Riders of the Realm #2

by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez

  “Yes,” he answered.

  I’Lenna swept her gaze across Rahkki’s small frame. “Tomorrow you go to war. I can’t believe it.” She leaned forward and hugged him. “This isn’t good-bye. This is for luck.” He hugged her back, and then I’Lenna slunk into the shadows and disappeared, heading toward the Fifth Clan village.

  Rahkki sped to the clearing where the dragon had attacked him. The puddle of poison drool was still there. Rahkki glanced at the guards that strolled the walls of Fort Prowl, high on the hill. So far they hadn’t spotted him in the dark shadows. Rahkki dipped his empty waterskin into the toxic saliva, careful not to let it touch his skin, and filled it. “This will stop the giants,” he whispered, and then headed to the Kihlari stable to fetch Sula. He wanted to spend every last moment with her while he still could.

  26

  Dragon Drool

  ECHOFROST STARTLED WHEN THE BARN DOOR opened and Rahkki slipped into the stable. The tame steeds greeted her cub with soft nickers. He was popular with the Kihlari, she’d noticed. Rahkki approached her stall, and she whinnied at him, wondering why he’d come to visit her at night.

  “Shh,” he whispered, touching his finger to his lips. He patted Kol next door and then invited Echofrost out of her stall.

  As they emerged from the stable, the moon had shifted to the sky’s zenith. Rahkki guided Echofrost across the clearing and through a ditch and then back into Fort Prowl through a dark cave-like tunnel. She snorted, mistrustful of the watery walls and low ceiling, but Rahkki proceeded with enough confidence to calm her.

  Soon, they paused at an opening that led to a larger chamber. She ducked her head and entered while he closed the passageway behind them. The room they stood in smelled like Rahkki, and Echofrost realized he’d brought her to his sleeping den.

  Attached to the walls, flickering torches produced small radials of light. Rahkki took one and used it to start a larger fire in the stone hollow from which they’d arrived.

  Standing so close to the flames frightened Echofrost more than any dragon or giant. She had no defenses for fire, so she crowded to the back of Rahkki’s small den. For now, the fire was staying put and obeying her cub.

  As usual, Rahkki spoke to her as if she could understand him. “We’re going to win this war, Sula, and I won’t have to kill anyone.” He held up a waterskin. “This is Granak’s drool. Watch!” The cub was excited, and Echofrost grew curious.

  He poured the liquid from the waterskin into a large pot that hung over the fire. Soon, it bubbled merrily, and a sharp acrid stench filled the room. Rahkki opened his shutters, letting fresh air sweep out the bad smell.

  “Brim told me how she makes Brauk’s sleep medicine,” he chattered. “She boils all the toxins out of the dragon drool, and it turns into medicine that makes people and animals go to sleep.” He flashed his short white teeth and gestured toward the boiling pot. “I’m going to treat my darts with this and knock the giants out, Sula. No one will know they’re sleeping. They’ll think I killed them. That’s how we’ll win this war and save your friends.”

  His chest puffed, and Echofrost watched her cub stir the pot, sensing his pride.

  He glanced at her, his face glowing orange in the firelight. “And then I’m going to let you go.” He changed out of his wet clothing, and Echofrost glimpsed the brand on his shoulder, the one that matched hers. “I’ll be a Half when you leave,” he murmured. “I’ll be bad luck.” He smirked and donned a clean white shirt that reached his calves. “So nothing will change for me.”

  Rahkki extinguished the fire by dumping a bucket of cooled ash over it. He left the pot where it was and approached her with his head bent. His familiar essence wafted from his mouth, and she inhaled it through her nostrils, then blew out softly, exchanging breath with him.

  He leaned against her chest, and his fingers darted up her neck, scratching and massaging the muscular crest. She sighed. This felt very good to her. But after several moments, she grew nervous, overcome by their differences. She stepped back, and he let her go.

  Rahkki climbed into his soft sleeping nest and quickly fell asleep.

  Her eyelids drooped, tired from the long day, but excitement trilled her heart. All around the yard and the fortress today, soldiers had been preparing to leave. Soon, they’d face the giants and slay the beasts. Storm Herd would be free.

  She closed her eyes and imagined Hazelwind. His large eyes, his long forelock, and his strong arched neck. They’d been partners in war since she was a yearling. But now when she looked at him, she pictured regal buckskin fillies and stubborn gray colts. She imagined a family flying together, coasting on the breeze. She envisioned a vast plain of grass and crystal-blue lakes—their new home.

