He helped her attach it. “Listen to my commands so you don’t crash into a tree.”
Her heart was thumping fast. She’d been wanting to try this ever since Daleina had first told her about riding the wire paths, but now that she was here, her stomach was flopping back and forth like a fish on a riverbank. “What if I get sick?”
“Aim downwind” was his advice.
“Very helpful,” she grumbled as she stepped up onto a bench. “How do I—”
He gave her a push.
Arin shrieked as she plummeted off the top of the tree, then an instant later, the harness caught her and she was sailing through the canopy, skimming over leaves and between branches, and her shriek turned into a laugh.
This is amazing!
They switched wire paths twice on their way out of Mittriel and didn’t stop until they’d reached the village of Threefork, Arin’s home. It was near sundown. Birds called to one another as they settled into their nests for the night, and the branches rustled with squirrels and chipmunks hurrying home.
Looking down at Threefork, Arin felt a little like one of the chipmunks.
Like nearly all the other villages in Aratay, Threefork was nestled in the arms of trees so massive you couldn’t see them in one glance. Shops and businesses were clustered on platforms around the fattest tree, with bridges connecting all the houses that either budded from or were built onto the various branches. Firemoss lanterns were strung everywhere to light the village at night, and colorful scarves were strung along the bridges to brighten the village during the day. It wasn’t unique or special. But it’s home, Arin thought.
After they’d unhooked from the wires and climbed the ladder down to midforest, Arin led the way. Ven was a step behind her, alert as if they walked through a pack of wolves, and Queen Naelin walked beside him, her hood drawn up around her face.
“Put your hood back, Your Majesty,” Arin whispered. “If you look like you’re hiding, you’ll make people even more curious.”
Queen Naelin obeyed but didn’t speak.
Smiling and waving at her old neighbors, Arin greeted people as they passed. Leaning out their windows, many waved back. Others hurried to join her on the platforms. Everyone seemed to have a question for her: What was the palace like? How was dear Daleina doing as queen? How wondrous that Ingara and Eaden’s girl should be queen! Had Arin met the second queen? What’s she like? Did Arin have fancy dresses now? Had she been to any banquets? Were there festivals every night? Did she see fighting during the invasion? Did she kill any spirits? Had she seen anyone die? Had it been as bad as people said? What were the queens going to do about the harvest? The winter stores weren’t what they should be . . .
Arin answered everything as best she could, except the death questions, as her friends clustered around her. She introduced Champion Ven, whom they were all in awe of, and she introduced Queen Naelin as “Caretaker Neena,” a name they all immediately accepted. No one in Threefork knew what the second queen looked like, though many of them had an opinion about her. Most popular was: “I heard she went stark raving mad when spirits killed her kids, and she tried to destroy the whole country!”
“It wasn’t exactly like that,” Arin told them.
“Then what was it like?” It was Eira, Josei’s sister and Arin’s friend. Squealing, Arin hugged her friend, and Eira squeezed her back. Eira beamed at her, dimples deepening in both her cheeks. She then looped her arm through Arin’s as they walked. “You must tell me everything. You’ve been in the palace so long! Everyone thought you weren’t coming back.”
“Of course I was coming back! I only went to make sure Daleina was all right.” That’s true, Arin thought. Everything else . . . Well, it had just sort of happened. She hadn’t planned any of it. Except I chose to learn potions. And I chose this trip.
Eira yipped like an excited puppy. “So you’re back to stay? I knew it! Oh, Arin, I have the best news to tell you! But your parents should be the ones to tell you. They arranged everything. They’re going to be so excited to see you! I think they were afraid you were never coming home again.”
Arin winced. She avoided looking at either Naelin or Ven. She hoped they wouldn’t be the ones to break the news that she wasn’t here to stay.
But Eira didn’t seem to notice Arin’s discomfort. Forging ahead and dragging Arin with her, Eira parted the crowd. “Let the girl through! She’s been traveling! You can gossip later.”
Arin thought it was funny that Eira, who was younger and shorter, was able to part the crowd, whereas the Queen’s Champion and an actual queen had been stuck in the swarm of curious townspeople, but it did work. Everyone scooted back, and Arin, Ven, and Naelin were able to cross the platform that was the town square and onto the bridge that led to Arin’s house.
Home!
She’d been so busy with Master Garnah that she’d barely paused to picture it, and now home was right in front of her, nestled in the tree branches. It was a green cottage with orange-brown tiles, draped in flowers and stuffed with charms. Exactly like it had been when she left it.
Ven nudged her forward. “Enjoy your homecoming,” he murmured in her ear. “You earned this.”
Giving Eira one more hug and waving at everyone else, Arin held on to the straps of her pack and ran toward home. “Mama! Daddy!”
The door flew open. “My baby!”
“Mama!” Arin plowed into her and threw her arms around her mother.
Laughing, Mama hugged her back just as hard. “You’re here! It’s really you! Daleina sent word, but I didn’t think you’d be here so quickly. Come in, come in.” She bustled them inside.
Wait, Arin wanted to say. How did Daleina know to send word? I snuck away—
But then she saw Daddy standing by the sink, a dish in one hand and a cloth in the other, and all thoughts left her mind. He beamed at her, and Arin ran into his arms. “I missed you so much!” Arin cried.
Behind her, Mama was saying, “Champion Ven, welcome again to our home.” She heard him murmur thanks and introduce Caretaker Neena. Her mother greeted her warmly, inquiring about her journey, offering their hospitality.
Patting Arin’s hair, Daddy said, “Sweet pea, you have no idea how happy we are to see you. The house has felt so empty without you!”
Quickly and loudly, Arin said, “We can’t stay long. We’re on a trip to introduce Caretaker Neena to Ven’s family. She’s his chosen love.”
Ven did not react to this lie. He merely creased his lips into a smile within his beard. “My mother and sister live near the northern border. Your home is on the way.” For all Arin knew, that was true. She’d never thought about Ven having a family, though of course he must. He hadn’t sprung out of a tree in full leather armor, with a quiver on his back and sword at his side—even if that’s what some of the songs said. She tried to picture him as a child and failed.
Mama turned to Naelin and said, “We’re delighted to meet the one who has captured the heart of the Queen’s Champion. He’s grumpy sometimes, but he’s a good one.”
“He is,” Naelin agreed.
And Arin could have sworn she saw Champion Ven actually blush.
Mama shooed them all inside, bustling around them and offering them chairs and rockers and telling them to make themselves at home. Arin dropped her pack, and Ven stacked all their supplies in a corner.
Soon, Mama and Daddy were piling the table with food—the nut bread that Arin always loved, the leaf-wrapped spiced boar meat, and the little triangles of berries in puff pastry that melted in your mouth.
Dinner’s ready—they must have known we were coming, Arin thought, once more unsure what that meant. More proof that Daleina knew and told them. Does this mean she approves of my going? But she’d said no . . . And if Daleina knew, did that mean her parents knew? But they hadn’t recognized Queen Naelin . . .