Flight of the Gryphon

by Ann Durand

  "Master, and Husband, God of Parallon," Katera began, her voice an octave higher than normal. "I've missed you so much. At last, I have returned to you. And look whom I've brought." Katera gestured to Adrella, who stood gracefully and curtsied. "Please, allow me to introduce my sister to you," Katera said, swallowing nervously. "This is Katera."

  Askinadon broke into a wide grin. "Ah, yes," he chortled. "You look exactly like your sister. Good, good. Just as I had hoped."

  He's going for it. He thinks Adrella is me . Katera laid a hand on her chest, realizing that her Lan Ma Ke had not been activated-meaning Askinadon meant them neither harm nor good.

  "I am at your service with all my gratitude, Master," Adrella said, softly. "Your wish is my command."

  "That's right," Askinadon said, stroking his chin and running his eyes over Adrella's body. "And right now my wish is for you to make the final sacrifice. And that, my dear, will be your honeymoon. We'll just skip right over the wedding and get to it, shall we?"

  Katera cringed, knowing that Adrella had surrendered to him on her behalf, to spare her the violation and protect her virginity. I've already spent two years in his bed , she'd insisted. What's one more time? And so they had switched identities. Adrella had warned her that Askinadon would be interested in bedding his new conquest immediately, which meant that Katera would need to execute the next stage of the plan without delay.

  "I hasten to learn your desires, Master," Adrella cooed. "When may I…I mean we…complete the final sacrifice?"

  Askinadon threw his head back and laughed as the loose skin on his jowls shook.

  "Ah, yes," he said, his eyes filled with anticipation. "We shall not tarry any longer. You will accompany me to my bedchamber at once." He indicated the direction with a grand sweep of his arm. "After you, my dear."

  "Uh, Master," Katera interrupted. Askinadon swung his head back to her, his eyes filled with impatience. "Forgive me, Master. Rorken?"

  "I just had him delivered to Shamana in the nursery," Askinadon said, waving his hand and turning back to Adrella. "You may retrieve your son."

  Katera bowed, stealing a glimpse at Askinadon as he followed Adrella across the courtyard, leering at her backside.

  "Thank you, Master, Husband of my Heart, and God of Parallon," she called after him.

  He did not look back and disappeared with Adrella through a door in the north wing. Katera stood alone in the courtyard. She looked cautiously around, trying to visualize the map that Adrella had drawn for her of the castle, and feeling dwarfed by the sheer size of the building in front of her. Not only was it long, it stood fifty feet high. Somewhere inside this maze, she must find the nursery.

  A door…she had to find a door into the southern wing. Ah, there it was. She raced toward it, pressed an icon as she'd been instructed, and stepped inside when it slid open. A long hallway stretched before her with numerous doors lined up along one wall about fifteen feet apart. Though Adrella had described it, it still took her by surprise. The walls were straight and perfectly smooth, not lumpy like the clay walls of a hosta. And so many doors. She glanced at each one as she rushed by. What was behind them? Did people live in there? At the end, she spied a staircase, the first one she'd ever seen. It held perfectly formed rectangular blocks, each one positioned higher than the last and extending up until they disappeared around a corner. She marveled at it for a moment before turning right down another hallway.

  She passed a few more doors and turned left into a shorter corridor. According to the map, the kitchen should be the first door on the right. It certainly smelled like one. Her nose caught the scent of meaty broths and aromatic herbs as the sound of clanging pots rattled into the hall. The door was open, and she peered inside. It was bustling with the activity of several women chopping meat and stirring the contents of large kettles. They looked up as she strode by and waved. Katera waved back.

  "Welcome back, Adrella," one of them called.

  "Thank you," Katera called back.

  She found the next door on the right and stopped. This should be it. She pressed an icon and it slid open. Inside, Shamana, the shy one from her village who had been Summoned only last year, sat on the floor playing with a toddler. She looked up as Katera entered.

  "You're back," she said, in a small voice.

