by Tora Moon
*Your Grace,* one of the small scouts said, *we caught up to the thing. It wasn’t a comet but a huge metal flying machine. It had to be several measures wide and landed in the Barrens, close to the crater. As it descended several other smaller flying machines broke away from it.*
*One flew west toward the ocean,* another scout spoke up. *I followed it as far as I could. It headed to a large island far out to sea, but for some reason I could not pass beyond a certain point. It felt like a magical barrier. The machine easily penetrated it.*
*Near dark, the big one disgorged strange people,* the first scout said. *They were unlike the Posairs or what our histories tell us the Malvers look like. They didn’t stay outside long, so we only caught glimpses of them. They are tall, thin, and willowy and wore black robes that covered the misshapen lumps on their backs. They carried some sort of weapon. None of us liked them; they felt evil. Once we ascertained what came to our world, we flew back as quickly as possible. I don’t think they caught sight of us because we weren’t followed home.*
*These strange people bring madness and destruction to our world,* Sheekeek said to the king. *We must join with the Posairs to rid our world of them.*
*They are in the south,* Daelaak said, *far away from us. They do not know we are here. Let those who live in the south fight these invaders.*
*If they have flying machines,* Moraak said, with a shake of his head, *then it is possible they will find us sooner or later—*
*And if they do, we will fight them then, in our home territory.*
*What about the Malvers?* King Zorlaak asked, looking to Sheekeek. *With these invaders, are they still a problem?*
“Yes, Your Grace,” Chariel said. “The madness these invaders bring makes the Malvers stronger. I don’t know how, my visions haven’t shown that to me yet, only that we must fight together to survive.”
The king paced on the dais for a long time. There were mutters in the crowd, but Rizelya couldn’t make out what was being said.
The king finally settled back on his haunches and looked out at the assembled Phengriffs. *Are there any who would fight with the Posairs?*
Many squeaks and trills, the loudest coming from Moraak and Graak, answered him.
Moraak stepped forward. *My lord, I am willing to go fight, and there are many who will accompany me. We cannot allow these invaders or the Malvers to conquer our world. We must fight for our freedom, for our children’s freedom, and for our friends’ freedom. Their landing at Shandir’s Crater tells me these invaders are here for no good.*
*We must stay and protect our home,* Daelaak cried.
*Not everyone should go with me,* Moraak said. *I agree we need to leave warriors here to protect our homes and families.* He turned to look expectantly at King Zorlaak. *May I go, father?*
King Zorlaak put his head on his doubled-up talon and gazed at his sons. *You are both correct. I will allow Moraak to take a total of two hundred, two flights’ worth, to go below the mountains and fight with the Posairs. Choose only those who volunteer, and take from all of the flights so no one flight is severely reduced in numbers. We still have to protect our lands from sabertigers and baethor.
*I will renew our alliance with the Posairs fully only if our ancient enemies, the Malvers, return to Lairheim. Only then will we join the fight to destroy them once and for all. But until then, the majority of us stays in the mountains. Send out the announcement for volunteers.*
The Thunder Wings threw back their heads and warbled a call. It reverberated on the throne room’s stone walls. As they waited for the volunteers, those in the room rearranged themselves. Those who were staying either left or gathered next to Daelaak. Those wishing to go with Moraak clustered around him. Glork was one of the first. Rizelya was surprised to see the Silver Beak, Sheekeek, join the group.
*We must have someone to make a record of our fight,* he said in response to Moraak’s questioning glance. *The White Priestesses will need me before this fight is done.*
Rizelya frowned at him, but he wouldn’t explain further. Mystics and priestesses were alike in their need for secrecy.
Within an octar Moraak had nearly three hundred volunteers. When the king saw there were more than the stated two hundred, he relented, and allowed them all to go. Rizelya sighed with relief. With three hundred Phengriff, surely they could win any fights with the invaders or the Malvers.
* * *
Blazel watched in wonder as Phengriff after Phengriff bowed to Moraak, pledging their service to him in the coming fight. When the number reached two flights, each with one hundred members, he expected the king to halt any further oaths, but he remained silent until the last volunteer presented himself.
