Chapter ten

Phoebe finished tying off the last guy line on Rue's family's canvas tent and stood back to admire her handiwork. For a temporary structure, the tent was surprisingly roomy and looked as secure as any house in Ardent. The clearing had transformed into a small village of tents just like this one, and the place buzzed with excitement and activity as the astromantic druids finished settling in. They brought a type of energy that wasn't typically seen in the commune — friendly, boisterous conversations shouted instead of murmured quietly so as not to disturb anyone's peaceful prayer. It wasn't that the druids were rowdy or disrespectful, they were simply happy: happy to be there, happy to see old friends, happy to be alive. For a people with such distinguished lineage, they didn't seem to take themselves as seriously as the inhabitants of Ardent, which was one of the many things Phoebe admired about them.

As Phoebe gazed around at the bustling encampment, Castid and the elder sidled up next to her.

"Thanks for your help," Castid said with a travel-weary smile. He held his father upright with a hand at his elbow and led him toward the tent, one careful foot in front of the other. Phoebe pulled the entry flaps open and stood aside so the pair could pass. She couldn't help but notice how laborious the elder's breathing sounded as he shuffled by. His gaze was long and unfixed, like he was looking at something no one else could see. Uncomfortable in the face of the old man's mortality, Phoebe forced herself to look away and find Rue instead. Their eyes met and Rue nodded.

"Hey, Dad?" Rue called after her father. "Do you need any more help here? Pheebs and I have some catching up to do."

"I think we're set for now," her father replied, poking his head out of the tent. "Just be back by sundown."

Phoebe draped her arm around Rue's shoulder as best she could given that she was a handful of inches shorter than her. "Don't worry, sir — I won't let her miss the festivities."

Castid chuckled and gave her a wink. "I know she's in good hands with you, Phoebe. And Rue, if you see your mother, warn her that Grandad is sleeping so she doesn't come barging in like she usually does."

"Sure thing, Dad!" Rue wheeled Phoebe around and hurried them out of the encampment. Once they were out of earshot, she poked a finger into Phoebe's ribs. "I can't believe you still call him 'sir'. You're such a little kiss-ass!"

"Hey!" Phoebe squawked, trying to squirm away from the assault. "It's not my fault I was raised right!"

"Pfft! That's hilarious coming from a delinquent heathen like you."

"You have to know the rules before you can break them, Rue."

Rue laughed, loud and bright. "I don't think that's how it works."

They made their way into the woods. Phoebe led the way, taking a long and roundabout way back to her house just in case anyone was watching. As their path veered, she scanned the trees, ever vigilant. She may be a delinquent, but that didn't mean she wanted to spend another night in the fields.

"So, are you going to tell me what all this secrecy is about?" Rue asked. "I know your dad doesn't like it when you spend time with Connor, but this feels even more cloak and dagger than usual."

Phoebe blew out a breath between her lips. She wasn't looking forward to telling Rue about her cousin's condition. "Connor and I got into trouble a few days ago, and let's just say that his punishment was a bit more severe than mine."

"What do you—"

"—Okay, 'a bit more severe' is an understatement," Phoebe prattled nervously over Rue's question. She twisted her fingers as she talked, looking everywhere but at her friend.

Rue stopped walking. "Explain." Her tone was dangerous.

"He got beat up," Phoebe confessed, wincing at the horrified expression that fell across Rue's face. "He's on the mend, but he still didn't want you to see him like this and, you know my dad — he doesn't want your family asking questions, so—"

"So, he lied to us instead," Rue finished between gritted teeth. For someone so soft, Rue looked fierce when she was angry. Phoebe blushed, partially out of shame but also because she found it unbearably attractive. She was only human, after all.

"Promise you won't tell?" Phoebe begged once her wits returned. "If your parents find out and say something to my Dad—"

"Don't worry, Pheebs. I won't say anything. I don't want to make things worse than they already are." Rue tossed her head back in frustration. "But let the record show that I hate this."

"Same," Phoebe said, slumping with defeat. None of this was fair.

After a moment of tense silence, Rue gave Phoebe a beseeching look. "So, Connor doesn't want to see me?"

At this, Phoebe let out a bark of laughter. "C'mon, Rue. This is Connor we're talking about. You know what he's like, all noble and stuff."

