Rise of the Sparrows (Relics of Ar'Zac #1) by Sarina Langer Page A

shape. Her blanket, too, was beyond hope, but Lady Aeron had seemed certain that she could fix it, so Rachael hadn't objected. They were lucky to have found her hut and she wouldn't tell Aeron what she could and couldn't do when she was a grateful guest in her home.
    The nightgowns Lady Aeron had given them were soft and Rachael's had caressed her skin all over as she had snuggled into it. Aeron had prepared two beds for them and gave them each one of her large blankets. Paired with the nightgown it had been the most luxurious night Rachael had ever spent. She had never slept so deeply, either. No dreams had ruined the night for her, and she had gotten a full night's rest without needing to worry about thieves, rapists or the White Guard.
    She woke to the wonderful smells of tea and the happy chirping of birds. Cephy was still fast asleep, but Rachael couldn't stay put any longer. She had never dreamed that a place like this could exist, where people accepted her and looked after her so kindly.
    Lady Aeron couldn't find out that they were cursed, or she would throw them out. Maybe she would even alert the guards. Rachael didn't want to overstay her welcome, but maybe Lady Aeron would allow them to stay a little while longer. She would need to think of a good reason should she ask. As far as Lady Aeron knew they had parents to go home to, and she wouldn't want to worry them.
    Wrapping the soft blanket around herself as best as she could, Rachael got up and opened the door a tiny bit. The sunlight poured into the main room, and Aeron sat in one of its beams. She was humming to herself as she sipped a cup of tea. Rachael thought she looked every bit like a caring mother, waiting for her family to wake up.
    “Good morning, Rachael. Have you slept well?” She blushed when Lady Aeron addressed her. Embarrassed that she had been caught she stepped out of the small room, and closed the door behind her so their conversation wouldn't wake Cephy. The girl had earned all the sleep she could get, since she had saved her life.
    “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to spy on you.”
    Aeron offered her the kindest smile she had ever seen. “Nonsense! Come here. I've got something for you.”
    Curious Rachael sat down at the table next to Aeron. She couldn't believe her eyes when her rags were spread out in front of her. They weren't rags any more, but beautiful clothes dyed in reds and blues.
    “How did you-” Her hands reached out and touched the fabric. The clothes were as soft as they looked. If it wasn't for the tailoring itself she wouldn't have believed them to be the same shirt and trousers.
    Aeron gave her a secretive smile. “I'll let you into a secret, if you promise not to tell anyone.”
    Rachael nodded, eager to hear how Lady Aeon had performed such a miracle. She owed her too much to tell on her, and knew what it was like to keep a big secret. She had learned the importance too late for herself for it to be of any use, but she would take Lady Aeron's secret to the Dark Mists.
    Lady Aeron laid out her old, hole-ridden blanket on the table, over the beautiful clothes. “Do you like the colour red?”
    “I do, but-” The old blanket meant too much to her for it to change. It was all she had left of her parents, she didn't want it altered.
    Sensing Rachael's reservation, Lady Aeron nodded. “It has sentimental value. I understand. I'll restore it to the way it looked when you first received it.”
    Rachael blinked, not believing a word. She would have loved for her blanket to be whole again, but it couldn't be done. She was fine with it as it was. It was imperfect and flawed, just like her.
    Lady Aeron placed her hands on the fabric, and spoke words in a language Rachael didn't understand. She had never heard words of such beauty before. Words as mystic as these didn't sound like they belonged here, in this world.
    Before her eyes the blanket began to patch up. The holes stitched together until they were gone, and even the fine