Graak took the Posairs back to the guest suite to gather their belongings. Blazel looked with fondness at the bed where he had first made love to Rizelya. She came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist.
“I’m going to miss this place,” she said, sighing against his back. “There are good memories here.”
“We’ll make more memories elsewhere.” Blazel patted her hands and then turned so he could embrace her. “Too bad we only have two tents. Three would give us all privacy.”
“That would be nice. But you’ll just have to get used to creating your own privacy. There isn’t much in the safe houses, and our traveling isn’t over. We have invaders to throw off our world.”
Blazel groaned at the thought and nuzzled Rizelya’s neck. They broke apart and gathered their few belongings. Graak was pacing in the common room when they entered. The others were already there with their packs.
*Let’s get going,* Graak said and then led them down the corridor. *I’m to take you back to your camp so you can pack up. We’ll leave early in the morning. If it weren’t so late already, Moraak would demand we leave today. The prince is anxious to prove himself and be named heir.*
“Isn’t the eldest son the heir?” Chariel asked.
Graak shook his head. *No. It’s the most capable male, which usually ends up being the eldest. Many of us hope it is Moraak and not Daelaak. This foray south gives Moraak the opportunity to show his prowess and leadership.*
They followed Graak to an outdoor courtyard where Phengriffs waited to transport the Posairs off the cliff. Blazel helped Rizelya onto Glork’s back, then climbed onto Graak. As they flew over the city, chaos reigned as the warriors made preparations to leave. Older youngsters flitted about carrying messages and supplies while the younger ones careened excitedly in the sky. There were watchers on the towers where there hadn’t been any before.
“At least King Zorlaak is taking the threat seriously,” Blazel said.
*He is,* Graak said. *He’s sending flights to patrol our borders. Some of those who go with us will remain at the boundary between our land and yours. Messengers will be sent to all our outposts, warning them to watch for invasion. It will be our job to keep the invaders south.*
“I wonder what they want and who they are. There is nothing but poison in the crater. What would they want with that?”
*I don’t know. We’ll find out soon enough.*
Blazel grabbed onto the straps and leaned back as Graak backwinged to land in front of the cave. Broogk came out of it, his beak dropped in a grin.
*The lovelies are well,* he said as he helped Wisah off her Phengriff. *I’ve had a great time getting to know them. That Tejen of yours is quite the fellow. Too bad I’m too big to ride them.* He said the last with a wistful sigh. He then moved to help Jaehaas out of the sling.
Blazel headed into the cave and saw the horses were calm. When Broogk and Graak entered the cave, the horses lifted their heads to look at the newcomers with curiosity, not fear. Lighzel whinnied at him and thrust her head over the rails for him to scratch her nose. Rizelya’s Kymaya was doing the same.
Blazel ducked under the railing and began to saddle his horse. The others followed suit. Chariel and Wisah were now as competent at saddling their horses as the rest were, and they we
re all ready in less than half an octar. Broogk shoved the rails off the wall. Lighzel’s eyes widened and she pulled against the reins as the rails clattered to the ground, the sound echoing in the cave. Blazel gave him a disgusted look and Broogk hunched his shoulders in apology. Once out of the cave, they mounted their horses and set off back down the road.
Graak flew above them, guiding them to where they had left their tents. He flew off once they knew where to go saying he’d see them in morning.
After dinner, Blazel and Rizelya slipped away to the hot pool and made love. When they returned, the fire was burning low and the others were tucked in the tents. He pulled Rizelya into his tent. Jaehaas lifted his head to see who had entered, smiling at them as he laid back down. As usual, Aistrun was missing, sharing Chariel’s bed.
Blazel and Rizelya crawled into his bedroll. He pulled Rizelya close to him, and her warm breath on his chest lulled him to sleep. She woke him in the cold predawn light and they quietly made love. While he let his breathing return to normal, Blazel looked over at Jaehaas, who had his back to them, his posture radiating anguish.
