Suddenly the door to the cottage opens. Instinct kicks in – I grab my bow, nock an arrow and take aim.
The figure that emerges is also armed, slowly unsheathing the silver dagger at her hip. Her olive skin is sun-kissed andunruly curls spill in a dark curtain down her back. She’s a little thinner than I remember, but there’s a newfound strength to her too – a confidence that wasn’t there before. I see it in the way she carries herself.
As I lower my bow, my knees almost give out beneath me.
My voice is hoarse with shock and relief. ‘Blaze.’
56
Blaze
‘Flint?!’
Silverclaw falls from my hand, landing with a soft thud at my feet. Then I’m running, launching myself into my brother’s arms, unable to tell whether I’m laughing or sobbing.
He catches me with a whoop and whirls me round. ‘There you are!’
‘Here I am,’ I mumble into his chest.
Waves rear and arc along the surface of the Creek, splashing on to the bank and soaking a disgruntled Cedar.
Flint chuckles. ‘Miss me?’
I draw back slightly, drinking him in, hardly daring to believe my eyes. ‘What’re you doing here? How did you find me? Where have you –’ That’s when I catch sight of his companions. ‘Spinner?’ I splutter. ‘Sheen?’
My chaperone blows me a kiss while Sheen nods stiffly.
I blink several times, bemused. Suddenly Flint turns rigid – his gaze is fixed on something over my shoulder. Or rather – someone.
I twist round to see Fox up in the tree, lounging across a thick branch.
‘Right on time,’ he calls.
Flint’s grip tightens protectively, but I wriggle free. ‘It’s all right. I can explain.’
Fox gets to his feet, walks the length of the branch, then drops lightly to the ground, landing at my side. Flint’s expression darkens. I brace myself as a beaming Spinner comes bounding over. Only it’s not me she throws her arms round. Sheen is close on her heels, looking happier than I’ve ever seen him.
I don’t realize my mouth is hanging open until I see my expression mirrored in Flint’s, both of us speechless as we take in the scene.
Fox, Spinner and Sheen are locked in an embrace, all three of them grinning, talking fast and excitedly over one another.
I stare at them, unable to process what I’m seeing, then turn back to my brother, who tilts his head to the side, mystified.
After a minute or so, Flint clears his throat loudly and they break apart. Fox’s gaze finds mine. He smiles a little sheepishly as he claps Sheen on the back.
‘Care to explain?’ I prompt.
‘Ah,’ he says. ‘Did I forget to mention that these two are my best friends?’
‘What?’ Flint and I chorus.
Spinner giggles.
My mind races. ‘But … but I’ve never even seen the three of you have so much as a conversation before.’ Then my eyes widen as I remember an altercation at the Golden Palace during Marina’s party. ‘You forced Spinner to give up herseat,’ I accuse Fox. ‘You were awful to her, and she called you an arrogant bastard.’
The two of them burst out laughing.
‘I meant it, too,’ says Spinner, elbowing him playfully in the ribs.
