COF 2: The Soul Spells

9 | Lockdown (II)

Cyrdel exhaled and his legs buckled. He plopped next to Xanthy. Sweat beaded his forehead. "Gods, I never thought I'd be able to pull it off," he panted, rubbing his chest.

Xanthy blinked. Was it all an improvisation? Whoa.

"What happens now?" Xanthy glanced at Reeca then at the mess she made at the throne room. Guilt gnawed on her gut.

Cyrdel's face hardened. He grabbed Xanthy by the wrist and pulled her up. Xanthy bent to help Reeca.

The varichria grunted as she flapped her wings and hovered along, slapping Xanthy's hand away. Xanthy eyed Reeca and noticed every flap of her wings sent the varichria wincing. Xanthy knitted her eyebrows. What's wrong with her wings?

Cyrdel walked fast ahead of them, heading back to his rooms. Ravalee joined their parade once they reached the door. Reeca flew with them.

Xanthy bit her finger. What happened with the Council confirmed Xanthy's fears. The Brownies wanted nothing to do with her. She wasn't welcome here. They even called her a witch. What race does that to its kin?

She pursed her lips and crossed her arms. She'll leave, then. She already got the answers she wanted from Airene, anyway.

Her mother was in some sort of captivity and her father was frolicking somewhere in Dwanzeig. Why he was in Dwanzeig, Xanthy intended to find out. Oh, Airene's warning? Huh, let trouble come to her. Cardovia and Synketros could eat their own cheeks. Xanthy wanted nothing to do with them. She just wanted her family.

Cyrdel hurried through the roofed courtyard, forcing Xanthy to run after him. It helped dispel her dangerous thoughts. She'd break the news of her decision to her friends the first chance she got.

Reeca stared wide-eyed as they breezed through the corridors. A flash of familiarity shone in the varichria's eyes. Xanthy shook her head. Let them keep their secrets. She has her own. Reeca's business shouldn't be Xanthy's.

They stopped in front of Cyrdel's room, the one with the star map ceiling. Before they entered, he whirled to them.

"You're lucky my father agreed with this arrangement," Cyrdel hissed. "Otherwise, it's the dungeon for you. Trust me when I say that it's the last place you wanted to be."

Xanthy dipped her head. "Thank you," she raised her head to meet Cyrdel's eyes. "What they said about me, that can't be true. Can it?"

Cyrdel shook his head. "It's impossible to tell with the Court," he blew a breath. He cleared his throat. "Try not to cause any more ruckus during your stay. The Council will be onto your trails. The next time you might not have me around to help you."

Xanthy nodded. She elbowed Reeca and the varichria reflected her action. Cyrdel sighed and pushed the doors in. They piled inside.

June and Nyxis looked up from a game of karavag. Nyxis had streaks of black in his face. A fat jar of the same stuff lay open beside them. June's face remained clear. The half-blood was grinning from ear to ear.