Riders of the Realm #2

by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez

Before he could continue, Uncle Darthan said, “I bet two rounds on you yesterday at odds of twenty to one. Do you know what that means?”

  Rahkki let go of his tension and grinned. “It means you’re rich.”

  Darthan knocked a clump of ashes to the ground. “It’s true that I won forty rounds, a small fortune, and that’s exactly why I won’t be getting it. If Lilliam pays me, it will bankrupt the clan. She’s refused to settle her bet on grounds of hardship.”

  “No!” Rahkki blinked at him. “She can’t do that!”

  “She can and she did, but she had to settle with me another way, to show good faith. I ended up with something far more valuable than four thousand dramals.” Darthan’s lips curled into a slow smile. “Last night she met with the queens from the other clans to unseal our pact. They agreed. The farm is mine again.”

  Rahkki grinned. “So you’ll still end up stinking rich!”

  Darthan met Rahkki’s gaze. “I’ll earn a living, Rahkki, which is all I ever wanted.” He leaned against the wide carved back of his chair. “But I won’t have any new rice to sell until after the harvest, and that is moons away. Until then, I’m broke.”

  “Oh,” he whispered. Rahkki slumped, looking drained.

  “I know you need armor and hay for Sula, and armor for yourself,” Darthan said. “But I can’t help you. Not yet.”

  “It’s not fair.”

  Darthan chuckled. “Remember what I told you about wanting life to be fair?”

  Rahkki kicked the ground. “You told me not to do it.”

  Darthan nodded, his dark eyes thoughtful. “That’s right, so you’ll need to find a different sponsor, or you’ll need to wait.”

  “I can’t wait.” Rahkki picked at his nails and glanced at Echofrost again.

  She nickered to him as if he could understand her. “Where is my armor? Where’s yours?”

  Rahkki shifted. “I fly out tomorrow with Harak to scout the hordes. We’re preparing for war.”

  Darthan grimaced, exhaling his sweet smoke between tight lips. “The timing is bad,” he grumbled. “And you can’t trust Harak, Rahkki.”

  “I never have,” answered the boy.

  “I know, but there’s more to it now,” Darthan added, his voice low. “The clan is plotting against Lilliam and the queen knows about it, but not who’s behind it. She doesn’t trust anyone—not her crown princess and not the Stormrunners. Me, you, Brauk, and I’Lenna—we top her list of possible assassins.”

  Rahkki snorted. “Like I’Lenna would overthrow her own mother.”

  Darthan’s dark eyes glimmered. “She might.”

  Rahkki tensed. “Uncle!”

  Echofrost flared her wings, feeling the anger emanating off Rahkki and then wondered at her growing attunement toward him. It was as if they were members of the same herd.

  Darthan exhaled. “Look, I don’t like to speak ill of your friend, Rahkki, but there are rumors that she’s behind it. You ought to stay away from her.”

  “It’s not her. It’s General Tsun,” Rahkki answered. “He’s leading the uprising, and he wants us to join him.”

  Darthan leaned forward. “He said this to you?”

  The boy nodded.

  Darthan stood and began pacing. “No, I won’t lend the Stormrunner name to this rebellion. We aren’t traitors, but we have to prepare, store weapons. And now that the pact is unsealed, you boys aren’t safe. Lilliam has every right to rid the clan of her bloodborn predecessors, without repercussion.”

  “Why hasn’t she then?”

  “Until the rebels move against her, she won’t dare harm any of us—not outright. It would trigger the uprising she wants to avoid. And since you’re friends with her daughter—who she believes wants her throne—you’re the one she’ll go after first. Lilliam could easily arrange an ‘accident’ and be done with you.”

  Rahkki sobered. “I’ll be careful, but I don’t believe I’Lenna is behind it. She doesn’t want the throne, she told me.” He wiped his face. “I hope the clan saves the wild herd before this uprising, but Sula and I can’t help without armor. Brauk’s set won’t fit me, and Kol’s won’t fit Sula.” He touched his satchel. “I have a game of stones, an old beetle cage, and a few of Sula’s feathers. What else can I sell?”

  “Talk to Koko, she may have spare equipment you can borrow.”

  Rahkki turned to Echofrost, his golden eyes probing hers. He slipped hesitantly onto her back and nudged her south. “I’ll try,” he said to Darthan.

