:It’s like the rodent’s need to feed mixed with the cat’s need to hunt.:
Kitha sat up and gave an interrogative whistle.
Hadara gestured toward the edge of the rock. :Them. We can’t talk them out of hunting us.:
:Does that ever work?:
:Sometimes.:
Kitha considered this, then peered over the edge. :I count twelve . . . thirteen. Maybe if I kill a couple, they’ll eat them and leave us alone.:
:Might work.:
As Kitha unslung her bow and prepped her arrows, she gazed around the plains. She wasn’t paying attention, but Hadara was. “Ssstop. Go back.”
Kitha looked at Hadara. :What?:
:Look to the north, down by the bushes.: Kitha looked where Hadara instructed, following the gryphon’s lead. :Down, down, left, left . . . there. Those bushes . . . I swear I saw a human shape there.:
:A scout?: Focusing in on the bushes, Kitha stared, examining what she could see against the bright afternoon sky.
“Maybe . . . All brrrrown.”
Kitha knew it could be anything. If it was a scout, they were under no obligation to help. Just watch and report. She shrugged. They would help themselves before asking for help. Starting with the creatures below. She aimed and shot true.
The rodent-cat screamed its pain, worse than the sound of accidentally stepping on a cat’s paw. That scream was cut short as the rest of them leaped upon it, tearing it to pieces and eating even as it died.
Kitha swallowed hard. These creatures needed to be reported to the clan and killed in case they weren’t sterile from the magic taint.
She followed that up with four more arrows. The same result each time. As soon as one was mortally wounded, the rest dispatched and ate their former packmate. Kitha knew it was going to be a long afternoon.
• • •
While stuck on top of the small butte, they ate, lightening their packs. Hadara took the time to rest while Kitha took in the plains around them. Nothing was trying to kill them up here. Hadara kept half a mental eye open and thought about her companion, and she smiled inwardly at how confident the girl was despite their circumstances. It never occurred to the half Shin’a’in courier that they would not make it.
Kitha, unaware of the scrutiny, took advantage of the light and the height to look for courier and clan signs to tell her which way to go. She kept coming back to the set of bushes Hadara pointed out. There was something down there.
Kitha glanced at the gryphon, admiring her beautiful plumage. :When we get down, we’ll go see what’s over at those bushes. Good spotting.:
Hadara, who had settled into a half-doze with her wings out and her beak open to keep from overheating in the sun, woke up again. She blinked sleepy eyes. “What of ourrr otherrrr companionsss?”
She looked over the edge of the butte again. Five dead and eaten. Eight still up and moving. They leaped for the rock with chatters of frustration when they saw her watching them. Kitha wondered if she would have to kill all the magic-changed creatures to get them to leave, but as the sun began to set, the pack turned as one and ran off, away from the direction they were traveling.
:Afraid of the coming dark, or another predator?: Kitha looked around, heart beating faster. She could not help but chrrr her sudden spike of fear.
“I do not know,” Hadara admitted. “I do not ssssmell morrrre prrredatorrrsss.”
The two of them took a long look around the horizon line, but there was nothing to see. Once Kitha was satisfied, she shrugged. :Time to get down.:
:We should glide. We’ll cover a lot of distance. Make it to those bushes in minutes instead of hours.:
Kitha could feel the ache in Hadara’s words, the desire to fly again. She nodded. :I’m game, but what about the weight of our packs?:
:They’re lighter now, and I’m more used to the weight.: Hadara leaned forward. :Please?:
Nodding, Kitha gave a low trill that served as a chuckle. :Only because we need to get there before the last of the daylight fades.:
This time, when Kitha clambered onto Hadara’s back, she did so with care. Instead of grabbing handfuls of feathers, she gripped the pack’s straps and settled in. Hadara kept her head down so Kitha could see where they were going. She set up on one side of the butte top, then, with only anticipation as a warning, took off running. Kitha kept her eyes open this time and cried out in pleasure as they took off into the air.
The ground rushed by them, but Kitha’s hawk eye kept the view clear. She risked a glance around for predators but saw none. She focused forward on their target, the clear spot next to the scrub bushes. As they closed in, she felt Hadara shift and slow down. The two of them landed with a gentle bump.