  "Yes, I'm here for Rorken." The child on the floor squealed when he saw Katera, and she knelt on the carpet to get a good look at her nephew. He looked like his mother and herself, with large green eyes and jet-black hair. As Rorken toddled toward her, he stopped with a funny look on his face. Then he stuffed a hand in his mouth, staring. He knows I'm not Adrella , Katera thought, hoping he would still come to her. She held out her arms, and Rorken wobbled a few more steps, but stopped again.

  "Where Mama?" he asked.

  Shamana looked back and forth between them, then raised a hand to her mouth, and gasped, "Why you're…you're Katera. Aren't you?"

  Katera sat back on her heels and smiled at Shamana.

  "You won't tell, will you? We need just a little time. Please wait until Askinadon reads it in your thoughts. He's with Adrella. He thinks she's me. Give us some time, Shamana…please?"

  Shamana paused, considering this. "What are you going to do?" she asked at last.

  "I'm taking Rorken, and we're leaving Kan Mountain."

  "You can't do that. The Voice will find you."

  "No," Katera explained. "I don't have the Voice in my head any more."

  Shamana's eyes widened. "How?"

  Katera explained the VisiOrb and showed her the headset she was wearing. Shamana looked at it. Then she looked back up at Katera with a resolute look on her face.

  "Take me with you. Wherever you're going…whatever the plan is, I want to be part of it."

  "I can't."

  "Yes, you can…and you will," Shamana insisted, setting her mouth in a firm line.

  Never, in all the years they had spent growing up together, had Katera heard such determination in Shamana's voice.

  "You have the VisiOrb in your head. We will never succeed if you come with us."

  Shamana stood and quietly left the room. A moment later, she returned carrying a sharp knife that she'd picked up in the kitchen.

  "Use this," she said, kneeling in front of her. "Take it out. Take the Voice out of my head."

  She set the knife on the carpet between them and parted her hair to expose her forehead. Katera sighed and picked up the knife.

  "Hold still," she said.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Askinadon looked spent. His hair had fallen from its crown where he liked to sweep it back to cover sparser areas. Now, it lay in long, greasy tendrils that snaked over his pillow. His large belly protruded above him, though he was lying on his back. The whole bedchamber reeked of his sweat. Adrella fought back the nausea, wondering how much longer she'd have to suffer this ordeal.

  Her thoughts turned to her sister, hoping she'd made it most of the way down the mountain with Rorken. She had to be at least halfway, but Askinadon would need further stalling for Katera to complete the trip. Inhaling deeply, she leaned over him once again.

  "I am so pleased that you claimed my virginity, Master. Never have I known such pleasure. I must show you my gratitude…again."

  Askinadon looked at her and groaned. "No more today, Katera. I've had enough, but hang around. I've got both you and Adrella on the menu tomorrow."

  Through a new onslaught of nausea, Adrella forced a smile. "Must I share you, Master? She's had you for two entire years; and I for only one, short afternoon."

  Askinadon chuckled, reached out, and cupped her breast. "I wouldn't call four hours short, but don't worry. You'll be getting more from me, though you're going to have to learn how to share. Next time, I'll be wanting four of these." He squeezed and jiggled her breast.

  "If I must then, Master," she said, gritting her teeth, "but if that's the case, then give me more time with you. This is our first lovemaking. I want to always remembe
r this."

  Askinadon smiled wickedly. "Your sister never asked for this much." His hand slid onto her leg, and she thought he might succumb, but then he rolled over and sat up. "Nah. No more today. Now, twenty years ago, when I was a mere lad of forty, I could take on four, five Parallonian maidens and last all day-sometimes well into the night."

  He gave a deep laugh, stood, and lumbered over to his ulli with the uneven walk of a man battling the early stages of arthritis.

  Four or five maidens from Parallon when he was a lad of forty? Impossible. Askinadon had arrived in Parallon only ten years ago . Empty-headed bragging-that figures . She swung her legs off the bed.

  "This wonderful day has made me hungry for a large meal, Master," she said, in her sweetest voice. "May we have one together? I'm not ready to part with your company yet. Please?" She sashayed next to him as he gazed at her naked body in the dresser mirror. "You don't blame me, do you?" She hoped she wasn't laying it on too thick.

  Askinadon gave her an unsuspecting smile.

  "No," he said, and patted her bottom. "I understand. We'll order something to eat in the royal dining room."