Shame and guilt filled Blazel, and he decided from now on he and Rizelya would share a tent with Aistrun and Chariel. Wisah and Jaehaas, who couldn’t express their love in the same way, would then be spared from any sounds from the couples making love. With a last kiss, Rizelya pulled on her clothes and climbed out of the warm bedroll. Sighing, Blazel did the same.
The rest of their group roused to the smell of hot taevo and cooking porridge. After a quick breakfast, they made quick work of taking down the tents and packing their multas. The sun’s rays were just reaching through the trees when everyone began saddling their horses. Blazel was cinching his saddle when Graak landed in the clearing. He looked around and nodded in approval at the Posairs’ readiness to leave. Broogk and Glork landed with a group of thirty Phengriffs, each with a large pack strapped to their backs. Lighzel rolled her eyes and snorted at so many Phengriffs, but quieted quickly.
*Moraak says for us to begin,* Graak said. *There are still arrangements he needs to make. He hadn’t realized how much needed to be done before so many of our people leave for an indefinite time. They will follow in a few days. Since you travel slower than we do, they’ll easily catch up. My flight will guide you. That way you won’t get lost or into trouble.* He chuckled.
Blazel made a face at him, then turned back to his horse. A quick glance showed the others were already mounted. Jaehaas had slung his bow and a quiver of arrows across his back, and Rizelya’s helbraught was hooked to her saddle. Blazel mounted and felt his helstrablade’s comforting weight in its sheath as he swung up onto Lighzel’s back. He patted the quiver of arrows and his bow tied to his saddle. With so many Phengriffs, he doubted they would have trouble, but it was better to be prepared. At a nod from Rizelya, he clicked to Lighzel, and they left the clearing at a trot.
With Graak and the other Phengriffs giving them directions from the air, Blazel and the others were able to make faster time through the forests. Blazel noticed they were going a different route, and thought it was a shorter, more direct way to the pass. Graak’s guidance kept them from going out of their way to find a path through the thick trees and meandering streams. They rode the horses hard, with the valiant little multas and their heavy packs keeping up.
When on the second day they reached the canyon where the baethor had attacked them, Blazel knew they’d taken a shorter route.
Graak flew down and stopped them from entering. *There’s another way where the baethor don’t roost. It’s much safer.” He stayed on the ground as they crossed the canyon’s mouth, walking beside Blazel and watching the canyon carefully.
Blazel glanced in and was surprised to see there weren’t any baethor bodies littering the ground, and there were only traces of the ichor that had splashed the canyon walls.
“What happened to all the bodies?” Blazel asked Graak.
*Other baethor came and ate them. While they don’t kill each other for food, they don’t have any problems eating their dead.*
Blazel shuddered at the cannibalism. He looked over at Rizelya riding at his side. She shuddered and gulped a couple of times.
“How awful.” She frowned. “Let’s not tell Chariel and Wisah about this. They don’t need to hear such foulness.”
Blazel nodded in agreement. He kicked Lighzel into a canter so those behind wouldn’t have time to study the canyon.
Just before dusk they reached the forest’s edge, and Blazel was surprised when Graak urged them to continue up the mountain toward the pass.
“Graak, what are you doing?” he called out. “We can’t cross the pass in the dark; it’s too dangerous for the horses.”
*Trust me. There’s a cave up here where we can spend the night.*
Blazel shook his head. The warriors, and Rizelya, rode with hands on weapons and carefully watched their surroundings. Even though they were technically in Phengriff lands, sabertigers had been known to hunt on this side of the pass.
Not far from the trees, true to his word, Graak led them to a hidden cave. The main cavern was large enough for the contingent of Phengriffs, the Posairs, and the horses.
The Phengriffs shrugged out of their packs and began to make camp for themselves. After taking care of their horses, the Posairs set up their camp on the cavern’s opposite side; there were too many Phengriffs for the horses to be comfortable so close to them.
Aistrun and Chariel unloaded the multas while the rest went out to gather firewood. Blazel and Jaehaas carried their bows and arrows. Rizelya had rigged a strap to carry her helbraught across her back—the lower end banged on her legs as she walked—leaving her hands free to pick up firewood. The two men watched carefully while the women filled their arms with wood.
