Protector of the Flight

by Robin D. Owens

  Later in the night, he and Calli loved with desperate tenderness.

  The next morning breakfast was cheerful and lively. Afterward, Calli took Jetyer to the arena and she and Marrec gave him his first volaran-partnering lesson. The grin on his face made Calli’s eyes sting.

  Finally, though, it was time to wash and change for her flight back to the encampment. Her steps dragged, her movements slowed.

  She had just dressed when there was a quick, hard rapping on the door.

  Marrec and she shared a strained glance, both knowing Jetyer was outside their door. Marrec strode and opened it.

  “Mama?” Jetyer said, shifting from foot to foot on the threshold.

  “Yes?”

  “I…I…h-heard about the S-s-snap. W-will you b-be l-l-l-leaving?”

  “Oh, honey.” She opened her arms and he ran into them, burrowed close, and she shut her eyes as she heard the pretty strains of his boy Song, smelled his scent. “I love you very much, and the more an Exotique is bound to Lladrana and its people, the easier it is for her to stay. I’m bound to you and your father and baby Diaminta. They say the Snap is a choice, and I choose to stay here with you and the rest of our family.”

  “Are you sure?” The words were muffled against her body, but they were clear.

  “Very sure. I won’t go back.”

  “Son, I’ve heard from Shieldmarshall Bastien that I can help Calli during the Snap by hanging on to her. When it comes, why don’t we both hang on to her.”

  The boy released her to look at Marrec. “T-truly?”

  “Ayes.”

  “And baby Diaminta, too? M-mama could hold her.”

  “Well, you know Diaminta still prefers you and your papa,” Calli said.

  Jetyer shook his head. “I th-think you should hold her.”

  Smiling, Calli brushed his hair from his forehead, pretended not to see his wet eyes. “We’ll do that. Feel better now?”

  “Ayes.” But there was a little frown between his brows.

  Calli went to the love seat and sat down, patted the cushion beside her. “You know you can ask me anything, right?”

  “Ayes.” He shrugged a shoulder. “I just don’t like this S-snap idea.”

  “We won’t let it concern us. I don’t want to go back to the Exotique Land.” Like Alexa and Marian, she never thought of Earth or Colorado as home anymore.

  Marrec sat next to her, draping an arm around her shoulders and now the fragrance of his skin teased her. Man. Lover.

  “Calli isn’t going anywhere.”

  She tensed a little at his words, kept a smile aimed at her boy. “I have to go back to the encampment, but your father will stay here with you. Flying lessons every day, and I’ll come back as often as I can.”

  “Maybe I should go with y-you, so you’ll stay safe.” He nodded.

  Oh, the dear child. “I like thinking about you here, at our home.”

  Jetyer stood straight, looked Marrec in the eye. “Th-then Papa should go with you. I will look after Diaminta and…here. Someone m-must be with you.”

  Just that easily the huge, black canyon of their differences opened between them. Marrec stiffened.

  “You should go,” Jetyer insisted.

  Calli rubbed her temples. “Jetyer, I haven’t finished my duties to Lladrana yet, and your father and I love you. We want you and Diaminta to have good lives. And both parents.”

  “B-but that c-can’t happen just yet, can it?”

  Why couldn’t Marrec help her out? She swallowed. “No, not quite yet, but soon, within a month, I hope.”

  Marrec frowned at her.

  “I feel it…that everything will be settled in a month.” Calli put her hand on her chest. Just for that instant she had known. She only hoped she could hold on to the memory of the feeling in hard times.

  After a quiet lunch, she kissed her children and husband and walked with back straight to the Landing Field and they went to an arena for another flying lesson. She waved then soared high and sent Thunder toward the camp. Her volaran’s sympathy eased her rigid seat, made her concentrate on what was ahead, not behind her.

  Calli fretted through the next couple of days, giving volaran-partnering lessons, teaching Equine, flying patterns. She even helped with the final testing of a Chevalier class and handed out newly won reins. Nothing fulfilled her. The only place she wanted to be was home—continuing to learn about her new family, bringing them together as a unit.