  Adrella threw her arms around his neck. "Oh, thank you, Master."

  As they dressed, Adrella slipped her headset, which had been hidden in her clothes, back into her ear in a single surreptitious motion, then fluffed her hair over it. Turning, she looped her arm inside Askinadon's, and walked with him down the hall toward the dining room, which was located on the third floor of the castle along with his other private quarters. As they entered, the aroma of roasted goat mixed with the scent of spicy tarola root lifted her nose and reminded her of the golden spoon that Askinadon had given her a year ago. He'd insisted that she bring it with her every time she dined with him. She did not have it, and he expected her to carry it with her at all times. That small act of forgetfulness was exactly the type of behavior that sent him into a rage and earned his wives their time in the rocsadon's den. She unthreaded her arm and pulled back.

  "Master!" she cried. "I left my golden spoon in the hosta. Let me get it, please. I cannot bear to eat without…" She gasped as she realized that Katera didn't own a golden spoon. "I mean, I heard about it from Adrella. She said she never wanted to eat without it. Might I try it, please?" She felt herself shaking and clasped both hands together to steady them. Askinadon had frozen to the spot. He turned slowly to face her. Adrella's Lan Ma Ke turned frosty, and she shivered with dread. "I can't help it, Master. I am so jealous. She has received this lovely gift from you. I want to try it, too." Adrella rambled on, fearful to let him speak. "I won't be long. I'll just…"

  "Silence." Askinadon grabbed her arm and yanked her into the dining room where he threw her into a chair. "You will wait here," he commanded, and stomped over to the wall where he pressed an icon on a panel. "Kastaks to the dining room!" he called. Moments later, she heard footsteps thundering up the staircase and two Kastaks streaked into the room. She felt her heart sink as she recognized Kastak Morchison behind Kastak Timoton. "Guard her," Askinadon ordered, as he barreled out the door. "I'll be in the control room."

  Adrella felt dizzy with despair. She had never been in the control room-no one but Askinadon ever went there. It was the place he manipulated his Voice. Oh, merciful Lupana. He wanted to summon her sister. Had she ruined everything? Would Askinadon discover Katera and Rorken halfway down the mountain? Surely he would, but would he know it was Katera with Rorken? Their orbs transmitted identity. It was the reason they'd switched. If Askinadon checked their identities in the control room, the Orb in Katera's ear would tell him that Adrella was trying to escape. Still, if he demanded that Katera return, they were all in trouble. Nervously, she drew a hand over her mouth, trying to think.

  "You looked disturbed, my dear," Morchison said, in a dangerously soft voice. He jabbed her with his finger. "Are we in trouble, great whore of Askinadon? Maybe it's finally your turn to spend time with the lovely rocsadons, eh? Just like I promised you."

  "I think you have me mixed up with my sister, Kastak. I am Katera, her twin."

  Morchison furrowed his brow, studying her. Obviously, he hadn't been informed that Askinadon had claimed Adrella's twin as his new bride. It seemed that Askinadon did not divulge much to his Kastaks. He was inclined to hoard all information, power, and women to himself. Morchison shook his head.

  "I don't care if you're her twin or not," he said, lifting a strand of her hair and letting it fall as if it were a nasty thing. "You're still Askinadon's whore. Both of you are, if you even have a sister. You are nothing. You may be used and abused and tossed aside easily for another." Adrella felt the heat rising to her face as Morchison circled around her. "Soon, very soon I think, we shall find you inside the pen with our roaring, little pets. We'll look for you in the middle of the yard, perched on top of a tall pole, hm?"

  He was describing the horrid post created from the trunk of a tree driven into the ground inside the rocsadon's pen. The sheared off top made for a small standing platform for the unfortunate wives that displeased Askinadon. There, on an area big enough to contain two footprints, Askinadon forced a wife to stand for hours, sometimes an entire day and night. During the grueling ordeal, the tethered rocsadons stretched their long necks toward the wife, spitting and gnashing their jaws just out of reach, sometimes by mere inches. Sitting and dangling feet was out of the question, and the women warned each other not to try it. So far, no one had slipped, no one had fallen, but all who'd experienced the post had nearly done both.

