Ch.23 Dust Storm

Chapter 23

"Stay behind me," Wren said as he crept up the side of the building in the early morning light.

"Why?" Birdie asked, making the fey in front of her pause and turn to look back at her.

"You want to be the first one to go into a high blood's house?" Wren arched his brow. "By all means, go right ahead."

"You won't tell me the whole plan."

"There's no whole plan," Wren said with irritation. "We're meeting an old family friend who might be able to help us take off the cuffs. That's it. That's the plan."

"The whole plan?"

Narrowing his eyes, Wren glared, wondering if the girl was really asking that question.

"Stay quiet and stay behind me," he said.

"No," Birdie said.

"What is wrong with you?"

"Sorry, that was on reflex."

Wren clenched his jaw to keep himself from snapping at her. Must she always defy him?

With a warning thrown towards Birdie, Wren turned back around and knocked on the back door. He reached back and pulled Birdie to his side as the locks began to unlock from the inside.

"I didn't think you would be this early," an old man with a thick white beard and purple eyes said as he threw the door open.

"I didn't want anyone seeing us," Wren stepped in, holding Birdie's hand and pulling her along with him.

"My my," the man's eyes widened. "I heard all the talk about her at court. I didn't think they were all true."

"Birdie, this is Javi. He's a family friend," Wren introduced. "Javi, this is Birdie."

"What an interesting moor," the old man, Javi, took a small step forward.

Birdie stood still as her heart began to race and her muscles locked. She watched the man raise his hand and reach for a lock of her hair.

"What do you know about the new brass cuffs Darrian Commissioned?" Wren pulled Birdie behind himself and out of Javi's reach.

"This is not the place to talk about them," Javi said, lowering his hand. "Come inside."

"Is anyone home?" Wren looked around.

"Just my wife. She won't be out of bed until noon," the old man laughed, holding his round belly. "Come along."

Wren waited until Javi turned to lead before he took a step forward along with Birdie. His eyes were alert, bouncing around the house as they made their way through the courtyard.

"When you sent me a smoke message last night, I can't say I was surprised," Javi looked over his shoulder. "Your mother had already reached out. She told me about what happened at court. Your aunt is not very happy right now."

"She's never happy," Wren snorted.

"Yes, except now you killed her son," Javi pointed out. "She had a real excuse to act like a drama queen."

Wren didn't reply. He had no interest in talking about his family. A part of him was curious about his mother. But he knew better than to worry. Adania was a brave and strong woman. She knew how to survive and look after herself.

"So, Birdie," Javi cleared his throat. "Tell me about yourself."

"There's not much to say," Wren said before Birdie could open her mouth.

"Relax, Wren," Javi laughed. "I'm just making conversation with your moor. Nothing else."

"I did not give you permission to have a conversation with her," Wren said.

"Wow, um okay, you dick," Birdie said.

Both Javi and Wren froze. The two men looked back at her as she stood shaking her head at the fey holding her hand.

"Mind your manners, girl," Javi frowned. "Speak to the prince like that and I will have my men whip yo-"

"It's alright, Javi," Wren said, locking his gaze with Birdie as the corner of his mouth curved up. "I like it when she gets dirty like that."

"Oh," Javi's laughter filled the halls.

Birdie's eyes widened as she watched the amusement in Wren's dark eyes. She tried to yank her hand away but he pulled her closer, causing her to collide with his chest.

"You've always liked a challenge," Javi clapped Wren's back. "Reeling in the wild ones."

Disgusted with their behavior, Birdie opened her mouth, ready to bite Wren's hand off if he didn't get her go. But before she could get her hair out of her face, Wren spun her around and pulled her back to himself.

"Stop, stop," he whispered into her ear, low enough for just the two of them.

"Screw you," Birdie hissed.

"Just play along," Wren warned.

Huffing, Birdie looked up to find the old man's eyes on them. The purple in them seemed curious and questioning. Birdie watched Javi scratch his beard as Wren's arms around her slowly loosened up.

"That's a good girl," he said, tucking her under his arm.

Birdie bit down on her tongue as Javi shook his head and dismissed the questions in his mind. He turned and headed towards the garden's tables.

