She and Rahkki coasted the mountaintops as the sun sloped toward the west, and the golden light retracted into shadows. Rahkki pulled her into a slow hover. “We should head back soon,” he whispered.
She flicked her ears, not understanding but sensing her Rider was ready to quit for the day. He can’t see well in the dark, she surmised, or maybe he’s hungry. But she wasn’t ready to quit. That’s when the scent hit her, drifting on the evening breeze, enveloping her in feelings of home—Storm Herd! She gripped the bit in her teeth, flattened her neck, and soared toward the scent. “Hazelwind,” she nickered, and her throat tightened.
“Whoa,” Rahkki whispered. He tugged uselessly on her reins and then gave up.
They crested a small ridge, and then a huge valley opened up before their eyes. In the settling light, three lakes glimmered across a wide expanse of succulent plants and massive shade trees. High cliffs spanned three sides of the valley, and the fourth end opened to the jungle. It was a deep, wide basin, but huge, and well hidden. Surveying the shadows of the valley, Echofrost encountered a joyous shock. Over a hundred pegasi stood fanning their wings—staked to the ground. She’d found Storm Herd!
“Look!” she nickered, forgetting that Rahkki couldn’t understand her. Echofrost scanned the pegasi—there was proud and angry Redfire and stoic Graystone. She hunted for jade feathers, growing anxious.
And then, gnawing on his tether, she spotted Hazelwind, and her eyes sharpened as she focused on him. Three of his legs had been loosely bound together by rope that was tied to a heavy boulder. He could hobble in a small circle, but he couldn’t run or fly. Hazelwind appeared healthy other than his dull coat and crushed feathers, and each Storm Herd steed was trapped in a similar fashion. “He’s alive,” Echofrost nickered, her body quivering. Tears soaked her cheeks.
Next her eyes found Dewberry, and Echofrost began to tremble. The mare’s belly, heavy with twins, had dropped lower—Redfire was correct, she was very close to foaling. But Dewberry couldn’t give birth here, in this awful valley, trapped by giants! And the pinto’s face was gaunt, her shoulders and rump thin from stress.
Rahkki tugged on Echofrost’s mane. “Your friends are okay,” he whispered, pointing toward Storm Herd.
Not seeing any giants in the area, Echofrost flattened her ears. “By the Ancestors,” she hissed. “We can free them now!” She swooped across the trees, skimming toward the valley and whinnying to her friends.
“No!” Rahkki yanked on her mane. “Wait!’
Hazelwind threw up his head, scanning the sky. “Echofrost!” He reared, but his tethers kept him from flying. “Watch out!”
On the side of the mountain, a small band of twenty Gorlanders marched along a narrow trail. They’d been invisible to Echofrost on the ridge, but now she spotted them—and they spotted her. They roared an alarm.
The silver mare retreated from the valley, too late. A small tree spiraled up from the Gorlan party, thrown like a spear. It struck her square between the eyes.
Rahkki’s sharp scream assailed her as her vision blackened and she tumbled across the sky, hoof over wing. Rahkki slid off her back. Then her muscles went limp, and the Pair dropped down, down, down.
Straight toward the hard jungle floor.
35
Silverback
“SULA!” RAHKKI AND HIS SILVER FLIER PLUMMETED toward the tree canopy. Was his mare dead?
They crashed into the trees, and the thick flexible branches slowed their fall. Rahkki slipped through first and smacked onto the sloped terrain. The landing knocked the breath out of him. His arms pinwheeled as he somersaulted down the thick-brushed slope. He clamped his jaws shut and tried to protect his head as he bounced over bushes and slid through the scrub, his limbs twisting. His own foot kicked him in the head, and his ear scraped against a tree trunk. The pain burned like fire. But the heavy brush also slowed his momentum.
Rahkki dug his fingers into the soil and slid to a halt. He didn’t know where Sula had landed. He lay still a moment with his tunic shoved up beneath his chin and his belly scraped pink and raw, catching his breath.
Hot blood trickled from Rahkki’s hairline. He ran his hands along his body, checking for injuries; but other than his raw skin, a few cuts, his throbbing ear, and a pulled muscle in his thigh, he was undamaged. He grabbed the nearest tree branch and heaved himself to his feet.
