“They’re really well behaved!” Rapp offered. “I raised them mostly myself! I found them after the parents had been killed by hunters, and even though I was on my way to Solace, which is supposed to be a nice place that I hope to still visit someday, I couldn’t very well leave them to die, could I?”
“Of course you couldn’t,” Serene replied approvingly.
“Well, that’s what I thought, and even though it meant having to stay in the woods a lot, I fed them and then found Serene, who taught me more about how to take care of them, and I love them like they’re my own children, which they really aren’t because they wouldn’t look like that, especially the beards.”
“I don’t know which is worse,” the captain said to Tyros. “The griffons themselves or listening to his story about them. You can’t be serious about us riding those monsters!”
A couple of the nearer creatures squawked at the last word.
“Be careful, Bakal,” Tyros warned. “I think they sense your dislike.” To Serene, he added, “but the captain raises a good point. Do you think we can actually make use of the griffons? They seem to obey the kender, but will they let us ride them?”
“They let me ride all the time,” she replied with just a hint of mischievousness. “Surely you two will have no trouble.”
Bakal took umbrage at the possible slight to his courage. “You tell me what to do and I’ll ride one of the beasts,” he insisted. “And that goes for the others, too.”
While the spellcaster noted some continued unease among Bakal’s soldiers, none of them sought to dissuade their leader. The captain had chosen well. Despite their misgivings, these men were still willing to go on.
“It’s very simple. Put your leg over the torso, then hold on to either the mane or the rider in front of you.”
The wizard studied the huge animals. “They can carry two at a time?”
“They’re very strong.”
“What about supplies?” Tyros asked.
“They can carry a little, but we won’t be able to bring any unnecessary items along.” She had made note of Tyros’s heavily packed horse.
Thinking of the mounts, Tyros turned to Bakal. “You’ll have to leave a man to bring the horses back to Gwynned.”
“Already thought of that. Simon there.” The captain indicated a tall bearded man about the mage’s age. “He’ll take them back. Brought him along just for that.”
The cleric nodded. “Then it’s all settled. Good! The longer we delay, the farther Cadrio and the citadel get. Rapp, you and I need to deal with the griffons before the others mount. They’ll be a bit nervous around the men, and I don’t want any trouble. Come!”
“Isn’t she wonderful?” Rapp asked, gazing up at her with pure devotion. “She can do so much! I thought about becoming a cleric of Branchala-he likes kender more than most, you see-but then I thought that if I were a cleric of the Skylord, then I could talk to all the animals, not just my griffons! Of course, then I might have to go walking around in a robe and pray in temples and-”
Bakal grimaced as the kender went on, then turned to the men. “You heard her! Get everything ready! Hurry!”
As the soldiers obeyed, Tyros studied the beasts, which remained near the outcropping, watching the antics of the people. Serene and the kender talked to each, which seemed to have a relaxing effect on the griffons. Tyros noted that most stared longest at Rapp, their eyes filled with as much devotion as he had shown for Serene.
Returning to Tyros, the cleric commented, “They’ll be fine now. By the way, you and I will ride together.”
“Me?”
“Rapp and I need to ride different griffons so that we can better maintain control of the entire group. And since you’re the one who knows most about these castles, I want you near if there’s a question to be asked. The captain will ride with Rapp. Understand?”
“I do.” Bakal would be thrilled.
“Fine.” She looked past him, to where Bakal and the others had nearly readied themselves. “It’s time for them to choose.”
“Choose?” Tyros looked over the beasts, trying to pick the best one. “What difference does it make which one we choose?”
Serene grinned. “You misunderstand! You don’t choose.”
“Then you do it,” Tyros said, nodding at the kender.
She tapped her staff, which set the animals moving. Rapp ran over to Bakal, no doubt to give him the good news about their traveling together. “Oh, I don’t do it either. They do.”
“They?” Tyros stared at the griffons, which now began to circle the humans.
“Tyros! Mage!” the captain called. “What the devil’s going on here? Why’re they coming toward us?”
Tyros looked back at the captain, trying to keep his voice steady. Serene trusted these animals; surely he could do the same. “Remain calm, Bakal! Nothing to worry about! They’re just in the process of-”
A great force landed on the mage’s chest, slamming him backward to the ground. Massive talons dug into his chest, hurting him slightly but somehow managing to avoid tearing the cloth of his robe. He stared into an avian face with leonine eyes. The sharp beak opened, and Tyros received a faceful of putrid breath.
“Consider yourself lucky, mage,” Serene called from behind the monstrous beast. “I think he likes you.”
Chapter 7
Death from Above
General Cadrio eyed distant Norwych, imagining it to be Gwynned. His ships stood ready to sail toward the target, but Valkyn hadn’t given permission to strike. Instead, the mage had some other plan in mind and had sent the savage Crag with a note containing instructions.
By an hour before dawn, you must be in position near the Three Sisters. The lanky general briefly looked south, where three tall rocks, vaguely shaped like gossiping women with their heads close together, rose high above the water.
The point will keep you from the eyes of Norwych’s watch. Wait there until you notice the skies above you darken. Only then sail closer, but do not enter the harbor of Norwych until given the signal.
Valkyn meant to put on some sort of display before Cadrio would be allowed to attempt landfall. It would have to be impressive if the mage meant to soften up the defenders for the general. Norwych was a formidable island stronghold, one that had resisted the advances of the Dragon Highlords early in the war.
Crumpling the missive, he scanned the clear sky. “So where are you, then, wizard? Where?”
“Sir!” He looked down to see Zander standing at attention, the aide’s armor brightly polished as usual, his cloak immaculate. The officer saluted smartly. Zander did everything smartly.
“What is it?”
“Some of the captains have signaled for clearance to sail. They don’t like being anchored out here. Apparently the Three Sisters are considered bad luck by seafarers.”
“Only if they’re stupid enough to wreck their vessels on them!” the vulpine commander snarled. “If any ship breaks rank, I’ll hang its officers from the crow’s nest! Relay that to them!”
“Aye, General!” Zander quickly retreated.
Again, Cadrio surveyed the sky. He saw a few clouds, but nothing more. Less and less he liked the goateed wizard’s attitude. They were supposedly allies, but nothing so far gave credence to that. Cadrio was to be emperor, yet Valkyn gave the commands. What did the mage know of warfare? More important, how dare he think himself the general’s superior?
General Cadrio wished he could lay his hands on the citadel. He understood its basic design enough to know that it could be flown by anyone. Valkyn’s apparently didn’t even need wizards and clerics chanting levitation spells, which meant yet fewer annoyances. If only Cadrio could reach it undetected.…
He looked to the rear of the fleet, where the crippled citadel left from the Gwynned raid still floated, awaiting orders. For some reason, Valkyn had insisted that he needed this castle also, but empty of all save those necessary to fly it.