  She’d thought that freedom meant answering to no one, but she’d been wrong. Freedom meant choosing her bonds, because a pegasus could not live alone or act only for oneself. A herd, a friend, a mate—they were tethers too, but not the kind that tied her to the ground. They would help her fly faster, farther, higher, and she would help them do the same. She exhaled, shifting from hoof to hoof. Tomorrow she would begin rectifying her mistakes. Her true enemy wasn’t the giants or the Landwalkers—it was her own selfish pride.

  27

  Legends and Lies

  A HARD KNOCK AT RAHKKI’S DOOR WOKE ECHOFROST. Her cub leaped out of bed, and they both rushed to his window and glanced outside. The sky was pale silver, warming to gold at the rim of the jungle. “I’m going to be late!” Rahkki grabbed the door handle and pulled. It creaked open, revealing a Land Guard solider standing in the hall holding a cloth sack. “Soldiers get free rations,” he said.

  “But I’m a Rider,” Rahkki said, then remembered he was also a Battle Mage.

  The Land Guard soldier shrugged. “Queen’s orders.” He tossed the sack at Rahkki. “And you better hurry.”

  “Right, thanks.” The soldier left, and Rahkki faced Echofrost. “It’s time.” He’d ordered hay and grain brought to his room late last night, and now he fed her the leftovers, adding baked rice and roasted millet from the feast I’Lenna had left him.

  Echofrost watched Rahkki don smooth leather breeches and a vest while she chewed her breakfast. He leaped and squatted, dancing around his little den, swinging his arms. The leather flexed as it warmed to him.

  When finished, Rahkki poured the now-cooled dragon drool out of the pot and into his waterskin, filling it. He led Echofrost into the hall and down the stairs. Outside, he climbed onto her back and pointed. “Armory!”

  Echofrost dimly recognized the word and took off, flying toward the Kihlari stable. The warm pre-dawn breeze filled her lungs and swept away the anxiety she’d felt while trapped in Rahkki’s small den. When they arrived at the stable, it was bustling. The Sky Guard Riders were awake and saddling their Fliers. Rizah nickered to Echofrost. “Full armor today, Sula!”

  The Kihlari steeds who were ready to fly had lined up in the yard, their Riders standing at their sides, checking their weapons.

  Rahkki tossed his food ration to a stable girl. “Here, you can have this. I’m not hungry.”

  She grinned. “Thanks, Stormrunner!”

  Rahkki retrieved their tack and armor and soon had Echofrost expertly dressed for battle. He secured his engraved black metal tight around his chest and back, lending him the strong lean shape of a Sandwen male. Next he strapped hard black shields onto his forearms, followed by a pair of tall, heeled riding boots. He led her out of the stable, where a deep familiar voice called to him. “Hey, brother.”

  “Brauk?” Rahkki and Echofrost whipped around to see the elder Stormrunner laid out in a wheeled cart that was attached to Kol. Brauk’s wane head was propped up so that he could see. Ossi Fin stood at Kol’s side, holding his lead rope, and Echofrost spied his uncle walking beside the cart.

  Ossi tugged Kol’s rope, and the stallion pranced forward, pulling his injured Rider’s cart with great pride through the yard, but the Riders present avoided eye contact with Brauk.


  Rahkki rushed to his brother, grabbed his hand, and kissed it. Echofrost followed, feeling hesitant when Brauk glared at her.

  “Word is you’re a Battle Mage?” Brauk grumbled. “Is General Tsun behind this?”

  “Queen Lilliam assigned me,” Rahkki answered.

  “Bloody rain! She is trying to get you killed.”

  Rahkki shrugged. “She says she’s glorifying me.”

  “That’s rich.” Brauk’s laughter rolled from his chest, deep and bitter. “Will you take us to those palms, Ossi,” he asked the woman. She clucked to Kol, leading the stallion away to a cluster of palm trees. Rahkki, Echofrost, and Uncle Darthan followed.

  When they were out of earshot of the other Riders, Brauk lowered his voice and held Rahkki’s wrist. “Watch your back out there, Rahkki. War is brewing in our clan between the rebels and the queen’s loyalists.”

  “I know, I know,” Rahkki said, blowing strands of hair off his forehead. “I’m staying out of it, just like everyone keeps telling me.”

