Page 73 of Realm of Crows (Wings of Ink #5)
Fifty-Five
Ayna
Shouts in the hallway rouse me from Myron’s arms the next morning. On instinct, I reach for the dagger I left on my nightstand and follow Myron’s lead, jumping into a pair of pants and a shirt before heading out into the living room.
“Are we under attack?” Silas stumbles out of his room, nearly tackling Myron in the process.
“Is it the Flames?” Rogue said he’d take care of them—give them the Seeing Forest to rebuild a realm of their own and figure out their own hierarchies now that they are technically leaderless—but one can never know with what they’ve done during Ephegos’s rule over them.
“Doesn’t sound like fighting,” Royad notes as he joins us, buckling his weapons belt around his hips as he steps to Myron’s other side in a movement so natural that it gives away his centuries of having Myron’s back.
We all pause to take in the noise out in the hallway.
“Those are cheers,” I realize as the shouts travel closer, spreading through the entire palace.
Sheathing my dagger, I head for the door to hear what they are celebrating and almost collide with a beaming palace guard.
“The Prince and Princess of Askarea have arrived,” he tells me, stopping briefly to grab my shoulders and kiss my cheek like a mad fairy.
I’m so baffled, I nearly miss the meaning of his words.
“Prince and Princess of Askarea?” Silas asks from the threshold, his axe casually in his hand as if he’d been ready to behead the guard at the slightest sign of malintent. “Sanja gave birth to twins?”
Together, we fly down the stairs—literally shift into our bird forms and fly to save time. Only when we get to the main hallway do we find Tori, his cheeks flushed with excitement, waving us along a side corridor we’ve never used.
“Is Sanja all right?” My palms are sweaty when I change into my fae form, and my heart is racing at the impact of the news.
“Healthy and happy. She’s busy explaining to Rogue that his days of site-hopping about the realm are over.” Tori’s joyous laugh makes my heart soar. “Not that he ever was much of a busybody. ”
We’ve reached a set of tall double doors, half open to allow us entrance. The guards left and right step aside to make way for the general and his visitors.
“The worst of busybodies,” Clio drawls as we enter the room, a mischievous grin on her lips. Her copper hair is braided back, and she’s wearing a spring green woolen dress that hugs her curves in gentle folds. “You should have seen him before he met Sanja.”
I barely hear her because, on the enormous bed standing against the wall across from the door, Sanja is sitting with a babe in her arms. Rogue perches next to her, one arm draped around her shoulders while, in the other arm, he’s cradling the second babe.
Kaira is helping a healer clean up bloody towels and a bucket of water, and for the moment, she looks like she isn’t close to tears about losing Herinor.
I’m so awestruck by the sight of my entire family in one place that my heart nearly bursts inside my chest.
“They are beautiful,” I whisper, approaching a step and leaning just close enough to glimpse the two tiny golden faces.
Rogue and Sanja look up, both of them exhausted but brimming with joy and pride.
“Everyone, meet Zelia and Sibelius, Princess and Prince of Askarea.”
In unison, we bow our heads before the future of the fairylands.
“Welcome to this world, Zelia and Sibelius,” Myron murmurs, stepping to Rogue’s side to take a closer look at the little princess in his arms .
“Would you like to know her full name?” Rogue glances up at the Crow King with eyes of glowing gold, earning a nod from Myron. “Zelia Cliophera Myrion Leahnie Astoria DePauvre.”
“You named her after Tori and me.” Clio beams, clasping her hands in front of her chest to keep herself from grabbing the little bundle and cuddling it.
“And after my mother.” Myron takes my hand, staring down at our joined fingers with tears in his eyes.
“And Sibelius,” Rogue continues. “His full name is Sibelius Neredyn Herinor Kairan DePauvre.”
A bundle of fresh linens Kaira was pulling from a cupboard slips from her hands at the sound of both Herinor’s and her name united in the prince’s.
“We thought it was time to honor the hidden heroes of this war,” Sanja explains, her eyes leaving her son’s face only long enough to meet Kaira’s eyes. “The ones brave enough to leave their people to stand up for what they believe in. The traitors redeemed by their values and intentions.”
“And Neredyn for the hope of a better future. One with unexplored possibilities. A reminder of a friendship bridging oceans and worlds.” Rogue gets to his feet, waving Clio over to hand her the little princess, and Clio rushes to take her with open arms, Tori looking over her shoulder at the little fingers reaching for his strands of auburn hair.
A wide yawn stretches the babe’s mouth, and a moment later, she’s fallen asleep.
