Sunkissed Feathers & Severed Ties

by Kellie Doherty

“I should go with you, to learn more, but…I’m afraid I can’t,” Arias said, giving both Misti and Dylori a hug before stepping back.

  “Don’t worry about it. I had a bit of a reality check back there when I realized what I was asking,” Misti replied, smiling.

  Arias laughed a little and poked Misti in the side. “That’s what I’m here for, you know.”

  Misti nodded, her throat tightening again. “We’ll see you when we get back?”

  “Yes, you will. You’ll have to tell me everything, about the pendant, about the woods, about everything you see.” She looked to Dylori. “In fact, you should carry this as a promise.” Arias unhooked the stunning Shey sword from her belt, handing the blade to Dylori, who accepted it with a gasp. Misti saw a similar look of shock rippling over Orenda’s face. “Protect her with it, then bring it back to me and tell me everything. Every little detail.”

  Dylori just nodded dumbly, so Misti replied for the both of them. “Thank you, Arias.”

  Arias patted her bow. “When you get back we can continue our lessons, too, yes?”

  Misti nodded.

  “I thank you for the adventure.” Arias drew herself up proudly, much like the first time they had seen each other back at the village and gave them both a grin. Then she was gone, her footsteps fading along with her sister’s down the hall. The back of Misti’s eyes burned, but she blinked the pain away. Hold it together, girl. You’ll see her again.

  That left them alone with Roorik Shadowhunt, the ex-banished one, the stranger who saved Misti’s friends and introduced her to the Praxis leaders who had caged her pendant once more. Lounging on the chair, a lazy smirk on his lips, notebook resting on his chest.

  “So, what about you?” Misti asked.

  “I can take you to the edge of the woods and point you in the right direction of the meeting place on a map,” he said with a gentle hand wave, “but I can’t go inside.”

  “And why not?” Dylori seemed to have found her voice once again, and its hard edge, but Misti knew it was simply her way of staving off her sadness.

  Roorik stood, straightening his robes. “They would…know…if I stepped within their boundaries again, and I don’t want to meet the fate they have for me.”

  “Wouldn’t you be the perfect bait, then?” Dylori replied, a glint in her dark eyes.

  “Dylori!” Misti nudged her.

  “Oh, that I would.” Roorik gave a flourishing gesture at himself. “But I have a prior engagement. A date, in fact, with a very lucky man indeed, that I do not want to miss.” He winked at Misti. “I’m afraid I can only take you to the edge of the woods. No further.”

  “That would be fine, Roorik,” Misti assured him, speaking before Dylori had the chance to again. She motioned to the door. “Please, lead the way.”

  “Indeed.” Roorik closed his leather book and tucked it back in his satchel, and then swept out the door, long robes billowing behind him as he did so.

  “You could try to be a little nicer to him,” Misti said, swinging her packs onto her shoulders and handing Dylori’s over. She took a chance and kissed Dylori’s cheek, enjoying the way that simple contact sent sparks through her body, even at a time like this, and hoping it did the same for Dylori, hoping that she hadn’t crossed a line. Dylori stared at her and touched her cheek, a grin tugging at the corner of her lips. “He did save your life, remember?”

  “Yeah, yeah, I know,” Dylori muttered, shaking herself from her daze and rubbing her left horn. She secured her pack to her back, making sure her curved blade rested perfectly in its scabbard, and clipped the new scabbard to the other side of her belt. She didn’t put the Shey sword inside it, preferring to hold it reverently in front of her, tilting it this way and that in the daygems’ light. Misti had to shove Dylori out into the hallway and down the stairs, or she would’ve stayed in that room and stared at the sword forever.

  After thanking the innkeeper and his griffin, they tapped Dis awake and headed through Rok to the Ravenlock Woods. It took much less time than Misti would have liked to break through the crowd of people, get beyond the outskirts of the city, and arrive at the edge of the woods. Much less time than she would’ve hoped to gather her courage and remind herself why she was doing this.

  Numerous powerful daygems glowed in Rok, yet none of their lights reached the edge of the Ravenlock Woods. The wood was far away for that, farther than the most remote of vendors and homes, farther than the Rok guards patrolled, farther than even the bustle of nighttime sounds of a huge city could travel. So far away that the city looked like a brilliant glowing bubble on the dark horizon.