:Getting better at this.: Kitha stroked Hadara’s neck feathers before sliding off of the gryphon’s back.
:Getting back into the swing of it. I was a good flyer.:
Kitha chirped her approval, then examined the area around her. Now that she was on top of it, it was clear that it had once been a small campsite for a Shin’a’in scout. One used as a marked point for several from the small scratch marks in one of the rocks. :You did see someone. They’ve been watching us.:
“Why not help?” Hadara cocked her head at Kitha. “We werrre in ttrrrroubble.”
She shrugged and gave a low whistle. :That isn’t our way. We watch. We see what you can and cannot do. We report. I still may have some of my Tale’sedrin markings on, but I don’t look like I once did. They don’t know who we are.:
“You hhhhave a point.” The gryphon ruffled.
“You two are a very strange pair, indeed. One blind, but not. One mute, but not.”
The voice came from behind them. As they whipped around, they both saw a tall, lean man in nothing but dark brown. He stood there in serene stillness, his weapons sheathed.
:Kal’enedral. Sword Sworn.: Kitha put herself between the stranger and Hadara. :Speak for me?:
:Of course.:
While she stood and gestured, Hadara spoke. “Grrrreeting, Kal’enedrrral. I am Kitha shena Tale’ssssedrrrin. My companion is Hhhadarrra of k’Leyssssha Vale. I wasss caught in the Mage Ssstormsss . . . and changed. I don’t know the sssilent language yet. But Hhhhadarrrra can speak for me.”
“I am Verik shena Liha’irden. I was told to look for a strange pair traveling across the plains. I did not help because you both handled your problems on your own.” He looked up at Hadara. “How do you see?”
Hadara raised her beak, fluffing up her crest feathers at the implied challenge as she turned milky white eyes in his direction. “Kitha allowsss me the ussse of herrr eyesss when I need it.”
Verik nodded as if that answered everything. “I will lead you to the Tale’sedrin camp. It will take a day or two . . .” He stopped, silently regarding the two of them as Kitha gave a sharp whistle of negation and shook her head.
“We arrre capable. We will find it ourssselvesss.” Hadara keep their words simple, despite their mutual explosion of anger.
Verik gazed at Kitha, giving Hadara the impression he was staring at her breastbone. “That is exactly why I need to be with you, Change-Child. I believe you to be Tale’sedrin. Others may not be so accepting.”
Hadara felt Kitha’s mental wince of pain and sadness at the man’s deliberate use of the word Change-Child. Kitha hesitated, then gave Verik a low whistle of acceptance and turned away, hiding her emotions from the stranger, but not from Hadara. The gryphon shifted forward, trying to give her friend comfort through closeness.
• • •
:This is going to be harder than I thought.: Kitha’s mental voice was filled with suppressed anguish as she watched her clan come to greet the Sword Sworn and his companions. A gryphon on the plains was not unusual in these recent days after the Mage Storms, but the Change-Child was—especially in the company of the Kal’enedra
l.
Children Kitha had teased and played with less than a year ago now looked at her with suspicious or fearful eyes. She refused to raise her hood, though. This was what she was now. Either they would accept her, or they would not. It looked to be not, and this was a stab to the heart.
:Hush that kind of thought. You’re only looking to see the bad. There are those who are curious, that don’t turn away. Look and see. Acknowledge them. Stop walking like you’re going to an execution.:
Those same children Kitha use to tower over now looked her in the eye. Everything was familiar but wrong. It was so much bigger than it should be. It made her realize that Verik was not tall. It was she who was small. She hadn’t realized it in the Vale because she’d been so disoriented. Now that she was home, her new perspective was a forceful reminder that she was different. Inside and out.
:It’s you they’re looking at.: Kitha’s response was one of deflection. They both knew it, but she still pulled her shoulders back and raised her chin, then took a calming breath.
Hadara raised her head and shook her feathers. :Well, I am magnificent.:
Kitha smiled as much as her mutated face would allow. She was glad to have Hadara at her back—figuratively and literally. Then she saw her mentor, Jerda, and her stomach plummeted. The iron-haired Shin’a’in courier elder was as still as stone. She could not read a single thought or emotion on the older woman’s face.