“Time to let them rest,” Kaira whispers into my mind like she’s afraid to wake up the little one. Only a hint of sadness is left on her features as she meets my gaze, lips curving into a smile. “Welcome back, sister. I’ve missed you.”
“As have I.” Waiting for Silas, Royad, and Myron to leave the room, I hold out a hand for Kaira, wrapping an arm around her as I guide her into the hallway.
Tori and Clio are last to leave the bedroom, the Fairy Princess handing the new princess back to her father before she sends away the guards at the door, taking over the watch herself. Tori joins her, a bemused expression on his face.
“The two of them will be an insufferable aunt and uncle,” Kaira huffs into my mind, and I confirm with a nod.
“The worst.” It appears I still can lie a little because, apart from being a bit overbearing, Clio and Tori will be the world’s best aunt and uncle, and neither Zelia nor Sibelius will need to fear anything as long as they have their parents to guide them and Clio and Tori to watch out for them.
“She’ll put a sword in their hands before they can eat with fork and knife. ”
“And Tori will build them little stone castles with his powers.”
We both laugh in our minds, and for the moment, everything is all right.
The day of departure comes before the end of the month. After a visit in Meer to settle things, Myron, Royad, and Silas have gathered the Crows and sent them ahead to Ansoli, the harbor where I first arrived in the fairylands—unconscious and Royad’s prisoner but already on my path of destiny.
We’re all wearing our fixed leathers, our weapons sheathed at our sides, and each of us is carrying a pack with a bedroll, some medical supplies, and a change of clothes. The rest is already on the ship Rogue gifted us for the journey.
Royad and Silas went ahead with the rest of the Crows, leaving Myron, Kaira, and me to say goodbye to our friends.
The King and Queen of Askarea have gathered in the throne room, each of them cradling one of the twins while Clio and Tori have put on their official expressions. The pale winter sun is illuminating the room, making the walls glimmer in all colors of the rainbow.
“Thank you for all that you’ve done for us,” Myron says, inclining his head, a king honoring his allies. “Without Askarea, there would be no Crow court left.”
“I must thank you,” Rogue returns, lifting little Sibelius higher to his chest so he has a hand free to shake Myron’s. “If you ever call for help in your new realm, Askarea will answer.”
“Let’s hope it won’t come to that.” It’s all I can say because we’ve all had enough of war and bloodshed for a thousand lifetimes.
“Let’s hope.” Sanja gives me one of those warm smiles, her raven hair cascading over her shoulders, tickling little Zelia’s nose. The babe sneezes, and Tori makes a facial expression that equals a silent awww, reaching for the princess so Sanja can properly hug us all goodbye.
“Let us know where you land,” Rogue says as he clasps hands with Myron, careful not to disturb Sibelius’s sleep. “We’ll establish a trade route and make travel between the continents easier. ”
I hug the Fairy Queen, then Tori and Rogue who hands the little one back to Sanja while Clio pulls Kaira and me into a hug. “Take good care of Silas,” she says. “He could do with some luck when it comes to females.”
Both Kaira and I chuckle, but there is nothing to disagree with. The male has been through enough.
“And you”—she holds Kaira at arm’s length—“Don’t give up hope. Who knows what the gods have in store for you?”
“I will miss you.” Kaira reaches into her pocket, pulling out a string of leather that shimmers the same shade of jade as Clio’s eyes. “I stored color in it by siphoning magic.” She holds it out for Clio. “So you don’t forget the Flame who fought by your side.”
Clio mops her eyes with her sleeve. “Never. And thank you.”
Tori comes last, holding out his hands as he readies to site-hop us to the harbor. “Take a good look at these halls, Crow King,” he says with a grin. “I’ll expect something equally stunning when I come to visit your new home.”
“If we ever find one,” Kaira murmurs into my mind.
“We will,” I tell her, squeezing Clio’s hand one last time before taking Tori’s.
The harbor is busy with merchants taking up their trade with Tavras after months of slow business during the war.
Along the pier in front of the small town of brick and stone houses, cargo ships lie ready to leave next to ones that are being unloaded or loaded.
Sacks of grains are being carried down gang planks while, on other ships, fairies snap their fingers to float chests and boxes aboard.
“I will miss this sort of magic,” I tell Myron as I follow him toward the ship on the outermost edge of the pier.
Kaira is next to me, tugging out a leather string colored in auburn and handing it to Tori, who takes it with a smile, probably giving his thanks in a silent conversation only someone who can read minds can truly follow.