Amorastra used a large stick she'd found as a walking cane as she walked through the forest. She was half hunched over and kept a steady rhythm. Her eyes were milky white and looked nowhere in particular as she walked. Her face and neck bore the cracks and wrinkles of skin worn for many decades. A tangled bird's nest of gray hair stuck out at every angle from her head. Nystri had helped weave herself into this new glamour, hiding her in plain sight on Amorastra's shoulder.

Nystri strained as she scanned the forest. “They won’t stop until they bring me back, you know," Nystri whispered nearly directly into Amorastra's ear.

"The royal guard, you mean?" Amorastra's voice was low. From any distance one might think it only an old woman mumbling to herself.

"Yes. Yu means well. But he is stubborn. Even more stubborn than I had realized. I was stunned when he showed up this morning. I froze. I'm sorry I wasn't ready, but I am now.” She looked at Amorastra. "How did you know they were part of the royal guard?"

"Their emblems and armor, for one. And who else would they trust to send after you? In fact, I'd wager that no one even knows you're gone aside from them. That Yu fellow, he's not just part of the royal guard, he's the head of it. Or, if not the head, then your personal guard. Tell me more about Yu. An elf, yes? Is he of noble birth?"

Nystri raised an eyebrow and gave Amorastra a sidelong glance before going back to scanning the forest. "He is elven, but not a noble, per se. His family is well connected. He was born of the Tooryl, and we've known each other since childhood. We were playmates."

"A childhood friend! How exciting. No wonder he knows the scent of your magic."

Nystri didn't reply. Tension ate at her stomach. Her ears strained and her nose was constantly searching for some sign, some warning.

"Worry not, my Queen," Amorastra said. She brought her hand up and patted Nystri's legs. "Your little plan will send them on quite the chase and we'll put many miles between us before you know it."

Nystri reached out and took hold of Amorastra's hand before she could pull it away. She wrapped her arms around and pulled it into a hug. The knot in Nystri's belly loosened, just a bit, and she let go. Amorastra seemed to hesitate for a fraction of a second before she let her hand return to her side.

"Sorry," Nystri said. "I thought it might help me feel better."

"Did it?"

Nystri nodded, "It did."

"Then perhaps a 'thank you' is in order, instead of a 'sorry', hm?"

Nystri smiled shyly, "Thank you."

"You know, Majesty. I do believe you need a mentor.”

“A mentor?”

“In hedonism! And I just so happen to know a master on the subject.”

Nystri suppressed her laugh, “And I suppose that master would be you?”

“Very good, your Grace! I’m glad we’re in agreement. And I am available for the position, if you're wondering."

A comfortable silence settled around them. The trees were more thin along the path they now walked and the sun's rays found their way through, occasionally warming Nystri's skin. 

Nystri tried to concentrate on keeping watch for her pursuers, but kept retracing the events of the last day. It had only been one day! And here she was, trying to evade her closest friend and confidant, running away from her title and her peoples. Here she was on the shoulder of a demon. A demon she trusted. A demon she felt safe with. Perhaps she was the fool they said her to be behind her back. Perhaps her naivety would be her end. 

She squeezed Amorastra's shoulder gently. Amorastra glanced over and gave her a comforting smile.

I need to trust myself. Oath or no, she's had plenty of opportunity to do terrible things to me, if not just leave me. Instead, she's gone to so much trouble on my behalf.

Nystri opened her mouth, but found no words to say. She pursed her lips together, then tried again. Still, nothing came. Long moments passed until the sentence started to take shape. She swallowed the sentence of remorse and apology. "Thank you for doing this."

Amorastra just nodded absent-mindedly. Nystri's focus returned to the forest. Someone was ahead.

A tall elf stepped onto the path. She wore the silver and maroon of the royal family. She waved to Amorastra and said, "Pardon me. I'm looking for someone. Do you have a moment?"

"Eh? Who's there?" Amorastra called out. Then she whispered something quickly to Nystri. Nystri's eyes went wide and she whispered back into Amorastra's ear.

"I am Piroline—" she started.

"Ah, yes. Daughter of Rymil and Souvai," Amorastra said nodding, but did not look at the elf. "You seek what cannot be found."

"How do you know who I am? Who are you?"

Amorastra chuckled quietly as she moved towards Piroline. "Call Yu'trellum of the Tooryl here. I've been awaiting your arrival."

Piroline's face reflected disquieted fear. She swallowed and pulled a long wooden rod from her hip. She held it to her lips and a single high note rippled through the leaves above.

