Aurora Meadows's Arc

Chapter 5 of 5

Dawn came gray and cold. Aurora carried a small wooden table out to the yard, where the hippogriff rested in the grass beside a weathered log. Kieran followed, slower, one hand at his ribs. They had maybe an hour before the summer court rider circled back. She set down ink, a kettle, and waited for him to speak. Kieran reached into his vest and laid a talisman on the table. Gold curled around bright gems. Aurora knew the crest. The court of dreams. "This is mine," he said. "They want it back. They want me back with it." He did not explain further. He did not need to. Aurora unrolled a folded map of the fae courts and pinned its corners with stones. She traced the summer border with one finger. "He'll come from here," she said. "That gives us the lake side and the ridge." Kieran studied the lines. "Hide, or move?" he asked. "Both," she said. "You move at dusk. I stay and lie to him again." He shook his head once. "If he presses you, he'll burn the cottage." "Then I give him a trail going north," she said. "You go south with the hippogriff. My neighbor will leave a lantern at the ridge if the path is clear." Kieran's jaw tightened. "You shouldn't carry this for me." "I already am," she said. She pulled the glowing sprout from her apron pocket and set it beside the talisman. Its leaves leaned toward him again. "The garden isn't ready," she said quietly. "But this one bloom is. Take it. If the wound opens on the ride, press a leaf to it." He closed his hand around the pot like it was something breakable. They shook on the plan over the table. Kieran tucked the talisman away. Aurora rolled the map and walked to the stable to ready the saddle. The hippogriff lifted her head, alert now. The plan was set. Dusk would decide the rest.