Verik stopped before Jerda and spoke in a low tone that did not carry. Kitha looked around. None of the other elders were nearby. That was unusual. When strangers came, or Kal’enedral, for that matter, at least one was nearby to watch.
:They knew we were coming.: Hadara drank in the images and sounds around her. :I don’t think they know what to do with you . . . us.:
Kitha gave a sad, soft chirp. :You’re right. At least I’ll be allowed to report in one last time.:
Verik and Jerda turned to the pair of them. Kitha stepped forward with Hadara behind.
“Zzzhhha’hhhai’allav’aaah—” Hadara started to give the Shin’a’in greeting, then stopped as Jerda swept Kitha into a huge hug, holding her as if she were a lost child now found. Suddenly blind as Kitha sobbed in hiccups and chirps on Jerda’s shoulder, Hadara withdrew from Kitha’s mind to give her the privacy of grief with her mentor.
As she listened to Jerda’s soothing murmurs and the whispers of the crowd around them, Hadara felt Verik by her side. “This might take some time. The two will communicate with each other. Let me take you someplace more comfortable. The children are curious.”
For a moment, Hadara felt a pang of jealousy and fear. It would be the first time she was away from Kitha since they’d met. Hadara stomped that into the ground. Kitha was just a mind call away. She nodded. “Lead on, Ssssword Ssworn. The childrrreen arrre welcome.”
A short time later, Hadara was proving to the children of the Tale’sedrin clan that blind did not mean deaf or slow as she played a modified game of tag with them. It was Verik and her against at least a dozen of the younger children, while the older kids, awkward in that stage of being interested in such games but no longer feeling they should play, called out encouragement and laughter.
:To your left.: Kitha mentally called as she returned with Jerda at her side.
Hadara let herself be tagged by the small girl on her left and collapsed. “Capturrrred! I hhhhave been capturrred.” She presented the girl with one of her looser feathers. “Fairrrr won.”
The girl grabbed it with mumbled thanks and ran off to show her friends.
“Children, I’m sure all of you have something to do. I need to talk with Hadara and Kitha now.” Jerda’s tone was one of command. With a chorus of good-byes, the children slipped away before work was found for them.
Kitha offered Hadara the mental link to her eyes. Hadara almost didn’t accept it. She didn’t want it to be a crutch. But, the closeness of the link was too much to deny. The world appeared in her mind once more.
“Zha’hai’allav’a, Hadara of k’Leysha Vale. Thank you for escorting Kitha home. We need to talk.”
Hadara, now looking at the older Shin’a’in woman, nodded. “Yesss. We ssshould.” While Kitha seemed that much more relaxed, Hadara knew that when anyone said, “We need to talk,” it was never a good sign.
Jerda led them into a large tent that had the marks of being recently cleared out. Clean hay and grasses were piled in one part next to a cot. :Where we’ll be staying?: she asked.
:Yes. For a short time.:
:Then what?: As Hadara settled in, she noticed that Verik had joined them as a silent observer. He sat on the far side of the tent with paper and drawing inks. It was a curious thing, but she kept her curiosity to herself.
As if reading both of their minds, Jerda answered the question as she took a seat. “The question now, is what to do with you two, Kitha, Change-Child or not, you are a full courier of the Tale’sedrin clan. You returned with Quenten’s message and have proven yourself. Hadara, you are not of the Tale’sedrin clan, but it is clear you and Kitha have bonded. Perhaps Lifebonded even. The shamans don’t know or aren’t speaking. Neither is the Star-Eyed or her sworn ones.”
Jerda continued to speak as Kitha and Hadara both felt a jolt of surprise. :Lifebonded?: Kitha sent. :Is that possible?:
Hadara shook her head. :I don’t know. I know . . . I’m happy with you.:
:And I, you. I mean . . . not in a romantic way. Just . . . :
: . . . content,: they both finished, then shared a moment of affection.
“—back to Quenten of Bolthaven.” Jerda stopped speaking, and an awkward silence descended. After several long moments, she asked, “What do you two think?”