"Why do you want the cuffs off?" Javi asked, taking a seat. "It's better to keep them on if you have not broken her in yet."

"It's more fun with the cuffs off," Wren said.

With another hearty laugh, Javi shook his head.

"I remember being your age," he said. "I used to keep them around everywhere. Two in my bed, three in the garden, one to the left, another one to the right."

Birdie felt her stomach roll with disgust and loathing. She wanted to bleach her ears and mind if it meant she wouldn't have to remember hearing those words. The way the man's eyes darted towards her every few seconds made her skin itch as if she had been rolling around in dirt.

"Javi, I don't have much time," Wren said. "Do you know how to get these cuffs off? I'm planning on leaving town and I need to be able to take her with me."

"Leave her here," Javi said. "She'll slow you down. Grave a new one from Yori."

"I don't share," Wren's voice hardened.

"Not talking about sharing," Javi said. "How much did Darrian pay for her? I'll give you the money."

"She's not for sale," Wren said.

"Sure, sure," Javi nodded. "You haven't broken her in yet. Honestly, I don't have the energy for that sort of thing anymore. Let me know if you change your mind once the thrill is over. I'll happily get her off your hands."

"Do you know how to get off the cuffs?" Wren's patience grew thin. "You're wasting my time."

"You're just as impatient as your father was," Javi sighed and rose to his feet from the bench he had been sitting on. "I had one of my men go out to fetch a peddler from Yori as soon as I got your message last night. He should be here shortly. The peddlers in Yori know how to break those off."

"When will he return?"

"In a few hours," Javi said. "Until then, I have prepared a room for you to stay in."

"No, thank you," Wren declined immediately.

"Don't be foolish, Wren," Javi frowned. "If you leave now, you won't be able to return until nightfall."

Birdie felt her heart speed up as Wren considered the man's words for a little while. Something about the old man did not sit right with her gut. And it wasn't just his vulgar attitude towards Jinns. She wanted to be nowhere near him and as soon as her mind realized that, her feet moved closer to Wren.

"Stay here and rest up," Javi insisted. "Once the peddler is here you can have the cuffs off."

Birdie tugged on Wren's hand as he began to nod.

No, she wanted to yell at him.

"Here are your keys," Javi fished out a set of silver keys from his pockets. "The last door to your right down the hall."

"Thank you," Wren said, taking the keys despite the way Birdie squeezed his arm.

"I'll have the kitchen staff send you some breakfast," Javi announced as he turned on his heels and began to head up the set of stairs by the rose bushes.

"We're not really staying here, right?" Birdie whispered.

"Shhh," Wren whispered back.

"Don't tell me t-"

"Listen," Wren turned and placed his finger over her lips, silencing her.

Birdie stilled.

"What do you hear?" Wren asked.

Birdie frowned in confusion. She had no idea what he was talking about until her ears picked up the sounds of bells somewhere outside of the walls surrounding the house.

"Milk wagons," Wren said. "The city is coming alive. Everyone will be up. Shops are opening up, guards are taking up posts, children are walking to school. We can not be out there right now. It'll be like walking into the line of fire."

"Then what do we do?" Birdie asked, her lips moving against Wren's finger. "I don't want to stay here."

"We'll have our own space."

"Still," Birdie shook her head. "I don't trust him."

"He's my father's oldest friend."

"My baba says that friends can turn on one another faster than the wind," Birdie said.

"We're not jinns," Wren lowered his finger.

"Wren," Birdie closed her eyes to gather up all her patience. "Something doesn't feel right here."

"You're paranoid, I get it. So am I. But Javi is an old friend and he's right. If we leave now we won't be able to return until nightfall."

"Boy, you are so naive," Birdie shook her head. "No wonder Darrian took your throne."

Ignoring her comment, Wren rolled his eyes and turned towards the hallway. He didn't need to take Birdie's hand because he knew she would follow him despite the way she was glaring at him with disapproval.

"Stop looking at me like that, Sultana," he teased. "I might catch on fire."

"I hate you," Birdie hissed, hurrying along with him.

