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I considered the idea. Anadey was the closest thing to an advisor we had. She was Marta's daughter, though not to the core, and she'd known our mothers before we were born. For a brief moment, I wondered if we could trust her, but tossed that worry out the window. We were long past the trust/don't trust stage. We'd passed it the moment we told her about Grieve and the Indigo Court.
"Yeah. I think so. It's Sunday, nobody here works today, do they?"
"About that . . ." Leo shifted uncomfortably. "I woke up to an e-mail that one of my tasks today is to chauffer you in for your first blood offering. Lannan wants to see you at seven tonight."
"Crap, I'd almost forgotten about that. I guess I wanted to forget."
Leo winced. "I feel trapped in the middle. I have the option to leave my contract without retaliation. I'm thinking of giving up my job as a day runner. Especially now that you're working for the vampires, Cicely. I have a feeling you're going to have it harder than any of us, and I don't want to be put in a position to make it worse. I'm afraid that might happen."
I glanced up at him. I hadn't thought about that before. What if they ordered Leo to do something to me--or with me--that neither of us wanted? He'd have no choice but to obey if he was still contracted by them.
Don't let him. Ulean's voice was urgent, prodding. You'll need him there. I promise you that.
That took care of that.
"Ulean just told me to tell you: Keep the job for now. I won't say that I trust them, but they aren't stupid. I doubt if they'll put our friendship in jeopardy, considering they believe I'm the key to their upcoming war."
"No, they aren't stupid. I suppose you're right," he said.
"So tell me, what happened at Anadey's? Did she start your training?" I wanted to forget about vampires and Vampiric Fae for the moment and concentrate on the living.
Rhiannon smiled, her face lighting up. "Yes, and it's not as difficult as I feared it would be. I already know quite a bit--I've learned a lot over the years from helping Heather with her spells and wortcunning. I have a lot of practice to do, but Anadey taught me one valuable lesson last night--how to pull back the fire when it starts getting out of control. It was far easier than I thought."
She looked so proud of herself that I jumped up and gave her a hug. At least we had solved one of our problems.
"What do we do today?"
"I thought about going out to find Peyton again, but we barely escaped the first time. I think we should spend the day working on protective charms."
"Are you going to talk to Grieve?" Kaylin gave me a long look.
I bit my lip. "How can I? I'm giving blood to Lannan tonight. Grieve would sense something's up and he'd try to stop me. I need to file a report with Lannan, but I can do that via e-mail. I'll have to tell them about Heather, of course. But I think first I want to take a walk. I won't go in the wood, but I want to find the owl again. See if I can get some answers. Why don't the rest of you start on the charms? I'll be in to help in a little while."
I finished my breakfast and, grabbing my jacket, headed out to the backyard. The oak towered over me and I gazed up through the branches, amazed I'd been able to climb so high the night before. I slowly began to make my way up the lower limbs, cautiously watching my step, and was about halfway up when I heard a quiet susurration, a whispered Hello. Looking around for the owl, I realized there was no one--be it humanoid or winged creature--around.
Who are you?
You're using me for a perch.
The tree? But then, Ulean had brought me messages off the slipstream from plants before. The land was far more alive and vibrant than most people thought her. I leaned my head against the gnarled bark and sank into the energy of the ancient wood. Old, well past old, far older than I was.
I saw the coming of the new people to this land.
Well over six hundred years old, then. As I snuggled against the tree, letting the trunk shield me from the wind and the chill, I began to doze, sliding easily away from my conscious mind.
Where is the owl?
He will be back. He and I are friends. He guards against the forest creatures, the Shadow Hunters.
Who is he?
The Guardian of the Forest. He was driven out of the ravine along with the Queen of Rivers and Rushes. She is not dead. She is biding her time.
I wish I could talk to her--so much is going on.
You may get your wish, young Cambyra. You may get your wish.
It's true then--what happened last night? I was an owl . . . I flew. And a stream of images from the night before blanketed my mind, taking me back, sinking me deep into the freedom the skies had showered upon me. I murmured gently, almost asleep in the cradle of the tree, feeling protected and cared for.