  Raoul Lebeau had appointed himself her companion and was occasionally amusing, but it didn’t take the calculation in his eyes for Calli to know he kept her company because he wanted to get ahead. She also reckoned that he was a spy for Lord Veenlit, who was courting a happy Seeva. That woman seemed much more content in managing the camp than she’d ever been in attempting to become a Chevalier.

  The battles continued, and though Calli didn’t fight without Marrec, she spent hours with the Marshalls and noble Chevaliers over battle maps, listening to strategic plans and planning warfare, which she loathed.

  Chevaliers and volarans were lost and Calli grieved—more, she took the suffering of volarans who’d lost their fliers upon herself, serving as a counselor. This depressed her spirits even more, though she won praise from Bastien and the other volaran mind-speakers for being able to save three that would have pined to death at the loss of their human partners. She even determined where those volarans would survive best—one went to her estate, one to Bastien’s and the third returned to the great herd in Volaran Valley.

  When Marrec showed up for his rotation the fourth day, he was still remote, their PairSong suppressed, unhappy that they were not together. Calli watched his every gesture, drank in his stories of their children, but did not apologize for doing what she thought was right.

  No battle alarms sounded, but midafternoon Thealia Germaine’s Head of Chevaliers strode up to them. “There’s a meeting in the Lady Knight Marshall’s tent. Now.”

  Calli and Marrec looked at each other. He reached for her hand, the first time he’d touched her.

  Thealia glanced up from an unrolled map on the table in her magnificent tent. Her face looked pale, her eyes set deep in worn skin. At first Calli thought it must be the dim light, but then understood that it wasn’t. This campaign was grinding on all of them. She made a tiny sound in her throat and Marrec’s arm came around her waist. She savored the feel of it. Strong. Reliable.

  Then she noticed Marian and Jaquar and stilled. They’d been absent from camp for the last couple of days. Something was definitely up.

  Thealia nodded at the two Chevaliers at the tent flaps. “Close the entrance.” They did and a thick atmosphere darkened, gloom draping the space. A potent spell of secrecy.

  With a short whistle, Thealia lit the lamps until light glowed. It might have been cheery and comfortable if everyone wasn’t so tense. Gesturing to Jaquar, Thealia said, “Report.”

  Jaquar cleared his throat. “The Dark has been more vicious, more active because it is searching for a new human Sorcerer or Sorceress to become a new Master of its horrors. We believe the attacks on you must be an attempt by someone great in evil Power to prove himself or herself to the Dark.”

  Alexa blinked. “Are you telling us that the Dark might be less aggressive if it gets another Master?” She sounded incredulous.

  Shrugging, Jaquar said, “Perhaps, for a short amount of time. It is less organized.” He waved a hand. “The continual retrousse of monsters here instead of spreading them across the northern border where other fence posts remain fallen—and we can’t raise fence posts without killing horrors—the spending of a lot of dreeths—” He shared a glance with his wife. “We think the fire-breathing ones are all gone.”

  “That’s good news,” Marrec said.

  “All point to some thing that is not human, clumsy with detail,” Jaquar ended.

  “We must carry this battle to the Dark before it finds another Powerful minion,” Thealia said, her voice harsh.
>
  Silence throbbed in the tent. Calli found herself licking her lips as everyone stared at her. “I thought there was no way to get to the Dark.”

  Marian said, “The Circlets have endeavored to penetrate the maw of the Dark’s nest on all other planes. To no avail.”

  “So now we must carry the battle—or at least survey the nest here on this physical plane. Marian gave us the location,” Thealia said. She gestured them around the table, then stabbed at the map with her finger. “Here, Funeej Island.”

  It was far to the northwest.

  Marian stepped closer to Calli. “From old Lorebooks, it’s one large volcano.”

  “Great,” Calli said. “Active?”

  Shrugging, Marian said, “We don’t know.”

  “It’s a long distance. It will take the strongest and most Powerful volaran and flier to scout for us.” Thealia met Calli’s eyes unflinchingly.

  “Calli will not go alone!” Marrec insisted.

