Page 87 of Of Blood and Fire
“You can’t expect overnight miracles, Bryn. Changing the minds of the masses always takes time. It will happen; I’m sure of it.”
I hoped he was right. “Did you get a response from Esan about the rider numbers on Kinara?”
“Indeed. Jacklyn said there were two of the birds and a handful of soldiers bunkered into the slopes just above the harbor. They haven’t seen any supply ships, either anchoring in the harbor or sailing past.”
“Confirming the theory that they were using Jakarra and Ezu as their waystations, and the attacks on the other islands were merely a means of minimizing the possibility of counterattacks.”
“Looks like it,” he agreed. “I find it damnably strange that the Mareritt are allowing another hostile nation to use their ports and traverse their lands.”
“They want our lands. I presume they think it worth the risk.”
“Well, let’s all pray that their risk turns around and bites them on the ass.”
“From your lips to Túxn’s ears,” I replied.
By the time we reached the exit, dawn had come and gone, and the day was gray and cold. It wasn’t raining yet, but the smell of it filled the wind. I drew in a deeper breath, then
shaded my eyes against the drizzle and glanced up at the drakkons lazily circling above us. It was an awe-inspiring sight, and a murmur of wonder and appreciation ran through the crowd behind us.
I called Kaia down, then glanced at Katter. “Word of warning—Kaia loves terrifying watchers by puffing smoke from her nostrils and watching them run in fear.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Seriously?”
“Yep. She’s the queen and believes all should bow before her might.”
Truth,she said as she swept in.
“I have no idea whether you’re joking or not,” he replied, his gaze on the incoming Kaia rather than me. “But she is an impressive sight.”
“That she is.” I slung the packs over my shoulder. “Keep wary, Katter. Jakarra might currently be free, but this war is a long way from being over.”
He nodded and gripped my shoulder. “Just promise me you’ll do the same. I’ve lost your parents. I don’t want to lose you, too.”
I nodded, spun on my heel, and strode toward Kaia, my short hair blowing every which way under the force of each wing sweep. Once I’d clambered up her leg and secured the packs and my weapons, she extended her neck and roared; it was the battle cry of a queen who had not yet finished fighting. The sound echoed across the mist-shrouded mountains, shocking birds into flight and our watchers into retreat.
Have we finished?I said dryly.
We have, she replied, and launched hard into the air... thereby sending those watchers who remained tumbling.
I shook my head, and as the drakkons fell in to formation behind us, we flew on through the damp morning, reaching Kinara just as the drizzle turned to full-on rain. I tugged on my hood, ordered everyone to form a line, and then we swept over the island, taking out three bunkers, the two birds, and their riders. Once we’d done a secondary flyover just to ensure we’dgotten them all, we swooped around again and began the long flight home.
Afternoon had merged into night by the time we arrived at Esan. I ordered Kaia to keep aloft while the others landed and dismounted and dragged out my long viewer to see what had changed while we were gone. If the campfires were anything to go by, the numbers of Mareritt out in the wastelands had definitely increased, though they maintained what amounted to a cursory force attacking the walls. They were definitely waiting for something, and I very much suspected that something lay in whatever was moving down from the Ghost Forest. I extended the viewer as far as it would go, but couldn’t see anything other than vague, distant shadows.
We check tomorrow, Kaia said.
I agree we should, but I’m no longer queen here.
You kin queen. They stop you, I stop them.
I rolled my eyes.You just can’t fly around killing people who disagree with me.
If kill, can’t disagree, we do what want.
As logic went, I couldn’t really fault it, even if it was more than a bit bloody-minded. Taitia—the last of the younger drakkons to land—flew past us, so Kaia swooped down. I unclipped everything and slid down her leg, providing the demanded eye ridge scratch before stepping out of her way.
Once she was safely past the ridge high above us, I turned and headed for the palace steps. As I reached them, a soldier came running down them.
He stopped several steps in front of me and saluted. “Commander Silva, Commander Asli would like to see you as a matter of urgency.”