  “Good,” Darthan interjected. “It’s got nothing to do with you.”

  “Are you back from Daakur already?” Rahkki asked Darthan, “Did you find anything out about Reyella?”

  “Aye. I ferried over yesterday morning and spent all day on the docks, came back last night.” Darthan grimaced. “And Rahkki, you were right; your mother escaped.”

  “Really?!” His body tensed. “You found her!” Echofrost flinched at the sharp tone in Rahkki’s voice.

  Uncle placed a steadying hand on the boy. “No, not yet, but I talked to a horse trader, an old man who’s worked on the docks since I was a kid. He remembers a pregnant Sandwen woman arriving one rainy night with two guards, about eight years ago. They were in bad shape, exhausted and injured.”

  “That’s her—that’s our mom, right?”

  Ossi shifted uncomfortably, and Brauk wiped the hair out of his eyes. “Don’t get too excited,” Brauk grumbled. “Uncle lost her trail on the docks. If it was our mom, no one knows where she went next.”

  “Is that true?” Rahkki turned to his uncle, eyes glistening.

  Darthan nodded. “The trader tried to sell her a horse because she was injured and not walking well—”

  “If she was hurt, then how’d she get across Cinder Bay? Who were the guards? Did the trader tell you what the woman looked like?”

  “Rahkki, calm down,” Darthan whispered. “I don’t know much. He said she had dark hair, and she was soaking wet; but listen to this.” Darthan’s eyes flickered. “She traded a jeweled ring for two horses for her guards to ride but said she didn’t need one for herself, said she already had a mount.”

  “What mount?” Rahkki asked.

  Echofrost sensed her cub’s excitement and stress. She nickered to him. When were they going to fight giants! But no one paid her any attention.

  Darthan’s lips twisted into a half smile. “Drael could have flown Reyella across the water.”

  “That’s enough,” Brauk snapped. “Rahkki and I watched that stallion die.”

  “I didn’t,” Rahkki said.

  “You just don’t remember,” Brauk interjected.

  Uncle Darthan stiffened, speaking to Rahkki’s brother. “You saw black magna spiders wrap Drael in silk, but you don’t know if they made it back to their web with him. Drael wouldn’t be the first meal that ever escaped. If he did break free, Drael would have found your mother. . . .”

  “Black magnas got Drael?” Rahkki cried, his breath speeding.

  Brauk tossed back his hair. “You see,” he said to Darthan. “This search is just stirring up bad memories. Besides, if Reyella’s alive, tell me this; why hasn’t she come home?”

  Darthan pulled Rahkki close and touched Brauk’s knee. “I don’t know the answer to that, boys. But after this war, I’m going back to Daakur. I won’t stop until I find out what happened to my sister and her baby.”

  Brauk suddenly turned his attention to Echofrost, startling her, and said, “Why don’t you tell Rahkki my news, Uncle?”

  “What news?” Rahkki’s eyes bounced between Brauk and Darthan.

  It was Ossi who answered. “Brim is concerned because your brother still can’t move his legs. The damage might be . . . it could be permanent,” she said softly.

  Tears erupted and streaked Rahkki’s face. “No,” he whispered.

  “What did I tell you about crying?” Brauk said, ruffling his brother’s hair.

  Rahkki sank toward Brauk and laid his head on his chest. Brauk put his arm around his shoulder, and they were all silent for a moment.

  Echofrost watched the Landwalkers, sensing currents of friction, fear, and grief.

  Brauk gently pushed Rahkki off him. “Don’t worry about me,” he grunted, setting his jaw. “We have to keep you alive, Rahkki.”

  Her cub nodded.

  “Listen,” Brauk continued. “The rumors about you are growing—that you command dragons and that the princess has enchanted you.” Brauk rubbed his face, now avoiding eye contact with Echofrost. “You should end these tales, Brother. None are true, right?”

  “No, but you’re the one who told me to let my legend bloom,” Rahkki sputtered.

  “Well, yours has sprouted into a big fat stinkweed,” Brauk mumbled, frowning. “You need to kill these rumors that you’re magical. The queen and her loyalists are afraid of you—that makes you a target.”

  Rahkki ground his boot into the dirt. “When it comes to rumors, does it matter if they’re true or not? Isn’t that the point of them?”

  “Right,” Brauk said, exhaling slowly. “If you deny them, you’ll just add weight to them. But the worst rumor is that you slink off with that ambitious little princess in the dead of night to do Granak knows what.”

