Even when Kaylin was around, she rarely invited company. She had tried on a few occasions to have people over, but it hadn’t gone well, the villagers’ discomfort too difficult to overcome. The island made her different. Made her dangerous in their eyes. And after meeting Edwin, she so desperately wished to be accepted by them.
“You must live somewhere with a lot of birds,” I remarked to my company with a laugh, raising the wicker basket in my hands. “I’ll try and make good use of these.”
“I suggested we bring you a live chicken instead,” Tercel said, grinning. “But nobody likes my ideas.”
At the sound of people talking, Nix came scampering out the front door.
“Bird Boy and company are here,” he announced, pressing himself against my leg.
“Yes, thank you, Nix,” I muttered, pressing a palm to my forehead. “I’m aware.”
Zorana knelt down to his level, scratching him between the ears.
He seemed surprisingly receptive to the attention.
“Hello, Nix! It’s nice to see you,” Corvin said with a hint of mild amusement.
“Please come inside,” I said, stepping back through the door. “I’d ask if I could take your cloaks, but—”
Zorana strolled into the entryway. “I like the decor,” she complimented, looking around appreciatively. “Were you talking about my cloak just now? It’s not really a garment; at least I never take it off. It’s a permanent part of me now, but it’s usually only visible to others when I’m actively using my magic.”
Corvin groaned, trailing inside. “Yeah, still no cloak for me. Kygraw hasn’t given it back to me yet. Something about needing to learn the virtues of prudence and restraint. Personally, I think he’s just upset I used the Roc feather when he wasn’t there to witness its magic.”
Farryn stepped over the threshold and into the cottage. “I think he was more upset about the unexplainedphoenixfeather than the absent Roc feather. He cares about your safety, Corvin. We all do. He just doesn’t want you doing anything reckless. Like showing up with a powerful feather it made no sense for you to have. There’s a reason we always travel in groups of three when we’re out collecting feathers. I mean, how did you even find something so rare? Phoenixes don’t even shed their feathers.”
“Kitchen’s this way,” I said, heading down the hall. “The food’s ready as well.”
I lingered by the threshold as everyone took their seats, hoping they wouldn’t be put off by the mismatched chairs since I’d had to move a few in from Kaylin’s room to seat everybody. “I’ll bring everyone’s plates to the table!” I said, heading farther into the kitchen. I grabbed a plate filled with smoked trout and vegetables in a fresh herb sauce. Corvin materialized at my elbow. “Can I help?” he asked kindly, reaching for a different plate. I gave him a soft smile. “Sure, thank you.”
Nervously, I set my plate down in front of Zorana, hoping she’d find it appetizing.
“Mmm, smells great,” she said, sticking her nose closer to the food.
Corvin placed a plate in front of Tercel and returned to the kitchen to grab another one.
Taking two plates, I suffered for my hubris, accidentally setting the first plate down a little too forcefully as I tried to keep the other balanced, causing some sauce to splatter onto the table. “Sorry!” I yelped, relieved to see that the sauce had ended up on the table and not all over Farryn’s clothing. “First, I destroy your dress. And now I’m attacking you with sauce. I never got to apologize about that in person. Thank you for loaning me your dress, and I’m sorry to have returned it the way I did.”
Farryn wiped the excess sauce off the table with her napkin. “Please, no need to apologize. I intend to use it as an excuse to avoid the next few formal dances if I’m lucky. Really, you did me a favor,” she said with a generous smile.
I chuckled. “You don’t like to dance?”
She shrugged. “There are other ways I’d rather spend my time.”
“I bet you’d like going if Deldrach ever showed up,” Tercel teased.
“The food looks delicious,” Corvin declared, sliding into the seat next to mine with his plate, saving Farryn from responding, with the well-worn patience of someone used to breaking up his friend’s bickering. His thoughts were almost written across his face:Can we please not do this right now.I secretly smiled to myself, enjoying the natural flow of conversation between him and his friends.
“I hope it tastes good. Please don’t feel that you have to eat it if it ends up not being to your liking.”
“Oh, I plan on consuming every last bite,” Tercel said with a grin, cutting into the fish with his knife.
Farryn raised her fork to her mouth, swallowing her first bite. “It tastes amazing!”
“Thank you for dinner,” Corvin said, brushing my hand as he reached for his fork.
“Yes, thank you,” Zorana echoed, reaching for her silverware.
A companionable silence fell over the group as everyone began to eat their meal. Based on the enthusiasm with which Tercel was shoveling fish into his mouth, I had to assume the food turned out alright.Well, don’t just watch them eat…that’s weird.Hastily, I ate a bite of fish off my plate, spearing it with my fork. “How long have you all known each other?” I asked, bracing myself for a vague non-response.