  Thealia’s eyelids hooded her gaze. “It’s probable that on this physical plane, as in many, only an Exotique can penetrate whatever Powerful Shield the Dark has placed.”

  “Neither Alexa nor Marian can go. They have been here on Lladrana long enough that the Dark knows them and has Shields against them,” Jaquar said.

  Well, that was that. Calli’s stomach clenched.

  “And while she scouts, she may have a chance to harm or destroy it. That fancy, blood-red knot you found, Marian, the weapon knot—” Thealia said.

  “Calli doesn’t have a four-octave voice,” Marian said. “It needs a trained Singer to use the weapon knot.”

  Thealia scowled. “I thought the requirement was perfect pitch. From what I’ve heard, Calli has perfect pitch.”

  Calli just stared at the two women. She’d never had singing lessons, never much sang before reaching Lladrana, so how would she know if she had perfect pitch or not?

  “A mistranslation,” Marian said stiffly. “I made a mistake.”

  “Did that admission hurt?” asked Bastien.

  Marian smiled. “A little, but I have rationalizations all prepared.” The tension in the room lessened. “Besides, I think that more than one person must release the knot.”

  “Some other weapon, then. A bomb,” Thealia said.

  “Ever think what the backlash might be to a volaran Pair from a bomb against the Dark so Powerful it sucks the life from our very planet?” Marrec’s arm tightened around Calli until she could barely breathe—at least that’s what she thought was causing her panting. Not sheer terror.

  “Calli doesn’t go alone,” Marrec repeated. He stared at Jaquar and Marian, swung his gaze to Thealia. “This is all speculation. We don’t know what Shields the Dark might have. We mount a large force.”

  Sometimes a sacrifice of one must be made for the good of all. Calli opened her mouth to say so, when Alexa punched her shoulder.

  Alexa said, “We should also consider the fact that the Dark would love to get Calli in its clutches. To destroy an Exotique that has great potential to make the partnership between volaran and flier so Powerful that it threatens the Dark.” She smiled fiercely. “Like all of us Exotiques, Calli is more important in the long run than using her as an expendable sacrifice. We of the Marshalls will not consider Calli disposable. Absolutely no bomb.” She shot a glance at Marian. “That weapon knot. How many people does it need to Untie it with Power?”

  “Six.”

  Alexa jerked a nod, set her hand on the hilt of her baton, angling it forward. “And that’s the number of times an Exotique can be Summoned in the next couple of years, right? Coincidental? I don’t think so.”

  32

  Mingled Songs surged in unspoken consideration, agreement.

  “We’ll mount an expedition to survey the island and find an entrance where we can invade,” Thealia said.

  “Great,” Calli whispered.

  That evening, as Marrec was once more mining Faucon’s brain for experience in running an estate, Calli reluctantly accepted Marian’s invitation for some after-dinner wine.

  She’d gotten into the habit of spending time with Alexa or Marian or both in the evenings when they were in the encampment.

  Alexa and others had flown to battle. Calli and Marrec had been relieved from their fighting shifts until the scouting trip was over.

  Though Marian, too, had adopted lush Arabian Night decor, Calli couldn’t get comfortable. Kept having to unclench her jaw to drink ale. Jaquar was nowhere to be seen.

  “I suppose you want to talk about my task,” Calli grumbled. Her ale sat sour in her stomach. “You think this flyover of the Dark’s nest is my task.”

  “It rang true to me, Calli,” Marian said, and Calli knew that was the simple truth. When they’d spoken of it earlier, Marian had heard the same sound of Rightness as she had. Damn.

  Calli rubbed the back of her neck, met Marian’s sympathetic eyes. “Yeah, I heard it, too.”

  “Calli…” Marian’s voice was almost a whisper. “I thought I’d remind you that both Alexa and I had to fulfill our tasks alone.”

  There were several heartbeats of hard silence. “Alexa was in battle!”

  “But she’d lost her Shield, all her other support.”

  “So you believe I’ll have to do the scouting alone.” Her chin lifted. “I can do it if I must.”

  Marian set her empty glass aside and came over to kneel by Calli, took her in soft arms and hugged her tight. “I’m sorry.”

