Chapter 7: Promise in the Firelight
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A cold gust rattled the shutters of Zephyr's little caretaker dorm. Faint moonlight shone through the single cracked pane, stretching silver fingers over the black-scale egg on his bed.
The shell glimmered like a night sky caught in glass matte jet streaked with thread-thin lines that shimmered violet whenever lantern light brushed them.
Fenna's breath misted as she stood beside the bed, one hand pressed to her chest. "It is beautiful," she whispered. "But... We have to hide it. No one can know we have an egg."
Zephyr nodded, heart still hammering from his climb through forgotten tunnels. "I will build a nest for it in the old furnace chamber. The stones stay warm, and most students never go there."
He also thinks, "What do you mean by we? Why are you acting like it's our baby or something?"
Zephyr tore his gaze from the egg to him. Candlelight warmed the gold in his hazel eyes. "Promise me you will not tell a single soul."
"I promise." Fenna placed two fingers over her lips, then touched them to his (zephyr) in a solemn gesture they had used as children. "Our secret is sealed. I feel so excited."
She blushed but did not pull back. "I will bring supplies. Herbs that hold heat and mask scent. Straw soft enough to keep cracks from spreading." Her voice softened. "You always carried my hopes, Zeph. Now I'll carry yours too."
A gentle warmth rose in his cheeks. "Fenna... thank you."
"I trust you," she said. "More than anyone." Her thumb brushed a smear of dirt from his cheek. "And I think... one day this egg will trust you too."