AFTER KASSIE'S CLEVER DEMONSTRATION OF how not to fall on your ass, my technique improved dramatically. That's not to say the sudden dismounts stopped, but the eating dirt part did. Now with a tiny burst of energy, I executed somersaults with ease and landed feet first each time. After another round of my happy dance at a successful landing, Belsesus burst my bubble. 'Won't that alert Jenviet?'I paused mid-dance. 'What?'That sparked an intense conversation. Sian and Chaieth rode off to check with Elena. While we waited Belsesus took long easy runs, back and forth, challenging my slowly improving balance. It took fierce concentration as I focused on his muscles beneath my thighs, mind tense for the slightest change. The sound of approaching hooves broke my focus.Chaieth and Sian had returned and Leseach sat behind her, dressed in chain-mail.'We have a solution,' Sian declared when she slipped off Chaieth's back, Leseach following suit. 'Elena gave us a lorus crystal, it'll chime
I HELD MY HANDS AT waist height, fingers outstretched and ready as Larvaste drew close. Looking like a circus performer with the angle she leaned at, Loi feigned a throw. Laughing, she then urged Larvaste away.'Wha-?' My question broke off in a yelp of surprise as someone grabbed me from behind. Recognizing the arms that wrapped solidly around me, I leaned back with a smile, looking up into Alek's face. 'Hello blue eyes.'Those eyes creased in affection and he ducked to kiss my forehead. 'Hello beautiful.'I twisted around properly so I could hug him. 'Done with errands?''Yes, want some lunch?'I wouldn't have been surprised if Loushka could have heard my stomach growl from where she stood, when he said that.'Good idea.'Alek called out to the others, and everyone gathered their weapons and made their way to the castle. In the courtyard, he caught me as I slid down from Loushka and I laughed. 'You know, I can do it myself now.''So? Sometimes I like to catch you.' With a win
KASSIE YAWNED. IT HAD BEEN a long week and as exciting as the march had been, she needed more sleep.'Bed?' Rumal murmured to her.'Mmm, yes.''Food first?'That took a moment of consideration. Then Kassie shook her head. 'No. Bed.'Rumal chuckled, and they said their goodbyes before making their way down the turret and back to their quarters. The sheets were still warm when they climbed in. Kassie sighed in pleasure, snuggling close to Rumal. He wrapped his arms around her so that her face was pressed to his chest. She pulled an arm up, chin on hand, while inhaling his scent. 'Mmmmm.'The rumble of laughter he gave vibrated beneath her.'I thought you were sleepy?' The rich tones of his voice caused a delicious shiver down her spine.'Still am.' She twisted her head so to wink at him. 'Just enjoying the moment.'He was such a handsome man. Strong cheekbones emphasized the slant of those molten gold eyes and contrasted beautifully with his dark mocha skin. Those eyes, though,
'THAT WAS A NICE THOUGHT,' Alek commented while we walked to a favourite spot in the garden.I wrapped an arm around his waist and leaned against him as we walked. 'He made it clear, when explaining stuff to me that not everyone would make it back. I'd hate for his family to miss out on saying goodbye.'Alek looked at me disbelievingly. I shrugged, feeling a bit defensive.'Well it's true, isn't it?' At least Ignatius had been upfront about it.'It's likely,' he conceded. 'And I didn't think he was very close to his wife, that's all.''He seemed very fond of her when I asked.'We reached the spot and settled on the grass beneath a tree.'I'm only going on what I've heard.' Alek flashed a cheeky grin. 'We all know gossip isn't to be trusted.'I laughed and climbed onto his lap, distracting him from lunch in the best possible way.THE REMAINING WEEKS FLEW BY as we trained ourselves to exhaustion each evening. Even the griffons and Sito were hard at it, and it was a new experie
AUDREY WAITED ON THE OTHER side of the door with Nnelg.'Your Highness.' The dragon bowed, the blue of his scales shimmered in the afternoon light streaming through a window. I stopped and looked at Nnelg, then knelt so I sat at his level. The dragon's dark eyes widened. 'Majesty?''Nnelg.' I swallowed hard, forcing back the bile that threatened. 'You know we're going away for a bit. I need you to watch Lucky and Audi, okay?'He nodded earnestly, his long tail swishing around him. 'Of course, Your Highness.'I smiled stiffly. 'Good. Now. In the possibility that we're unable to return, for-sometime, would you look after them? I'm going to ask Ada as well, but I know how well you do this.Nnelg nodded again. 'Yes, absolutely.''Good.' I stood. 'Now, let's go see Ada.'We ran down the closest turret, all the way to the bottom floor. I paused at the bottom to give Audi a hug and ruffled the fur around her ears.'How are you doing little miss?' I crooned.The dog automatically turn
THE SOUTHERN KEEP'S COURTYARD WAS tiny in comparison to the castles. Otherwise they looked quite similar, like the Keep was a smaller imitation of the castle. Loushka landed with a heavy thud and the others dropped around us. Leseach, Ignatius, and Rashid stood waiting for us.'Leseach,' I said in surprise. 'When did you get here?'Sian, having just climbed down from Sito answered. 'Sito and I brought them through when you were sorting Audi out.'Oh right, I thought and felt a prickle of tears at leaving my beautiful girl behind. She'll be fine, and Ada will spoil her rotten, I reassured myself.I slid down from Loushka and stood beside her, ruffling her mane.'Wish it were over.' I thought to her. The solid coolness of her beak brushed past my neck.'I know, Cat. It will be over, soon.''Have you been here before?''We delivered all the supplies here, remember?'I shook my head. 'Sorry, I meant have you stayed here before?''Oh yes, a few times. You'll like it. It's rather q
ALEK AND I SPENT THE day in the stables, where Loushka and the other griffons bunked. We watched in amusement as Daron and Sian play fought.'I wonder what he said to her?' I said.'Never mind that,' Alek interrupted, 'Go on with the rest of the movie.'I exchanged a glance with Loushka and she did her husky laugh, as I tried to recall what happened next. 'Okay, so where were we? Oh! That's right. Indy has to rescue his father from a Nazi occupied castle.'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade had always been one of my favourite movies and it was fun to recall it. Loushka made a very comfortable seat for the two of us and she enjoyed the story too.'What's with those strange machines they keep waving around? The ones that make noises?' Loushka asked.'Those are guns, a form of weapon they use on Earth. Compared to swords, bows and maces, guns require very little knowledge. Just point in the right direction and shoot.''Convenient.''Sometimes too much.''I like his whip. It's alm
YAKOV WAITED DOWNSTAIRS AND GRINNED at Alek as he arrived. 'I was about to give up on you.''I was busy.'Yakov gave him a knowing look. 'Mm. Shall we go?'They walked to the Keep's gate then set off at a decent pace on the track Yakov had run yesterday.'Good to go faster?' Alek asked.'Sounds good.'This was just what I needed, he thought. The track flashed by as his feet pounded the earth, arms pumping. The burn in his legs and chest egged him on harder and harder. The path was a bit rough and the challenge of dodging trees and leaping over a log was good fun.He could hear Yakov breathing hard behind him.'You alright?' he gasped.Yakov grunted in response. Sunlight hit the tops of the trees and began to inch downward as the sun rose. The sense of excitement and anticipation flared through him again and he bounded ahead. A sudden yell caused him to stop and Alek spun back to see Yakov bent over his knees, a small distance behind him. He jogged back to the adviser.Yakov g