Riders of the Realm #3

by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez

  25

  Redfire’s Discovery

  SEVERAL DAYS PASSED IN THE WESTERN WILDS after the rescue mission. While the Landwalkers prepared by fashioning weapons, Dewberry taught a group of small mares the ancient skill of sky herding. She’d learned it in Anok from Mountain Herd mares, and now she was teaching her agile team the secret language and herding maneuvers that they would use to drive enemy pegasi out of the sky. Hazelwind taught Kol and Drael how to sharpen their hooves.

  Intermittent rainfall had kept the black magnas web bound, but now silver rays of moonlight broke apart the clouds and stretched toward the soil. A bright dawn sky loomed on the horizon.

  Echofrost stretched her wings to ruffle her plumage, then folded them back. The Landwalkers were up early too, donning their makeshift spears and vine-woven shields, and Echofrost nickered approval. The humans had also been preparing for battle, and a sense of anticipation filled the air.

  Kol watched Tuni strap on her belt and wondered about the woman’s Flier. “I hope Rizah’s alive somewhere,” he nickered.

  The stallion hadn’t been groomed in days. His tail hung in swirling snarls, his feathers were crumpled, and sweat streaked his hide; but Echofrost guessed that Kol’s lackluster appearance had more to do with his grief over Rizah than his hygiene. The palomino pinto mare had been Kol’s best friend, next to Brauk, and seeing Tuni without her partner upset Kol very much.

  Now Graystone’s heavy hooves thudded across the soil and the pegasi glowered at him for trotting and making so much noise. “Sorry,” he nickered, slowing to a walk. Kol had warned them that black magna webs were anchored to trees and soil. When the spiders felt foreign vibrations through their silk ties, they investigated. So far, Storm Herd hadn’t seen any spiders up close, and they wanted to keep it that way.

  As they were all glaring at Graystone, the sound of wingbeats filled their ears. “Dewberry and the sky herders must be back,” Echofrost nickered, yawning.

  But it was a lone steed who descended from the sky. “That’s not Dewberry,” warned Hazelwind.

  Rattling their feathers, the pegasi collected to confront the stranger. The Landwalkers startled and looked up.

  The approaching stallion landed in a pool of fading moonlight. His copper coat appeared almost white in the silver glow.

  “Redfire!” Shysong glided to his side and Storm Herd pressed in closer. They all exchanged breath. The Landwalkers also relaxed when they saw the wild herd greet him with such affection.

  Echofrost felt a burst of relief to see that he was unharmed. “Did you find Rahkki?” she asked.

  Redfire stretched his wings, and everyone stepped back. “I had more trouble finding you all. What kind of forest is this? It’s so . . . bleak.”

  “So you did find him?” Echofrost pressed. The vein in her neck began to pulse with worry.

  Redfire nickered. “I found him loose in the jungle. Somehow, he’d freed himself from the giants.”

  Pride rose in Echofrost’s chest, and the other pegasi nickered at her, as though praising Echofrost for Pairing with such a clever cub.

  “He seemed unharmed, except he was being attacked by huge, vicious ants,” Redfire continued. “I tossed him onto my back and tried to fly him home, but he was acting strange, like he was delirious. So we traveled overland the rest of the way. We stopped just outside his territory and he was very sick by then. I left him and went to find you, but you weren’t at the farm. When I flew back for Rahkki, he was gone.”

  “Gone?” Hazelwind asked.

  Redfire shrugged his wings. “Yes, so I followed his scent to a small hut, the healer’s den, I think, because it smelled like her. I could hear them talking inside and I knew he was safe. I left to search for you and now here I am. Finally.”

  “Brim will take care of him,” Shysong nickered, and then brightened. “If Rahkki’s back, then we don’t have to fight the giants! We can leave.”

  “Wait,” Echofrost said, raising her wing. “He’s still in danger from Queen Lilliam. And not just Rahkki, but his entire clan. And what’s to stop her from tracking us down and trying to catch us again? We need to see this through until everyone is safe.”

  “She’s right,” Hazelwind said.

  “I’m just anxious to find a home,” Shysong nickered. “We still don’t know where we’re going, or where we’ll end up. We need a place to raise the twins.”