Drawing his shining dagger, Rahkki crept through the tangle of foliage, hunting for Sula. He’d noticed one of the largest giants charging toward his mare after she fell—where was he now?
Rahkki sprinted down an animal path. “Sula,” he hissed, hoping she’d hear and nicker to him. He’d vowed to protect his mare with his life, and he’d fallen off her like a greenfoot.
Anger iced Rahkki’s veins. He swiped jungle vines and branches out of his way, his fear and fury at the giants mounting. Sula trusted him more than anyone, and he’d let her down. Hot tears burned down his cheeks. “Sula! Where are you?”
A small creature dashed across Echofrost’s right leg. She opened her eyes in time to see a sparkling blue-scaled lizard disappear into the corded vines that wove throughout the underbrush. She blinked, disoriented. Pain radiated from her left wing to her shoulder. She lifted her head and rolled sideways, releasing her weight off the feathered limb. The hard landing had stung her muscles, but the wing was unbroken.
She stood and shook herself from her ears to her tail. Where was Rahkki? Then she remembered that she’d found Storm Herd—and they were all alive, but guarded. She needed to find her Rider and alert the Sandwen armies, right away!
Swiveling her ears, Echofrost filtered the surrounding noises—flapping bird wings, chattering insects, rustling leaves—and began trotting, placing each hoof quietly in front of the other. The muscles of her left wing were too stunned to carry her, not yet; but she needed to keep moving.
The last rays of daylight filtered between the leaves, illuminating her path, and in the distance, one of the three volcanoes rumbled and burped. Overhead, the monkeys studied Echofrost with round unblinking eyes, the moist jungle floor squelched beneath her hooves, and insects scurried out of her path.
A thundering noise reached her ears, and Echofrost halted and crouched. She fanned her wings, testing the injured one for flight readiness.
Suddenly, a rock struck her flank and she whirled around.
Fifty winglengths down the animal path lurked an adult Gorlan male, squatting and facing her. His lips curled back, and a low rumble emitted from his throat.
She flapped hard, lifting above the trail, but then sharp pain streaked through her weakened limb and she sank back down.
The giant rose and thumped toward her, gaining speed. His pounding footfalls rattled her teeth. She turned and bolted, galloping like a horse, all four hooves striking the soil at once. The Gorlander smashed through the trees. Echofrost’s left wing throbbed and dragged on the ground, the feathers ripped on thorns. Excited, the monkeys swung from branch to branch, rattling the leaves.
The giant leaped. Echofrost knew it by the double smack of his feet and then the sudden silence as he flew, powered by his massive muscles. She kicked off the soil, aiming for the clouds, but the giant reached her and wrapped his thick arms around her flanks.
“Let go!” she whinnied.
He dragged her to his chest, and they crashed onto the animal trail together. The shock of their heavy landing shook the trees.
She pummeled his skin with her hooves, thrashing like a trapped wolverine. He slid his fists around her tail and lifted her by its base, hanging her upside down.
Snared tight, Echofrost twisted her neck to face him, blinking at the brightness of his copper hair and small blue eyes. He grunted at her, flashing his double set of tusks. He smelled of milk, roots, and spearmint. He freed one hand to pull leaves out of his hair, and his bare arm was so wrapped with muscle that he reminded her of a silverback gorilla, except this Gorlander was mostly hairless, straight backed, and pale skinned.
He lowered her to the ground but did not let go of her tail.
She strained for release, digging her hooves into the dirt and lunging, but he held her easily.
Reaching into a bag strapped to his back, the giant threaded out a long rope. At the sight of it, Echofrost pinned her ears.
He caught her, tugged hard, and rolled her onto her side. She landed on her left wing again, and sparkles of pain dotted her vision. The monkeys went silent and stared at her, chewing on figs. The giant leaned over Echofrost, his scent spiced with aggression. He dragged her closer, like a puma drawing its prey toward its mouth.
She kicked the giant heartily in the chest. He snatched her legs and wound the rope around them. Unable to fly or kick now, she panted in furious defeat.
Once the giant was satisfied she was bound tight, he sat down next to her, opened a waterskin jug, and took a long swig. Again Echofrost smelled milk as the white liquid dribbled down his chin. He wiped his face and closed the waterskin, and she noticed that his thick, clawed fingers were almost as agile as a Sandwen’s.
