Dorian Wraith's Arc

Chapter 6 of 27

Beak listened to Evander finish the story and did not move for a long time. Then he stood, poured a cup of water, and set it in front of Evander without a word. Dorian watched Evander's hands shake around the cup. The cabin felt smaller than it had that morning. Dorian knew what he had to do next, and he knew it could not happen with Evander in the room. He put a hand on Evander's shoulder. "Go take a bath," he said. "Warm water. Take your time." Evander looked up, tired, and nodded. He set the cup down and walked to the back room. The door clicked shut. Dorian waited until he heard water running. Then he turned to Callie and Beak and kept his voice low. "I need to tell you the rest. All of it." He said the name King Ambrose. He said witch-hating. He said soldiers on the roads,how Ambrose wants Evander's loyalty or he’ll be punished, and the cell waiting for him if his father's men found him. He said he was asking them to help him keep Evander safe. He stopped and waited. Beak sat back and rubbed his jaw. His wings twitched once against the chair. "Ambrose burns people like you," Beak said. "If his men trace the boy here, they trace you. They trace her." He looked at Callie. "I have to say it plain. I'm afraid for us." Callie set her palms flat on the table. "He's one of us now," she said. "I don't turn on a friend because his father is a monster. We keep him here with us." Dorian crossed the room and pulled her into a hug before she finished the sentence. She patted his back twice and pushed him off, the way she always did. Beak watched them. Then he exhaled and stood. "Fine," he said. "We keep him. I'll ward the trees again tomorrow. Wider this time." Dorian went to him and hugged him too. Beak's wings brushed his arms, warm as sun. The water shut off in the back room. Dorian stepped away from Beak and wiped his face. "Thank you," he said. "Both of you." Callie shrugged. Beak did not answer. He was already looking at the window, counting the trees between the cabin and the road. Dorian felt the shape of the next problem settle in his chest. He had his people. Now he had to keep the soldiers from ever reaching the sunflowers by the blue door.