Chapter 161

THE SOUTHERN KEEP'S COURTYARD WAS tiny in comparison to the castles. Otherwise they looked quite similar, like the Keep was a smaller imitation of the castle. Loushka landed with a heavy thud and the others dropped around us. Leseach, Ignatius, and Rashid stood waiting for us.

'Leseach,' I said in surprise. 'When did you get here?'

Sian, having just climbed down from Sito answered. 'Sito and I brought them through when you were sorting Audi out.'

Oh right, I thought and felt a prickle of tears at leaving my beautiful girl behind. She'll be fine, and Ada will spoil her rotten, I reassured myself.

I slid down from Loushka and stood beside her, ruffling her mane.

'Wish it were over.' I thought to her. The solid coolness of her beak brushed past my neck.

'I know, Cat. It will be over, soon.'

'Have you been here before?'

'We delivered all the supplies here, remember?'

I shook my head. 'Sorry, I meant have you stayed here before?'

'Oh yes, a few times. You'll like it. It's rather q