Empyreal by Helsel Spencer

Author:Helsel, Spencer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2017-02-08T05:00:00+00:00

Part III Lightbringer

Chapter Thirty-Four Dani set out the following morning as dawn came, hiking down from the cave. She departed with a good-bye to Gabriel, but even before she was gone, she felt him leave. He disappeared with nothing but a whisper of wind.

She hiked back down the Dalles into the forest, moving faster than when she came up here. She made her way through the forest, downriver and up the cliffs. A crowd gathered on the Hill’s side of the Vale Bridge; waiting for word just like the first and second Trials. As she passed near the bridge, she spotted Roxelana, Shea and Airlea in the crowd. The shock on their faces was easy to recognize. Dani kept going.

Empyrean ’s Citadel was empty. The streets were vacant and eerily quiet.

Until…“Dani?! Dani, is that you?”

“Caesar?”

Her friend swooped from the sky, pin wheeling down in an excited rush. She banked hard, her head plume extended brightly in a crown of feathers as she landed on Dani’s shoulder.

“Oh thank God!”

“Caesar!” she nuzzled the bird. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too! You don’t call! You don’t write! Where have you been?”

“It’s a long story.” She said, stroking the bird’s neck. “Where is everyone?”

“They’re in the Throne Room. The last Trial is about to be announced.” But Caesar wasn’t one to be distracted. “Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving? I was worried sick!” The bird nipped her ear a little.

“Ow! What was that for?”

“Not telling your best friend you were leaving!”

“Okay, okay! Jeez! I’m sorry.”

She huffed, flapping from her shoulder and sailing down to the ledge of a nearby well. She glared pointedly. “Well next time tell me when you’re about to sneak off. You gave me a heart attack! You nearly killed an endangered species!”

Dani grinned stupidly. “I missed you Caesar.”

“I missed you too, jerk.”

Together, the two of them made their way to the Keep. Caesar glided overhead, flapping from one roof to another.

“How much trouble am I in?” Dani asked.

“ Your exit was somewhat nasty. The word ‘traitor’ was thrown around a lot.”

Great. I can add that to list of ugly things people say about me. It was a long list.

They came to the steps of the Keep and Caesar returned to her shoulder. “So arriving late to this meeting is probably not going to go well, huh?”

“Understatement of the epoch, my friend.”

She approached the closed, double-doors doors. Twin Gatekeepers moved to block her path.

“What are you doing here?” one asked.

Dani recognized the voice, but not the face. Where did she know that voice from?

“I’m here to see the Elders.”

“The Elder Council called the assembly to order.” The Gatekeeper said. “You may not disturb the proceedings.”

“I’m not here to disturb, jack. I’m here because I’m supposed to be here.”

“According to whom?”

“According to me.” She put her hands on her hips. Caesar’s feathers stood on end threateningly.

He balked at the sight of the bird. Then it hit Dani: the man standing in front of her was one of the men that attacked her.

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