  Everyone glanced at Windheart and Thornblaze. The foals were trying to graze on the silver foliage and making horrible faces at the taste. Windheart gagged and tried again but Thornblaze quickly gave up and dived into Dewberry’s flank to nurse. “He’s just like his sire,” Echofrost murmured, remembering Bumblewind.

  “Actually, I might know where we’re going,” Redfire interjected, and the pegasi turned their long necks toward him. “When I didn’t find you waiting at Darthan’s farm, I decided to do some exploring. I took a jet stream past the southern mountains and discovered a territory where I think we can live.” He sighed so deeply and contentedly that the entire herd leaned toward him.

  “Tell us about it,” Shysong urged.

  “I saw beautiful green meadows and wide, clear lakes. A deep river winds through it and there are thick shade trees and rolling foothills.” His eyes widened, remembering. “It’s perfect for us. The hills will protect us from the wind, and there’s plenty of open grazing land and enough coverage to shelter us from rain and sun. I don’t think I could imagine a better place to settle.”

  “What lives there?” Hazelwind asked. “Did you notice signs of Landwalkers or dragons?”

  “I didn’t stay long,” he admitted, shaking his red mane. “I landed to inspect the meadow. I first suspected it might be marshland, but it wasn’t. The soil was firm, even in this weather.”

  Storm Herd nickered, growing excited and rattling their feathers.

  “I spotted forestland to the east and more grazing pastures farther south. I flew a spiral around the territory and didn’t see any signs of Landwalkers. Plenty of creatures though—elephants, buffalo, and horned animals.”

  “There will be dragons nearby,” Shysong guessed.

  “Every good territory attracts predators,” Graystone said, and they all nodded.

  “How far away is it?”

  Redfire continued. “I rode the jet streams, but it will take the herd six or seven days to fly there and much longer if we travel overland because we’ll have to cross the mountains.”

  “The twins aren’t ready to fly over a gusty pass,” Dewberry groused. She flashed Redfire an annoyed glance as though he had purposely discovered a homeland that was inconvenient.

  The copper stallion went on, unfazed. “Then we’ll walk there. What do we have if not time? Once Rahkki and his clan are safe, I’ll lead you there and any tame steeds who want to join us.” He glanced at Kol and Drael.

  “What’s he talking about?” Drael asked.

  Hazelwind filled him in. “Your kind fled the same homeland we did four hundred years ago. The Sandwens captured and tamed you, but you’re meant to live free, like us. You can come if you want.”

  Drael flicked his ears at Kol. “Is this true? Are you going?”

  “I don’t want to live wild,” Kol said, casting a miserable glance at his tangled tail. “And I don’t know if it’s true.”

  “Why would I leave the clan?” Drael asked.

  “Tell me,” Dewberry said, “how did you feel when your clan sold you away from your mother?”

  Drael recoiled and his wings sagged to the ground.

  “Do you remember?” Dewberry pressed.

  “I do,” he rasped. Unpleasant memories swam in his eyes. “I—I didn’t like it.”

  “That’s why you should leave, so you can have a family and keep it.” She drew her twins, Windheart and Thornblaze, closer. “We’re going to rescue the Ruk steeds and their foals too before we leave here. You two can do what you want.”

  Echofrost’s heart squeezed. She wasn’t sure it
would be that easy, but she also wanted to rescue the dams and foals and retired steeds. She turned to Redfire. “The land you discovered sounds perfect for us.”

  He puffed his chest at that, and Echofrost felt lighter, a huge burden released. Crossing another ocean to a new continent would have been daunting. She was glad Redfire had found suitable land here, but far from the Landwalkers. She’d rather deal with dragons than people.

  To the east, the sun crawled into the sky, spreading a hazy glow across the land. “It’s going to be dry today,” Echofrost nickered, welcoming the change.

  “And the spiders will leave their webs,” Kol pointed out.

  All of Storm Herd groaned. “At least our feathers will finally dry out,” Graystone said, and the herd dispersed to graze and wait.

  Echofrost watched Brauk snatch up a spear, a cheerful expression on his face. “The sun is out. I’m going to the pond for a proper bath.”

  Darthan smiled. “You haven’t had enough of being wet?”

  Brauk tossed back his hair and laughed, his spirits rising with the sun. “I’m muddy. I’ll be back soon. Anyone else want to come?”

  Ossi joined him, followed quickly by her brother, and they darted into the black woods.

