'Once again, you guess correctly.' Darkwind's voice was as warm as the gathering night was chill. 'Elspeth, if it will not offend you, I would like to say that you are a much easier person to be around now.' She flushed. 'Well... Darkwind, some of what you didn't like was something I have to do when I am around my own people. They expect me to lead; they expect me to act in certain ways. That 'attitude' you accused me of having is a big part of that. I'm sorry it had become a habit that I wasn't conscious of. I think some of it was associated with a kind of reflex; if the person I was with wasn't wearing a white uniform, then I acted a certain way without even considering what I was doing.' Would he understand? Would he even try? 'I am royalty, Darkwind.
No matter that my land matters less to you than one of Vree's broken feathers, I still am royal, I am expected to act in a certain way, and I can't escape that. I've been bred and raised to it.'
'Ah.' She hoped that what she read into the tone of that single syllable was dawning understanding.
She sighed. 'There's something else,' she said, through painful shyness.' I'm rather the plain-plumaged bird of my family. Everyone else is so handsome it's like-like living among Hawkbrothers. So the only reason I can think of for a young man to be attracted to me is because of my rank. And there have been those. I try to keep them at a distance.'
' I can understand that,' he said after a moment, in which the sound of Gwena's breathing and the muffled sounds of her hooves in the snow filled the twilight forest and defined the borders of their little private Universe. 'But, Elspeth, those young men who were blinded by your rank were fools. Or else they failed to see the quiet beauty inside the showy. Or-' She sensed, rather than saw, the grin behind her.
'Or perhaps they were dazzled by the stark white attire.' She groaned. 'Don't tell me you're in on the conspiracy to steal my Whites!.'
'Only a little.' She waited for him to continue. 'I will admit to advising Lursten on a choice of substitute wardrobe.' She chuckled, and they passed the rest of the journey in silence, as the twilight darkened to true night and the air chilled further. Before it became too dark for him to see to fly, Vree came winging in to land on Darkwind's wrist. He held the bird between them, keeping him warmed with the combined heat of their bodies, something no raptor of Elspeth's acquaintance would have tolerated, much less enjoyed.
True to her promise, Gwena brought them to within sight of the Vale just as the last of the dull light of sunset faded from the western sky.
Darkwind slid from her back as soon as they passed the entrance to the Vale, Vree balancing carefully on his wrist. 'I am for sleep,' he said with a smile. 'Do not take this amiss, Wingsib, but take it as a compliment, please. I have wished to offer you a feather since the days of our first acquaintance, for I find you a very attractive woman. More so when you smile, rather than frowning on me so formidably!' She blinked at him in shock, then tentatively smiled in return.
'Thank you,' she said simply, blushing. 'Ah-Darkwind, if I wasn't so tired-oh, that sounds like such a transparent excuse but-'
'But it is, sadly, true. Elspeth, even if you were not weary, I feel that I am like to fall asleep even as I walk to my ekele. Shall we take it as true and not an excuse?' Something warmed deep inside her. 'I think that's reasonable.'
'And I think you should both go to bed. To sleep,' Gwena chided gently.
'All right, little mother,' Darkwind said, amused. 'We shall. Tomorrow we will be dealing with all the creatures our magics attracted, at any rate. We will need a good rest.' She couldn't be disappointed, she thought. Not after all that. But no, that would not do. It was not enough.
She dismounted and went to him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
With an inner flush, she looked up into his clear eyes.
Darkwind held Vree a little further from his body, inviting her in closer. She smiled, not knowing how well it could be seen, and felt Gwena send a quiet touch of approval.
Elspeth raised a hand to Darkwind's face, caressed the hair at his temple. He licked his lips as Vree spread his wings, and bent his neck down just a little, enough for one loving kiss, framed by the rich light and warmth of the Vale behind them.
*Chapter Fourteen - Starblade and Hyllarr
Darkwind woke to a cool, pebble-scaled hand shaking him awake. He raised his head from his pillow and blinked to clear his eyes.
It was still dark.
'Darkwind,' said the hertasi at his elbow,
They simply decided who they wanted to serve and proceeded to do just that. One day, Darkwind was living in the clutter created by moving, and putting together his own meals; doing his own laundry and cleaning up after himself and Vree. Then, with no warning at all, he arrived home to find everything straightened, folded, and put away, and a meal waiting.
There were advantages and disadvantages to being back in the Vale.
He'd felt a pang of displeasure at his loss of autonomy. However, with hertasi serving him, it was much easier for people to find him when he was needed. That, too, could be a disadvantage, especially when he was trying to sleep off the last time he'd been needed.
Suras patted his arm again. 'Disturbance, Darkwind. You are needed, please.' What kind of trouble is it this time?' he asked-or rather, mumbled into his pillow-hoping it was something he could get someone else to take care of.
'Magical,' Suras said curtly. His tone told Darkwind everything he needed to know. He was not getting out of this one. 'A magical disturbance between here and the ruins.' No doubt about this; he, Gwena, and Elspeth were responsible for dealing with it. 'I'll be right there.' Suras lit a lantern and vanished. Darkwind clenched his eyes closed, opened them reluctantly, and dragged himself out of bed. Vree roused and blinked sleepily, then yawned widely. 'Awake again? Rather sleep.' Darkwind yawned in response. 'You and I both, beloved. I'll go on ahead, and call on you if you're needed. Fair enough?'
