Protector of the Flight Read online

  Calm, she tried radiating the feeling. Come to me. I will help. I will protect. She said that in her mind but kept up a flow of completely confident and serene emotions to them.

  The sun bore down on her, making her shirt stick to her back. Her scalp dampened. This was hard!

  The horses’ hooves slowed from a gallop to a canter, then a walk. Finally they calmed and lowered their heads to sniff around the ring.

  Come see me, she coaxed.

  Their eyes rolled as they saw her—or maybe it was the three of them, not quite in the shades they might usually see.

  But now Calli could sense their thought patterns—or equine images. Of course, they weren’t intelligent like volarans. But they were curious. Especially about her smell, which was volaran and horse and different-horse. And predator, but the meat-eater was behind a fence and the bad bad-men predators were gone and the other littler predators smelled interesting, too.

  Calli smiled. The work to connect lightly with their minds, to soothe them, to hear them paid off in joy. Here, on Lladrana, she could whisper to horses with more than her voice and body language. In Lladrana, horses could whisper back. And that squeezed her heart nearly as much as flying on volarans. To be appreciated and respected and someday loved by beings she’d always loved herself was another priceless gift that Lladrana had brought her.

  Come see me. And they did. They walked over and when she didn’t move in a threatening manner, dipped their heads to whuffle her hair. They jostled each other to get the best position to sniff her up and down.

  Without looking away from the two, Calli said, “They want to look at you two. Come to the rail.”

  “Oh, very well,” Alexa huffed and came to stand on Calli’s right. The horse nearest to her, a black, whinnied a greeting. Alexa held out her hand and when the horse came near her, rubbed its neck. The black lowered its head to sniff at her baton.

  Calli got the impression that the horses felt slightly reassured that the three women smelled of volaran and two of them had the scent of wondrous-magical-creature.

  Marian had come to stand at Calli’s left—to stand near the newcomer instead of next to Alexa!—and the black drifted over to her. Even the roan Calli was rubbing and murmuring to turned its head to see her.

  To them, she smelled of ocean. And big magic. And a little of fire, which they didn’t like much.

  Then they stilled. Each pricked their ears, looked past Calli…and upward. A small, foot-long volaran of a demure brown, flew to them and landed on the thick rail post of the pen.

  “Feycoocu!” Alexa’s face lit up. “This is so cool. A miniature volaran.” She ran a finger down a little wing as Sinafinal preened. “Why didn’t you ever turn into a bitty volaran for me?” She sniffed.

  For Calli, Sinafinal broadcasted.

  “Thank you,” Calli said.

  “Huh,” said Alexa.

  Calli should return to the Castle, Sinafinal said. I will help you lead these poor creatures. She circled over the horses’ heads. They acted as if she was nothing to be feared—not even starting, as if she’d been a low-flying bird. Calli didn’t know what sort of magic Sinafinal was doing, but it worked.

  Then she hovered over the roan, who had the most welts. The feycoocu lit on the horse’s back and burst into bright light like a small glowing sun. A loud melody fluted to Calli’s ears by way of her mind, another aspect of Sinafinal’s Song.

  “Whoa!” Alexa said as they all turned their heads away. In a couple of minutes the bright light faded. Still blinking spots from her eyes, Calli looked back at the horses. Sinafinal lay on the black mare in her small greyhound form.

  Marian and Alexa and I will ride the black and Calli can ride the roan.

  “You really think this will work?” Calli said.

  Yes. They are calm now.

  “So,” Alexa said casually. “Is that your natural feycoocu form, a sun?”

  I prefer to think of it as a star form, but, no, Sinafinal smiled a doggy grin, then met Calli’s stare. You and I will keep a light touch on their minds and shield them from fear. Marian and Alexa will learn from you. This will help Alexa with volarans, too.

  “Sheesh,” Alexa muttered. “Another lesson today. Another slam at my riding skills. I’m learning as fast as I can.”

  “We all are,” Marian said as she opened the gate and entered. She took a wide-legged stance and hummed a snatch of a tune that sounded suspiciously like an old cowboy song. As Calli watched, her robe split and turned into gaucho pants. Calli blinked, but the cloth remained transformed. “Some dress.”