Rue pulled a section of hair over her shoulder and ran her fingers anxiously through her curls. "Yeah, but—"

"But nothing," Phoebe said, waving away Rue's concerns. "I know Connor's just doing as he's told, but I'm the one who'll have to listen to him mope for weeks if he doesn't get to see you while you're here. Now, come on. I promised your dad I'd have you back by curfew." She took Rue by the hand and dragged her onward through the forest, pretending she didn't notice the grateful smile that Rue was trying to hide behind her hair.

After a bit more trekking, the pair finally made it to Connor's little cottage. The curtains were closed, but a thin trail of woodsmoke drifting from the piped chimney told Phoebe that her cousin was dutifully holed up inside. She knocked her knuckles on the door a few times and waited.

Silence.

Sighing, Phoebe knocked again, harder this time.

"It's me, ya' nerd," Phoebe said, drumming her fingernails against the window. Beside her, Rue stifled a laugh. "Open up."

"You're not supposed to be here, Pheebs," Connor replied. His voice was muffled through the door, which did nothing to hide his irritation.

"You and I both know there's no lock on this door." Phoebe put a hand on the doorknob. "Don't make me barge in."

The door flew open to reveal Connor's scowling face. The swelling was gone now, but the bruises lingered. They were in that sickly yellow and brown stage of healing, which almost looked worse than when they were fresh. A dark scab had formed over the split in his lip.

"I thought we agreed to lay low for—" Connor froze mid-rant as his vibrant green eyes landed on Rue. His mouth worked noiselessly, and she laughed as she threw her arms around his shoulders. Her touch brought Connor back to life. He wrapped her in what was, for him, a gentle embrace and swept her effortlessly off her feet. Rue peppered his wounded face with kisses while he beamed up at her. Phoebe sighed wistfully. She hoped that someday someone would look at her the same way Connor looked at Rue.

"You got your tattoos!" Connor cried. His eyes sparkled with pride and delight. "You did it, babe! You did it!" He spun Rue around, making her squeal and demand to be put down before she got dizzy.

When Connor finally relented, he turned his attention to Phoebe. But before he could say anything, Rue jumped to her defense.

"Don't be mad at her," Rue said, cradling Connor's cheeks lovingly between her palms. "There's no way I was going to let you hide from me. I can't believe what they've done to you."

Connor ducked his head and shrugged. "It's my fault — I should have—"

"Don't you dare," Phoebe snapped. "You didn't deserve this. If anyone did something wrong, it was me."

"I doubt either of you did anything wrong," Rue said with a shake of her head. "No offense, Pheebs, but this place is a cult. I wish I could take you both with me when we leave."

The heat of shame crawled up Phoebe's neck. The older she got, the more she found herself believing what Rue was saying — that her home, her people, and everything they stood for, were deeply flawed. But she hadn't reached a point where hearing the accusation from someone else—even someone she respected as much as Rue—didn't strike a nerve. Eager to change the subject, she motioned for the door.

"Well, let's not make things worse by getting caught out here."

Hand-in-hand, Connor and Rue stepped into the cottage. Phoebe followed behind, pausing to scan the woods before closing the door behind her. Inside, Connor had already put the kettle on. He moved with a rare lightness and smiled as he spoke. It was such a transformation from his usual submissive and sullen self that Phoebe felt like he was a completely different person. Rue always had that effect on him.

"Tell us about your connection!" he said as he prepared the tea. His little cottage only had two cups (one of which Phoebe had sneaked out so they could have tea together) so he was forced to consider using a bowl instead.

"I don't need any," Phoebe said. She turned to Rue before Connor could argue. "And yes — I want to know everything! How did it happen? What did the Stars tell you?"

Sitting on the edge of Connor's tiny bed, Rue traced a finger over the tattoos on her forearm and grinned. "It was completely unexpected. Honestly, when I sat down to meditate, it felt like it always does, so I didn't think this time would be different. It all happened so suddenly."

Phoebe settled down on the floor and learned her back against the door, blocking it so that no one could burst in unannounced. "What did it feel like?"

"It's hard to explain," Rue said. "The moment the connection was made, it felt like my brain exploded. But, like, in a good way? It was like my mind expanded in an instant — I felt limitless."

"Woah." Connor glanced back over his shoulder as he poured the tea. "Did it hurt?"

