The last rays of sunlight shone on the cliff sides as they topped the shadows, coloring them silver and gold. The three girls gasped as the saw the birds for the first time. They were enormous, easily four times as large as a man and Royer said there were even bigger ones. The last light played along their iridescent feathers changing blacks and greys to purples greens and blues. Each feather was traced in gold and orange giving the beasts a truly feral look. Their round eyes fixed on the newcomers and they shifted by their elven riders, huge beaks dipping and heads cocked. Royer watched the girls astonished faces, pleased to find the Guardians looked impressed as well. These birds were his pride and joy. It had taken a lot of work and patience to tame them. Training them had been easy compared to that. They all dismounted and approached the group of strangers eyeing the birds nervously. Royer paused behind an eager Requel.
"I can see you appreciate their beauty. That's good. I wish you the best of luck." Requel turned to look at the elf. She wasn't sure how to put her feelings into words. She didn't want to admit fear but somehow she got more comfort from Royer's presence than the Guardians. Royer and Redrick. She'd feel a lot better if they were coming. Or even Derrel. None of them were and she couldn't help but be worried.
"Royer, I know you have a lot to do here but I still wish you or Redrick would come. I had felt fine till Derrel disappeared. Now..." The young woman looked away but there was no hiding her fear. Royer shook his head. It was obvious now that their quest would fail without the Tashian. He could see all the advantages of having him along yet despite Redrick's beliefs he hadn't shown. Now the girls were feeling they would not succeed. Their magic was a joint effort, each possessing only a small fleck of possibility but together they had as much as any lesser mage. Untrained and completely unknowing but there. If she had doubts without Derrel he knew Derrel was important to the plan. And if he knew the Tashian he was miles away by now trying to escape fate again. Royer sighed and patted the woman's shoulder.
"I wish I could join you. Things here would fall apart without me though. The less area the demons claim the easier to displace they'll be." The girl nodded but it was obvious she wasn't looking forward to this trip. "Hey now. What you need is confidence. That's all you need. You go rescue your friend because you can. She needs you and she hasn't given up on you." She looked at him suspiciously. "I may be an old bird trainer but I'm still an elf. I see a few things still." A little light returned to her eyes determination replacing the fear. Royer smiled to himself remembering the old rule. Sometimes a small fib could help more than the truth. Requel joined Nels at his birds head stroking its as the others were already mounting. He looked back down the trail but Derrel still had not appeared.
He didn't have to look so far though. Derrel watched preparations get underway. The elves would fly with them, two to a bird and so the new riders introduced themselves to the birds. Derrel had already become familiar to all of them having arrived hours ago. As with most animals spending time with the birds alone had made him a familiar site and smell so they would not be upset when he appeared. They knew he posed no threat. It had taken him hours to walk up the trail chasing small lizards and bugs now and then. He hadn't come up here to go with them. At least not at first. He had come to see the birds Royer talked about nonstop. Their size was impressive but he'd seen more striking avians before. The desert fire eagles were nowhere near these birds size but they beat them in beauty. They also tasted good.
When the others had come up he had hidden behind the supplies then hidden behind the water barrel when the girls had arrived. Now something in Requel's determined look, Eryn's excitement, and Amber's quiet nervousness decided him. He waited till they were mostly mounted before strolling over to the birds. The only ones to notice him were Royer and the birds. Royer looked surprised at first then quirked his eyebrow questioningly. Derrel hated that. He knew he was doing just what they wanted him to but he also knew he could walk away if he wanted. He hissed at Royer to tell him so before jumping onto Amber's lap. The elf nearly fell off if he hadn't been strapped to the birds back.
YOU ARE READING
The Last Mage
FantasyThe seers have prophesied since the downfall of the Guardians and the escape of the demons, of one born of magic; their worlds only hope. A young woman fills that space but will she be able to unite the people or will her youth be their downfall? Wi...