  Adrella looked up into the hard face of Morchison and sighed. She could see the pleasure in his eyes, and it wearied her. Even if he believed she was Katera, he would love to be the one to shove her up the ladder and onto the post, then leave her tottering as he pulled the ladder away. It was easy to imagine his delight as he unleashed the rocsadons upon her. If given the chance, he might even dare to embed her scent into a fixing cloth, making it nearly impossible to lure the animal away and bring her back down to safety after she'd served her time. Adrella turned her head away.

  "Do what you must, Kastak," she said.

  Morchison reacted instantly. "Don't turn from me, woman!" he cried, and grabbed a fistful of her hair, yanking her head toward him. "Look at me."

  Resigned, she looked back at him. As he held her hair aloft, she watched the anger slip off his face, supplanted by a look of surprise. In a wave of horror, she realized that her ear was exposed. She reached up to free her hair from his grasp, but he was digging into her ear and dislodging the tiny Orb. He dropped her hair and stood back to study the modified Orb in his palm.

  "Well, I'll be. What do you know?" He glanced at her, astonished, then returned his gaze to the Orb. "How in the world does a stupid savage like you modify a high tech item like this?"

  Adrella felt herself shaking. "I didn't make it, Kastak. It…was a gift. So that I might have two Voices…the one in my head and that one."

  She gestured to the Orb in his hand. Morchison blinked, his mouth open, then turned to Timoton.

  "Get Askinadon. Tell him we need him here. This wench has managed to remove the VisiOrb and create an alternate system. He'll want to know about it right away."

  "On my way, Kastak Morchison," Timoton said, and bounded out the door.

  Adrella dropped her head and struggled to hold back the tears. All was lost. Surely, all was lost.

  Chapter Fifteen

  There were no clouds to blanket the sky and shield the trail from the sun's burning rays. Katera wiped her forehead and slipped off the heavy backpack with Rorken inside, guiding it gently to the ground. Shamana crouched low and wriggled into the straps, then stood up, her legs shaking. She looked as exhausted as Katera felt.

  "Thank you, Shamana," Katera said, grateful that she'd brought her along. "I'm not sure how I could have done this alone. I'm glad you found another wife to watch the children so quickly."

  Shamana smiled. "And I am so grateful to you."

  "Even if a horde of rocsad
ons comes rumbling down the trail after us?" Katera laughed, though she wasn't entirely joking.

  "Even so," Shamana answered, quietly.

  They resumed their trek down the mountain. Katera wanted to ask Shamana about her life with Askinadon, but was afraid the conversation would slow them. She picked up her pace, hoping a few more hours would bring them to the safety of the caves. The Orb in her ear sputtered, and Katera felt her heart stop.

  Askinadon. Already? A bad sign. It meant that Adrella had not been able to detain him long enough. And Mikolen was not on the summit yet, as planned-they should have passed him on his way up. Katera lifted a shaking hand to adjust the volume as Askinadon's voice squealed into the modified Orb.

  Well, well, my dear. It appears that you are halfway down the mountain. Straying a little far from home, aren't we?

  "Master, Rorken begged for a walk and…"

  A four-hour walk away from the compound without my permission?

  Askinadon was shouting, and Katera felt her heart hammering inside her chest. "P-please, forgive me, Master. I'll turn around right away."

  Yes, you will turn around…Katera.

  Hearing her name, she felt like she'd been clubbed on the side of her head. Merciful Lupana. He knows we've switched. He must have discovered the Orb in Adrella's ear.

  "What do you mean?" She tried to sound innocent.

  I mean your sister, the mother of Rorken, is paying for both of your sins, your lies, and your betrayal of my trust.

  Adrella. What was he doing to her? Katera felt the acid rise to her throat. I must stay calm, she reminded herself, trying to swallow her panic. With every ounce of her will, she forced herself to answer with a steady voice.

  "Adrella did not betray you, Master. She could not wait to see you, that's all. She wanted you all to herself. Can you blame her for that? And then, I begged her to let me see my nephew. I insisted. It wasn't her fault." The Orb droned into the silence. "What would you have me do, Master? Please, offer me an opportunity to show you that I am at your service. I will obey in gratitude."