Free The Darkness of Glengowyn by Isabo Kelly Page B

Einar, just under the skin. Whatever it was that made him so terrifying a warrior. Would he be able to bank that part of himself for a quiet, isolated life with her?
    Banishment would mean they wouldn’t be welcomed in any elf city on the planet. Any human city that traded with elves would shun them as well. Their only possible choice would be isolation somewhere out of the way of everyone. Could he survive that?
    Could she?
    She’d told him the truth. So long as they were together, she could survive anything and be happy. She knew he loved her, even without words, but would he feel the same way after a century of solitude?
    The barest of movements from Einar brought her to full alert. Barely visible in the light from the two-thirds first moon and the single gas lamp working on that block, she made out the white ghost of a messenger owl, gently gliding toward them. Einar remained seated but raised his arm to provide a perch for the bird.
    She opened her mouth to protest. He wasn’t wearing protective leathers. The bird’s claws would slice his arm. But a moment later, the owl alighted and somehow avoided digging its talons into Einar’s vulnerable skin.
    “How…?” she murmured.
    He smiled but his gaze was focused on the bird. “My arm seems to be resistant to injury. Part of the way my magic works.”
    “Amazing.” She watched him with the owl, taking advantage of a rare opportunity to witness him with the creatures he was so tied to, his unique magic.
    Some thought his fighting skills were enhanced by magic also. Einar had never confirmed or denied that. The king and queen probably knew. The queen had a skill for identifying talents. But the owls, that was definitely a kind of magic. Watching him this closely with them was fascinating.
    After a long silence, Einar finally opened his mouth and a soft whispery sound came out. Not at all what she was anticipating. She’d half expected him to screech like the owls. His whisper was mixed with very faint whistles. Then the owl launched upward, its powerful wings fanning her face with cool air as it gained height and angled back toward Glengowyn.
    “So,” she said. “Do we have safe passage?”
    He nodded but his gaze remained on the retreating owl. “Ulric and the queen will meet us at a sentry point at the border at dawn.”
    “Dawn? Why not now?”
    “No explanation was given. We’ll have to make our way toward the meeting point well before dawn to make the appointed time, but we have to stay hidden for most of the night.”
    “How will we know where to go? Is it a location you’re familiar with? Can you be sure it won’t take us most of the night to get there?”
    “The owl provided an aerial map of the area so I can find the sentry point. He flew the most direct route so I could judge the required time. That route wouldn’t take us long, but I doubt we’ll be able to travel easily. The owl spotted at least one minion patrol near that area. There will be more.”
    “Then we won’t be able to wait here?”
    “Probably not. They’ll be looking for us again.”
    She stared out over the streets, surprised the idea of leaving this little island of quiet made her sad. It wasn’t exactly luxurious accommodations, but it had kept them safe through the day and given them a place to be together again. Leaving meant facing reality and consequences.
    Einar gripped her chin and turned her face back toward his. He was closer now, his gaze direct when he said, “We’ll face what we must together. I won’t let the Sorcerers have you.”
    “What of the queen?”
    “She won’t take you away from me either. Not again.”
    Her breath shivered out of her, but she firmed her shoulders and pushed back the worry. “When should we leave?”
    He studied the street below, and she watched the side of his face as he thought and considered. Finally, he nodded as if confirming something to himself.
    “We’ll leave now, go slowly and carefully. I don’t want to get