Blazel caught movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned quickly, nocking an arrow and drawing the string of his bow back. He couldn’t see anything in the gloom. The hair on the back of his neck lifted. He took a deep breath to sample the air. It reeked of sabertiger. He squinted to see better, keeping his bowstring taut, and surveyed the trees.
“Graak!” he yelled, hoping the Phengriff would hear him. “There’s a sabertiger here.”
Rizelya’s firewood clattered to the ground and her helbraught blazed with red light. A few moments later he heard the sound of large wings above him. Graak and Broogk dropped down next to Blazel. He glanced up at the sound of two more Phengriffs hovering above them. They waited, muscles tense, and weapons ready, for several long milcrons. When nothing attacked them, they relaxed.
*If only one sabertiger was here, it wouldn’t attempt so many,* Graak said. *Let’s hurry back to the cave. We’ll guard your backs.*
Rizelya let go of the magic she’d fed into her helbraught, and the light in it dimmed. After settling it on her back, she bent and picked up the firewood she’d dropped. Blazel helped her. Wisah had moved next to Jaehaas, who was gently smoothing her hair. Rizelya gave her a wan smile and they walked back to the cave. Graak and Broogk paced behind, and the two other Phengriffs flew slowly above them. Blazel kept watch with both eyes and nose but couldn’t sense any sabertigers in their vicinity. He let out a whoosh of relief when they entered the cave with no further problems. Besides setting a ward, guard watches were also set for the night.
Chapter 15
The next day as they raced to the pass, Graak and several other Phengriffs flew just above their heads, while the rest of the flight flew so high they were specks in the sky. As they neared it, Blazel caught sight a sabertiger’s white and black fur as it paced them on the rocks above the path. He pointed it out to Graak, who let out a loud shriek. A Phengriff dove for the sabertiger, which disappeared in the jumble of rocks with a flick of its tail.
Half a dozen Phengriffs dropped down to circle over the pass. The path narrowed until it was only wide enough for two horses. The flight of Phengriffs should be ample deterrent for the sabertigers so this time Blazel and Aistrun remained in
human form and rode with their partners. They made their careful way through the pass and down the other side, picking up speed as soon as they could.
More and more shadows paced on either side of the group. Lighzel’s eyes shifted from side to side, and she pulled back on the bit, rearing slightly and whinnying in fright. Blazel caught Rizelya’s attention and pointed at the shadows.
*Aistrun, Jaehaas, get ready to fight.* Rizelya said in mind-speech.*Chariel and Wisah take care of the horses.*
Blazel was stunned that he could hear her, and the others’ responses. He knew packs could communicate in mind-speech to each other, but he’d never experienced it before. He felt the thrill of belonging. He was part of a pack!
The path led into a clearing surrounded by boulders. The first sabertiger leaped from behind a boulder but was caught in mid-leap from above by a Phengriff. Blazel tossed Lighzel’s reins to Chariel as he threw himself from the saddle, and Rizelya cast a fire shield around Chariel, Wisah, and the horses. As soon as his feet hit the ground, he called his magic to him, and a moment later he was in his warrior form. He lifted his head and howled. Aistrun’s deeper cry answered him.
Blazel watched in horror as a sabertiger leaped to pounce on Lighzel. It hit the fire shield and bounced off, its fur bursting into flame. An arrow thunked into its side and it dropped to the ground, dead. Another sabertiger rushed from behind a boulder. Blazel met it with a howl. His thick pelt saved him from the feline’s slashing claws. He slashed with his own long claws, releasing his venom, and caught it across the shoulder and neck. It roared in pain and dropped to the ground.
Another one slammed into him from behind, knocking him off balance. Claws punctured his back just below his shoulders. He grimaced, waiting for it to rip open his back. But instead, a rush of flames threw the cat from him. He glanced over to see Rizelya salute him with her helbraught. His heart stuttered as a huge feline attacked her. With grim determination, she thrust the sixteen-inch long blade into the cat’s chest. It toppled over and she pulled the helbraught out.