The Gorlander reached down and touched her back. She flinched, but his huge hand was gentle, as though he was trying to relax her. Next he drew a reed pipe out of his pack and blew on it, creating a sound that was high, piercing, and far traveling, like a breeze. She guessed he was calling his warriors. His eyes drifted often to the surrounding foliage as though he expected them to arrive at any moment.
Echofrost lowered her head to the dirt path, resting while she could. By the giant’s relaxed posture, she assumed that he was not going to kill her or eat her at this moment. Perhaps he’d take her to Storm Herd.
She imagined Hazelwind’s round jaw, large eyes, and dusty black mane blowing in the wind, and her heart pounded faster. She’d missed him so much! She glanced up. In Anok, her herd would appear and rescue her—but this was not Anok. The expanse above was endless and blue.
And empty.
36
The Gorlan Prince
A HIGH-PITCHED PIPING NOISE REACHED RAHKKI’S ears. Glancing at the nearest tree, he leaped onto a low, thick branch and swung himself up, traveling monkey-style toward the unusual sound. A family of agitated gibbons screamed at him, and their horrible racket masked his progress.
He leaped from one tree to the next, using the vines to swing himself when the distances were too wide. He almost missed a branch, and as he wrestled for a stronger hold, he spotted a lone Gorlander through an opening in the leaves.
And he had Sula!
The massive giant was kneeling beside Rahkki’s mare, playing a reed pipe. He’d tied her silver legs together and laid her out on her side, but Rahkki glimpsed the rise and fall of her rib cage—she was alive.
He crept closer and halted on a wide branch directly above them.
The Gorlander paused for a swig of goat’s milk, humming contentedly. Muscles like boulders framed his neck and bulged from his arms. He wore only a loincloth, revealing a flat, tight stomach and corded legs. His curly red hair was long and tied back with a string of leather; his pale face seemed creased into a permanent frown. He held Sula down with one thick hand, and Rahkki noted the half wreath of ivory around his neck. This was the Highland Horde prince he’d seen at the parlay.
A loud crack resounded as Rahkki’s branch suddenly broke. He tumbled out of the tree and landed with a soft thud at the giant’s bare feet.
The beast curled back his wet lips, showing his double set of tusks, and Sula loosed a shrill whinny.
“Hi . . . uh, hello,” Rahkki said, his eyes trailing up the giant’s muscular body.
The prince roared, and his breath assaulted Rahkki like a hot wind.
Rahkki swallowed. This wouldn’t do; he needed to be fierce, not nice. Pretend you’re Brauk. He threw himself onto the balls of his feet, drew his dagger, and bobbed, dancing and weaving toward the prince.
The beast made a noise that sounded like laughter.
Sula rolled from side to side, trying to stand.
The trees shook behind the prince, making the Gorlander turn around, and Rahkki heard more giants coming. Desperate, he sliced the prince’s arm with his dagger. “Meh wan sa kinwahnni,” he shouted, which meant “Glory to the winner” in Talu.
Sula whinnied sharply, as if encouraging Rahkki, and a thin line of blood appeared on the giant’s forearm. The prince turned back in muted surprise.
Without thinking, Rahkki gestured in Gorlish. “Mine.” He pointed at Sula. Giants could hear well enough, but their short flat tongues could not form language, which was why they spoke with their hands. “Mine,” he repeated.
The giant snorted, and his quick exhale blew Rahkki over. Then he answered back, his fingers flying, and Rahkki understood three words: “Winged horse” and “Mine.”
“No!” Rahkki shook his head.
The prince made to lunge, but then he froze in place. His beady eyes widened in fear, and sweat erupted on his brow.
Just then the Highland prince’s hordemates burst into the clearing, and among them was the largest Gorlander Rahkki had ever seen. He wore a full wreath of ivory, which meant he was the Highland Horde king, the sire of the prince. The king and his envoy also came to a fearful sliding halt, and the rain forest went as still as death.
Bumps erupted down Rahkki’s arms. What in the jungle could frighten a giant?
37
Help
THE GORLAN PRINCE BACKED AWAY FROM RAHKKI, his body trembling.
