The Arrival (Birthright Trilogy #1) (28 page)

'What’s weird about them?'

'Not weird, interesting. They carry their young on their backs, look, see the one at the far right?'

I craned my neck to try and see, but couldn’t quite look around Loushka’s wing. He stood on the saddle and pulled me up, pointing again.

'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.

'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!’