  But that distance didn’t feel like enough for Misti to gather her wits about her. So when Roorik activated a daygem, letting the white glow wash into the Ravenlock Woods; when Dylori paled at the sight of the forest, letting the beautiful Shey sword finally drop to her side; and when both Dis and Zora shifted their weight back and forth in fear, Misti faced the woods, feeling dread shimmy down her spine and fine-tune her senses. She faced the Ravenlock Woods, terrified.

  ***

  Roorik had handed them his daygem and a map and, with one final swish of his cloak, left them behind. As Misti, Dylori, and their companion animals walked deeper into the Ravenlock Woods, she wished she had asked what exactly Roorik had done to become one of the banished folk and what had pulled him out again. She, like Dylori, didn’t quite believe the story about his passion for clothes and dyes. But now, heading deeper into the forest, she locked that little wish away and focused on her surroundings.

  There were no sounds in these woods. No birds sang, no bugs rustled the dead leaves, no gentle breeze rifled through the spindly branches. Not even the leaves crushed beneath their feet made noise, turning into ash instead. The quiet unnerved her. The daygem’s soft light filtered through the woods, brightening the gray bark and gray branches and gray forest floor covered in gray leaves and gray roots, although really, it didn’t have much to brighten. It was dangerous to have this daygem light up the darkness, even as gentle a glow it was emitting, but Dylori hadn’t stopped her when she accepted it from Roorik, nor said anything about it as they walked along. They were on the outskirts of the woods anyway, and Misti would deactivate it once they got deeper inside. Neither Misti nor Dylori actually needed the daygem’s light, but it comforted her in this space.

  She held the daygem further out, casting the glow wider around her, and glanced back. Dylori wore a stoic expression, hard eyes and a tight frown. Her fingers grasped the Shey sword, the muscles in her neck tense. But when her eyes met Misti’s, her expression softened. Her lips lifted, her hard eyes shimmering with a mischievous glint. Her grip never loosened on the sword, but her gait became smoother.

  “Quite the adventure, hmmm?” Dylori raised her eyebrows.

  “Yes, one I hope is over soon. This part at least,” Misti whispered. She bit her lip, wanting to ask a question that had bothered her for the past few nights but not knowing if now was the right time. To the Sunglade with the right time. I need to know. Misti drew in a deep breath and asked, “Dylori, are we ever going to talk about my parents being worshippers?”

  Dylori tensed again, her scowl returning. “Yes. Soon, but not right now. I still need some time to…process it. Okay?”

  Misti looked out into the darkness. Soon. I can live with that. “Okay. How are we going to convince the banished ones to help me?”

  “I honestly don’t know.” Dylori gave her a sidelong look before turning her gaze to the forest once more. “You know, we could’ve traded the information for Roorik, since he’s wanted by the banished folk.”

  Misti tightened her grip, surprise rippling through her. “You wouldn’t do that.”

  “I’d do anything for you.” Dylori’s eyes were black diamonds glittering against her dark skin. She slipped her hand into Misti’s and squeezed. Misti welcomed the contact, but she let go as soon as Dylori did. “Anything. Remember that.”

  “I know.” Misti knew Dylori’s
words rang true, but she had done so much already. What more can she do?

  A rustle ended their conversation. Spooked, Misti deactivated the daygem, and both women scanned the trees. Fear prickled Misti’s skin. Nothing stared back at them, even though a part of Misti hoped that something would. It had been hours since they entered the Ravenlock Woods. So much mystery surrounded these parts, the quiet made her queasy.

  Misti felt something nudge her shoulder and she whipped around. Zora flew away from Misti’s shoulder, one ear tilted to the side in question. Chuckling, she motioned for the vulnix to come over. Zora zoomed into her, headbutting her forehead and nibbling on Misti’s tunic. Calm pooled in Misti’s soul at her companion’s actions, some fear ebbing away. She reached into her pocket for a handful of gara nuts, which Zora licked up eagerly before taking a few of them gently between her teeth, flying over to Dis, and throwing them into his waiting mouth.

