Page 177 of Death of a Mortal

“There!” I pointed down and off to our right, and Bernitha brought us lower, circling twice before landing on the hard-packed ground. Most of the snow had melted in the early spring warmth, but some still lingered on the ground in the woods off to our left.

I walked slowly toward the open spot in the wards, slow enough to let Bernitha hop and walk awkwardly beside me. I wasn’t sure how far the light bent around us, so I told her to keep close, staying in hervey form to keep the saddle on and ready, in case we needed a quick escape.

“I found something,” I conveyed to Noxie.

“What is it?”

We approached quietly, knowing the bent light kept us hidden from sight but didn’t dampen our sounds. We were nearly at the wall on the backside of the castle when I realized it was a waterway.

The smell that drifted through the air, the closer we got, told me exactly what kind of waterway it was…

“It’s castle sewage. It’s not ideal, but it’s a break in the wards. Apparently, shit doesn’t flow through wards.”

“Lovely image, Naci… I’ll tell Aerie, hold tight.”

I motioned to Bernitha to follow toward the woods behind us. She spread her wings, prompting me to climb on. I guessed she didn’t much like walking as a bird.

So I hopped on, and we flew low until we got to the same forest we’d run through after exiting Bramick’s tunnel during my escape.

As we landed on a sturdy, low branch, Noxie was back in my mind. “Are there bars, a gate, anything?”

“Just a few metal bars, spaced too close to fit between.”

“Got it. We’re mobilizing here, and we’ll join you in the woods once we have a clear path.”

“Tell Aerie we’re in the same woods we ran through after my escape. And also have her tell Kaelor he can stop the magic. We’re hidden in the woods up a tree.”

“They’re on the way,” I whispered to Bernitha, who transformed back to her fae form after my tricky dismount from her saddle in the tree. I climbed one branch higher to give her space to get dressed while she balanced on her branch.

So far, phase one had been a success. It felt lucky that I didn’t have to unravel any glythyrs, that we’d found an open point instead. I wasn’t sure how the remaining aerial unit had fared in finding an easy path for the ground team through, though.

“The rest of my team is guiding the crew from above, ensuringno fae are patrolling the area. They’ll come through the woods,” Bernitha whispered to me from the branch below after she was dressed.

I nodded my response and sat down on my branch, straddling it and leaning back against the thick trunk. It wasn’t comfortable, but we were hidden. We both remained quiet, not risking talking in case anyone was near.

I grew suspicious of the lack of fae we’d seen—I didn’t recall seeing anyone on the castle grounds as we flew overhead, and it seemed too quiet. My unease heightened by the minute.

I started fiddling with the ring and the spent pendant on my necklace to keep myself occupied as we sat in the chilly silence. I couldn’t tell, but I assumed we were now visible, the pendant no longer humming.

The sun was setting, and I nodded off once or twice, trying to stay awake. I wouldn’t have minded a nap if the risk of plummeting fifty or so feet wasn’t so imminent.

Hours later, in the pitch-black of night, we heard a bird call.

Aerie.

“Nearly there, kid,”said Noxie.

Soon after, Aerie landed on Bernitha’s branch below me and I smiled as Noxie came to rest on my shoulder.

“What’s the plan?” I asked him.

“We camp out here for the night. Sneaking around the castle at this hour, even disguised as guards, is too risky. We wait until just before first light and go in through the…waterway. Bramick will bend the metal bars enough to slip through, and Drayce will use his water magic to part the…shit, and let the team walk through unscathed.”

His verbosity made me chuckle. I stifled it with the back of my hand.

Finally, I could see Drayce, Bramick, Sevrin, Elene, and Kellan plus three of his soldiers approaching below from deeper within the woods, the rest of the aerial unit back on the ship, presumably. This was it—the infiltration and rescue team.

“Wait… Where’s Kaelor?”I asked Noxie.