Page 177 of Spring Guardians & Songbirds

Her attention perked a little and then travelled all over me. “You should join my husband and I for dinner one night.”

“I think that would be an excellent idea.”

Her brows rose in surprise as if she hadn’t just offered it herself. “Yes, well, let us know when.”

“Tonight,” I said, and Mal turned to stare at me. “Since my time is limited and I am already here for the day.”

Eleonor blinked wildly. “Tonight? Oh, tonight. Of course. I will have a servant sent here to direct you to our home in White Bridge.”

“Excellent.”

She left more confused than when she came.

“What on the hell’s hot coals were you thinking?” Mal asked.

I dug onto my pocket to reach for the source of my madness and fished out the warm rock that had not stopped buzzing in the presence of Eleonor Krigborn.

The red ruby glowed bright and still vibrated on my hand, though less and less till it came to a stop. “It’s the tracing craft Visha placed on Snow’s siblings. I was meant to hand it to Nia before we came, but she’d left for Eldmoor already.”

Mal took the ruby in his hand and raised it in the air, waving it around a couple of times. “Are you telling me this thing detected something?”

“Yes, when Eleonor came.”

“White Bridge,” Mal said in realisation. “They are in White bridge. It only makes sense for Aryan Krigborn to bring them there. She mans the island, and her husband has probably served as Silas’s spy countless times. It all makes sense.”

“Possibly. There is one way to find out. Tonight.”

Prince Arun and Eleonor waited in front of their white mansion on the strange island. The land was green though not the green of mainland Solarya, less vibrant and much less hot and humid. A lush, moss coloured roof of trees was what the eye caught mostly on all sides of the horizon that weren’t water. The white mansion of the Vayr residency was the only discrepancy in the scenery.

Tension and discomfort bled between the two hosts as they greeted and welcomed us inside.

The stone buzzed in my pocket and the heat radiating from it almost tore a hole through my clothing. We were close. But how close?

“It is much cooler in White Bridge compared to mainland Solarya,” Mal commented as we sat down on a veranda overlooking the Hollow Sea. Dinner was laid out for us with all sorts of delicacies. Eleanor had dished out the best she could find considering the only thing not gilded was the actual food.

“We are closer to the Winter kingdom,” Arun said, glancing at his wife. “Also, this part of Solarya was not entirely blessed by Cyra and her warmth. Most occupants are also pagan. They pray to some of their own beliefs of Cyra, not to the holy script.” He waved a fork in the air. “You know how that goes down with the gods and heavens.”

I leaned onto the seat. “And who do they exactly bow to?”

Arun’s fork stopped midway to his mouth. “Father, of course.”

I turn to glance at the sentries surrounding his property. “Yet no Solaryan guards.” The stink of Verglaser magic was more than obvious. An odd choice of guard. But then, was it really?

Arun’s features sharpened and he cut his food a little harder than necessary. “I like to keep a personal guard around my house.”

“Of course,” I said.

“Your grounds are lovely,” Mal commented awkwardly, giving Eleonor a wide charming grin. “I presume the lady of the house is to congratulate on the decor.”

Eleonor smiled at my brother. “I enjoy looking after the grounds, it gives me something to do.”

“No children?” I asked.

The two wore their emotions in the open, not even a sliver of need for me to read their shadows.

“No,” Arun said. “No children. We are unable to have any.”

The only thing I couldn’t grasp was the severity of their reaction. “I’m sure there are many children out there that need a family, love and care—if you wish to have any,” I said.