“Naturally. I wouldn’t want your throat to be sore at the wrong moment!” Corwenna smiled.

A dull light leaked through the leaves. Hedd stared down at them from his perch and made a clicking noise with his beak. Ark sensed the bird’s thoughts. Fear for the future. But Hedd’s oath to Ark was as strong as the branch that supported him. The raven turned his head sideways, a single glittering eye studying Ark.

It was time for yet more introductions.

“Hedd, Mucum. Mucum, Hedd,” said Ark.

Mucum turned to the creature in question. How did he address a vicious monster? Here, birdie, birdie wasn’t quite right under the circumstances. “Err …?” He looked at Ark desperately.

Hedd continued staring at him.

Ark could feel the creature’s enjoyment of Mucum’s discomfort. “I think what Mucum is trying to say is, would you mind giving us a lift home?”

Mucum nodded. “What he said.”

Corwenna crossed her arms. “He doesn’t mind. Up you go.”

Mucum tried to climb up the huge mound of the bird’s back. After much slipping and inventive swearing, he managed to hook his legs over, but not before Hedd squawked a few times in protest. “Sorry, Mr. Raven! Didn’t mean to kick yer in the guts. Yer know, I don’t fink this is such a brill idea!” Mucum protested as he held on for dear life.

“Arktorious is right. You could win prizes for complaining!”

“Yeah, yeah.” Mucum held his arm out and pulled Shiv, then Ark, up.

“By the way, hold on tight! And remember, the future lies in your hands now!” Tears threatened the edge of her eyes. But since when did a queen show her sorrows?

Corwenna swept up her left hand, giving the signal for takeoff. The bird flapped its huge wings, once, twice, three times.

“Up, up, and away!” screamed Shiv with delight as she burrowed down deep into the soft feathers.

Then they were airborne. Mucum nearly slid off as they rose up, his knees gripping the body like a horse.

“Grab me waist!” he screamed to Ark as the wind threatened to tear them away. At least Corwenna could have given them a pair of reins.

The bird screeched and wheeled off to the east, toward Hellebore and the unknown.

40• PREPARATION IS THE KEY

It was the day of the Harvest Festival and the sky was dark blue, hinting at the winter that lay ahead. Mucum and Shiv were on an errand, and even Mucum had to admit that Ark’s plan was a good one. Already, the Ravenwood was a distant dream. It was time to stop running away.

Mucum lifted Shiv onto his shoulders. “Look, girl! The forest’s on fire!”