“Ah . . .” Hadara began, “Apologiessss. Wassss sssurprissed at what you sssaid.”
Kitha wrote with swift strokes on her own paper. Hadara didn’t need to read it. The words were clear in her head as she wrote.
We didn’t hear anything after the word ‘Lifebonded.’
“Hmph. I thought you already knew. Bonded, certainly. No one knows just how much.” The mirth in Jerda’s voice was clear. “I said we have another message and would like the two of you to return to Quenten of Bolthaven. As both of you have been affected by magic, he might be able to help you.”
Kitha wrote again, and Hadara was content to allow her to take the lead.
I need to let my family in Jkatha know what has happened to me. Why I probably will never return. While those of the Vale accept me as I am, and the clan understands what’s happened, I don’t think those of the more civilized society will. We don’t know.
“They will if I’m with you,” Hadara said as Kitha showed Jerda the paper. “Grrryphonsss arrre ssspecccial.”
Jerda nodded. “Of course. We’ll send a courier to them. Your family will be informed. Don’t give up yet. Quenten might be able to help.”
As a ripple of tangled emotions cascaded through their link, Hadara answered for both of them. “We will deliverrr the messssage. Then we will sssseee.” Neither of them wanted to say more until they’d talked about everything. There was a lot to say that could not be said in front of others.
Sensing they wanted to be alone, Jerda stood. “I will let the elders know.” She gave Kitha an affection touch on the shoulder and left the tent.
Verik stood and moved to Kitha’s side. “You should include this in your letter. It is good to let them know what you look like now, in case you change your mind and wish to visit them one day.”
Kitha, and Hadara with Kitha’s eyes, looked at the drawing Verik made. It was of Kitha as she was now: part-human and part-bird. Her head was covered in the mottled feathers of a young red-tailed hawk from brow to neck. The left side of her face from cheekbone to brow had the feathered face and golden eye of a bird. Her right half was of a lovely young woman. Her nose and mouth was a blend of beak and lip.
From her strong chin down to her neck was human, but feathers could be seen disappearing into her shirt.
Kitha whistled in surprise.
“You hhhave made me beautiful,” Hadara translated.
“I draw what I see.”
Hadara covered for Kitha’s sudden embarrassment. “You forrrrgot to drrrraw the magnificcccent me. I’m herrrr companion, afterrrr all.”
Verik gave a light smile. “So right. I will do so before the letter is sent off. For now, I have other duties.” He left the tent while Kitha continued studying the picture.
:Am I beautiful?: she demanded. :You saw the way the children ran and stared.:
:You were a stranger then. You are not a stranger now. You are a curiosity now. Like me.: Hadara considered her words. :You are beautiful to me. I think from side to side, each part of you is beautiful. Taken as a whole, however, it may be too jarring for some.:
Kitha thought about that for a long time as she gazed at each part of the drawing. Then she folded it with care and put it with her belongings. She did not say anything else and kept her thoughts to herself.
Hadara pulled back from Kitha’s sight, giving her privacy once more. And giving herself the privacy of her own roiling thoughts. She waited as Kitha moved through the tent, puttering.
Thoughts whirled about in Kitha’s mind. Lifebonded? Another trip to Bolthaven? What do I want now?
When she couldn’t stand it any longer she asked, :Do you want to be fixed?:
:Am I broken?: Hadara kept her mental voice as neutral as possible.
:You’re blind. It was magically done.:
:Yes.:
:I don’t consider you broken. You saved us. Twice.: Kitha gave a small caw of frustration. :I’m part hawk. It was magically done. Am I broken? Should I be ‘fixed’?:
Hadara thought about the problem they faced. There was more to it than just the concept of infirmed, disabled, or deformed. :You’re asking, if Quenten can fix either of our magical maladies, will we still be able to talk like this? Or if Quenten can fix only one of us, will we lose the bond we’ve created? Correct?: The gryphon felt Kitha’s wordless guilt, and cut it off. :None of that now! If your malady can be fixed and give you a more normal human life, then you should do it! I am blind, but not incapable.:
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