Chuckling, Wren stuck the key into the lock and turned it. He pushed the door open and stepped inside, making sure to step aside so the angry girl behind him could rush in.

"How dare you speak to me like that out there?" Birdie asked, kicking the door close with the back of her heel. "Don't ever tell me who I can and can't speak to. You don't own me, you secondhand pixie wanna be fu-"

"You tend to give away too much information," Wren said, very calmly despite the insults Birdie was throwing at him.

"What?" Birdie's brows furrowed.

"When you talk, you give away too much information," Wren said once more. "I did not want you talking to Javi and spilling all the beans about humans, witches, werewolves, and Earth."

"I do not!" Birdie gasped.

"You have a big mouth," Wren grinned. "And you do a lot of talking with that mouth. Maybe you should find another talent."

"Fuck you."

"That would be a useful talent."

Wren couldn't hold in his laughter as Birdie immediately began to look around the room for something to throw at him. He watched her pick up a gold tray by the entry table and hurl it towards his head. His hand raised and the try froze midair.

"Shhhh," he hushed her. "Don't make too much noise. You'll give Javi the wrong idea about what we're doing here."

"You're infuriating," Birdie spat.

Spying the red tips of her ears, Wren laughed harder. The sound filled the whole room as his shoulders shook and belly ached. Birdie picked up a small vase and threw it at him once more before sulking over to the sofa. But of course, just like the tray, the vase hung in the air.

A few minutes later, once Wren had composed himself, there was a light knock at the door. A young jinn with hollow cheeks and sandy brown skin walked in carrying a large tray full of food. He quietly walked over to the coffee table and placed it down, keeping his gaze lowered.

Birdie felt her heart squeeze with sorrow at the state of the jinn. The thick brass cuffs around his wrists looked heavy and dreadful. She touched her own burnt skin as the boy bowed and backed out of the room.

"How can you people do that?" Birdie looked at Wren, her voice and eyes filled with emotions. "How can you treat another being like that? What gives you the right?"

"It's how it's always been," Wren said.

"So?" Birdie's voice rose. "That doesn't not mean you ca-"

"My father wanted to free them," Wren said, lifting the lids off the plates to see what was for breakfast.

"What?" Birdie tilted her head.

"It was an idea," Wren opened a jar of honey and sucked the small bit off his thumb. "A dangerous idea."

"What happened?"

"He mentioned it at court and a week later he was dead."

Birdie stared at the fey as he looked up and shrugged.

"Darrian didn't take my throne from me because I am naive," Wren said. "It's politics. Dirty politics. My mother married him to ensure he wouldn't kill me to eliminate my father's heir. When my father mentioned freeing the jinns, the court turned against him. Darrian had more sway on his side. So he became king by pulling favors from his connections."

When Birdie did not speak, Wren continued.

"My mother has been gaining support at court. There are people who no longer want Darrian on the throne. He is no longer what they had pictured him to be. We need to gain the support of the kingmakers for me to get my throne back."

"Why are you telling me all this?"

"I don't know," Wren shrugged.

"Will you do what your father wanted?" Birdie asked. "When you're king, will you set all the jinns free?"

"I would like to," Wren nodded. "Just to ruffle some feathers at court."

"You will be changing so many lives," Birdie said slowly. "Your world will be so much better with everyone free and living together. Think of all the prospa-"

"No, hold on," Wren's brows furrowed. "Living together?"

"Yes..."

"No," Wren shook his head. "If I ever free the jinns, they will all be sent back to live on the other side of the Glass Sea. They will have their own land and they can do whatever they want to do there. Not here. Not with us."

"Why not?" Birdie felt the anger return.

"Because we're not the same," Wren said. "Difference breeds conflict."

"That's not true."

"Look at you and me," Wren pointed out. "Have we ever gotten along for more than ten minutes? No. We're both different from one another. Our ideas, our thoughts...we're two different sides of two different coins. And that is how all jinns and feys are."

"Wow," Birdie shook her head. "For a split second I thought maybe there's some good in you."

"I'm helping you return home," Wren reminded her. "There is good in me."

