Moon walked up to the female leader. She was big, with dark copper scales. He was still in groundling form and she and the other warriors didn’t shift. That was bad manners at best, a threat at worst. Moon said, “What do you want?”
The warrior said, “You’re to come with us.” She threw a dismissive glance around the deck, ignoring the hostile Indigo Cloud warriors gathered by the hatch. “Enough playing with the groundlings.”
Moon felt a flush of heat, a rage all out of proportion to the stupid remark. He wrestled with the urge to shift and throw all five warriors off the flying boat. He held in a hiss though he thought his jaw might pop from the effort, and managed to say, calmly, “No.”
Her spines shivered in surprise. Moon turned away. He got two steps before he sensed her behind him, nearly breathing down his neck. That did it.
Moon whipped around, shifted as he turned, and flared his spines and snapped his wings out. The warrior flinched, so startled she shifted to groundling. She was younger than he expected. He said, with grating emphasis, “I’ll go when I’m ready. Now get off the boat.”
Two of the male warriors had already fallen off the railing, either in precipitous retreat or pure surprise. The last male and the other female held on, but ducked down to show they were no threat. Behind Moon, he heard Delin ask, “Is it rare for a young consort to threaten warriors?”
“Usually, but it’s not rare for him,” Song admitted.
The leader took two careful steps back, watching Moon warily, then turned, shifted to her winged form, and jumped over the railing. The other two warriors followed immediately.
Moon forced himself to shift back to groundling, though it took self-control. Delin had already whipped out his sketch book and plopped down on the deck, drawing furiously.
Chime stepped forward, concerned. “Moon, this isn’t doing any good. Jade can get them to give you back, just be patient.”
“I know, I know.” Moon rubbed his temple. He didn’t regret the outburst; it had felt too good. But it probably hadn’t helped the situation any.
“No, Moon did right,” Floret said unexpectedly. “They should have asked politely, and they knew it. He can’t let warriors order him around like that, especially in a new court.” She tugged on Chime’s arm. “Come on, let him calm down.”
Chime went, reluctantly, and everyone on the deck tried to look as if they had something to do. Moon sat on his heels next to Delin to watch him sketch, and tried to settle his simmering anger. Floret was right. Opal Night—at least the part under Onyx’s influence—wanted him to act like a consort but didn’t want to treat him like one.
After a time, Delin’s frantic scribbles slowed, as he captured enough of the scene to preserve the memory. He turned the book sideways and started to make notes along the margins. He asked, “They treat you badly here?”
“No.” So far, Moon figured he had done a good job of giving back whatever he had gotten.
“But it is not your home.”
“No.”
Delin looked up. “I do not understand how they can take a man away from his wife when he does not wish to be parted from her. Especially when his wife has such big teeth and claws.”
Moon sighed and got to his feet. He had stalled long enough to make his point; it was time to face the consequences. “My birthqueen has bigger teeth and claws.”
“More intimidating than Indigo Cloud’s Pearl?” At Moon’s nod, Delin lifted his brows, impressed.
The others had taken seats on the deck a short distance away. They stood as Moon walked over to say goodbye. “Will you be all right?” Chime asked, still worried. “Maybe they’ll ask us in to eat with the court and we can see you later.”
Eating with this court was more of a punishment than a treat. “Maybe,” Moon said, trying not to sound as grim as he felt. He had to answer several more inquiries about his health and wellbeing before he could shift and jump over the railing.
There were still Arbora and warriors in the greeting hall who politely scrambled to get out of his way, then watched him pass. He heard them murmuring to each other as soon as he turned into the passage. Anyone who had climbed or flown up the outside of the tree for a better look at the flying ship would have had a clear view of the scene with the warriors. Moon hoped they had enjoyed it.
“Moon!”
He turned to see Rise hurrying to catch up with him. She said, “I saw what happened. I’m sorry.”
She was in her groundling form, so Moon shifted too, using the moment to compose himself. “It wasn’t your fault. Is Jade still talking to Onyx?”
“Yes. That’s why Onyx sent warriors after you.” Rise’s expression was caught between annoyance and amusement. “She implied Jade meant to use that flying craft to steal you away.”
Moon managed a noncommittal shrug. He hoped no one said anything about the discarded plan. “Flying boats aren’t very fast.”
Rise hesitated, then said, “Malachite wants to talk to you.”
That was a good sign. Either it was about Jade or what they had discovered at Aventera, or both. Moon hoped for both. Then he heard a commotion from outside the greeting hall. Rise frowned and called out, “What is it?”
One of the Arbora answered, “The Indigo Cloud line-grandfather is back!”
Moon started for the doorway. “That’s not good.”
Rise followed. “I thought he came back with you and Celadon.”
“No, he stayed to scout the country around Aventera, to look for the Fell.” If Stone had returned this soon, he must have found something.
Moon went out onto the landing platform to see Stone banking in. The warriors and Arbora scattered as Stone cupped his wings and dropped down. Rise moved back a few paces, but Moon stayed where he was, swaying a little from the rush of air from Stone’s wings.
Stone shifted down to his groundling form, head turned toward the flying ship. Chime, Floret, and Song stood at the railing. Root perched on top of the steering cabin, waving. Irritated, Stone said, “Whose idea was that?”
“Jade’s,” Moon told him. “Did you find something?”
“She’s here? Good.” Stone looked grim. “I found the Fell.”
Chapter Twelve
Rise rushed to tell Malachite, then returned with word that the queen would speak to them in the queens’ greeting chamber. Jade, Balm, and Celadon were already there, with Onyx and her daughter queens. Lithe, a scatter of older warriors, and more Arbora arrived to represent Opal Night’s other mentors and the teacher, hunter, and soldier castes. They all stayed in their groundling forms, though the queens kept their wings instead of shifting to Arbora.
Stone settled himself on a cushion near the hearth at the center of the room and ignored all attempts to imply he should move to a less prominent spot. Moon sat near Stone, and Jade and Balm diplomatically took a position between Onyx’s supporters and the Arbora.
Then one of Onyx’s daughter queens said, “Should the visitors be here?” She regarded Jade and Balm, her expression critical and faintly suspicious. She inclined her head toward Moon. “And surely this is no place for a young, unattached consort.”
There was a murmur of agreement from Onyx’s warriors. Onyx herself just lazily coiled her tail and didn’t deign to comment.
Moon hissed under his breath. He wasn’t leaving.