by Tora Moon
“But what about our horses?” Rizelya asked.
*There is a cave at the bottom where they will remain. I guarantee they will be safe and no one will eat them.*
“How can you do that?”
*Because it’s my flight’s cave and they will do as I say.*
The sky filled with more and more Phengriffs as news of their arrival spread through the city. Blazel knew there were fifteen different flights, but he’d only spent time with Graak’s Thorn Claw flight, which was predominately made up of hawk- and falcon-type Phengriffs. He had seen one or two of the smaller Phengriffs, who were in the Silent Prowlers flight and were the Phengriffs’ messengers and scouts. He had never seen so many Phengriffs at one time.
“How many live here?” Blazel asked, drawing his eyes from the aerial displays above him.
*There are about fifteen hundred Phengriffs in the city,* Graak answered. *Another four to five hundred live in the scout camps and elsewhere. Ah, here we are.*
Graak led them into a huge cavern. Excited Phengriffs filled it, their wings rustling, and beaks clicking. At one end, a corral had been built for the horses, with piles of fresh grass and a trough of water in it. The horses shied and whinnied in fear from so many large predators around them. Graak let out a cry, and all the Phengriffs except one hurried out of the cave.
He was slightly smaller than Graak and appeared to be the same hawk-type. He had deep, dark brown feathers and his feline body was the same dark brown. A band of dark yellow-orange covered the top portion of his beak and extended into his cheeks. He dipped his head to Graak.
*All has been made ready for our guests,* the Phengriff said.
*Thank you, Broogk.* Graak turned to Blazel and the others and extended a talon toward the other Phengriff. *This is my wing second, Broogk. He will ensure your horses are safe.*
The Posairs murmured greetings to the Phengriff. The horses were calmer with only Graak and Broogk in the cave with them. Broogk swung open the corral gate for Blazel and the others to lead the horses into it. Once they were in and unsaddled, Broogk clicked his beak and muttered soft words to the horses. Blazel was stunned when Lighzel nodded her head and walked to Broogk’s outstretched talon. He carefully petted Lighzel’s nose.
*Sweet lady, you are gorgeous,* he murmured to Lighzel. He turned to the Posairs and dropped his beak open in a grin. *These are magnificent creatures! Be sure I will take good care of them.*
The other horses followed Lighzel’s lead and went to the corral bars, letting Broogk pet them. Blazel shook his head, unbelieving the horses would trust the large Phengriff. They left the cave to the sound of him crooning to the horses.
* * *
Rizelya followed Graak as he led the way out of the cave. Six large Phengriffs waited outside, wearing a collar on their breasts similar to the one Graak wore, only not as ornate. They milled around nervously as the Posairs exited the cave.
When Graak had told them they’d get a ride up to the top of the cliff, she had thought it’d be in a basket or something like that. But the waiting Phengriffs made her realize their ride would be on Phengriff backs. Looking at Jaehaas, she wondered how the centaur would manage the ride.
When the two White Priestesses exited the cave, the waiting Phengriffs reared back on their haunches, opened their wings slightly for balance, and let out a sharp cry. They dropped back to the ground and bowed low to the priestesses. Two stepped forward, white feathers on their necks sweeping back to meld with the white and gray fur of their feline bodies. A wide stripe of dark gray started at the tops of their beaks, went across the tops of their heads, and down their backs. They dipped their beaks to Chariel and Wisah.
*It is our great honor to carry you,* they said in unison.
Wisah bowed her head slightly in regal acceptance.
Graak directed Blazel and Aistrun where to place the women on the Phengriff’s backs. As they stepped aside, walking carefully with their burden, Rizelya saw a strange contraption spread on the ground. Lengths of rope snaked from it to the two huge, solid-black Phengriffs on either side of it.
Graak saw the device and grunted. *That is for you, Jaehaas. This is what we use when we must transport an injured Phengriff, so it should support your weight.*
Jaehaas eyed the mess of ropes, doubt in his eyes. He stepped forward, lifting his hoofs high in mincing steps. Graak pointed to where he wanted Jaehaas to stand. Shivers cascaded over Jaehaas’s back and down his legs as he waited.
