Sarabande: River of Falcons Book 4

49. Betrayal

Ubi and Jasper had been sitting on the floor of the treehouse, talking quietly with Sasha and Nighthawk, when four white herons flew in. Sasha jumped up and unsheathed his sword, but Jasper grabbed his arm and said, "They're friends, don't worry. I'd know June in any form."

With a shimmer, June, Sarai, Drift and Zibellina appeared in front of them.

"I'm glad you're here," Jasper said as they sat down in a circle on the floor. "We were just discussing the Queen's hearing and how to handle it. I'm sorry I can't be much help, but I have to keep my presence a secret."

Zibellina chuckled. "You're not doing a very good job," she said. "Didn't you notice that Harrier spying on you?"

"Harrier? Oh no!" Nighthawk exclaimed. "That would be Mum. She'll tell the Queen for sure."

"We better get out of here," Ubi said.

Sarai shook her head. "Let them come. We have nothing to hide. Besides, June and I are stuck up here, at least for now."

"Stuck?" Jasper gave her a startled look. "What's the matter?"

June grimaced as she said, "Nautilus figured out a way to force us into the Spirit Realm. We barely got out alive. It drained us completely. You don't have a rope ladder up here, do you? No, I didn't think so."

The others stared at Sarai and June. "How are you going to defend yourselves?" Nighthawk asked.

"We aren't," Sarai said. "If there's an attack, you'll have to handle it on your own. And make sure you don't let them encase you in a protective dome. They used the suffugium spell to trap us, then wove a transvection spell."

"Clever," Jasper said. "Very clever. But how did you fly up here if your magic's gone?"

"Drift and Zibellina shifted us," June said. "However, that's not a safe thing to do and we only did it because we wanted to get back in time to stop this hearing from happening."

Ubi nodded. "Please do!" he said. "Mother's completely out of her mind. What's she thinking?"

"She's probably thinking that we've been working in secret and that she wants to charge us with treason," Sarai said. "But the real challenge right now is what to do about Vultan's attacks and the famine he's trying to bring about. We need to put this conflict with the Queen behind us so we can concentrate on that."

"Revenio told me I should start patrolling the Spirit Realm," Jasper explained. "He wants me to go and study with him so I can learn how to defend against Vultan's attacks."

"I agree," Sarai said. "And Nighthawk and Ubi, I want you to work with Jasper. He'll need help. He'll be very vulnerable when he's meditating. Do you think the mage would mind if all three of you went to him for instruction?"

"He told us to come study with him," Nighthawk said. "He seems really nice."

"Yes, and not angry or stupid, like our mothers!" Ubi commented.

"What was that?" a stern voice demanded. It was the Queen, in the doorway, shimmering into view as she emerged from a concealment spell. Thistle appeared beside her.

"Um, actually, what I meant to say was—" Ubi stammered.

"Of course you wouldn't dare say such treasonous things in front of me! But I've heard quite enough to know exactly what's going on here."

Sarai stood up and said, "Now now, Silene, that's not a helpful attitude to take. I need to speak with you before you say anything else that might prove divisive or destructive. May we speak in private, please?"