  Just before dawn, Marrec slipped away from their bedroll, dressed and left the tent quietly. Even the rise of Dark Lance’s wings into the sky as they flew away home was nearly silent.

  And Calli hurt. He’d thought he’d left her sleeping, and she supposed she was grateful that he tried to come back at night as often as possible. Of course, that might just be for the great, driving sex. Now that they didn’t discuss things as often, that they kept their feelings to themselves and were apart as much as they were together, the passion between them had taken on a dark sensuality that ravaged Calli. She’d never done such things with a man before, been taken to so many edges, had returned the exploration of sexuality.

  She should have been exhausted, but she always knew the instant he left their bed. She rose and put on a loose gown, went to a nearby pool and dunked, efficiently bathing. The sun was just sending the first shafts of light into the sky from behind the hillocks by the time she returned to her tent. To see Thunder standing in front of the flap, waiting for her, fully caparisoned in his fanciest black-and-silver tack. Time to go, he sent mentally.

  Her nape tingled. Go where?

  The lead stallion and mare of the wild volarans in Volaran Valley Summon.

  She hesitated, then nodded. I’ll be right with you.

  The Valley is on the far side of Lladrana, we fly over mountains, much Distance Magic will be used.

  Right. I’ll leave a note….

  Not necessary, said another voice, light and chirping.

  Calli glanced down to see a peacock dragging its long, colorful tail come around her tent. Despite the fact that it was a peacock, Calli recognized Sinafinal. She tilted her head and the comb fluffed in the wind. I have not been to Volaran Valley for a while.

  Thunder looked down his nose at her. You are not invited.

  She clicked her beak, beady eyes glittering. No?

  Thunder moderated his tone. I was told volarans and the Volaran Exotique only. His hide rippled. If you want to come, you must ask for an invitation yourself.

  Sinafinal spread her tail, and it was more brilliant than the dawn. I will tell Alexa and others of Calli’s absence.

  “Thank you,” Calli said. “I need to dress.” She hurried into the tent and inspected her clothes. She’d left her blue gown at home. Rubbing her fingers over the stains on her least battered leathers, she gave up and took new dreeth leathers that she’d never worn from a pegged clothing stand. Sliding the tunic and pants over her silk underthings, she found the skin unus
ually comfortable. Pliant. And she knew it was nearly indestructible. Though the color was a drab brown, there was a slight sheen to the clothes. She wished for a mirror, then shrugged and gave up. Wearing dreeth skin made a statement in itself.

  When she stepped out of the tent, Sinafinal was gone and Thunder greeted her with a flick of his ears and a nuzzle. She stroked his nose, then mounted. Small sounds came of servants rising to tend fires and start breakfast.

  Raoul, who now slept in a little guard tent between hers and another wealthy landowner’s, exited the tent wearing only breeches. He sent her a smile and stretched. “You’re sure taking off early.”

  Calli nodded and swung onto Thunder, who ruffled his feathers.

  Making a noise of disgust, Raoul curled his lip and said, “That man of yours is crazy to leave you alone for anything.”

  “He’s watching our children.”

  Raoul snorted, opened his mouth, then shut it. Calli knew what he’d stopped himself from saying. She’d heard him calling her children “orphaned brat bastards” when gossiping with others. “Good fighting,” she said. Let’s go, to Thunder.

  “I hope not. Good journey. Where are you going?”

  Thunder rose with a loud beating of wings, leaving the question unanswered.

  As the sun rose, painting the sky in pastels, and the winds whispered to them of bright skies and sunny days, Calli’s mood lifted, too. Excitement fizzed in her blood. As far as she knew, she was the only person in hundreds of years to visit Volaran Valley.

  She and Thunder stole precious time to do a couple of loop-de-loops and other aerial tricks, just for fun. No reason to worry about the cost of Distance Magic. Whatever the cost to their Pairling relationship, the dark night sex always energized her the next day, and did the same to Marrec.

  As she passed over noble estates, volarans flew to join her in a colorful stream, wind caressing roan and white and gray and brown manes. This was the kind of flight she liked to lead, not trailing with other Shielded Pairs onto a battlefield.