  Echofrost lifted off and flew back the way they’d come. Taking action calmed her, and at least she was out flying and not locked in a stall.

  As they soared south toward the Kihlari stable, Rahkki sat up in excitement. “Look! There’s I’Lenna.”

  Because of Rahkki’s excited pointing, Echofrost scanned the terrain below and spotted the crown princess. I’Lenna stood beside the River Tsallan, deep in a private conversation with a soldier.

  “It’s General Tsun,” Rahkki growled, urging Echofrost toward the princess.

  But odd movements in the eastern jungle drew Echofrost’s attention away. The trees were shaking and swaying in a defined pathway, leading toward the fortress. It reminded her of when she and Storm Herd had first spotted Granak. He was so large; he’d snapped trees in half and knocked them over as he’d moved. Curious, she arched her neck and whinnied a warning to Rahkki.

  But her cub had also noticed the disturbance, and it took his attention off I’Lenna and the general. He leaned toward this new danger. Echofrost banked and changed course, flying toward the creature in the jungle.

  If it was Granak, they were safe because the dragon couldn’t fly, but whatever it was—it was heading directly toward the Fifth Clan settlement.

  Using his legs and hands to cue her, Rahkki urged Echofrost to fly lower. She cruised over the treetops toward the swaying forest canopy.

  Suddenly the source of the jostling trees came into view. It wasn’t Granak.

  It was giants!

  11

  Parlay

  ECHOFROST’S WINGS STUTTERED AS SHE BRAKED and hovered above the trees. Below her dangling hooves, she counted a pack of fifteen Gorlanders, a small flight of burner dragons, two elephants, and a gigantic fanged cat—all tromping toward Fort Prowl. She swooped closer, noticing their weapons weren’t drawn. A pegasus whinny rang out from behind the last elephant.

  She recognized it and whinnied back. “Redfire!” Echofrost dived toward the giants. Redfire had been a captain in Desert Herd’s army in Anok, and he’d taught Echofrost how to sharpen her hooves and add power to her kicks. He’d been captured with the rest of Storm Herd—but now he was here! She descended toward him.

  Rahkki shouted at her. “No, don’t fly closer, it’s too dangerous!” He kicked Echofrost and pulled her mane. “You don’t listen!”

  Echofrost ignored the boy and glided toward the rear of the frightening group. There was Redfire, tied to the saddle of a cow elephant. The lead giants, three adult males, grunted at her but did not threaten the lone mare and boy. They continued their steadfast march toward Fort Prowl.

  Redfire reared toward her. “Echofrost,” he neighed, “there’s a Landwalker on your back.”

  “I know,” she sputtered, relief flooding her at the sound of his voice. “What are you doing here? How’s Dewberry?”

  The tall copper chestnut strained against his tether, and the annoyed elephant trumpeted at him. Redfire ceased tugging. “Dewberry is—” His voice choked off for a moment, and dread filled Echofrost. “She’s stressed. The foals are sucking the life from her.”

  “Foals?” Echofrost cried.

  He nodded. “We think so. Since our capture, Dewberry’s belly has doubled in size. She’s finally eating and resting, and yes, we believe there are two.”

  Twins! Echofrost’s heart bulged at the news and she blinked back tears. Her brother, Bumblewind, would never meet his foals and the unfairness of that crushed her. “I’ve joined the Sky Guard army
with this cub,” she whinnied to Redfire. “We’re going to rescue Storm Herd.”

  Four of the smallest giants trotted toward Redfire and then walked beside him. They stared up at Echofrost, flashing their small tusks. They had smooth faces and bright-red hair, and she realized they were children. “What is this?” Echofrost asked, sweeping her eyes across the group. “Why have they brought you here?”

  “I don’t know.” Redfire narrowed his eyes at Rahkki, who was clinging tightly to Echofrost with his arms and legs. “Do you trust the Landwalkers?” he asked.

  “Of course not,” she answered. “But I need them to save you. Where are you being held? Is anyone injured? How is Hazelwind?”

  “Hazelwind is angry. He blames himself for our capture, but otherwise he’s fine. Some are injured, but most of us are battle ready.” Redfire lashed his tail at the Gorlan children, warning them to stay back, and continued. “The giants are hiding us in a valley at the top of the mountains. Tall cliffs surround it, so you have to fly real high to spot us, or you have to travel through a pass overland. The mouth of the valley is narrow, and the cliff walls are full of dark caves. It’s the perfect place to trap an army of Landwalkers.”

