‘You shouldn’t hide,’ Fae waved a hand, gesturing to the world around them. ‘You should be out there.’
‘Weren’t you listening?’ I said. ‘I have a ten-thousand gold bounty over my head.’
‘You can use it to your advantage,’ said Fae. I was about to protest, but Fae held up a hand to silence me. ‘Picture this. Your face is everywhere, right? Men, women, and children have seen your scowling mug plastered across their city for weeks now with the words ‘wanted’ and ‘dangerous’ along with it. Not only are you famous, but you’re also feared.’
‘I don’t think anyone fears me,’ I said, turning crimson.
‘Tell me, would you approach someone the Realm has deemed dangerous?’
‘Well, no, of course not, but-’
‘Exactly!’ Fae said excitedly. ‘The Realm has labeled you leader of the human rebellion in an attempt to frighten you. What they don’t realize is that they have given you a weapon.’
‘Weapon?’ I repeated. ‘What weapon?’
‘They’ve given you recognition,’ said Fae, as if it were the most glorious thing in the world. ‘They’ve given you a reputation that you can use to your advantage-’
‘But I’m not the leader of the human rebellion,’ I said imploringly. ‘I just wanted to save my sister-’
‘Don’t you get it?’ said Fae, her eyes wide. ‘You’re a fugitive on the run from the law. You’re the rebel the humans have been waiting for.’
‘But I’m not!’
‘That’s how they see it,’ said Fae, folding her arms across her chest. ‘Haven’t you ever heard the expression; any publicity is good publicity? Shoot me if I’m wrong.’
‘I hadn’t really thought of it that way,’ I muttered. ‘Do you really think people are afraid of me?’
‘Those that don’t know you.’ Fae winked.
I thought about what Dagon had said. ‘Why not be guilty of the thing they’re accusing you of?’
‘Why not, indeed,’ I said aloud.
‘Huh?’
‘Why not be guilty of the thing they’re accusing me of?’ I said with a smile.
‘That’s exactly what I’ve been saying!’ said Fae, excitedly. She seemed to revel in the idea of adventure and violence; Fae was the complete opposite of Jack. ‘Which leads me to my next question.’
‘Hmm? What’s that?’ I said, lost in thought.
‘How long do you plan on staying here?’ she asked.
I took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. ‘I don’t know. I’d like to leave as soon as possible.’
‘What is stopping you?’
‘Well … I was going to stay here until my leg healed – but then Emilija had the pups, so that put a damper on my plan. I mean, I can’t just leave them.’
‘Can’t you take them with you?’
‘Well, Shadow is far too big to carry now,’ I frowned. ‘And I don’t think he’ll be able to fly.’
‘Why not? Can’t his mother and father fly?’
I nodded. ‘Yes, however, Hawthorne can fly only when I am riding him. We are connected. It sounds strange, I know, but he chose me as his master, therefore connecting us for life.’
‘Why did he choose you to be his master?’ asked Fae.
‘I saved him,’ I said with a smile.
‘What about Emilija?’
‘Well, that’s the tricky part,’ I began, thoughtfully. ‘Emilija did have a master, once upon a time. Yet, I think their bond was broken, or perhaps Emilija no longer considered him as her master.’
‘She was freed?’ Fae provided.
I nodded. ‘That’s my theory, anyway. When Martinez lost his memories, their minds separated, and Emilija became her own master. Anyway, it appears she is able to fly without a rider as she followed us here.’
‘So you think Shadow will not be able to fly unless he has a master, too?’ asked Fae.
I was about to respond when a flame ignited inside my brain. Suddenly, I understood why Shadow was growing faster than Willow and Rue. The realization struck me so hard that I gasped.
‘What? What is it?’ said Fae, craning her neck to see what I’d gasped at.
‘No, nothing,’ I said, waving a hand dismissively. ‘There’s nothing there. But I just realized something.’
‘Don’t scare me like that,’ she scolded. ‘I didn’t bring my bow with me. So what did you realize?’
‘You saved Shadow,’ I said excitedly.
‘Yes,’ said Fae slowly. ‘I saved you, too.’
‘No, I mean you saved Shadow just like I saved Hawthorne.’
‘Okay?’
‘After I saved Hawthorne he began to grow at an astonishing rate.’ I explained. ‘Within a month or two, he was the size of a bear.’
‘So?’
‘What if Hawthorne grew because he met me? What if meeting his master was the trigger for his size?’
‘So you mean … Shadow … and I?’