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He tilts his head as if he is trying to understand what I’m saying. Not for the first time I would love to hear his opinions.
I still haven’t seen her. At this point, I feel I should.
I see Divinity, who is also part of the group that is silently herding the humans back to the dock and encouraging them to leave. I hand Kenzan off to her, the young one pleased with the task. “Have you seen the woman I was speaking with earlier?”
“Remi?”
Is that her name?I sear that information into my brain. “Golden skin, black hair pulled back?”Soulful eyes you can get lost in. Sweet scent. Too kind for the horrors of this universe…
Divinity nods. “Yes, that’s Remi. She went toward the docks earlier. I think she was on her way back to town, or at least back to the Inn.”
Relief loosens in my chest. So she is already on the mainland and possibly getting ready to go to the feast. Perhaps she is going with her friend.
I’ve discovered from Vane that her friend is truly her friend. Knowing that had subsided an irritation within me. Not that it matters to me if they are more than acquaintances.
“Thank you, Divinity. Would you be able to take Kenzan with you? I’m assuming you are going to go to the mainland soon?“
The girl’s face lights up. “Of course, I would love to. I’ll have him running around with the other pups on the mainland. You don’t have to worry about him at all.”
I make my way toward the dock and indeed the water taxis for the inn are not there. Yet my nerves still feel raw. Heat whips down my spine.
Something is very wrong. I swallow the pain that is from the ringing in my ears. I launch myself up and head toward the inn.
Val and Torben are in their gardens. I dropped from mid-flight right onto their fencing. The rock outcroppings made for an easy landing zone.
Tour gazes at me. “Would you like more apples?”
Val turns around with surprise on her face before smiling. “What a pleasant surprise,” she says.
I nod at her in greeting. I’ve barely exchanged more than a few sentences with her. Out of respect for Tor, I keep my exchanges brief so I don’t end up losing it in front of his mate.
“One of your guests was on the island. But I noticed you were still missing a water taxi. Has she come by and used it for other purposes since?”
Val’s sunshiny face creases in concern. I hate that I’m the cause of that.
Tor grumbles in his chest, a large hand on his mate’s back soothing her. “She has not returned yet. I would know.”
Val turns her face up as she looks at Tor. “She called earlier and spoke with her friend. He is still in his room, but he is now up and getting ready. I just asked the kitchen to start on his breakfast order.”
Breakfast? So late? I keep my comments to myself. “You should probably not discuss this with him. It shall only worry him, considering how close they seem.”
Val nods enthusiastically. “I agree. This is not what we need for goodwill. A missing human. And one of her stature in the art community.”
So Val knows her. I make a mental note to ask how she knows her later. “I will fly around and see if I can find your water taxi. Perhaps she is just on a solo tour around the lake. I don’t want to cause an alarm in case it’s unnecessary.”
“That’s a great idea. Meanwhile, we will keep an eye out for her here in case she comes home.”
Tor meets my gaze. “I’ll send news to the Forest Guardians.” His eyes lift toward the mountains. “The fire line has me concerned.”
Val’s eyes widen, and I cannot abide that look of fear that came to them. Without another word, I push into the sky, trusting that her mate will comfort her.
The loud, discordant tones that tremble within me tell me I need to move to find. It’s like an echoing song that I know without knowing.
I head toward the scheduled burn zone and see the water taxi on one of the remote docks. Surely she wouldn’t be hiking on trails by herself?
Rivers’ words echo in my mind.Humans are like children, and don’t know they are in danger even amid it.
I see the frolic of woodland creatures had those who did not heed their guardians’ shepherding. A streak of black ripples within the trees. I clip my wings and dive through the air. Smoke pillows around, and I see her fumbling around, barely able to breathe.