  “I guess it should be lunchtime.” Dylori laughed at the pair. She motioned to the seemingly endless woods around them. “Here is as good a spot as any.”

  Misti looked around as well, eyeing the rather large tree beside her, reactivated the daygem and discovering the daygem’s light didn’t reach the branches above her. They had just stepped into a clearing of sorts, a small circle surrounded by large trees that would be good for cover. “Maybe we should stop for the night? We can sleep in shifts and head out at first light.”

  Dylori swung the Shey sword around a little, as if testing the clearing for airborne traps. “I don’t know if darkness will protect us in here, Misti. And you said the suncreatures attacked during the night a few times before, right?”

  The unceg and wyvern attacks surfaced in Misti’s mind. Her pendant had been free both times, but now it was locked behind a cage stronger than ever before. Would it help if we get attacked again? Should I let it help even if it could? “Yes, but only those two. We’ve traveled at night before and nothing hurt us.”

  Dylori chewed on her lip. “Even two attacks are highly unusual. And you know the rumors folk whisper about these woods as well as I.”

  Yes, she knew the rumors. That the Ravenlock Woods and Cinder Forest were so deadly few who entered exited without scars, if they made it out at all. That the cursed woods were so deep and twisted folk could spend seasons wandering even with a map in hand. That the dead woods were so full of suncreatures it didn’t matter if folk traveled by day or night.

  Misti sighed. “I know it’s more dangerous to travel during the day, and I’d wager even more in here probably, but I’d feel better to sleep under the protection of darkness for a little while. Even if that protection isn’t actually real.”

  She tried and failed to stifle a yawn. It occurred to her that she hadn’t slept in over two nights. She couldn’t while riding on Dis’ back, clutching her friends, on their frantic dash to Rok, and she hadn’t in Rok either, trying to figure out what to do with the pendant. Adrenaline must have kept her on her feet, but after walking so long with little to cause a spike, tiredness had finally taken hold.

  Dylori arched an eyebrow at the yawn, and Misti could all but see the cogs working in Dylori’s mind as she came to the same conclusion. “Okay then, I’ll take the first watch. Eat something, and then get to sleep.”

  They set up a quick camp, one that could be gathered up at a moment’s notice. Dis settled down on the edge of the small clearing with their packs tucked safely on his back, his bulk taking up quite a lot of space in the process. When Misti rested her back against his warm fur, she didn’t mind that her feet rested on another tree, their bedrolls piled against his warm body. She felt more secure with him creating a mountain behind them. Zora curled up tight on Misti’s lap, watching as Dylori started the motions of fire-making, setting their tinder in a small pile, then crisscrossing larger pieces overtop.

  “Are you sure we need fire?” Misti asked. “Flames are much more noticeable than the daygem. We could call attention to ourselves.”

  Dylori stilled in her preparations, fingers clutching a firerock waiting to be sparked to life. “Don’t we want to call attention to ourselves?”

  “Maybe after we figure out how we’re going to get them to help us.”

  Dylori nodded and gathered up the tinder, tying it into a tight bundle with a spare bit of rope and securing it to Dis’ straps. “For later then.”

  “Later.” Misti’s eyelids drooped of their own accord. The darkness was somehow calming even here in the Ravenlock Woods, and she fell swiftly asleep.

  Chapter Sixteen

  DYLORI SHOOK HER AWAKE, eyes tinged orange with sleeplessness. Misti blinked, letting her eyes adjust. Soft light washed the area in a pale pink glow. Daylight glow. Misti yawned and pushed her hair out of her eyes. Dylori sat next to her, hands full of dried vegetables and berries, which she plopped into Misti’s lap, warm from Zora’s presence. Zora had fished some more gara nuts from Misti’s pocket, munching on them near her leg.

  “You let me sleep for too long, Dylori.”

  Dylori shrugged, then curled up by Dis’ leg, one arm sprawled over her face. “Wake me in an hour. Then we’ll see about your banished folk.”

