Book 3: Chapter 70 (1/2)
“So…,” Alice said. Her hand was shielding her eyes from the sun and blocking her hair from waving into her face. She rose up and down as Vur beat his wings, hovering in place. “None of us know where Mary’s palace is.”
“I thought you studied this continent’s geography,” Tafel said. “Isn’t that why you cooped yourself up in the library instead of training?”
“Hey, at least I tried, alright?” Alice snorted and brushed her hair back with her hands. “You didn’t even try to familiarize yourself with the place. All you did was train after getting schooled by Mary. Just because I know the general layout of the lands doesn’t mean I can know exactly where we are based on a few very small clues.”
“Hovering is annoying,” Vur said, nearly knocking Alice and Tafel over as his head moved. “Can I circle instead?”
“Let’s just head towards that direction,” Tafel said and pointed. “If we reach a town, I’m sure we can ask around for the location of Mary’s palace. We have a few days since we left the dungeon early. We’ll make it in time.”
***
Mary hummed to herself as she hugged her sword to her chest. Her arms were no longer bare, covered by her gauntlets, and her feet had been washed before slipping back into her sabatons. With a little persuasion from Lindyss, Grimmy had returned Mary’s items back to her. Mary swayed from side to side and giggled before slipping her sword into her sheathe on her waist. “I really didn’t expect those two to return my equipment,” Mary said as she looked up with her eyes. Susan was sitting on top of her head, and Emile was sitting on top of Susan.
“What did Lindyss ask of you?” Susan asked, meeting Mary’s gaze.
“Watch out,” Emile said and flapped his wings. “You’re going to walk into a tree. When you’re walking this fast, don’t look away!”
The forest blurred by as Mary’s footsteps shrank the land underneath her feet. “I won’t,” she said. “I always pay attention.” She rubbed Susan’s belly with her finger. “Lindyss asked me to become her servant for ten years sometime in the future. It was a good deal, right? I think it was a great deal.”
“Hmm.” Susan’s beak jutted out as her eyes narrowed. “Ten years isn’t long at all. Isn’t Lindyss being really nice? I think she’s planning something. When someone who’s as corrupted as her does something nice, you can bet your tail feathers that she’s working in her best interests. What’d she tell you to do?”
“She told me to have fun and do whatever, just get out of her sight,” Mary said. She swerved to the side, avoiding a caravan and startling a horse. The trio had exited the forest and were approaching a city with a massive wall surrounding it. “And maybe when I actually became useful, she’d make me her servant, but for now, I’m free to do what I want.”
“It sounds a lot like you were thrown away,” Emile said. He shifted his weight on top of Susan’s back and squinted. “Which is a good thing when you consider who you were thrown away by. Nothing good comes from associating with flying lizards and their sympathizers. Phoenixes are the only ones that you can trust.”
“Don’t forget that Tafel married a dragon,” Susan said.
“Yeah, well don’t forget that Tafel’s a traitor who abandoned us in the middle of nowhere to fend for ourselves,” Emile said and snorted. “We were almost shot by hunters!”
“Emile…,” Susan said, hesitating as she picked out her words. “You tend to blame others a lot for your own faults. In a few hundred years, you’ll be an adult. Don’t you think it’s about time you grew up and took some responsibility for your own actions?”
Emile’s beak snapped shut as he lowered his head. Susan met his gaze without wavering. The two phoenixes stared at each other as the scenery blew past. Emile’s eyes narrowed. “Who do you think you are? Mom?”
“No, I’m saying this as your older sister,” Susan said. “The way you’re acting, it’s not cute at all.”
“I’m a phoenix; I’m not supposed to be cute.” Emile flapped his wings twice. “I’m imposing! Majestic! Awe-inspiring! People will write stories about my grandeur, not my cuteness.”