'Right there, see?'
I stared hard and could just make out two small shapes on its back.
'What are they clinging to her with?'
'They’re born with claws that drop off once they are able to fly.'
Alek suddenly realized it was her first time to stand on the saddle and sat back down fast.
'Whoops.' He felt sheepish, 'You’re so much more confident on Loushka now. I forgot you hadn’t done that yet.'
She slid back into her seat and laughed, 'It was the best way to do it, I didn’t even think of it until you mentioned it.'
I remembered the bird we’d seen when we’d first arrived and twisted to look at him, 'We saw a bird when we first arrived and it was the most beautiful bird I’ve ever seen.'
I showed Loushka an image.
Alek watched the graceful bird flit around the tree trunk.
‘It is what I think it is, isn’t it Loushka?’
‘Yes, absolutely. I saw one once when I was small,’ the griffon was very impressed. ‘It’s supposed to be one of the best signs, next to sighting a unicorn.’
‘These women just keep getting more and more interesting,’ he thought.
It turned out the bird was incredibly rare, to the point of being considered mythical (that amused me), and was a sign of high magick. Which sounded impressive, but neither of them decided to elaborate.
Another one of those ‘things’ I would learn about at the castle, I guess. Loushka flew back up to where the other griffons were.
Sabyn still had his arms around her waist. Loi was grateful he couldn’t see her face because she was scowling. Torn between the two, now very annoying, voices in her head that argued as to whether his apparent deceitfulness was fair or not, and if it even mattered.
She sighed.
'Are you okay?' Sabyn asked his voice hesitant.
There was a long pause as Loi considered her reply—the rational voice pointed out that she would find out soon, while the grouchy voice said, not soon enough.
'When will we be at the castle?' She was careful to keep her voice neutral.
'By this evening.'
‘She’s grouchy with you,’ Tomiar informed him.
‘I’m aware of that,’ he snapped.
‘My, aren’t we snippy. Well, Mr Snippy, I thought you might like to know that Loushka and Alek would like to show them the Wrenok basin.’
It was his turn to sigh.
‘I’m sorry. I just don’t like knowing she’s grouchy at me.’
‘I understand,’ Tomiar thought sympathetically. ‘But try to see it from her point of view—it must be incredibly frustrating. Just try to ignore her mood, she’ll get over it.’
Taking the advice Sabyn spoke up.
'We’re going to fly through the Wrenok basin. It’s where we practice tricks and maneuvers with the griffons.'
The five griffons rose even higher in the air and headed for the mountain range.
Gredel enjoyed the flight today. Audi had settled into her new spot and appeared to enjoy the view. After he moaned to the other guys about the dog’s antics they’d come up with the idea to convert one of the saddle bags and put her in there. It worked well, and she had an even better view now. The dog had settled down to watch it all and Gredel could stretch out in the saddle in comfort.
He looked forward to see the women's reactions to the basin. The highest peak, Mt. Artonay, was where he’d taken Citaan when he’d proposed. He was quite proud of that, people so often proposed at an event where others could witness it but he knew Citaan would like such a special moment to be private and she’d loved it. So much in fact, they’d given serious consideration to getting married there.
But, in the end, the logistics weren’t great, and several older members of Citaan’s family had been upset by the notion of not having a "proper" wedding.
‘I guess in the long run the normal wedding was easier.’ Phroma thought to Gredel.
‘I’d been thinking the same thing. Though our idea would have been far more interesting.’
The mountains grew higher and the griffons climbed with them until they cleared the tops. It was a breathtaking view, literally as well, with being at such a high altitude. It didn’t bother the griffons at all, this was what they were built for, but the humans were more aware of their breathing now.
Loi’s jaw dropped at the sight of the cavernous basin that was created by four mountains clustered together in a semi-circle, their peaks sheer and bleak. One of the mountain peaks had broken off at some point in time and massive slips of shingle were visible. Sabyn tightened his arms round her waist a little as he leaned forward to point at one of the slips.
'That’s where we surf,' he called.
The wind was quite a bit stronger at this height. Forgetting she was mad at him Loi turned, her eyes wide in surprise.
'You slide down that? Isn’t that dangerous?'
He winked.
'Only if you fall.'
Loi shook her head in disbelief. That must come under the extreme sport category, she thought as she continued to study the area. The griffons dropped lower into the basin and the wind stilled in an instant. The high mountains created a natural wind-break.
'This is our practice space,' Alek smiled at Cat, happy to show off the impressive area after all the fascinating images she’d shown them. She stared around the mountains in open admiration.
'What do you think?' He demanded when she remained silent.
There was a long pause as I tried to think of an adequate description.
Hauntingly beautiful with high treacherous peaks that dropped into sheer faces and shingle that extended to the tree line far below.
'Incredible,' I breathed. Alek leaned in close to hear me. 'Absolutely incredible.'
'You can see why we practice here, lots of space and essentially no wind.'
He was right, it was very still up here and it meant no shouting to be heard. I smiled at him and twisted around in my seat to get a better view.
'Come on.' He seized me around the waist. 'Upsy daisy.'