  “Marian can do a lot with her clothes. They’re Circlet made.” Sighing, Alexa walked through the gate. Marian mounted, and held out a hand to Alexa.

  “I want a dress like that,” Calli said.

  “That can be arranged,” Marian said. “It will cost about the same as a horse.”

  “Maybe not,” Calli said.

  Alexa took Marian’s hand and with a little jump flew up and settled on the back of the horse.

  More magic. Calli’s heartbeat picked up. What she could do with horses now she had Power! Incredible stuff. Lladrana wouldn’t have ever seen the like of the horses she’d train. Grinning with the plans she had, the future that continued to open out in front of her, she swung onto the roan and rode the gelding from the pen. “You lead.” She smiled at Alexa.

  “I don’t know this part of the town,” Alexa said.

  Turn left, Sinafinal said.

  It was good that someone knew how to get back to the Castle, though when Calli looked in that direction, the fortress loomed. She’d have been able to find her way, and that made her feel good, too. So short a time on Lladrana, but as Marian said, she was learning fast. Both Marian and Alexa had found places here. Both glowed with Power, and Calli thought she might, too.

  She’d carve out a life here and be just as successful as her new friends.

  The ride to the Castle was quick and uneventful. Both Marian and Alexa easily learned how to cradle a horse’s thoughts. And to keep tight control of the horse’s emotions when they threatened to panic.

  An interesting technique, but it wouldn’t be good for either horse or human to rely on it solely. The horses were prey animals, they needed such instincts, and those instincts should not be blunted by overuse of human mental control.

  Furthermore, humans needed to communicate with horses rather than relying on mind control. What happened if that control failed and the horse reverted to right-brain and the human needed to use regular methods of communication like voice and body language?

  Once at the Castle, Marian excused herself and hurried off, to work on the Choosing and Bonding preparations, she said. Calli suspected she wanted to note down the lesson in mental control of horses and Calli’s conclusions. Surely the Lladranans had many, many Lorebooks of Horses. Calli’d like to read them. After she learned to read Lladranan.

  Alexa called a couple of female apprentice Chevaliers to help Calli, then followed Marian.

  Calli supervised putting the new horses in a round pen on the Landing Field. The horses looked around and their minds hummed with animal satisfaction. Calli watched for a bit to make sure the women were caring and competent. They both sent admiration and healing through their hands and their brushes as they groomed.

  Then Calli went to the tack room and chose a thin-strapped hackamore for Thunder and a barely acceptable saddle. The hackamore was dark with age and contained a faint aura of Power. When she touched it, she knew it had been crafted by a nomadic people who followed more natural training than she’d seen here.

  Thunder’s stall was empty. I am in the Landing Field. We have time for a short ride before you prepare for mating.

  The reminder made her swallow hard.

  When she saw him, he stared at the tack, snorted. I don’t like that.

  It’s to help me hang on, also to communicate with you.

  You speak Equine well, better than yesterday. Horses helped. He snort
ed again in pity for wingless creatures.

  I don’t think I can have a conversation with you and guide you at the same time with my mind.

  Thunder seemed to consider that. Very well. He dipped his head for the halter. Shook it to settle the straps.

  Feel okay?

  He blew out a breath.

  Just live with it.

  She placed the saddle on his back and cinched it. He objected. He whuffled and sidled and stomped.

  So much for her hope of seamless partnership, her idea that they’d settled who was alpha in this pairing.

  12

  Bastien strolled up to Calli with a bland smile, thumbs tucked into the waistband of his leather pants. “Thunder is a magnificent volaran. But time is short for a flight today, and you should fly with other winged ones, too. Why don’t I bring a couple I bred and raised around for you?”

  Thunder quieted. She is mine. We have things to talk about before the mating.

  Bastien obviously heard the volaran. From the startled looks they got from the opposite side of the Landing Field, others had heard the flying horse, too. Bastien said, “Seems to me, right now the best reason Calli has to stay here in Lladrana is to play with volarans. You aren’t in the mind to fly with her, so why not let her play with another lucky volaran and have your conversation later?” He winked at Calli.