  Misti couldn’t understand how Dylori could sleep with her face pressed up against her gauntlet like that, but in mere moments, she was snoring. For that hour and a half, Misti kept watch, seeing the shadows stretch between the trees as the sun rose, eating the dried vegetables and washing the sour berries down with a few gulps of water, rubbing Dis’ nose when he huffed at her, scratching behind Zora’s ears, stroking the dark strands of hair away from Dylori’s closed eyes. Nothing seemed alive in these woods, despite the rustle they had heard the night before. They had survived Ravenlock Woods a whole night, something Misti never would’ve dreamed of attempting before. Certainly not with only one person watching her back, even if that one person had the bravery and strength of ten.

  Her gaze drifted from the spindly trees to the glowing pendant around her neck. Would I have ventured this far without this deadly thing attached to me? Some part of her heart knew she wouldn’t have. Her guilt had tethered her as far north as she could stand without actually going back. Now that her guilt was lifted, it seemed she could go anywhere. Where will I go?

  Home first, she decided, though she’d never call it that again. She’d go back to her parents’ house, gather her sister and brother, and take them away. Maybe they could make a home in Amiin; Misti knew many people in that city. She could get Char a job as a scribe, and Danill could finish school. Her fingers brushed the wyvern wings dangling from her wrist. I’m coming, Char and Danill. I swear it.

  The pendant seemed to grow brighter around her neck, the azure cage glinting almost white. Misti pushed herself to her feet, tensing, ready to pull the crafting into her if she needed to. But the pendant dimmed to blue once more, the cage unbroken, the metal cool against her skin. Misti let out a whoosh of breath, relief coursing through her.

  Her rise to her feet had caused an answering stir in camp. Zora had leapt into the air and was hovering close to Misti’s side. Dis lifted his great head, his side rising with a deep breath as if readying to fight or flee. The commotion had also woken Dylori, who rubbed her eyes with one hand and tightened her grip on the Shey sword with the other.

  “Anything exciting happen?” Dylori grabbed onto Dis’ fur and pulled herself up. Dis stood in response, aiding his sleepy companion in her quest to stand.

  “No, sorry. The pendant just did something strange and I overreacted.” Misti placed her hand on Zora’s back to calm her. Zora headbutted the side of her face and landed on the ground next to her, snatching up more nuts.

  “The pendant?” Dylori’s weariness seemed to vanish. “What did it do?”

  “Just flashed. Like it was going to pulse, but then nothing happened. I don’t know why. It hasn’t happened before.” Misti shrugged, trying to be nonchalant despite her racing heart. No need to worry Dylori unnecessarily. “Let’s just get going, okay?”

&
nbsp; “Sure.” Dylori looked concerned as she packed up their things. “I was thinking about how we could deal with the banished ones.”

  Misti looked at her. “You were sleeping.”

  “Sometimes my mind figures things out when I’m asleep. And really we should’ve thought of this the moment we even considered this plan.” Dylori strapped the last bedroll onto Dis and turned back to Misti, a serious expression on her face. “We should call in the Moon Knights.”

  “The Moon Knights?” Misti tilted her head.

  Dylori’s dark eyes sparkled like they did whenever she had a mischievous plan. “We’ve got some great intelligence about the banished ones. If they really are in these woods, the Moon Knights could help us flush them out. Or at the very least, capture one alive.”

  Misti bit her lip. It was a good plan, one she hadn’t considered since they had ostracized her. “Would they even help us, though? You’re forgetting that they pretty much threw me out because of this thing.” She pointed at the pendant, as if Dylori couldn’t see it for herself.

  “Of course they would!” Dylori grinned, lifting the Shey sword in triumph. “Ponuriah’s tits, Misti, if some Divus really do meet regularly in these woods and we have a map to their location, we’d be doing the knights a favor by telling them about it. Maybe even a big enough favor to get you back into their good graces.”

  Do I want to be in their good graces again? It wasn’t like I enjoyed killing, or that I was particularly good at it. She shelved that thought for later and rubbed the back of her neck, thinking. She envisioned a garrison of Moon Knights stomping along by her side, protecting her from any danger, snatching a banished Divus and forcing them to tell her how to get this pendant off. It would certainly be nice to have some extra help. But what if the pendant were to go off, to kill even more of them than it already had?

  “Maybe…maybe we can do that afterward. Tell the Moon Knights, I mean.”

  “Afterward?” Dylori lowered the Shey sword.