Page 16 of Of Steel and Scale

When I’d finished, my father scrubbed a hand across his chin and said, “And you never actually saw the things that attacked you?”

“No, sir. But as I’ve said, I’ve not encountered a mind like that anywhere within Arleeon.”

“So, itcouldbe of Mareritten origin?” Aric asked.

I hesitated. “It is within the realms of possibility.”

A smile tugged the corner of my father’s lips. “But you don’t believe that’s the case?”

“No. I’ve ridden through Mareritten multiple times and felt the presence of many of their animals. This didn’t have their feel.”

“Many isn’t all,” Aric noted.

“Indeed,” Mom said quietly, “but all the creatures of this continent—be they from Arleeon or Mareritten—do have a similar resonance. If this felt foreign, then it most likely was.”

“Is it possible what you sensed is a product of magic?” Damon asked. “It could explain why these creatures felt foreign.”

I glanced at him. “It could.”

He raised an eyebrow. “But you don’t believe that’s the case, either?”

“If itismagic, then I don’t believe it is ofthiscontinent.” I waved a hand. “To be honest, the only thing I’m sure of is the fact that we don’t know enough at this point to be sure of anything.”

“A true enough point,” Rion said. “Franklyn? Have you and your team of smiths had a chance to fully examine the metal in that feather yet?”

“Yes,” Franklyn replied. “And it’s been the cause of many an argument over these last fifteen hours, let me tell you.”

“Did you reach a conclusion?”

“Two, in fact.” Franklyn’s expression was grim. “That metal very definitely isn’t of Arleeon origin.”

“Have you seen its like before?”

“No.”

“And the second?” Rion said.

“That feather was not made by human hand or magic. It is, by all reckoning, the actual plumage of an avian species.”

4

“Birds made of metal?”Aric said. “How is that remotely possible?”

Franklyn glanced at Aric. “I don’t believe they’re made of metal. The blood at the end of the quill very much suggests a creature of flesh and blood.”

“Could it be some sort of armor?” Rion asked. “Something along the lines of chainmail worn as protection?”

Franklyn hesitated. “It’s certainly an option, but it doesn’t explain the blood.Thatis reminiscent of a feather still in the growth phase being shed.”

“I don’t believe these were randomly shed. The only person I saw hit by a feather was Oran, and while I can’t be certain, given the chaos that ensued, it felt like they were targeting him,” I said. “It’s the acidic dung, more than metal feathers, that’s the bigger problem here.”

“Itispossible the dung won’t affect stone in the manner it does wood,” Rion said, “but I do agree we dare not take that chance. I’ll talk to Yaris and see if she can work on some countermeasures.”

Yaris was our head earth witch, and a woman of such a great age that she’d probably forgotten more about the workings of earth magic than our other four witches even knew. If anyone might have heard of acidic dung before or could figure out a means of protecting our walls against it, it would be her. As a general rule, water did counter the effects of acid, but how in Vahree’s name did we pump it along the walls without sweeping defenders off their feet?

“You’ll need to send a warning missive to the rest of your ports,” Aric said. “If thisisthe opening foray of a planned attack, there’re likely to be the first hit.”

“Already done.” There was just the slightest edge in my father’s voice—he didnotlike being told what to do in his own house. “But what makes you think any assault would center on us here in the east and not the rest of Arleeon?”

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