"You're doing it for your own selfish reasons."

"Everyone's a opportuni-"

Before the fey could finish, the door to the room burst open.

Birdie and Wren jumped to their feet as palace guards all dressed in their white armor stormed into the room, surrounding them.

"Hold up your hands, your grace," one of them said, aiming the tip of his spear at Wren.

"You too," another guard poked Birdie with his baton.

"Don't touch her," Wren glared, noticing the way Birdie flinched.

"Put your hands where we can see them," the first guard spoke once more.

"Wren," Javi appeared at the door. "Don't fight it. Darrian will not make this easy for you if you challenge his authority so much."

"I told you!" Birdie looked at Wren. "I told you not to trust him."

"My father was your friend," Wren narrowed his eyes as he stared at Javi.

"Your father is dead," Javi said, with a bit of sadness in his voice. "And a loyalty to a dead friend doesn't get me much sway at court."

"I will remember this," Wren said. "When the crown sits on my head I will think of you and of this day."

"You killed the king's favorite nephew," Javi shook his head. "The crown will never be yours, son."

With labored breathing, Wren took a step forward towards the old man. The guards all moved in unison, lowering their batons and spears.

"Wren," Birdie grabbed his arm.

"Raise your hands, your grace," the guards said once more.

"Get behind me, little bird," Wren lowered his hand to her on his arm.

"What are y-"

Before Birdie could ask, Wren's body radiated a blast so strong that it knocked the guards off their feet. He had pushed Birdie to the floor just seconds before as the raw energy waves rippled off of him and spread over her head. The scent of smoke caught Birdie's nose as the curtains caught on fire and Wren pulled her to her feet.

"Wren! Don't!" Javi yelled from the doorway as he watched the prince head towards the broken window.

"Jump," Wren said, shoving Birdie onto the railing. "We're only on the ground floor."

"It's still a pretty high fall," Birdie looked down at the stone path below the window.

"Just go!" Wren pushed her off as a guard rose to his feet and ran towards them.

Birdie screamed as she felt her body be shoved out of the window. She closed her eyes and braced herself for impact when she suddenly stopped.

Opening her eyes, she realized she was only a few feet off the ground. Her body hovered over the road. Birdie looked back up towards the window to find Wren's hand commanding the air to catch her. He sat her down gently on the ground as he shoved the guard off of himself and jumped out the window.

"Next time I tell you to do something, don't question it," he said, landing on his feet like a cat.

Birdie opened her mouth to protest when Wren's glare silenced her.

"Not now," he said, taking her hand and heading down the road.

They were almost out of the alleyway when both entrances were blocked by more guards. Wren cursed under his breath as he pushed Birdie behind himself once more.

"Wren," Javi appeared at the window. "Let's make a deal. Leave the moor and I will tell the guards to tell Darrian you escaped."

"Never," Wren said, glaring up at the traitor.

"A lot can change overnight, son," Javi said. "There's a new bidding war at court over her. She's not safe anywhere in this city."

The man's words caused Birdie's heart to shatter and shrivel up all at once. She looked at the guards and the curious people who were starting to gather behind them. Everyone's eyes suddenly felt lethal.

"Leave her here and in return I will see to it that you make it out of the city safely," Javi tempted Wren.

"I said no," Wren snapped.

"Are you really going to throw away my offer for a moor?" Javi's face twisted in anger.

"Did you really turn me in for a moor?" Wren's nostrils flared with anger.

"Wren," Birdie tugged on the fey's arm as the guards began to march forward. "Wren!"

With desperation, Birdie tried to call to her magic. She knew it wasn't possible for her to touch it with brass on, but she still had to try. She couldn't just stand there defenseless.

"What now?" She asked Wren, her eyes glued on the feys. "Any ideas?"

"Can you fight?" Wren asked, moving her around to place her between the wall and himself.

"Of course," Birdie said. "But the last time I fought a fey, it didn't go so well. And they were only common blood."

"Give it your best," Wren said.

With a deep breath, Birdie planted her feet just as Ares had taught her. She raised her fists and locked her eyes on a fey. Her chest ached from how fast her heart hammered. Her throat ran dry and the back of her head began to pound.

