Wylde Magic | Book 3

Forty: A Short Rest

Aithne seemed anxious.

She wasn't exactly the type to show it. She did have more years behind her than I could even imagine, and knowing she was a counterpart to Thain in her own court meant she was powerful as well.

Still, I couldn't help but feel that she was concerned as we walked behind her.

I'd only seen the meadow and the hawthorn grove coming into the Summer lands, but I had a good idea of what the landscape would be like from the first time I set foot in the Wyldes. Crystal streams, lazy willow trees, and rolling hills. The abundance of fruiting trees and fish-filled streams were tempting. If we weren't being pushed on to the capital I would want to stop and stock up on food for the refugees.

But Aithne pressed on, and so did we.

Her two companions trailed behind us, either watching for what little danger there was inside the Summer court's borders or to watch us. Probably some of both.

After observing them for a while, I gathered that Hayat, the green sprite carrying the halberd, was absolutely enamored with his lady. He was both prickly and stoic at the same time, ready to jump to Aithne's defense at a moment's notice. If I knew nothing else about him, I knew he was loyal to a fault.

The slim male with the ginger hair that seemed lazy at first glance was actually pretty sharp. Weylyn, they called him, had a keen eye for details, despite his outward behavior. If it came down to deception to get out of a bad situation in the Summer lands, it would be wise to avoid Weylyn at all costs.

But apart from observing Aithne's companions, we found out nothing else of use on our way to Yusellia, the city of Summer.

Schula said it would take a day and a half to get there. The half day was easily taken care of since we left in the afternoon. The walk was quiet, even among my triquetram. Schula seemed stuck in her own mind, and I knew she had a history here so I left her to her thoughts. Spaulder seemed more interested in observing and sensing what was in the Summer lands, so I left him alone as well. At least what he was sensing was probably farther reaching than I could manage, and who knows when his astounding senses will come to our aid. Stars know they've helped us many times since we've arrived in the Wyldes.

The sun dipped down over the rolling hills ahead. The fading light scattering across the dancing streams and reflecting on the clear waters like mirrors. But as beautiful as this land was, I was always keenly aware that it was also a danger to us. Wyldes it may be, but this was the lands of the Summer court, and my official allegiance was now with the Autumn lands.

Aithne, who had stayed in the front of the line this entire time, now stopped. I glanced around, we were in another open meadow but this one had a small oasis of trees in the middle of it. A bubbling brook sweeping by under the low willow branches and forming an inviting campsite.

Puko cawed, coming down from his perch on Spaulder's horns to land on my shoulder. His black feathers smacking me in the face as he got settled in. 

"Oof, watch out, Puko," I told him.

He eyed me with his good eye and turned to preen his feathers, ignoring me completely.

"We stop here for the night," Aithne announced.

It wasn't really a request so much as a stated fact, and Hayat and Weylyn wasted no time in clearing the space of branches and rocks.

'I suppose this is as good as anywhere,' Spaulder said dryly. 'There are so many strange things living here that I don't know what to make of them all.'

That brought Schula back to the present, and she looked at me and then Spaulder. 'Is there something worrisome nearby?'

'No, no. Nothing hostile. Though, I sense we may have a shadow behind us,' Spaulder said. 'I am not even certain it is what I think it is. Not worth mentioning.'