I lurch out of my seat, gripping the back of my chair and facing the others.
“Alright! I’ll see you guys tomorrow!”
The sound of hoots and laughter follow me out of the doors. I did it, I pulled us out of the despair—if only for a moment.
My smile drops away completely.
It’s too early to sleep, but I need a moment alone. My feet lead me down the path to the training grounds. Not for more training, just air.
Standing in front of the large maple tree, I trace the gouge where my axe was embedded. Centuries it was lodged in this wood, waiting for me. It seems as if the threads of fate are palpable and that my path was so obviously written already.
The thought gives me an inkling of peace. I merely have to do the best I can with what I was given and hope it’s enough. Everything else is outside of my control. But I can do that tomorrow. Right now, I can stand here and breathe. I lean against the tree, trying to breathe through the pain. Everything feels out of my control.
My wings stretch out, my shoulders raising up to damn near my ears, as I beat them hard once, then twice. My toes come off the ground a few inches before they sink back into the dirt.
How am I ever going to learn to fly? I can’t even get my feet off the ground.
“We willna ha’ time to strengthen those muscles in a week,” Lachlan’s voice carries across the grounds from the archway.
My face flushes with color once more at being caught struggling to fly.
“We might manage learning how to glide. It’s a pity Evander could nae ha’ said one month and nae one week.”
I vanish my wings away as he approaches me. He takes sure, calculated steps, spreading his wings. The black feathers gobble up the high noon light, casting an enormous shadow directly below him. He springs into the air, his wings beat once,launching him sky high, where he begins flying in lazy circles above the grounds.
“Show off,” I mutter beneath my breath.
Lachlan lands with grace in front of me, kicking up a cloud of dust. He tucks his wings into his body and I marvel at how easily he can move them. My movements are shaky at best.
“We willna ha’ time to go back to Ishtar for the soft sand, either. We’ll ha’ to figure something else out.”
Time.
There’s that word again, reminding me of what we don’t have.
“That’s where I can help!” Mina chirps as she bounces through the archway and towards us.
Our heads whip around, not having heard her approach at all.
“How so?” I ask. Her chestnut hair used to curl delicately right at her chin, but now it grazes the tops of her shoulders as she waltzes our way.
My body goes boneless.
The ground slips out from beneath my feet, as I’m held aloft by invisible hands.
“Holy shit!” I squeal.
Mina and Lachlan laugh at my reaction before Mina sets me back on the ground.
“Some warning would have been nice!” I bend over, resting my hands on my knees. The leather is still cool under my touch despite the rapidly warming day.
She grimaces. Her nose scrunches up and tugs at her freckles. “Sorry.”
“That’s a good idea. How high could ye lift her? And can ye keep her from falling?”
My legs still wobble beneath me as I get accustomed to solid ground once more.
Mina shrugs. “Probably.”