Within seconds, the guards were upon them.

Wren took out the first three who stepped forward within seconds before the fourth and fifth pushed him away from Birdie towards the other wall. Birdie ducked and tried to run towards the street. But as she moved forward a few feet, someone knocked her to the ground and grabbed a fist full of her hair.

"Hey!" Wren yelled as he threw a guard off himself and rushed over towards Birdie and the guard holding her hair.

Birdie took the momentary distraction to spin around and kick the guard between the legs. His grip loosened immediately as Wren grabbed his head and kneed him in the face.

The sound of the guard's nose breaking made Birdie gag as she picked up the brass baton and swung it like a baseball bat, knocking the man out.

"Ah!" Birdie yelped in pain as the baton fell from her hand. Her skin sizzled with an angry red print.

"Here, put this on," Wren pulled off the extra pair of gloves the fallen guard had in his belt loop. As he passed it to Birdie, she watched him pick up the baton once more and hand it to her. "There's more."

"I know," Birdie said, pulling on the gloves and taking the baton.

With their backs against each other, Birdie pushed her hair out of her face as she held up the baton and took in a deep breath.

The next wave of guards ran forward with a war cry. Birdie felt Wren's body heat up as he sent out a powerful blast and pushed them back. The few that did manage to duck and run under the ripples were greeted with Birdie's baton.

"Wren!" Birdie yelled as she watched a new set of guards arrive at the entrance. "We need to find a way out. Or they'll keep coming."

"Wren!" Javi called from the window. "There is no way ou-"

Suddenly, there was a loud rumble.

People in the street began to scream and yell as a cloud of dust hurried forward and rushed into the alleyway.

The guards froze and looked back as they were swallowed up by a dust storm that seemed to have arms and faces.

Wren grabbed Birdie and pulled her closer as the sunlight above them was suddenly drowned in darkness. She hid her face in his chest as the strong wind and small bits of sand flying around scratched against her face. When she felt a strong grip on her upper arm, she stepped closer to the fey, knowing they would be separated in the storm if they did not stick together. But the hand on her arm seemed to be pulling her away from Wren...

"No! Wren!" Birdie yelled, opening her eyes and seeing the fey's eyes widen as he realized someone was pulling Birdie away.

"Hold on!" Wren jumped forward and tried to pull her back but he was overwhelmed by the harsh wind and hands that seemed to be pulling him back. "Birdie!"

"Wren!" Birdie yelled, her voice lost in the storm. "Let go of me!"

"Relax, relax!" A voice seemed to say. "Close your mouth or you'll be coughing up sand for the next decade."

Gasping, Birdie turned and came face to face with a tall jinn with curly black hair, olive skin and brown eyes.

"Who are you? Let go of me!" She yelled, grabbing his hand and digging her nails into him.

"Ahhh! What are you doing? I'm here to help!"

"Let go of me!" Birdie demanded.

"Stop! Stop! Stop!" The jinn yelled. "Stop it! Ira won't be happy if you harm her favorite general."

"What?" Birdie gasped.

"No time to talk, laddu," the jinn began to pull Birdie towards the street. "Ira is waiting."

"Wait!" Birdie dug her feet into the ground and pulled. "I can't leave without Wren."

"They fey prince?" The jinn asked in shock. "No can do. He stays here."

"He saved my life!"

"Send him a nice fruit basket."

"I am not going without him!"

"I'll throw you over my shoulder!"

"I'll....." Birdie did not know what she could say. "I'll bite you!"

The jinn looked slightly stunned.

"Birdie!" Wren's voice came from somewhere in the dust storm.

"Wren!" Birdie turned away and ran back into the cloud.

"Ah this girl! Has to be Ira's blood!" The jinn yelled, running in after her. "Hey! Get back here!"

"I'm not leaving without Wren!" Birdie said.

"Fine!" The jinn yelled as he grabbed her wrist along and ran forward to where Wren walked blindly.

"Wren!" Birdie ran towards him and grabbed his hand. "This way!"

Where will they go now? And will Wren and Birdie ever get along?