high-pitched squeal broke her thoughts. She turned to see Flux trotting towards her, his orange-and-white muzzle peeking above the flax-colored stems. He howled again.
When he reached Avruellen, she crouched and embraced him. “What’s all the noise about?”
I felt like howling. I’m restless. It’s nice to howl once in a while . He twitched his ears a few times—a sign to Avruellen he was happy. I can smell Bronny. They’re not that far away . He led the way.
Flux’s not far away was farther than Avruellen anticipated. After walking almost two miles, from the top of a rise they saw three horses in the distance and a black outline that was half as big as the horses; it was a shape Avruellen remembered well. She resisted the urge to run, but it seemed Bronwyn didn’t have the same discipline—one of the horses broke away from the group and galloped towards Avruellen. “It’s her,” Flux confirmed after sniffing the air. Avruellen clasped her hands in front of her and bit the inside of her cheek again. When the horse neared, she could see it was Prince. Bronwyn, confident and glorious, sat in the saddle, dark hair streaming out behind. Avruellen hadn’t smiled that wide for a long time.
In one fluid motion, Bronwyn reined in Prince and dismounted, running into Avruellen’s arms. Avruellen hugged her close and kissed her forehead, breathing in the fragrance that was Bronny mixed with horse. “Ah, my child. When you were taken from me, I thought I’d never see you again.”
Bronwyn squeezed her aunt then stepped back. “I thought I’d never see you either. I have so much to tell you and…” Her smile evaporated. “And you have a lot to tell me, I suspect.”
The older realmist knew, then, what Bronwyn meant. “How did you find out?” Arcon and Blayke reached them. Avru ellen looked at Arcon, “Did he tell you?” There was no malice, only weary acceptance and a letting go of tension as the rope binding all her secrets slid undone. “It seems we have much to talk about.”
Arcon swung his leg over and jumped down. “So many aches and pains. These old bones aren’t what they used to be.”
“You look okay to me,” said Avruellen as she stepped towards him, and they embraced; she was careful not to dislodge Phantom, who slept on Arcon’s shoulder, his face burrowed beneath a wing. “It’s been too long. And this must be Blayke.” Blayke gave a short bow and grinned.
“Pleased to meet you, Auntie.”
“What a handsome young man.” Avruellen nodded, pleased. “And this must be Fang.” She took his paw between her fingertips and gently shook it in greeting, after which she turned to Sinjenasta. The realmist matched gazes with the giant cat before speaking. “So, this is Drakon’s beast. I hope you’ve been taking good care of my niece?”
I think I’ve done a good job, although she is stubborn. How did you cope all those years?
Avruellen laughed, a sound she hadn’t made in weeks. “So, you feel my pain. Hmm, I think you and I are going to get along just fine.”
Bronwyn rose from hugging Flux. “Okay, I know I’m so wonderful you just can’t stop talking about me, but I’m hungry. I’m sure you can take us somewhere nice to eat and finish the conversation. Let’s go.” She linked her arm with her aunt’s while Arcon led her mount. The lament of the breeze as it played amongst the grass and gnarled bushes gave a whispered accompaniment as they strolled towards Carpus. In the excitement of the reunion, Arcon forgot to mask their symbols in the Second Realm. By the time he realized, it was already too late.
Chapter 14
After reassuring the owner of the Seafarers Inn that the giant black panther with her was tame, Avruellen settled everyone in their rooms. The humans had a chance to freshen up before eating, and now the group took lunch in the timber-paneled, private dining room of the inn, except for Phantom, who slept in a room upstairs. Sinjenasta lay on the floor
When he reached Avruellen, she crouched and embraced him. “What’s all the noise about?”
I felt like howling. I’m restless. It’s nice to howl once in a while . He twitched his ears a few times—a sign to Avruellen he was happy. I can smell Bronny. They’re not that far away . He led the way.
Flux’s not far away was farther than Avruellen anticipated. After walking almost two miles, from the top of a rise they saw three horses in the distance and a black outline that was half as big as the horses; it was a shape Avruellen remembered well. She resisted the urge to run, but it seemed Bronwyn didn’t have the same discipline—one of the horses broke away from the group and galloped towards Avruellen. “It’s her,” Flux confirmed after sniffing the air. Avruellen clasped her hands in front of her and bit the inside of her cheek again. When the horse neared, she could see it was Prince. Bronwyn, confident and glorious, sat in the saddle, dark hair streaming out behind. Avruellen hadn’t smiled that wide for a long time.
In one fluid motion, Bronwyn reined in Prince and dismounted, running into Avruellen’s arms. Avruellen hugged her close and kissed her forehead, breathing in the fragrance that was Bronny mixed with horse. “Ah, my child. When you were taken from me, I thought I’d never see you again.”
Bronwyn squeezed her aunt then stepped back. “I thought I’d never see you either. I have so much to tell you and…” Her smile evaporated. “And you have a lot to tell me, I suspect.”
The older realmist knew, then, what Bronwyn meant. “How did you find out?” Arcon and Blayke reached them. Avru ellen looked at Arcon, “Did he tell you?” There was no malice, only weary acceptance and a letting go of tension as the rope binding all her secrets slid undone. “It seems we have much to talk about.”
Arcon swung his leg over and jumped down. “So many aches and pains. These old bones aren’t what they used to be.”
“You look okay to me,” said Avruellen as she stepped towards him, and they embraced; she was careful not to dislodge Phantom, who slept on Arcon’s shoulder, his face burrowed beneath a wing. “It’s been too long. And this must be Blayke.” Blayke gave a short bow and grinned.
“Pleased to meet you, Auntie.”
“What a handsome young man.” Avruellen nodded, pleased. “And this must be Fang.” She took his paw between her fingertips and gently shook it in greeting, after which she turned to Sinjenasta. The realmist matched gazes with the giant cat before speaking. “So, this is Drakon’s beast. I hope you’ve been taking good care of my niece?”
I think I’ve done a good job, although she is stubborn. How did you cope all those years?
Avruellen laughed, a sound she hadn’t made in weeks. “So, you feel my pain. Hmm, I think you and I are going to get along just fine.”
Bronwyn rose from hugging Flux. “Okay, I know I’m so wonderful you just can’t stop talking about me, but I’m hungry. I’m sure you can take us somewhere nice to eat and finish the conversation. Let’s go.” She linked her arm with her aunt’s while Arcon led her mount. The lament of the breeze as it played amongst the grass and gnarled bushes gave a whispered accompaniment as they strolled towards Carpus. In the excitement of the reunion, Arcon forgot to mask their symbols in the Second Realm. By the time he realized, it was already too late.
Chapter 14
After reassuring the owner of the Seafarers Inn that the giant black panther with her was tame, Avruellen settled everyone in their rooms. The humans had a chance to freshen up before eating, and now the group took lunch in the timber-paneled, private dining room of the inn, except for Phantom, who slept in a room upstairs. Sinjenasta lay on the floor
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