  The three giants leading the group roared at Echofrost when she flew too close to Redfire.

  “Back off, Sula,” Rahkki urged, tugging helplessly at her mane.

  Echofrost glided higher to appease Rahkki and the giants. She continued speaking with Redfire. “If the valley is open to the sky, then the flying army can’t get trapped, right?”

  “True,” he said.

  “How are you kept?”

  But Redfire didn’t have time to answer. Day Patrol had flown back from scouting the western border of the Sandwen settlement and spotted the giants.

  “RAID!” Harak bellowed.

  Rahkki urged Echofrost toward the Headwind. “Let’s go,” he pleaded.

  “I’ll be back, Redfire!” Echofrost neighed as she surged toward Harak and his stallion, Ilan.

  “It’s not a raid; they brought their pups!” Rahkki shouted over the hot breeze. “Stand down!”

  Harak jerked his stallion around and rocketed toward Rahkki and Echofrost. “Don’t tell me what to do, yeah.” The Pair flew past and swooped over the Gorlan party, all eighty of Harak’s Riders and Fliers trailing behind him.

  The giants halted and lifted their weapons.

  Harak yanked Ilan into a hover, dropped his reins, and gestured, speaking Gorlish with his hands. The three largest Gorlan males gestured back. After much hand signaling, the giants lowered their weapons, and Harak motioned them to continue their journey toward Fort Prowl. “They’ve come to talk,” he announced to his patrol.

  Echofrost and Rahkki followed the group as they emerged out of the jungle and marched past the supply barn that the giants had burned down the last time they’d raided.

  The Gorlander’s miniature dragons flocked onto the back of the bigger bull elephant and chortled at the Sandwens. The Fifth Clan ceased what they were doing to watch the small procession of Gorlanders and their beasts pass by. Parents collected children and raced into their huts. Their small faces gaped from the windows.

  The saber cat snarled, her eyes darting hungrily toward the penned animals near the Sandwen homes. A teenage giant rode on the cat’s back, guiding her with a hackamore bridle. The cat, as large as Echofrost, had bearlike shoulders and powerful haunches. She snapped her thick tail back and forth.

  Since joining the Fifth Clan militia, Echofrost had expected to fight giants, but had forgotten about their cats and elephants, which were just as fierce and dangerous. She glanced at Harak’s Riders, noting how lithe and fragile they suddenly appeared. But their fast arrows and sharp blades bolstered her, and the fact that giants couldn’t fly.

  “Open the gates and call the queen,” Headwind Harak commanded as they approached the fort. “The Gorlanders have come to parlay.”

  12

  The Soup

  SINCE THE GORLANDERS AND THEIR BEASTS wouldn’t fit inside the queen’s command chamber, General Tsun and the Headwinds cleared the courtyard for the parlay. All nonmilitary Sandwens were escorted out except for the Borla and the clan treasurer.

  With some pride, Rahkki realized he was permitted to stay. And Sula didn’t need any prompting to attend; she dropped toward the courtyard so fast he lost his breath. At the last moment, she flared her light purple end-feathers and landed smoothly beside Tuni and Rizah. The mares nickered greetings to each other, and Rahkki wondered if Sula had made friends with the golden pinto.

  The vast flagstone courtyard, flanked by thirty-length-high walls, quickly shrank as the Gorlan party filled its center. While they awaited Queen Lilliam, Rahkki studied the Gorlanders.

  Their great size made the Sandwens appear as dolls and their weapons as toys in comparison. As the giants sat or squatted, their bodies slammed heavily upon the flagstone and their loud, grunting breaths filled the air. Their soil-stained fingers took up considerable space in their laps.

  The three largest males crouched together, facing the throne that had been carried out for Queen Lilliam. Rahkki’s eyes trailed up their huge bodies, noting the stitching in their goatskin wraps, their waterskins, and the bludgeons strapped to their backs. Thick claws grew from their toes and fingers, and a double set of tusks grew out over their lips. Short red fur covered only their chests, shoulders, and upper backs. Long hair in varying shades of red grew from their heads and down their short necks. They seemed half beast, half man, a confusing combination.