  This saddle pinches.

  “I’m sorry,” Calli said. “I ordered a new one just for—”

  But Bastien went over to Thunder, placed his hands on either side of the saddle and yanked. Power enveloped him and Calli heard a few bars of a wild volaran flying Song. “That should do it,” Bastien panted. He shook his head, then leaned against the stable wall.

  Feels okay now. Thunder looked back.

  Bastien flapped a hand. “Go fly. Commune. See you later.”

  Calli wasted no time mounting, satisfied that she’d learned a lesson in handling her volaran from Bastien.

  The minute she settled, she felt connected with Thunder. Both of them eager. Thunder ran a couple of lengths, then rose into the air, opening wings that smelled of floral feather cleaner. Calli’s stomach dipped, but her heart lifted. They angled upward in the blue sky. Since her throat had closed at the pure beauty of the moment, Calli mentally said, Let’s circle around Castleton and the Castle. She’d like to see—from the air!—the layout of the town and the pen from which she’d rescued the horses.

  Thunder slowed his ascent. Calli sent her energy to the left and he turned to begin a wide circle of the vicinity. One day we will fly to Volaran Valley, he said.

  Yes.

  The herd is mighty and the valley is full of Song. We hear all the Songs of Amee, of Lladrana, of the air and earth and fire and oceans. We hear the Songs from the stars. The Song—the Songs the Singer hears.

  Prophetic Songs? Calli shivered and told herself it was the cool wind around her.

  Yes, we hear the Song, many Songstreams, but we don’t all understand. The alpha mare. The alpha stallion, perhaps. They don’t always tell us. But they will speak to you. You are our Exotique. The Protector of the Flight.

  A zing of pure Power went through Calli…from everywhere. The sky, the sun, the stars unseen in daylight. What…what do I protect you from?

  Thunder’s muscles rippled under her. You help us with the Chevaliers, give those who speak with us, like Bastien, more respect so they can help us with our fear. You protect us from the horrors. You protect us from a dreadful future. Protector of the Flight.

  This time the zing was more like an unpleasant shudder through every muscle in her body. She leaned forward against Thunder’s neck, tangling her hands in his mane, comforted by flesh and bone and sinew and the throbbing of his pulse and sweet musky amber scent. She shut her eyes and welcomed sensation—the wind against her, the heat from the sun above and rising from the earth below. Bird cries sounded around her and she wondered if it might be Sinafinal and her mate. She hoped so. Anything to make her feel less alone.

  I have a special task, then. She’d known it, felt it in her bones. More than what the Chevaliers wanted of her. More than what the Marshalls would demand of her. Expectations of the volarans. How could she fail them?

  Yes, Thunder said.

  What?

  I was not told. The alpha mare will tell you at the right time. She got an image, then, of a small chestnut volaran, older. How old?

  As old as the Singer.

  Calli thought that was plenty old, but she’d have to check for sure. She decided to talk about the easiest revelation, first. Bastien, who speaks Equine, is Alexa’s.

  Grunting, Thunder said, Yes. But there are others. We believe you will mate with one. It will be a good sign.

  Great, more pressure. Calli straightened. How would she be able to discern a Chevalier who knew how to speak with volarans? Would they have a different aura? Maybe, but she hadn’t sorted out what all the aura colors meant yet. Maybe Equine-speaking Chevaliers smell more of volaran. She couldn’t imagine herself sniffing them. She was supposed to rely on her Power, but that sense—whatever—was so new she didn’t entirely trust it.

  You must stay here. With us. A mate will help you do so when the Snap comes.

  Even though she wasn’t talking aloud, Calli cleared her throat. Do you know when the Snap—

  No. I only know the alpha mare told me to fly and become your volaran. He sent love through their link and the fine tension in Calli’s muscles released. Thunder hesitated. Your primary volaran. You will get more.

  More!

  Some volarans who like to live with people will be given to you when you choose your land. If your man is wealthy, he will give some volarans to you.

  At least Thunder said “man.” Calli got the distinct impression that others thought she might chose a woman. She had never swung that way.

  And you can call wild volarans to you. People who have none and wish to become a Marshall try this. Sometimes we come, sometimes not. You will have as many as you want. It is an honor to be your volaran.