  “Ambitious!”

  “Rahkki, hush,” Uncle warned. Then he also turned on Brauk. “What are you getting at?”

  Brauk lifted his head higher, gesturing toward the fortress. “Who do you two think is plotting to usurp the queen?” Brauk’s golden eyes bored into Rahkki’s as he continued. “Think about it. Who gains the most from Lilliam’s assassination?”

  “The crown princess,” Ossi breathed. “She’s the first heir.”

  Rahkki pulled away, the vein in his neck throbbing. “No.” He shook his head. “I’Lenna doesn’t want the throne. General Tsun is leading the rebellion; he asked me to join him.”

  “The general can’t rule the clan, Rahkki,” Brauk said, wiping his face with a cloth. “He needs a bloodborn heir to take over; otherwise every princess in the Realm will line up to claim our throne. And do you really think he’s working with a princess from another clan? No one in the Fifth would support that. It has to be I’Lenna.”

  Rahkki swallowed.

  Brauk gave a satisfied nod. “This is an inside job, Rahkki. I’Lenna is lying to you.”

  “She wouldn’t!” Rahkki shouted.

  Echofrost flared her wings as the tension between the brothers increased.

  Brauk dropped Rahkki’s wrist. “Believe what you will, Rahkki, the damage is already done. The queen knows there’s a plot, and she doesn’t trust anyone but Harak.” Brauk gestured toward the Land Guard soldiers assembling at the base of Fort Prowl. “There are assassins in that army who are loyal to Lilliam, and you’re a target.” Then he glared at Echofrost. “This is your fault.”

  Rahkki stared at his brother. “Why are you so angry?”

  “Angry! I’m bloody scared is what I am. I haven’t taught you how to fight, how to fly—anything. And now you’re a Battle Mage and I’m grounded. How did this happen?”

  “I’m sorry,” Rahkki said.

  Brauk groaned. “Don’t be sorry, be smart. Here, take this.” Brauk handed Rahkki an amulet. “Ossi made it for you.”

  The red-haired woman flushed. “It will protect you. I added flecks of iron for protection, rice seeds for provision, and Kol’s feathers for luck and swiftness in battle.”

  Darthan handed Rahkki
an open bag filled with food and other items that Echofrost didn’t recognize. “Take this too.”

  “But I get free rations,” Rahkki said.

  “Don’t eat their food!” Uncle and Brauk shouted at the same time. “It’s not safe. Never forget you’re a target,” Brauk added. “All Stormrunners are enemies to the crown, according to Lilliam.”

  Rahkki nodded and took the package, tucking it into his satchel. Then he removed most of the coins he’d earned selling the Kihlari blanket. “Hold these for me,” he said, handing the coins to Brauk. “I’ll keep the rest for the march, in case I need to buy medicine.”

  “No.” Brauk crossed his arms. “Give those to Darthan. I’ll—I’ll lose them.”

  “That reminds me,” Rahkki said. “I got you a present.” He reached back into his satchel and produced a small box and a gilded cage. When he opened it, a wiggling insect scurried onto his palm. “A new fighting beetle and battle cage, something to do while you’re . . . healing.”

  Rahkki let the insect crawl onto Brauk’s hand, and his brother softened. “Thanks, Rahkki, he’s a bruiser.” Brauk placed the beetle inside the golden cage and winced as he readjusted himself.

  Echofrost whinnied at the Landwalkers and lashed her tail.

  Brauk’s eyes flicked toward her. “Listen, Rahkki, as much as I dislike your Flier, she knows how to fight, so let her. And Rahkki, there’s no shame in flying away. By Granak, you’re ten years old.”

  “Twelve.”

  Brauk laughed, and his face tightened with pain. “Just come back to me, okay?”

  Rahkki’s eyes filled with tears, and Brauk reached up and thwacked him. “Don’t make me hurt you, Brother.”

  Rahkki leaned over the cart and hugged Brauk. Echofrost’s heart twisted with sadness. She knew what it was like to love a brother, but she and Rahkki needed to focus. She lifted her head and whinnied more forcefully.

  Uncle Darthan hugged Rahkki in a quick embrace and then squatted down to look at him. He drew a line down Rahkki’s chest, right over his heart. “Remember, you have your mother’s blood in your veins. Reyella Stormrunner, the Pantheress of the Fifth Clan, is with you. You’re made of her.”