Rue giggled at the idea. "No, not at all. It actually felt amazing."

Enthralled, Phoebe's own mind was bursting with questions. "Could you see the Stars, or just hear them? What do they sound like? What did they say?"

"I could only hear them. It's so weird — they were speaking a language I've never heard before, but somehow I could understand what they were saying. It kind of sounds like music; really bright and pretty. A sort of tinkling sound, like wind chimes only higher-pitched."

Despite Phoebe's insistence, Connor set one of the mugs down beside her and handed the other to Rue as he took his place at her side.

"You rat bastard," Phoebe grumbled, picking up the mug. Connor grinned but stopped short of a rebuttal.

"And?" he said to Rue instead. "What did they tell you?"

"They told me that my Starborn lineage is strongest on my dad's side, which wasn't really surprising," Rue said after taking a tip of her tea. "But they did tell me the first Starborn I'm descended from is a woman named Yousa. Apparently I even look like her!"

"Wow," Phoebe breathed. Her chest ached with envy. How she wished she could have an experience like that. To speak directly with the Stars—to learn more about her history straight from the source—it all sounded so much better than the one-sided conversations she had to settle for. "That's so cool. What about the tattoos? Did they hurt?"

Rue shrugged. "Only a little. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be."

"I'm so jealous," Phoebe pouted. "I wish I could get a tattoo."

Smiling fondly, Connor caressed the new markings on Rue's cheeks. "They look amazing. I didn't think it was possible for you to look even more incredible than you already did."

Phoebe gave a good natured groan. "Okay, that's my cue to leave," she said as she threw back the last of her tea and got to her feet.

"You don't have to leave, Pheebs," Connor insisted, though she could tell his heart wasn't in it. She winked.

"No, no — you two lovebirds need a bit of alone time before Rue and I have to head back to the encampment for tonight's ritual."

"Oh, that reminds me!" Rue sat up straight. "I was going to tell you why we came back early."

Connor's eyes flitted to Phoebe. "We were wondering about that."

Clutching her cup tightly, Rue leaned forward and dropped her voice into a conspiratorial whisper. "The Stars reached out directly to Grandad. He didn't tell us what they said, only that we needed to come here to relay the message. Whatever it is, it seems important."

"Is he going to tell us tonight?" Phoebe asked, hoping desperately that the answer was yes. The curiosity was driving her crazy.

"I think that's the plan."

Phoebe jutted her chin at Connor. "Do you wanna sneak out to watch? Dad will be pretty distracted, so you should be safe."

He thought about it for a moment, then shook his head. "I'd better stay here."

"I'm sure we'll have another chance to sneak away to tell you all about it," Rue said, wrapping his hand with one of hers.

With that, Phoebe took her leave. Like the dutiful friend and cousin that she was, she promised to keep watch until it was time to head back to the encampment. She filled her pockets with pinecones and stones before scaling up a nearby tree. From her vantage point she could keep an eye on the path and the surrounding woods without being seen, and was close enough to toss some forest-floor ammunition onto the cottage roof if she needed to warn the couple of any unwanted visitors. As big a favor as her sentry duty may have seemed, Phoebe's motives weren't entirely selfless: she was grateful to have a chore-free hour or two to herself. She nestled herself into a notch in the branches and made herself comfortable while her mind wandered.

Phoebe wasn't counting the minutes as she mulled over the possibilities of what message the druid elder would share that evening, which is why she had no idea how much time had passed when she heard a voice calling through the trees. She leaned forward and listened closely. Again, the voice rang out, a little closer this time. It was Samsi, and she was calling her daughter's name. There was a frantic note to her voice that made Phoebe forego her advanced rock-throwing warning system. She descended the tree swiftly and hurried through the woods to intercept Rue's mother before she got any closer.

"Phoebe!" Samsi called breathlessly when she appeared through the brush. "Where's Rue?"

"I can go get her," Phoebe replied, expertly dodging the question. "Is something wrong?"

Samsi pressed her lips together into a tight line as she dragged her fingers back through her wild hair. Her golden eyes shimmered in the afternoon light, and Phoebe realized she had been crying. "Tell her to get back to camp right away — it's her grandfather."

The breath hitched in Phoebe's throat. "Oh, my Stars. Is he okay?"

"No." Samsi shook her head. Her bottom lip trembled. "He's dead."