I clung to his chest like a limpet until we were both steady then he turned me so my back was to his chest again and began to point out various areas. I was astonished to learn they actually slid down the shingle faces for fun. It made me remember the time I’d done it as a kid with a friend of mine when we were on holiday. Dad had nearly had a fit when he caught us. It hadn’t occurred to us that we could have been crushed in it, but kids never do think of those things.
I mentioned it to Alek who laughed.
'Yes that could happen. But the griffons are close enough to grab us if we have any serious issues, and no matter what you do in life you’ll never be completely safe.'
He helped me back to my seat and casually lowered to his. It was like watching a circus performer or gymnast, to do it so offhand showed years of practice. The heavy beats of Loushka’s massive wings didn’t throw him off balance in the slightest. I sighed. After ten years of Jujitsu my balance was very good but things like this made me look as gangly as a newborn calf.
As Daron helped Sian into position Nesha couldn’t help himself, he called out to the other griffons.
‘Guess what. Sian’s about to try free falling.’
The others were excited.
‘But don’t mention it to the other women, we want to surprise them,’ he added.
‘This should cheer Loi up,’ thought Tomiar. ‘Then she can try it next.’
‘Not a bad idea.’ Sabyn sat up straighter in the saddle and looked around for Nesha. ‘Make sure we’re in a good spot to see her.’
Nesha flew up to a height which would allow Sian a decent dive. Everyone’s eyes followed him up as the girls watched curiously while the men grinned in anticipation.
'Ready?' Daron shouted to Sian, the wind was stronger at this height.
Sian clung to Nesha’s rump. Not exactly the place you want to be when trying to impress the guy you’re crushing on, but oh well.
&nb
sp; 'Ready!' she yelled.
'What’s Nesha doing?'
Loi twisted to look up at Sabyn.
Wow, his eyes are gorgeous, she noticed, a real glacial blue. He started to speak then stopped, staring at something beyond her. Loi turned back just in time to see Sian plummet past them.
I felt the breath whoosh out of my chest. Sian, her arms outstretched, had just hurtled past us at an immense speed, and unlike on Earth, there was no parachute attached.
Oh holy Goddess. Terror flooded my limbs making them heavy and useless while everything appeared red to my eyes.
Kassie whimpered in horror at the sight of Sian falling to her certain death. She could feel a strange rushing sensation through her limbs and the outer edge of her vision was tinged yellow.
Loi gasped, her body trembled in anxiety and shock as an immense feeling grew within, her eyes seeing things in a green light.
The three women glowed with energy and the effect on the griffons was electric. Tomiar, Loushka, and Kerak all screamed in alarm at the energy swell they felt.
‘MAKE THEM STOP!’ They screeched at the men in unison.
Gredel and Phroma watched in astonishment at the glowing women and the men as they shook the women and shouted at them.
‘Where’s Sian?’ Gredel suddenly thought to Phroma.
‘Daron and Nesha just grabbed her, she’s glowing blue!’
'CATHERINE!' Alek roared at the woman who glowed an intense red and got hotter to the touch with every moment.
‘Hurry Alek. Or I’m going to have to drop her.’
Loushka knew that an energy pulse like the last one Cat had thrown out would knock her unconscious. It’d be better to drop the woman and snatch her back after she’d released. Loushka hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
'I’m sorry, Cat,' Alek hissed through clenched teeth. He gave her a swift slap across the face.
The blow jerked my mind back like I’d been dashed with cold water and I gaped at Alek, one hand to my stinging cheek.
‘It worked!’ exulted Loushka. She let the others know.
There was a collective sigh of relief amongst the men and griffons as the women returned to their normal colors. The girls were exhausted from the sudden and immense swell of energy they’d created, each slumped in the saddle.
‘Alek. What just happened? Are they okay?’ Elena demanded.
Alek shifted Cat in his arms to look at her face, she was conscious and her normal color slowly came back.
‘Yes, we had a scare which made them react,’ Alek searched for an adequate description. There was a long pause as Elena processed Alek’s words.
‘Get them here as soon as possible Alek. I’ll be meeting you on the inner gate with Yakov and the Lieutenants, so make sure they are presentable and have them wearing their weapons. I need them to make the right impression.’
‘We’ll see you in less than an hour’, Alek thought back and Loushka sent the message to the other griffons.
'Cat.'
I blearily registered that Alek shook me, wanting me conscious. I blinked and tried to sit up, 'What?'
'We’re going to be arriving very soon and we need you looking presentable.'
Good luck with that, I thought and started to drift off to sleep again.
Alek frowned as Cat started to slump in his arms again and he shook her much firmer.
'Catherine.' He said her name loud enough to make her jump.
'Wake up. We need to get your weapons strapped on and your cloak and your hair sorted.' Alek regarded the mess of hair in front of him thoughtfully.
Well then hop to it, I thought, glaring at him. A total waste of time. Focused on the task at hand, Alek leaned past me to rummage through the saddle bags. Resigned, I raked my fingers through my hair, trying to neaten it, and winced as they caught in snags and knots. I grumbled as Alek pressed my daggers into my hands, then jumped a mile when he accidentally jabbed my hip while buckling my sword.
