Riders of the Realm #3 Read online

  “This is Windheart,” Dewberry said, nudging the chestnut pinto filly whose coloring was as wild as an untamed sky. Her wings, which were dark emerald at the mantle, faded all the way to white at the ends.

  “And this is Thornblaze,” she said, eyeing the colt.

  The compact gray pinto had blue-edged white feathers. His short black mane and tail were streaked in shades of gray. The twin foals sported matching white blazes and the blue eyes of their grandmother Crystalfeather.

  “Hello,” Echofrost nickered to her brother’s foals.

  They flicked their curved ears and leaned toward their aunt, exchanging breath with her.

  As Echofrost inhaled their scents, the huge world she inhabited seemed to rapidly shrink. At the same time her heart expanded, stretching to embrace these two perfect creatures standing before her. “They’re beautiful,” she breathed.

  The tiny foals dived toward their dam to nurse. “They’re stubborn too,” Dewberry nickered, arching her neck proudly.

  Redfire interrupted the moment. “Can you fly?” he asked Echofrost.

  “There’s only one way to find out.” She flared her wings, trotted a few steps, and then lifted off the ground. Hot pain splayed from her stitched wound to her limbs and she felt weak, but she could fly. “I think I’ll be able to keep up.”

  “So how do we save that golden-eyed cub from the giants?” Graystone asked.

  Echofrost collected herself. “Like Hazelwind suggested, we need to train a group of sky herders to handle the little dragons, and we could use some help from the Landwalkers.”

  “The Fifth Clan is not at peace,” Hazelwind said. “And they don’t know we’re hiding here. Who will help us?”

  “Rahkki’s family,” Echofrost nickered. “We’ll fly to the rice farm as soon as it’s dark.”

  Shysong sidled close and the mares exchanged breath. “I was wondering,” the roan nickered, “will we rescue I’Lenna too?”

  Echofrost pricked her ears. How selfish she’d been to think only about Rahkki! “Yes, we can try. Where is she?”

  “All I know is that Harak took her.”

  Echofrost sighed. “I’m not sure how we’re going to battle the Gorlanders and Harak’s armies.”

  “We need more flying warriors,” Dewberry said, rattling her emerald feathers. Beside her, the twins puffed their short feathers in close imitation, making Storm Herd nicker in amusement. “And don’t forget the Ruk steeds, we have to free them too,” Dewberry whinnied, referring to the retired and breeding Kihlari steeds that the Sandwens kept locked in a special barn. Their colts and fillies were sold to other clans when they reached one year old. “Can you rally that overfed chestnut stallion and his winged army to help us?”

  “You mean Kol?” Echofrost nickered. “I don’t know, everything’s changed now that the Sandwens are fighting one another.”

  “I can’t believe I’m saying this,” Redfire began, “but I’d rather fight giants with the Landwalkers and their weapons than without them.”

  “Yeah,” Dewberry agreed. “What I wouldn’t give to hold a sard.”

  “You mean a sword,” Echofrost corrected.

  “Whatever!” Dewberry’s eyes tracked her newborn foals. “I thought my hooves were sharp, but those swords are fierce.”

  “Rahkki’s family can help with all of this,” Echofrost decided. “Brauk knows the giants and the clan. He can get weapons and find Landwalker warriors to ride us.”

  Graystone reared. “No one is riding me!”

  Redfire pranced and Storm Herd buzzed their feathers.

  Echofrost spread her wings, catching their attention. “Imagine an armed Landwalker on your back, cutting down one enemy while you strike another. Think of arrows shooting faster than you can fly.” Echofrost lost her breath remembering how Rahkki had shot his darts and how the fearsome giants had fallen like rotten trees, clearing a path for her in the battle. “Landwalkers are powerful, ferocious, and fearless—just like us!”

  Graystone shrugged, unconvinced, but Dewberry nodded and her emerald feathers gave another soft, excited rattle.

  “Look around you,” Echofrost said, scanning Storm Herd with her dark eyes. “We are a winged army!”

  Hazelwind lowered his head, looking resigned. “But we can’t communicate with Rahkki’s family, Echofrost. How is this going to work?”

  “I don’t know,” she admitted. “But I’m sure we want the same thing—to get Rahkki back. If we fly to the rice farm, the Stormrunners will put us to use. Landwalkers are not all-powerful. They need our wings as much as we need their swords.”

  “All right,” Hazelwind relented. “To the rice farm then, as soon as it’s full dark, but no flying. We can’t risk Dusk Patrol spotting us and the foals aren’t ready.” Hazelwind had studied the Sandwen patrols during Echofrost’s captivity and understood their patterns, so Storm Herd stamped their agreement.

  “When will you scout for Rahkki?” Echofrost asked Redfire.

  “I’ll go now. I can catch the eastern jet stream to Mount Crim,” Redfire said. “I’ll meet you later at the farm.”