  Echofrost watched them go, wondering if today was the day they’d take action. She hoped Rahkki would stay with Brim, where he was safe. The Landwalkers would be ready soon, very soon, and then all this would be over. The pegasi would trek to this land Redfire had found, and perhaps it would become their new home. She nudged Hazelwind. “The territory Redfire described reminds me of Dawn Meadow, where we were born.”

  He nodded. “I was thinking the exact same thing.” He gazed deeply at her and she sighed, anxious to settle and leave the world of Landwalkers behind. When he dropped his head to graze, she peered south, dreaming of their future.

  26

  The Pond

  “YOU HAVE TO HOLD HIM STILL, KOKO,” RAHKKI grumbled. He, Koko, and Jul had been exploring the southern rain forest for days and found no sign of I’Lenna, Sula, or Rahkki’s family.

  “If I ’old ’im any tighter, I’ll hurt ’im.”

  Koko had pinned Jul to the ground and wrapped her legs around his body to hold him still. Now Rahkki was bent over him, scraping bee stingers out of his skin while the boy thrashed. Jul had spotted a gigantic beehive in the trees and, against Rahkki’s warnings, had climbed up to steal some honeycomb. The insects had attacked.

  “I hope you’re not allergic to bees,” Rahkki said. Using Koko’s hoof pick, he hooked the stingers and yanked them out. The faster he did it, the less poison would infect Jul’s blood. Next he sliced open the aloe leaves he’d collected and smeared the gel across the wounds. Jul groaned against the pain.

  “’E didn’t even get any honeycomb,” Koko moaned, gazing longingly at the hive. Nothing was sweeter than bee honey for kids who couldn’t afford candy, and Rahkki wished for some too. Also, he was hungry. Because of the rains, hunting had been difficult. Tak kept them alive, scorching snails and charring insects, but Rahkki was tired of eating bugs and slugs.

  “I don’ think yur brother’s ’ere in the south,” Koko said.

  Rahkki had to agree with her. He yanked out the last stinger and Jul lurched upright. His face was a mask of swollen welts. “Where is he then?” the Rider’s apprentice asked.

  Rahkki considered the possibilities. The wild herd and the rebels were with Brauk, so he’d need space to hide that many people and animals. He wouldn’t fly east toward the giants and the Fifth Clan was north. Since he didn’t appear to be here in the south, Brauk had to be hiding in the west, but that was black magna territory. Sandwens didn’t travel there, not if they wanted to live. But they might go there if they wanted to hide! Rahkki’s scalp tingled. “I think I know where Brauk is, but you’re not going to like it.” He explained and then glanced at Jul’s swollen hands. “Can you ride?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Yuh can ride wit me,” Koko offered.

  Moments later, they were all riding west on their borrowed warhorses. Tak snuggled inside Rahkki’s shirt and slept, humming softly. If his dreams turned scary, he’d shriek or shoot flames—Rahkki had several holes in his clothes as a result of Tak’s worst nightmares—so he stroked the dragon to keep him calm.

  “I can’t believe we’re going into the Wilds,” Jul said, licking his lips and wiping one hand nervously on his pants. The other was wrapped around Koko’s waist, and she led his gray warhorse by the reins. Koko clutched her pitchfork tightly in her hand.

  “You don’t have to come with me,” Rahkki said.

  Koko snorted and Jul glanced balefully toward home, but they continued riding west. The sun had just dawned and the day promised to be sunny. In the distance, Rahkki heard the roar of a waterfall. The steady rain had filled the Realm’s lakes, rivers, and creeks to overflowing. Flooding, mudslides, and falling trees would cause problems for the seven clans until this early monsoon season ended.

  Since they’d camped near the western borderlands last night, the trip into the Wilds was relatively short. Rahkki knew they’d arrived when the green foliage was replaced by silver plants, the swaying palm trees replaced by upright blackwoods, and the chattering birds replaced by deafening silence.

  Jul gazed up at the dark trees, his eyes searching for spiders. “Sun and stars,” he whispered. “Even birds avoid this place.” Koko shivered, though the morning was warm and muggy.

  “Tssh,” Rahkki hissed. “Hear that? Something is splashing.”

  Koko lifted her pitchfork, Jul peeked over her shoulder, and Tak poked his head out of Rahkki’s collar. “Whatever it is, it’s not a spider. They don’t swim,” Jul said.