He laughed then teasingly ran his hands to my ribs.
'Ticklish?'
With a dagger in each hand there was a moment of silence as I thought my answer to Loushka who barked in laughter. I finished fastening the daggers to my arms, and Alek set my cloak about my shoulders.
Just my hair.
With a silent sigh I reached back to wrestle it into a French braid.
Alek watched as Cat’s hands deftly folded her hair into a complicated braid and admired the unique color. The rich, ruby shades glinted in the evening sun. The end result was a thick neat plait that hung to mid back. Cat turned and looked at him, one eyebrow arched.
'Presentable?'
The slow, sexy smile that spread on his face caused major butterflies in my stomach as I smiled blithely back.
Damn, he's an attractive man.
'Perfect,' he assured me.
I turned, settling back into the saddle trying to look alert and alive, instead of knackered.
Kassie cursed as curls slipped out of her hands then spun round to glare at Rumal when he chuckled, both hands clutching her hair.
'Don’t laugh,' she cried indignantly. 'Just cause you’re bald.'
She jerked back in her seat and grumbled more as Rumal roared with laughter.
This wasn’t fair, she grumbled to herself, why do I have to look presentable now, while flying, on a griffon? Really did the person who requested this even consider the logistics? She scowled as she wobbled on the saddle while giving her hair another twist.
Large warm hands gently touched hers, and Rumal spoke in her ear.
'Let go, I’ll finish it for you.'
She hesitated for a moment, but figured if it looked awful at least the blame would be on him. A smug smile touched her lips and she surrendered the masses of curls to him.
Quick and efficient, Rumal shaped Kassie’s hair into an elegant twist, fastening it with one of the wooden pins he kept in his saddle bag.
'Done.'
He felt her start in surprise.
'What? How did you do that?' she demanded as she delicately touched the twist to feel the shape of it.
'Only the men in our culture keep their heads shaven, or at least very short.' Rumal explained, 'And my little sister has hair like yours, all crazy curls. I used to watch as my mother tamed it. The pin in your hair is one my sister wore in hers. It’s a little piece of home when I’m far away.'
Loi was grateful of her straight hair at the moment, knowing the struggle Cat and Kassie were probably having. She slouched back against Sabyn’s chest and smiled as he wrapped his arms around her so she was encased in her cloak. Nice and warm. Very soon they would be at the castle and all their questions would be answered, so she felt pretty relaxed about the whole thing now.
Sabyn glanced at the woman in his arms and could just make out her eyes beneath the veil of hair, they were closed and he felt her muscles relax as she drifted off.
‘Is she sleeping?’ Tomiar asked.
‘Yes, I know we’ll be there soon but a little sleep may make her feel better—at least it can’t hurt,’ he thought.
Gredel watched as the sun began to slowly set.
‘I think the sun should be hitting the castle as we arrive,’ he thought to Phroma.
‘I hope so. It will be a beautiful first sight for the girls.’
Gredel felt a surge of excitement. Citaan would be waiting for him when they arrived. He was almost tempted to ask Phroma to fly faster but he knew that wasn’t fair. She already wanted to get there faster so she could see her son, Ageip. Gredel wondered how much the youngster had grown since he last saw him. Perhaps his child would bond with Ageip once it was born, Gredel smiled at the thought.
I started violently when Alek suddenly shifted position and blinked in surprise.
Oops, didn’t realize I’d nodded off.
'Cat look,' he pointed into the distance.
I stared where he pointed, and at first, could just make out a bright white spot. After rubbing my eyes and squinting I could
now make out a shape in the almost blinding light.
'What is it?' I asked, still trying to register the shape.
'It’s the castle.'
I could hear the pride in Alek’s voice and closed my eyes for a moment to rest them. When I opened them again, the rays of light had moved and now I could see it. My stomach fluttered. It was a beautiful sight. A magnificent white castle that shimmered in the light of the setting sun. It was bordered by the Anguem range and then dense forest.
I stared, feeling anxiety and admiration swirl about me.
'It’s beautiful.'
It looked like it was taken from a story tale on Earth and just plunked here. How appropriate.
And we’re here. Now we find out what happens next.
Alek watched the expression of awe on Cat’s face with pleasure. He’d looked forward to showing her the castle all day and the sun’s last rays had been the perfect setting. Phroma flew closer to Loushka and Gredel waved to Alek from her back. They waved back, and Cat called out to Audrey who was in the saddlebag.
As Loushka neared the inner gate Alek could see a group of people waiting for them.
The griffons landed in sequence with Loushka being the foremost. Alek gave me a swift hug then swung his leg over the saddle and slid down. There were muffled thuds as the other men slid down.
I stared wide-eyed across at Sian and Loi on one side, and then at Kassie on the other. Turning back, I watched as Alek and the others approached the group gathered to greet us. He stopped a few meters from the front of the group, and the rest of the men halted behind him.
All those in the group waiting, bowed very deeply.
Hmm okay, must bow when introduced, I thought, taking mental notes. Alek spoke briefly to someone, then turned and beckoned us.
The Arrival (Birthright Trilogy #1) Page 16