  The three alpha males each wore a decorative collar, and Brauk had once explained what this meant. The giants are governed by the largest males, he’d said. And you’ll know their kings and princes not just by their size, but also by the wreaths they wear around their necks. The kings wear full wreaths, and the princes wear half wreaths. They’re made of gems, ivory, or saber tusks, depending on the horde.

  By their half wreaths, Rahkki understood he was standing only several lengths from the Gorlan princes of Highland, Great Cave, and Fire Hordes. He leaned toward Tuni. “Have the Gorlanders ever come to bargain with us before?”

  She whispered back. “No, but your mother tried to arrange this for years. She believed the giants could be reasonable.”

  The four Gorlan children, who had walked next to the wild stallion, now gathered close to the Highland Horde prince, tugging on his goatskin and signing rapid questions to him in Gorlish. The bulky prince pushed them gently aside, but they swarmed him anew, their faces crinkled with curiosity. Rahkki guessed by his patience with them that the Highland prince was their sire.

  The smallest youngster, a female with tangled red hair, could not sit still. Her bright-blue eyes darted around the circle of giants and Sandwens, and a happy rumbling sound emitted from her throat. She spied Rahkki watching her and flashed him her milk-white teeth. Was that a Gorlish smile?

  “Why did they bring their pups?” he asked Tuni.

  “To prove they mean no harm,” she answered. “But look, they’re armed. And those animals, the elephants, the saber cat, and the little dragons, can be counted as weapons too, especially the saber cat. Stay on your guard, Rahkki. If this goes sideways, get aboard Sula and fly.” She kept her brown eyes trained on the giants as she spoke.

  General Tsun jogged through the gates, out of breath, and Rahkki remembered that he’d seen the man speaking with I’Lenna by the river. Rahkki glanced around, but the princess was nowhere to be found.

  The general approached the Gorlan princes and signed to them in Gorlish. Giants didn’t bother to learn the Sandwen language, probably because they didn’t possess the agile tongues necessary to speak it; but all soldiers, Riders, generals, and reigning queens learned simple Gorlish. Better to understand the enemy than not, the Sandwens believed.

  Rahkki’s mother had begun teaching him Gorlish sign language when he was one year old. “Let’s put those busy fingers to use,” she’d liked to say. And Rahkki was signing with
his mother before other kids his age could communicate at all. He watched General Tsun’s hands now, but the gestures blurred into one another. “What’s he saying?” he asked Tuni.

  She leaned closer, translating. “The general announced that our queen is preparing to emerge.”

  The Gorlan princes grunted toward the larger of the two elephants that stood outside their circle. The bull’s attendants reached into his packs and withdrew four bowls and a covered pot. Carefully, as though it were very fragile, the smaller giants carried the pot toward the princes and gently set it before them. Next, they set the four empty bowls beside it and waited.

  A moment passed and then Queen Lilliam emerged, draped in red robes. She’d tied back her long black hair, and her dark-blue eyes scanned the Gorlanders. With one hand on her protruding belly, she stalked toward her throne, chin high, back straight. Her iron crown circled her head. The youngest princesses, Rayni and Jor, followed her out, a reciprocal gesture since the Highland prince had brought his royal children. I’Lenna was not present, and her absence hollowed Rahkki’s heart.

  General Tsun, speaking in both Sandwen and Gorlish, welcomed the hordes on behalf of the queen.

  “Land to skies, can’t Lilliam do anything for herself,” Tuni muttered.

  The three princes approached the throne together, and one called for the captured chestnut stallion to be brought forth. A giant led the prancing wild Kihlara toward the throne. The winged horse was tall, lean, and naturally, brilliantly shiny, with sharp-angled golden wings, a deep chest, and a tiny waist. Built more like a wasp than a Kihlara, Rahkki guessed that the stallion’s massive rib cage housed an equally gigantic set of lungs and a muscular heart. With his light body, this copper stallion could probably fly higher and faster than most steeds.

  The surrounding Sandwens came to the same conclusion. “We have to keep that one for our clan,” one Rider said to another.

  Above Rahkki, the flicker of black-edged blue wings caught his attention. He watched as I’Lenna and Firo descended from the sky and landed neatly near the queen. Lilliam scowled, and I’Lenna dropped her eyes and scurried to her place beside her sisters.