"He'll come," Piroline said. "Are you alright? Would you like to sit while you wait?"

Amorastra scowled, still not looking at Piroline. She lifted the stick slowly, then stabbed it into the ground, causing Piroline to jump. "I am not so infirm. I shall wait here."

"Right. Well." Piroline straightened her posture along with her armor. She cleared her throat. She clasped her hands behind her back. She let them drop to her sides. She shuffled closer to a tree and turned away from Amorastra.

Amorastra wheezed, then coughed violently for a few seconds, startling Piroline again. Thus the tension in the air around Piroline grew until finally Yu'trellum stepped onto the trail. Piroline walked quickly to him and they exchanged a few quiet words. 

Yu nodded and stepped past Piroline and called out, "Good day, madam, I under—"

"Madam he says!" Amorastra cackled. She took slow deliberate steps towards him. "You've traveled far, son of Eri and Phynn." She looked up from the path. Her glassy eyes were wide and stared through him. She smiled  revealing blackened gums and a handful of loose teeth. "You're looking for a bird. You wish to cage it once more, yes? It shall not go quietly, even I can see that!" She cackled again, then walked closer to Yu'trellum. Her hazy unfocused eyes swiveled wildly as she approached. She lifted her stick and tapped his chest with it. "Every step you take sends her flying, and there are so many of you taking steps." She walked past Yu'trellum. She lifted her stick once more and pointed it straight out. She began to turn in a slow circle. "Roaf, son of Trime. Fahloo, son of Pirolly…" She named four more of them as she turned until she faced Yu'trellum once more. "What will you do, I wonder? Will you accept fate? Or shall you struggle on?" She raised her hand up and cupped her ear. "Ah! I can hear it on the wind! That call you've been waiting for. Go, then! Chase the bird, but know that she shall never be caged as long as she lives." 

Each of the elves looked stricken and drained of blood. 

Yu'trellum motioned to the others and they swiftly departed without a word. 

Amorastra yelled in the elven tongue, "Your feet be swift!" her cackle was loud and deranged.

Amorastra and Nystri watched the direction they went for a long time. Finally Nystri allowed herself a deep breath, and a long sigh.

"They're truly gone now, I can tell. Do you think Pebble did it?"

Amorastra straightened and stretched her shoulders and back, letting out a little grunt and a sigh of her own. She dispelled the glamour and said, "Let's find out!" She snapped her fingers twice and Pebble appeared before her in his usual groveling position, but breathing very hard. "Speak, dog. Did you do as you were told?" 

"Yes! Yes! Just as you told this one. I ran fast away away away. I ran until I felt your command. I snapped the wood. I set the table and stool nearby with her Queengracely's plates on it then turned it over. I threw the crutch far away, too!"

"Very good, Pebble!" Nystri said, "How far did you get, do you think?"

Pebble slowed his breath a little then said, "Far! Far! This one is fast."

Amorastra said, "I'd guess at least 30 miles from here. Maybe more. How fast can they travel through the forest?"

"After the performance you gave? They'll be traveling with the utmost stealth, I think. If they don't sleep they'll find it by the morning. And that was quite the performance, by the way! I've never seen Piroline so shaken!"

Amorastra's smile was wide and wicked, "Why thank you, my Queen! You feeding their names to me like that really did the trick. Well, we shouldn't waste the lead we've bought ourselves! Can you check my wing for me?"

Nystri nodded and spun around, her legs hanging off of Amorastra's back. Nystri pulled the wing close and inspected where the hole had been. The membrane was smooth and looked to be as thick as on the rest of the wing. She tested her own wing absentmindedly as she ran her hand over Amorastra's. Even with those tonics it felt no less fragile.

"Looks great! I can barely tell where the hole was."

"Excellent!" Amorastra snapped her fingers sending Pebble away. "You'd best let me hold you, Majesty. I'd hate for you to fall from my shoulder." She raised her palm up for Nystri.

Nystri could feel her heart beating. Fast and strong.

She stepped onto Amorastra's palm, then sat and drew her legs up to her chest, making herself as small as she could. Amorastra's other hand joined the first and Amorastra held Nystri near her sternum.

Amorastra took a deep breath and her wings grew ten times their size. She searched above looking for the most open bit of canopy, then crouched low. She leapt and her wings beat again and again taking them high above the forest. 

Nystri was sure they were flying higher than she had ever flown before and considered trying to get a look around. Instead she pressed herself to Amorastra's chest.

Nystri could feel her heart beating. Fast and strong.