Bryant stifled a yawn and shifted on the tree branch. He'd been following the girl since she reached the cove two days ago, but she’d been surrounded by the Tarrin since then.

Lady Sara was intrigued by the news he and Celeste brought. She sent Bryant out the next day to find the girl and discover if she was the Aledan priestess. He couldn't just walk into Gaerlom and ask her, though. The People of the Sea would kill him.

He straightened as she left the hut and walked to the edge of the woods. She was hugging her cloak around her and wiping at her eyes as if she was crying. Now that her hair wasn't covered in mud it shone in the light of the moon.

She looked up. "Who's there?"

He crouched further in the shadows. She was Aledan, based on her accent, but he hadn't made a noise—hadn't even moved. How did she know he was there?

Her eyes swept the trees. "I know you're there—I can feel you."

A priestess, then. They were the only ones who could sense energy that way. It appeared she was the Aledan priestess the Lady had been waiting for.

Bryant was about to speak to her when someone else walked out from the village. "Kaye! I've been looking all over for you." She turned to face the man. "Why did you change your clothes?"

She hugged the cloak tighter. "I'm sorry, Timin. I can't stay here. I have to go."

Bark dug into Bryant's hand, and he relaxed his grip on the tree. Timin Breen. He loathed the sandy-haired Gaerlom, and now this girl was with him? Let them take her wings.

"Go where?" Timin asked.

"I can't stay," she said. "It's not safe."

"Not safe?" Timin reached out a hand, but she shied away from it. Maybe the girl was smarter than Bryant gave her credit for. "I know you've been through a lot, Kaye, but it's safe here. I won't let anyone hurt you."

Timin obviously didn't know what she was, so there was no rush to retrieve her. When Timin pulled her close, Bryant flew off, not bothering to be stealthy about it. Maybe if the noise scared them the girl would grow a brain and leave Gaerlom. Either way, Bryant did his job—he'd found the Aledan priestess. Someone else could retrieve her from Timin.