I take the bird carefully in both my hands, not wanting to hurt it. There's nothing attached to its leg like a carrier pigeon's and I lift it higher, seeking out the alleged message.
"Share your story, little bird," the Shadow Knight says.
I lower the bird and stare at it. "Seriously? So it does talk?"
"A bird does not talk," the Shadow Knight replies with some scorn. "It conveys a message into your mind."
Because that's not weirder than a talking bird.
"'Tis the way of our world," he growls. "You alone now have a fourth law, witch: Acceptance. Of everything." He hands it back to the messenger, who rides away. "We are being summoned to a Knights of the Square Table meeting."
I laugh. "Really? Knights of the Square Table?"
"How is that amusing?"
"You wouldn't understand." Grinning, I shake my head and clear my throat. "So what is this meeting about?"
"I imagine my reclaiming of land. The remaining Knights are displeased and trying to garner support among my conquered subjects. They have tried bribing and threatening me but to no avail. I will conquer them as I did the others."
"Of course." I roll my eyes.
He nudges the horse forward and in a new direction, back towards the forest.
"Why do you say reclaim?" I ask reluctantly. I don't want a reason to sympathize with him more as the potential Hero, but I'm curious. "Did you lose them?"
There's a pause then a clipped, "Yes."
"Bad story?"
"To repeat such a story is to invite its reoccurrence."
Another stupid rule. "Okay. We won't talk about the past. You're taking me to this meeting?"
"I am."
"Do you think that wise?"
"They do not know you are a very poor battle-witch. Were I to attend without you, they might suspect," he reasons.
My mouth drops open. I'm offended, but should I be? I've been trying to convince him I'm not a battle-witch since he found me. But he doesn't think of me as a non-battle-witch.
He thinks I suck. Just like everyone else in my life.
Would Jason have gleefully sold me to a slave trader to marry someone not obsessed with fictional characters?
New start. I chant the words. They're drowned out by the part of me that wants to break down and sob until LF lets me go home.
"We may have to cut off your hand to show them you have power, since you cannot perform any great feats yet," the Shadow Knight adds, increasing my misery.
Is that amusement I hear? My god - why can't I figure out this man?