Aurian thought of the death of gallant Hreeza, and Shia’s grief. She remembered the pile of catskins brought by the Winged Folk to the Tower of Incondor, where she had been imprisoned through Raven’s treachery. In that moment, she cared little whether or not the Skyfolk nation collapsed . . . Except that, against Miathan, she needed all the help she could get. And at least, as a price for helping Raven, she could put an end to the slaughter of the cats once and for all, and perhaps make peace between the two warring peoples.
Aurian brightened. At least Shia’s poor friend need not have died in vain. Feeling much better about the whole business, the Mage turned back to Elster. “Of course I’ll help you,” she promised, “but before I see Queen Raven, I must locate some friends of mine.” The white-haired Cygnus moved as if to protest, but Aurian Quelled him with a steely glare. “as soon as I have found my friends—and not a minute before,” she said firmly. “Now, show me the way to the passages beneath the temple.” She beckoned to her companions. “Chiamh, Yazour—come with me, please.” The words had scarcely left Aurian’s lips, when:
“I come!”
The Mage was bowled off her feet by a massive flame-eyed shape that was blacker than the darkness. As she went down, Aurian glimpsed, from the corner of her eye, another cat that pulled up just short of Shia’s joyful leap—then Shia was on top of her, purring like approaching thunder, her dark muzzle rubbing Aurian’s face as the two embraced.
“No!” The voice belonged to Chiamh. It was followed by a tearing, high-pitched scream.
As the Mage and Shia leapt apart, Aurian saw the winged guards cowering, arrows dropping from their crossbows and clattering to the ground. The Windeye was standing at bay between the cats and the terrified Skyfolk, his eyes flaring bright silver and reflecting the flickering torchlight, his hands twisting skeins of the mist-heavy air. Looming over the Winged Folk was the hideous shape of a demon.
“Drop your weapons,” Chiamh shouted, “or my creature will attack!” As swords and crossbows clattered to the ground, the Windeye glanced back toward Aurian. “Lady, they were about to kill your friends,” he grated. Red rage coursed through the Mage, but she had no time to indulge it. She could see the strain on Chiamh’s face as he strove to maintain his dread apparition in the sluggish air. Aurian looked at the demon with a shudder. It was far too reminiscent of the Death-Wraiths for her liking, but she had to admit that it was incredibly realistic. She turned to the cowering Skyfolk. “If anyone so much as threatens the lives of these cats, we will turn this abomination loose on the city of Aerillia. Have I made myself clear?”
“As you wish, Lady. I give my word that the beasts will not be harmed.” Elster was ashen, her face taut with anger, but Aurian suspected that the physician’s wrath was aimed at the guards with the crossbows, rather than at herself. Sure enough, she turned at once and began to berate the bowmen, and Aurian smiled to herself. She knew that the woman was masking her fear with anger.
With a sigh of relief, Chiamh dispersed the airs that had formed his monster, and the silver drained from his eyes. Aurian put a steadying arm around him as he sagged with exhaustion. “Thank you, my friend,” she said softly. The Windeye looked at Shia, his brown eyes wide with wonder. “When you told me of the cat that was your friend, I had no idea you meant the savage Black Ghosts of our mountains!”
“Savage, my eye!” snapped Shia. “All we ever had from your kind was arrows and spears—ever since the days you first invaded our mountains and took our lands! True enough, most of your folk have neither the wits nor the wherewithal to communicate with us, but you and your predecessors could have done so!”
“Mother of the beasts!” Chiamh cried, putting a hand to his head. “She did speak! When she leapt on you, Aurian, I was sure I heard her cry out to you in friendship. That was why I helped—else I might have thought she was attacking you, too!”
Aurian smiled. “You two can talk later, and work out peace between your peoples, I hope. Right now, though, our hosts look impatient. I think we had better see Queen Raven.” A hard edge crept into her voice, and at her side, Shia snarled. The Mage laid a comforting hand on the great cat’s head. “I know, my dearest,” she sighed. “But if we’re to find Anvar, we need her support, and that means helping the wretched girl.”
“Aurian?” Chiamh tugged at her arm. “I think I may be able to assist you in your search. May I stay here and make some investigations while you are with the Queen?”
The Mage glanced questioningly at Elster, who nodded. Aurian thanked the physician, and turned back to Chiamh.
“What do you mean, investigations?”
He shook his head. “I would rather not say at this point, and there is no time for long explanations. I will return to you as soon as I can—certainly before the dawn.” With that, Aurian had to be content. She knew the young Windeye could be trusted. She looked back at the sturdy winged bearers, who were readying nets to take her with the rest of her companions across the gulfs of air to the royal apartments, and sighed.
Raven had been dreading Aurian’s arrival. She had always been considerably in awe of the tall, flame-haired Mage, and now that she had given Aurian cause to hate her . . . Raven shuddered, and gasped with pain. Even that small movement sent agony lancing through her ravaged, splinted wings. If only she can help me, the winged girl thought desperately. Unfortunately, despite Aurian’s promise, she had no confidence that the Mage would do anything of the kind. Were our situations reversed, Raven mused, I would not help her . . . Then the door of her chamber opened, and the subject of her thoughts walked in.
For a moment, their eyes locked, then: “Don’t dare to pity me” Raven snapped, before the Mage could turn away, as others had, with that expression in her eyes.
Aurian merely shrugged. “You brought it on yourself,” she said coolly, and the winged girl clenched her teeth with anger. It was even more galling that the Mage had noticed. Aurian raised an eyebrow. “Make your mind up,” she said brutally. “I didn’t come to waste sympathy on you, Raven. I came to Heal you, as I promised—and then we’ll see what you can do to make amends for betraying us all.” The Mage’s stern words were echoed by a low and menacing growl, and Raven’s heart sank to see that Shia, together with another cat, had accompanied Aurian into the chamber. She was further dismayed to see Yazour behind them, his eyes like a naked blade. The winged girl flushed beneath his withering glare. As far back as the forest, the young captain had made it clear that he was attracted to her. When she had repeatedly spurned his tentative advances, his feelings for her had soured. She was astonished, therefore, to see his face turn pale with shock as he took in the extent of her dreadful injuries. He shook his head, dismayed, and tightened his lips as though he did not trust himself to speak.