Page 5 of Wings of Reverie

“I…” Fletcher paused. “Ah. A few of us are running through some joint techniques together out in the clearing—you know, different nature-talents practicing together. Just a last-minute thing. I thought you might be interested.”

This was not what Periwinkle had thought Fletcher was going to say. Honestly, she was pretty sure it wasn’t whatFletcherthought Fletcher was going to say.

“Oh, that’s a good idea. Have you tried putting the light-talents and the snowflake-talents to work together?” Periwinkle asked, nodding at Flare. “I bet it’s hard to deliver a snowfall in the dark.”

Fletcher glanced up at the trees. “Well, the snowflake-talents are kind of busy.”

“Right.” Periwinkle winced. “Of course.”

“But we’ve put the fast-fliers together with the animal-talents, seeing what they can do with animal scents on the wind,” he said. “Seeing if they can help them into hibernation. It seems to be working.”

“Wow.” Periwinkle was impressed. “That’s an incredible idea, Fletcher.”

“Well, now I sort of wish it wasmyidea.” Fletcher ducked his head, blushing a little. “Sled suggested it, though.”

“Oh!” Periwinkle nodded. “Got it.”

She pressed her lips together and tried not to wince at herself. Again.

“Fletch! Peri! Flare!” Periwinkle jumped at Sled’s voice. But she gave a sigh of relief when he chose that moment to swoop over and rescue them.

“Nice idea with the joint talent practice sessions,” she said, bumping him with her shoulder.

“Oh yeah?” he asked. “My next idea was to put the frost-talents to work with the icicle-talents. I’d be interested to see how well you guys work together.” Sled fluffed his dark hair, cutting his eyes from Periwinkle to Fletcher and then back to Periwinkle. There was a significant pause as both sparrow men waited for her to reply.

The music-talents kept playing, and the snowflake-talents kept working, and Periwinkle just kept staring back at Fletcher and Sled, searching for the right thing to say.

When a lightcatcher went out just over her head, it felt like a bad sign. Like—all her thoughts and ideas had disappeared, and whatever answer she gave them, it wasn’t going to be the one they wanted to hear.

She was grateful when Flare chimed in unexpectedly. “What if icicle-talents team up with the light-talent fairies going to the Mainland?” she asked. “They could work on creating lightcatchers on the fly.”

“That’s brilliant.” Sled latched avidly onto the idea, and Periwinkle slipped gladly into the background as he, Flare, and Fletcher started turning it over.

As she watched Fletcher’s cheerful conversation with the others, though, Periwinkle couldn’t help wondering if there was simply something wrong with her.

Anyone else would be happy with him, whispered her thoughts.Why can’t you?

But even as she was fretting over this, the sound of an argument cut through the party.

“I’m too low on supplies!” someone argued. “You promised you wouldn’t let us get this low again. Not after last time. It simply isn’t safe.”

“I have written to Queen Clarion. She has spoken with her healers and the warm-season gatherers.” This voice—deep, strong, but restrained—she recognized immediately as Lord Milori’s. “The supplies you’ve requested will arrive very soon.”

“What’s going on?” Gliss whispered. She, Slush, and Spike had flown quickly to join them at the table. Periwinkle fluttered a little farther off the ground to get a better look at whoever was talking.

“I don’t know,” she said. “Who is that? The sparrow man Lord Milori’s arguing with?”

Lord Milori’s broad figure was familiar, with his pale skin, silver hair, serious eyes, and slow, deliberate gait. He’d guarded the Winter Woods for as long as Periwinkle—as long asanyone—could remember.

But the other fairy’s name escaped her. Brown-haired, slim, and fair-skinned, he wore an oak-leaf shirt with a snowy owl–feather sash across his front. Given how young he looked, Periwinkle was surprised to notice the wrinkles around his eyes and on his forehead.

“It’s Dougal.” Fletcher grimaced. “You know. The healer.”

Oh.

Dougal’s Apothecary was an inconspicuous little place in Snowlight Square with a stone face and carved-ice windows, near Gliss’s house and Lattice’s Bakery. Periwinkle had never been inside the apothecary, but she’d peeked in at its shelves filled with jars of herbs and tiny bottles full of tinctures. She’d always thought it must smell nice inside.

Periwinkle didn’t know Dougal personally. But everyone knew what had happened to him.