  Calli sniffed, grabbed her bandana from her back pocket and blew her nose. Thanks.

  But I talk the best.

  She smiled. I’m sure.

  Enough talk, let us fly.

  So they did. Calli lifted her face to the sun and let it dry the remnants of the tears at the love pouring to her from Thunder, running along their mental connection, seeping into her through their physical contact. She breathed deeply, then relaxed in the saddle. They were over green land, they’d flown due south this time, along a low ridge of hills, and the air got warmer, the land even more verdant. Where is Volaran Valley?

  Northwest of the Castle.

  She’d have to look at a map. That brought her thoughts of the Map Room and the invading hordes.

  You haven’t been in battle before? she asked, touching a rein for Thunder to turn around. They headed north back to the Castle.

  Not partnered with a Chevalier, Thunder said. A fear-laden memory flooded him. He tucked his legs up, and Calli saw him with a group of other volarans, more stallions than mares, young and in the shadow of mountains. Fighting horrors. Distorted images of the monsters she’d seen in the tavern attacked the volarans. Some fell. Thunder screamed as he kicked a soul-sucker’s head to explode like a pumpkin, whinnied again in fear as he felt brain matter on his hooves.

  Easy! She forced the memory away. Thunder’s body rippled, but he hadn’t panicked and that was good. She figured he might in a real battle, though. All of the volarans had done so in that long-ago battle, flown high and fast and far back to Volaran Valley, covered in sweat.

  My testing flight. Only the strong and proven can live in Volaran Valley.

  Calli agreed with what she imagined Alexa saying, “Shit, does every single being in Lladrana have to be tested?”

  Yes. We live in perilous times, answered Thunder. Those of my age who did not kill a horror had to live outside the herd or fly to a human place.

  That gave Calli plenty
to think of. So many of the Chevaliers’ and Marshalls’ mounts were culls?

  Marshalls fly with volarans raised by Bastien, he teaches them to partner with people and fight when they are young.

  Oh.

  Easier in some ways, Thunder said as they flew over the southernmost of the three Castle courtyards. He lowered himself to a small free spot on the Landing Field packed with unbridled flying steeds. All volarans are out here to say they love you before you go to choose a mate. They want you to choose their partner.

  Oh, boy.

  They pressed against her, rubbing, whuffling at her hair, butting at her and she felt a myriad of Songs from each. Choose mine. Choose mine. Choose mine. But under all their pleas she felt the love with every brush of each body, warming her, reassuring her, inundating her. She was theirs.

  “Coming through!” called Alexa, baton out and raised like a torch, flaring green light. The mass of volarans parted. Marian, more Amazonian than Alexa, followed, smiling. When Alexa reached Calli, she grabbed Calli’s left arm. “I’ll have my squire care for Thunder.”

  “Fine,” Calli said. She frowned. “Will I get a squire?”

  “For sure,” Alexa said. “We Exotiques are wonderful to work for, or hadn’t you heard? You’ll have a stampede to your door.”

  A loud bong echoed over the Castle. It came from the alarm tower. Calli tensed.

  Marian took her other arm and patted it, but now a crease dipped between her brows. “Not a battle alarm. Just the bell marking two hours before sunset and your Choosing and Pairing. We’re running late.”

  “Just a few minutes, chill!” said Alexa.

  “It’s time for the purification,” Marian said, increasing their pace.

  “Purification!” Calli’s voice rose.

  Alexa squeezed her arm. “Bath.”

  “Oh.” Her pulse didn’t slow. Everything she’d been pushing out of her mind, blocking from her own emotions, rushed back.

  At Alexa’s and Marian’s urging, the Marshalls had partitioned a small hot-springs tub in the basement of the Keep from the rest of the room with a fancy wooden screen. Calli was allowed a private bath, but was too tense to relax and soak in the water scented with herbs. Qualms fluttered like butterflies—hell, like volarans—in her stomach. She did want a man and a family. Of course, that would be the most fulfilling part of her life, especially since money and a ranch of her own were guaranteed. This whole thing was like winning the lottery. She could have it all!