The Unseen Tempest (Lords of Arcadia) by John Goode, J.G. Morgan Page B

Alex.
    “You’re telling the truth,” Milo stated after a rather long time of wiggling his whiskers and smoothing out the front of his vest. “That’s a point in your favor.”
    Hawk took a step toward us. “And what points are against us?”
    Milo’s ears flattened on his head, and he took a half step back. “Try kidnapping a royal page, threatening said page with bodily harm, not to mention hijacking my spell.”
    Ruber’s voice interjected. “That is not a crime.”
    “No, but it’s annoying, so it’s a point against you,” the rabbit growled back.
    “Fair enough,” Ruber answered, retreating some.
    “Will you help us?” I asked Milo, trying to get him back on point.
    “You know the Family Crimson will never help you,” he said to Hawk. “The queen hates your mother with the heat of a thousand suns.”
    “I know my history,” Hawk answered, trying to sound bored, but I could tell from his thoughts that it was a sore subject. “And if I remember correctly, Queen Demain and her forces were stopped dead in their tracks.”
    The rabbit’s eyes got huge, which did nothing to make him look menacing, just even cuter. “And do you think that will somehow endear her to your cause?”
    “Milo, please,” I interrupted, stepping between him and Hawk before there was another fight. “We just need to talk to her. All we’re asking for is a ride, not an endorsement.”
    “Why would you even need to hijack me? There are portals to….” And then he stopped talking. “Your changeling has them all guarded. You don’t need a ride as much as you need a back door in.”
    Hawk said nothing, but his thoughts were dark and angry.
    “Can you help us?” I asked Milo again.
    He raised one eyebrow, which was odd because rabbits don’t really possess eyebrows. He raised the area above one of his eyes, which made me want to laugh.
    “Okay, will you help us?” I put on my best “Please, Dad, I need those shoes or I will literally fall dead and wither away where I stand” voice and prayed for the best.
    “I don’t see how I can,” he replied after some deliberation.
    Hawk’s frustration pushed at the back of my mind, and I knew we were seconds from doing things his way. I closed my eyes and tried not to scream at him and then at the stupid rabbit, because this was getting old.
    I had vaguely understood how incredibly idiotic politics were at home, but ever since I fell into this world, that point was just made clearer and clearer every time I met someone new. How hard was it for someone to just get over itself and see what we were trying to do here? If Puck won, did Milo really think his realm would be safe? Like the bad guy always gained a bunch of power and then said, “Hey, you know what? This is enough. I’m good.”
    Why couldn’t people just get it?
    “I’ll take you,” Milo’s voice said, breaking me out of my silent tirade.
    I opened my eyes and looked at him, confused. “Seriously?”
    He nodded. “This Puck sounds like a horrible person, and I am sure once he has conquered Faerth, he won’t stop until he rules all Nine Realms.”
    It was almost word for word what I had been bitching about.
    “I need to recharge this,” he added, holding up his pocket watch. “There is no way it can carry all of us without a boost.”
    I looked back at Hawk and Ruber; both of them were staring at me oddly. “What?” I asked when it felt like I had something on my face or something.
    Hawk blinked and looked away. “Nothing. What do you need to recharge?” he asked Milo.
    “Time,” he answered. “And I need to be released from this circle.”
    Hawk glanced over toward Ruber. “Do we have any time here?”
    “Not that I am aware of.” Ruber’s voice sounded, strained and I got the sense he was still looking at me.
    “What are you talking about?” Milo’s snapped. “We’re surrounded by it.”
    Hawk and I both looked around at what the rabbit was pointing to, but we saw nothing. “We