  Rahkki dismounted and so did the others. Tak stared at his surroundings, and Rahkki felt his tiny heart beating faster and faster. Then his eyes narrowed and he pushed out of the boy’s shirt and coasted overhead, shooting his sparkling white fire into the air. He dived and circled as if attacking invisible enemies.

  “What’s gotten into him?” Jul asked.

  “He’s scared,” Rahkki explained. “So he’s showing off.”

  Koko narrowed her eyes. “Did ’e tell yuh all tha’?” she asked.

  Heat glided to Rahkki’s cheeks. People thought he could speak to animals, but that wasn’t it. He observed and paid attention. As head groom of the Kihlara stable, Koko should understand that. “Course not,” he muttered.

  The splashing grew louder as they walked the warhorses closer to the noise. It wasn’t a leaping fish, a waterfall, or a hunting alligator. It sounded like a person. Rahkki’s heart fluttered hopefully.

  They crept toward the noise, placing each foot carefully and slowly in front of the other. Rahkki drew Miah’s dagger and held it in front of him in case he was wrong. “Tie the horses here,” he whispered. They wound the reins around low branches, then resumed stalking toward the water. The well-trained battle horses stood were they were tied, silent and waiting.

  Rahkki crouched and rounded a wide blackwood tree. The first person he saw had red, springing curls—Ossi Finn—and then he spotted a tall red-haired teen—Mut Finn. They’d stripped to their undergarments and Mut was splashing his sister. They were laughing. A third person swam underwater, fast and graceful, lean and tan. Rahkki straightened.

  Ossi spotted him across the pond and her rosy lips fell wide open. Mut scratched his head. “Rahkki?” he asked as though not believing what he saw.

  Rahkki grinned.

  Then the swimming man emerged and flung back his wet hair. He wiped the water from his golden eyes.

  “Brauk!” Rahkki cried. His throat closed painfully on the word. Every feeling, every fear, and every terror he’d squished down since his capture welled within him at the sight of his brother. Hot tears filled his eyes. His nose began to run. If he moved at all, he’d break into sobs.

  But Brauk did not look happy to see him. His eyes rounded. His face drooped into an ugly grimace. “Rahkki!” h
e shouted. “Run!”

  27

  Scout

  RAHKKI FROZE. RUN? WHERE? THEN A SILK thread lassoed his waist and yanked him off his feet. The world turned upside down. He faced the sky, rising swiftly toward the uppermost branches of a blackwood tree. Eight glittering eyes peered down at him as a lone black magna scout hauled him toward its mouth.

  Rahkki heard loud, guttural screaming—his own voice. He thrashed at the silk line with Miah’s dagger, but his hand was empty. He’d dropped the knife. He tried to kick the silk away from him, but it stuck to his legs.

  He threw back his head. Far below, Brauk, Mut, and Ossi raced toward him. “Help!” he cried. Koko hurled her pitchfork like a spear, just missing the spider. Jul began to climb the tree.

  The spider grew excited. It danced on the branch as it reeled Rahkki in like a fish. Rahkki grabbed the silk and tried to break it, but the sticky thread wrapped around his hands, further entangling him.

  Tak dived from the sky, cawing like a crow. He blasted the spider with his hottest blue fire. The creature ducked and then shot a flurry of silk that splattered across the dragon, disabling his wings. Tak dropped like a stone. The spider clicked its singed legs, shaking with fury.

  Rahkki heard Tak hit the ground with a thud as the spider dragged him up the last few lengths. It grabbed him with its front four legs and patted Rahkki down as if searching for a weapon. Then it rolled him, shooting more thread from its abdomen and winding it around the boy’s body.

  “Brauk,” Rahkki yelled.

  Jul was halfway up the tree, but he’d never make it to Rahkki in time. Once his prey was secure, this scout would clack its front legs together and call the spider army to carry Rahkki back to the colony. They’d feed him to their spiderlings. A wave of dizziness washed through him as he spun around and around. “Hurry,” he wheezed.

  Brauk had reached the base of the tree and found Miah’s dropped dagger. He gripped the handle to hurl it, and hesitated. Brauk could easily miss the spider and strike Rahkki. Rahkki glimpsed this in pieces as the world spun with him. “Do it!” he urged.