Book 2: Chapter 82 (1/2)

Tafel whistled as she wrapped strand after strand of red hair around her sword, Chi’Rururp. By her side in the hollowed out tree, there was a bald elf with an aggrieved expression on her face. “Thanks, Lady Persephone,” Tafel said when the hair completely obscured Chi’Rururp’s blade and hit. Not even its eye was showing. “I’ve been looking for someone like you for forever now.”

Laughter filled the air as the baby phoenixes pointed at Persephone and whispered to each other. Emile was rolling around on the ground, kicking his little feet while flapping his wings. There were tears forming in his eyes as rapid chirps escaped from his mouth. “P-Percy’s finally been punished!”

Persephone stared at the empty space in Tafel’s hand where her sword had just been. Space magic? she thought. “I, I know you’re the phoenix matriarch’s guest, but don’t you think you’ve gone too far?”

Tafel patted Persephone’s shoulder. “Hair grows back. Besides, you said you’d do everything in your power to help me.”

But I didn’t think you’d shave my head! Persephone bit her lower lip, her eyes blinking rapidly. “I, I did, didn’t I?”

Tafel nodded and tickled Emile’s belly before picking him up and placing him in her lap. “How long does your mom stay out for?”

“Not long,” Emile chirped. “She usually never leaves the nest.”

Tafel pursed her lips. “I see,” she said and ran her fingers through Emile’s feathers. “Do you know where she went?” After the phoenix had dropped her off, she told Persephone to take care of her and flew off, leaving behind a smiling demon and confused red-headed elf.

“Dwarves are in the process of adopting our culture by assimilating elven families into their homes while taking a tour through our lands,” Persephone said. “The matriarch most likely went to have a pleasant chat with their leader that may lead to some celebrations including fireworks and games like dwarf hunting.”

“Does she always talk like this?” Tafel asked, lowering her head to meet Emile’s eyes.

“Yes, I’ll translate” Emile said with a nod. He sucked in a deep breath, puffing out his feathers before shouting, “The dwarves are invading the forest! Elven families are being kidnapped and turned into hostages or slaves! My momma went out there to kick their butts!” His body deflated, and he blinked twice. “Exactly like that. You can tell she’s shouting on the inside when her voice becomes softer.” He narrowed his eyes at Persephone before flying onto Tafel’s shoulder and whispering into her ear, “So if she says I want to clean you in a really soft, coaxing voice. You have to run away because she’ll try to murder you.”

“What are you saying about me?” Persephone asked with a frown. She sighed and met Tafel’s eyes. “The matriarch’s children are still young. Sometimes they come to incorrect conclusions. If they’re telling you strange things about me, please, don’t take them to heart. The matriarch wouldn’t keep me around if I had bad intentions. Phoenixes have an innate gift to read people’s hearts.”

Tafel swallowed. Did the matriarch already know she was here for an imprint? That wasn’t a bad intention, right?

“Don’t trust her,” one of the phoenixes on the side said. The matriarch’s children had gathered in Persephone’s hollow tree to see the new guest their mother brought back. “She’ll hurt you with good intentions.”

Tafel stared at Persephone, who averted her gaze, before looking at the phoenixes around her. “Then what about me? Do you think I’m a good person?” she asked.

Emile rubbed his head with his wing. “You’re a good person,” he said, causing Tafel to beam. “But you’re very insecure.”

Tafel blinked. “Huh? Insecure? Me?”

A few phoenixes chirped in agreement. One of them spread her wings out to the side. “About this much,” she said with a nod. “Well, it’s more, but my wings can’t stretch far enough.”

Tafel furrowed her brow. Am I really insecure? While she was thinking, one of the phoenixes blinked and raised his head. “Mom’s back!”

A blazing red light filled the room as a fireball descended from the sky. Before it could set the tree on fire, the fireball shrank and condensed into the shape of a bird. It was bigger than the other phoenixes, but not by much.

“Mom?” Emile asked, tilting his head before hopping off of Tafel’s shoulder. “You became smaller.”

Persephone bit her lower lip, sensing the phoenix’s dark expression. “Matriarch?” she asked in a soft voice. “Is everything alright?”

“The dwarves had two dragons accompanying them,” the matriarch said and spat out a ball of flaming blood. It landed on the ground, but the tree didn’t catch fire. “Only one of them fought, but I still lost.”

“W-was it the holy dragons?” Persephone asked with wide eyes.