The Phengriff who came up to Rizelya had light brown and white feathers, his wings were a darker brown with white stripes. His feline body was a creamy tan and brown. He stood a head taller than she was, and his body was nearly thirteen feet long. He dipped his head in greeting.
*I am Glork, and I am honored to carry you.* He then crouched down so she could crawl onto his back.
As she settled, she saw two straps attached to the collar in front of her. “Are these for me?” At his nod, she leaned forward and grasped them tightly.
When Rizelya looked up, Blazel was on Graak, and Aistrun was on a brown-and-red Phengriff. Graak gave the signal, and Glork’s rear legs bunched as he leaped into the air. She felt a brush of magic and they were off the ground, his powerful wings beating strong strokes. Below her, she saw the two black Phengriffs burst from the ground, ropes clutched tightly in their talons. The ropes tightened and the contraption took the shape of a sling, with Jaehaas’s belly snug in its cradle. Jaehaas gripped the sling’s edge, his knuckles white.
Aistrun whooped with joy and yelled, “I’m flying!” He threw back his head and laughed.
Rizelya smiled at him. She wasn’t sure she liked the sensation of nothing around her but sky.
*I will not drop you,* Glork assured her. His voice in her head was a deep, kind baritone. His wing beats took them higher and higher. He was soon high above the cliff and the city below. *Is this not beautiful?*
She looked around. The mountain peaks were still capped in snow and glittered in the sun. Far below, a river snaked through the emerald-green forest. Clouds slid by them. The others were landing in a courtyard of the palace, while she and her Phengriff were still circling above it. Rizelya wound the straps around her hands and gripped the Phengriff’s sides tighter with her legs.
*Is it true the Malvers are returning?* Glork asked.
“Yes. One has invaded my dreams and shown me terrible things.”
“Aaii!” he warbled.
A shiver slid over Glork’s body and heat rose from him. She cried out when it threatened to burn her. He mumbled an apology, and his lazy glide turned into a steep stoop as he arrowed to the courtyard. The wind burned her face and stole tears from her eyes. She clung tightly to Glork as he backwinged suddenly, and she was glad she had a tight grip on the straps or she would have slid off his back. He dropped down onto his talons and crouched. Rizelya unwrapped the straps from her hands, stepped off, and thanked him.
The courtyard was filled with Phengriffs, heat radiated off from them, making the courtyard balmy. A number of them were huge, dwarfing the rest with their height and weight, and wore gold collars. The other Phengriffs stayed away from them. They formed a line and blocked a large gold door.
Graak and her friends stood in a lonely huddle in the sea of Phengriffs.
*Are you okay?* Graak asked when she joined them.
Rizelya nodded, then flicked her eyes to the huge Phengriffs. “Who are they?”
*Thunder Wings. They protect the king.*
The door opened, and the guards stepped aside to reveal Moraak. He glowed as a beam of sunlight touched his golden feathers. An ornate gold collar adorned his breast.
*The king will see you,* Moraak announced. *Come with me.*
Graak took the lead, Blazel just behind him, as they followed Moraak through the doors. Wisah’s hand was on Jaehaas’s elbow as they paced through the cordon of Thunder Wings. Chariel was escorted by Aistrun. As the two priestesses passed, a murmur went through the crowd. Rizelya paced
alone, her hand on her helstrablade at her side. Her fingers ached to be holding her helbraught, but Graak had forbidden her to bring it. Although it was easier to direct her magic through her helbraught, she could access her magic without it. She murmured the spell for the fire shield under her breath, holding it ready in case they needed it. She trusted Graak, but not these other Phengriffs. Her shoulders twitched when a huge black Thunder Wing stepped behind her and followed the procession.
Inside the palace, they walked through multiple corridors. Huge Thunder Wings guarded each intersection. Rizelya caught glimpses of stone walls intricately carved and beautiful sculptures in both stone and wood. They finally came to a golden door, finely embossed with Phengriffs in flight, the wooden lintel decorated with carvings. A Thunder Wing pushed open the door.
The marble floor was polished to a high sheen. Tall windows with brightly woven curtains provided ample light. Phengriffs stood on either side of the aisle leading to the dais.