Have I channeled Brauk so well that the Highland prince is afraid of me? Rahkki wondered. Shrugging, he pressed his advantage and pointed his dagger at the prince’s head.
That’s when he noticed a reflection in the Gorlander’s blue eyes—the triangular head of a massive python, hovering right behind Rahkki.
A faint tremor rolled down the serpent’s scales. Rahkki threw himself to the ground just as the monster shot over his head, its body unfurling like a heavy ribbon. Dirt from its shiny belly splattered onto his head.
But the Gorlan prince was the prey, and when the python reached him, it sank its teeth into his short neck.
The giant roared and toppled onto his back, and the snake’s great weight pinned him. The beast ground the prince into the soil, and then its long body, at least forty lengths, began to coil around him. The giant beat the scales with his fists and tried to unwind the snake, but he was no match for this python, who was probably the Mother of Serpents herself. Its emotionless black eyes remained open, as blank as a starless sky.
The prince’s sire and hordemates charged forward to help, but the python’s muscular tail whipped out, knocking them down like saplings.
When the tail came at Rahkki, he braced, and it swept him across the jungle floor. His new boots skidded through the underbrush. He clutched the snake’s cool, smooth scales and climbed onto its back. The forest rushed by him in a blur as he rode the beast.
If the python noticed its tiny passenger, it ignored him, instead pressing its weight against the Gorlan prince. His pale face bulged, turning dark red. A quick glance at the giant told Rahkki that he was in dire trouble.
Sula whinnied again, sharp and clear, drawing Rahkki’s attention to her. But then quick movement caught his eye. The giant prince had let go of the snake with one hand to speak to Rahkki in Gorlish. It was just one word, but Rahkki recognized it. “Help!”
Help? What could Rahkki do against a giant python?
The prince pleaded again. “Help me.” His eyelids fluttered shut.
Without thinking, Rahkki raced up the body of the snake as fast as he could.
The python had quieted to focus all its energy on squeezing the life out of the Gorlan prince. Occasional tremors rippled through the length of its body, and each time the giant let out his breath the python tightened its grip.
The prince’s horde had paused, just for a breath, but now they charged forward.
Rahkki was faster. He reached the base of the python’s skull and drew his dagger. “Granak protect me!” he wh
ispered. Then he tightened his fists around the pommel and drove the sharp blade straight into the python’s brain.
The serpent bucked, but Rahkki held tight to his weapon. He wiggled the blade deeper into its skull, hoping to end the snake’s pain quickly.
Meanwhile, Sula had managed to loosen her ropes, untangle herself, and roll to her hooves, panting.
Rahkki held his pommel firm until the snake’s jaw went slack, its coils loosened, and the Gorlan prince gave a huge sputtering cough.
Only then did Rahkki yank his blade out of the python’s skull. It was slick with fluid, and he wiped it across his thigh.
The Gorlan horde surrounded them, grunting and signing. Their prince slid his hands to the dirt to steady himself while his hordemates yanked on the heavy snake, trying to uncoil it.
The Highland king bypassed his son, marched to Rahkki, and squatted in front of him. The boy froze and peered up, his belly fluttering. The king grunted and stared at Rahkki for a moment, then dipped his head, his massive collar of ivory clattering around his neck. Then he stood so fast that Rahkki felt dizzy watching him rise.
The jungle, which had seemed to be holding its breath, roared back to life. Sula flew to Rahkki’s side and whinnied, her voice strident.
“Let’s get out of here,” Rahkki whispered, tucking his dagger back into its sheath.
The giants rumbled as they worked on uncoiling the dead snake and freeing their prince.
Killing the python had seemed to happen in slow motion, but now Rahkki’s blood whooshed through him. He heard the parrots cawing, smelled the sweet pineapple plants, and felt the hot sun on his black hair. Sweat ran into his eyes.
Sula nuzzled him urgently, her wings flapping. He leaped onto her back and wrapped his hands in her tangled mane. “Go!” he cried.
She twisted away from the Highland Horde and the dead snake and flapped desperately toward the clouds. The giants carried long spears and slingshots, but they didn’t use them. They watched Rahkki fly away, their spears pointed down, and then they turned toward their home.
Riders of the Realm #2 Page 17