Phae stepped through the ring of trees, watching those who had come, and approached the Kishion from behind, standing beside him, but slightly behind him. She rested her hand on his arm, trying to reassure him with her presence. She saw the clenched jaw, the distrust so clearly etched in his expression. She wrestled with her fear of him, but she was determined. She pushed a strand of hair from her face and stared at them all dispassionately.
“My name is Phae,” she said, looking at each of them. “I am Tyrus’s daughter.”
They were each very different. The Vaettir girl was naturally quiet, reserved. She was dressed as a Rike herself, which was odd. But then, the appearance of Prince Aransetis was the same as he had worn the tunic too. She had long black hair, a bruise on her cheek, and a scrape slashing the end of her chin. The middle one, the Druidecht, looked young. He was handsome, but his expression was haunted. The news he had experienced was causing a churn of emotion inside of him and he was wrestling with it still. He wore something around his neck, a piece of jewelry of some kind with glittering stones at the ends. There was a creature just behind him, some strange mountain cat with a beautiful pelt. The final man was a Rike, silver-haired, and his look made Phae distrust him completely. He was goading Shion, trying to unhinge him with secrets from the past. Was Shion a child-killer? Was that why his memories were veiled? She was the one who had encouraged him to seek his past. What if that past was truly too horrible to relive?
While she had waited in the seclusion of the grove, she had listened to the conversation and decided to reveal herself at last. She was alarmed at their presence, but she understood why and how they had come.
“I’m staring, I’m sorry,” she said, offering a weak smile. “We were attacked by the Arch-Rike’s forces and had to flee. Tyrus brought us to Silvandom, but we split up because one of us was wounded—”
“The Prince?” Khiara interrupted, her face drawn with worry.
Phae shook her head. “No, he is safe. There was a man we met in the mountains of Alkire who sheltered us. Evritt is his name. He was injured in the Arch-Rike’s attack and they took him to the city for a healer. The two of us have been evading the Arch-Rike’s minions. We found our way here. I think you all know…what I am.”
Annon stared at her in awe. “You are Dryad-born.”
Phae nodded. “I am. There is something I must do here though. I do not know how much time we have before Tyrus finds us again. Or the Arch-Rike for that matter. Annon, would you join me? The others must wait outside the rim of trees. Shion…will you keep the others away?”
He glanced at her in concern and hesitated, his fists clenching.
“I will be safe with Annon,” she whispered, squeezing his arm. “The Dryad will keep me so.”
He nodded finally and then gestured for Khiara and Lukias to retreat the way they had come. They obeyed, vanishing into the woods. Phae studied the young man, who was barely older than her. He stared at her in return.
“You look like Tyrus,” Annon told her, shaking his head. She wore a ribbed shirt and trousers with a thick leather belt. It was not the look or the fashion of Wayland, but he had seen those from Stonehollow wear such clothes before. It was a dusty place, thick with stones. Her hair was lighter than his, but still bore the telltale sign of their fireblood. She looked fit and hale, her hair clean and slightly damp. Her clothes were a bit tattered and frayed.
“Is that a compliment?” she asked, wrinkling her brow.
He approached her and took her hand with both of his. “You’ve seen your father, then?”
“I have.”
He closed his eyes, relieved beyond words. “I thought he was dead.”
“He was dead, Annon. Shion killed him with a dagger. Well, if there is one thing my father knows how to do better than being a Paracelsus, it’s to survive. Prince Aran found me in Stonehollow, but I snuck away not trusting him. I wish now that I had. I was found by Shion and he took me captive and was bringing me to the Arch-Rike when Tyrus and Aran discovered us. This has all come about very fast. But I know who I am. I know what my father intends for me.” She swallowed, her look nervous. “I have accepted my fate. I believe you are the only one he told everything to. Which is why I wanted to speak to you alone, and not in front of the others.”
Annon smiled at her. “If only Paedrin and Hettie were here as well, we would be ready to face the Scourgelands right now. I have learned of another way to enter. A way that will bring us close inside. Tyrus has a Tay al-Ard. I have the knowledge of the location. I think this bodes well for our success.”