Rizelya saw female Phengriffs for the first time. They were smaller and more graceful, and their coloring was more subdued than the males. They wore beautifully crafted bands on their fore talons, many of them set with brightly winking jewels.
Near the dais stood four Phengriffs who looked like Moraak, with the same gold coloring and build. Graak had told them Moraak was just one son in line to inherit the crown from their father. These four Phengriffs must be his brothers. They scowled at Moraak and the Posairs behind him.
The Phengriff on the dais had the same coloring as his sons. King Zorlaak was larger than Moraak, even larger than any of the Thunder Wings Rizelya had seen. His head feathers were gold and his wing feathers were a golden-brown edged with gold. His feline body was a rich, dark gold. Even his talons were gold. He wore a gold collar studded with jewels and a crown on his head.
Moraak bowed to the king. *Father, these are the Posairs I told you about. They have come bearing a message from the Supreme.*
Aistrun stepped forward, holding his cloak behind him to form wings, and bowed. “Oolk keee shree neekalaaak,” he said perfectly, with all the screeches and clicks.
The king nodded thoughtfully and motioned to someone behind him.
A Phengriff stepped from behind the king. He had silver-gray feathers, a gray feline body, and a silver beak. He was smaller, standing only four and a half feet tall. He cocked his head from side to side as he examined the group. He half hopped, half flew, from the dais to land in front of Wisah. He continued his curious head bobbing as he looked her over. He did the same thing to Chariel. Sitting back on his haunches, he stretched until he could look Wisah and Chariel in the eye. Tentatively, he reached out a talon and ran it gently down Chariel’s cheek.
*You have the sight,* he stated, his voice a high tinkling sound. He sounded old to Rizelya. *What have you seen?*
“I have seen madness coming,” Chariel said. Her voice changed to the odd monotone of prophecy. Her unseeing eyes looked up to the sky as if watching something no one else could see. “It comes! The madness is here. All must fight or none shall live.”
Aistrun caught Chariel as she fainted. He glared at the Silver Beak.
*What say you, Sheekeek?* the king asked.
*She sees true, my lord,* the Silver Beak said to the king. *It is the same danger I have seen in my visions.* He whirled to face Wisah. *And why, White Priestess, are you here?*
“My Supreme sent me,” Wisah said, pulling herself up to her full height and straightening her shoulders. She turned from the Silver Beak to look at the king. “And because of Chariel’s prophecy. It’s why all of us are here. We have come to urge you to remember our alliance from long ago and to renew it now.”
*And what did her prophecy say?* asked Sheekeek.
Wisah closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them to stare at the king. She intoned, “Long-lost allies to fight once more, ancient enemies coming to the light. A menace comes. No allies, the enemy wins and all die.”
Graak stepped forward. *My King, the Malvers return. It is our sacred duty to fight them.*
*That time has long passed,* King Zorlaak said. *We are safe here in our mountain homes. The Malvers have never been here and so can never send their evil against us.*
*Your Grace, the baethor have been getting stronger,* Graak replied. *A flock attacked our guests unprovoked. If we had not seen them on our patrol, they would not now be here to warn us about the coming evil.*
The king looked to Moraak, and asked, *Is this true?*
Moraak nodded. *It is. There have never been baethor in the canyon where we found the Posairs. Not one, but several, flocks of baethor were attacking them. I have never seen the like.*
*You carry this evil with you!* The king sputtered, glaring at the Posairs.
“Your Grace,” Aistrun said, bowing again to the king. “We only bring warning and a plea for your friendship. Would you listen to my tale?”
King Zorlaak thrummed his talons on the floor, the sound a dull ring. Rizelya held her breath. They needed the alliance with the Phengriffs. After several long milcrons, the king nodded.
“It all began one day, a day just like any other,” Aistrun began, his voice falling into the cadence of a storyteller. “A platoon from Strunland Keep went to fight a nest of monsters and a brave Red—” he indicated Rizelya “—fought a new janack in the nest. It’s true—after a thousand years a new janack showed up in the nest. It controls the rest.”
