculous amount of meetings with the merchants in the city, before she quit using the winds to stalk him, and instead used them to communicate with him. She imagined selecting a singular ribbon of sound on the wind, and made the connection with Rhys who was still down in Velaris, in the Townhouse.

"Good morning Rhys," Zara began boldly, seated in her reading chair with a quaint cup of tea. She couldn't help the grin that covered her face as the winds reported how Rhys damn near jumped out of his skin. She continued. "Are you busy for the next few hours?"

There was a beat of silence, one Zara knew Rhys was using to get his wits about him again. "After last night, I'm a little scared to answer the question," Rhys began dryly, but Zara could tell he was just miffed she had scared the shit out of him. Her grin widened. "I'm free for the next few hours, but have a meeting at four." Rhys said.

"That's perfect." Zara quipped. "In that case, I need you to trust me and not say a word to anyone about anything for the next few hours. Will you do that?"

Another long pause, and Zara wondered if she was pushing her luck too hard, asking Rhys for so much in such little time.

Finally he sighed, and his voice was full of resigned mirth as he responded," I can do that. Give me ten minutes and I'll come get you."

Zara cut the connection, using her time to finish her cup of tea, and change clothes.

Rhys appeared outside her balcony soon after, and rapped his knuckles smartly at the glass doors. He called, "We're not killing anyone, are we?"

Zara snorted, having the strong sense Rhys wouldn't have truly minded much either way. She quickly opened the door for him, and Rhys's brows raised as he observed the brand new thick and warm set of illyrian training leathers Zara wore.

Zara opened her mind to him for a moment, relaying the memory of Mor gifting her a pair as an early Christmas present. "No. Not yet at least."

Rhys smirked, but it faded slightly as he realized the complete sincerity of her words.

Zara's answering grin was positively wicked. "You and I are going for a flight."

⤧

When Azriel reached the House of Wind he strode directly for Zara's room, reaching the door and knocking soundly. He waited with his hands clasped behind his back and wings tucked in tight, all the words he planned to say practiced to perfection on the flight back resting on the tip of his tongue.

Only she never answered.

Azriel frowned, and realized in his eagerness, he had failed to notice he could not smell her on the other side of the door. He couldn't smell her anywhere in the House of Wind, for that matter. He asked his shadows to go looking for her, and when they returned, they offered only two words.

Far away.

Azriels heart lurched into his throat, and he was striding for the living room, followed by the kitchen after finding the latter empty. He reached the training pit atop the steps, and found that abandoned as well.