Aistrun went on to tell the rapt audience the tale of their journey across Strunlair Province. He told them of Rizelya’s awful dreams that proved to be visions. The journey to the Sanctuary and the meeting of Blazel and Jaehaas took on new proportions, and Rizelya almost didn’t recognize herself in the tale. Aistrun made her sound so brave and fearless when, in truth, she wasn’t; she had only been protecting her squad. He ended with the baethor battle and Blazel and Graak’s chance reunion.
“And so, Your Grace,” Aistrun said, “we are here, begging you to believe us. The Malvers are once again active and trying to destroy us.”
King Zorlaak was still, except for a flick of his tail. He was quiet for so long, Rizelya began to worry.
*During the Great War,* he finally said, *there were thousands of us. But by the end, only eighty survivors flew to the Deep Mountains to escape the ravages of the war. And we have prospered here. We know the Malvers’s malice. Our histories remind us about the depravations of war. Even after a thousand years, our population is still dangerously low. Helping you will decimate us, and I do not know if we can survive a war at this time.*
Rizelya stepped forward. Blazel grabbed her arm, but she shrugged him off. She knew she was breaking protocol; women, except priestesses, weren’t supposed to speak to the king in this formal setting.
The king’s feathers rose in agitation as Rizelya bowed deeply to him.
“My lord, listen to me,” she cried. “I have seen what the Malvers are doing to my people. It will only get worse as they grow stronger. We can fight their monsters. We have been doing it for the past thousand years. But if they send, as Chariel says, flying monsters, we can’t hope to fight them. You were created to battle them. Please help us now.”
A boom shook the windows and echoed throughout the palace. The ground swayed. Rizelya fought to keep her balance.
“They are here!” Chariel screamed, hands over her face. “The madness is here!”
Chapter 14
The floor stopped rocking. Blazel moved to help Chariel, but Wisah and Aistrun were already kneeling next to her. He changed direction and ran for the nearest window, Rizelya on his heels. Graak and Moraak were winging to the one next to them. Looking out, Blazel couldn’t see anything.
“Is there a way out of here?” he asked Graak. “We need to see what’s happening.”
*Come on,* Graak shouted. *I’ll take you.*
Blazel dashed to Graak’s side and leaped onto his back, and Graak jumped into the air. Blazel looked down, stunned to see Rizelya climbing on Moraa
k’s back. He hadn’t thought the prince would allow a Posair to ride him.
Graak flew directly at the window. With a cry, Blazel threw his arm over his face to protect it. He experienced a moment of pressure, and then they were winging high into the air. Blazel slowly lowered his arm when he realized the glass hadn’t shattered at their passing. Behind them, Moraak was catching up to them quickly. Below, four Thunder Wings rose from the courtyard to join them.
“There!” Blazel shouted, pointing to the red tail of a comet plunging across the sky, far above where the Phengriffs flew. Blazel’s hands convulsed on Graak’s neck feathers as he saw the meteor from his dreams, a baleful fire slashing across the horizon.
Graak turned and sped toward the flaming streak with Moraak and the Thunder Wings flying at their side. Even as fast as they flew, the streak stayed ahead of them. The leading edge, a bright ball of fire, outpaced them and soon dropped beyond the horizon.
*We can’t catch it,* Moraak called out. *Let’s go back.* He signaled to two of the Thunder Wings, who continued to follow the object’s trail. Then he made a wide turn, with Graak following his lead.
“That isn’t natural,” Rizelya said. “Right after the boom, Chariel said the madness was here. We need to find out what that thing is.”
*I agree,* Moraak said. *Ah, father has sent more scouts.*
Several Phengriffs, all significantly smaller than the huge Thunder Wings, were winging toward them. Blazel recognized a couple of scouts from the Silent Prowlers he’d met during his time with Graak. Within moments the scouts had caught up and passed Graak and Moraak as they sped after the Thunder Wings. It didn’t take long for them to overtake the larger Phengriff and disappear from sight.
*We’ll know more either later today or tomorrow,* Graak said. *The scouts are fast.*
When they returned to the throne room, the Silver Beak, Sheekeek, was in earnest conversation with Chariel and Wisah. Aistrun was pacing off to the side, throwing concerned glances at the priestesses. Jaehaas was talking to one of Moraak’s brothers.