  The herd dispersed to fill their bellies until dark, and Echofrost grazed beside Dewberry. The foals, Windheart and Thornblaze, grew tired and collapsed on top of each other, making a small pile of legs and feathers that twitched as they dreamed. They reminded Echofrost of life with her twin brother, Bumblewind, in Dawn Meadow, and she felt something she hadn’t felt since the night Star had received his power in Anok—she felt hope.

  7

  Rice Farm

  WHEN FULL DARK ARRIVED IN THE SANDWEN Realm, Echofrost and Shysong led Storm Herd to Darthan Stormrunner’s rice field, trotting swiftly between the palms.

  The temperature cooled as clouds blew in from the northern coast. Echofrost traveled beside Dewberry and her twins. Windheart blinked sleepily as she pranced beside her mother. Thornblaze yawned and became distracted by every lizard or rodent that skittered past his hooves. The foals were sturdy, but they needed rest.

  Dewberry guessed Echofrost’s thoughts. “They won’t learn to keep up if we coddle them,” she nickered.

  Echofrost kept silent. She would not tell Dewberry how to raise her twins. Anyway, perhaps the pinto mare was right. Many trials loomed before Storm Herd could leave the Realm, trials that would challenge the young pegasi.

  “There it is,” Shysong nickered.

  The herd paused at the rim of the jungle. Ahead was Darthan’s hut. The sky spanned above, full of dark, scudding clouds and winged bats that flew at hyperspeeds. The palms swished in the salt-tinged gusts of wind. “Let’s go,” Echofrost urged. Her hooves squelched in the mud as she led Storm Herd to Rahkki’s family.

  When they reached Darthan’s porch, the herd halted. Several voices drifted from the small hut and firelight brightened the windows. It was long past dusk and the scent of frying rice and fish swirled in the air around the small cabin.

  Peering up, Echofrost glimpsed the high window that led to Rahkki’s sleeping loft. She’d spent several days at this farm before the Kihlari auction that had led to her Pairing with Rahkki, and she remembered him taking her for short swims in the river that flowed west of the farm. His scent lingered, though she knew the boy wasn’t here.

  Graystone flared his nostrils at the rising smoke. “Have you learned how Landwalkers control fire?” he asked.

  “Not exactly,” Echofrost admitted. Beyond the rough smoke, she scented the animals that lived in the barn: Lutegar the swamp buffalo, several pigs, two goats, and loose fowl. “I’ll get Darthan’s attention.” She stamped her hoof and whinnied.

  “Shh,” a voice whispered from inside the hut. “You hear that?”

  The door burst open and Darthan leaped onto the porch, sword lifted. He squinted, trying to adjust to the darkness outside. Then a chestnut Kihlara charged out of the hut, leaped past Darthan, and rushed Echofrost.

  She reared up just as Graystone thrust his large body between her and the charging s
teed. The chestnut smacked into Graystone’s chest and rocked backward, smashing into Hazelwind, who bit the chestnut’s neck and tossed him onto his side.

  A bit late, Echofrost recognized the shiny stallion. “Kol!” she chided. “It’s just me.”

  Kol rolled to his hooves, chest heaving. Hazelwind and Graystone circled him, flexing their powerful wings.

  “Sula?” Kol said, using her Sandwen name. “I thought you and your herd left the Realm.” His yellow-streaked red forelock hung in a tangle, shadowing his white blaze. Several drops of blood oozed from the crest of his neck.

  Hazelwind danced closer, his tail striking his sides. “Stand down,” he whinnied.

  Kol’s body was still poised to attack, his front hooves light and ready to strike. The stallion lowered his head and folded his glimmering wings, signaling submission, and Hazelwind relaxed.

  “Why did you attack us?” Echofrost asked, baffled by Kol’s thoughtless charge. “You’re outnumbered. My friends could have killed you.”

  The glossy stallion nodded understanding. “I—I thought you were the Sky Guard, coming to get Brauk,” he neighed. “Since the armies returned from Mount Crim, everything’s changed. No one is safe.” His eyes rolled, showing the whites.

  Hazelwind and Graystone folded their wings.

  Darthan, seeing that the stallions would not fight, lowered his sword and cleared his throat. “You’re back,” he said to Echofrost, stunned. He moved toward her, glancing nervously at the herd.

  Echofrost softened her stance and nickered, inviting him closer. Darthan studied the stitched wound on her side and a smile spread across his face. “You’ve been to Brim.”

  She stared at Darthan, frustrated because she had no way to talk to him, but surely he knew that Rahkki was with the giants. The Fifth Clan soldiers would have reported that news, wouldn’t they? Besides, she was here without Rahkki, her Rider, so clearly the cub was missing. But how could she ask Darthan for help?

  She faced east, toward Mount Crim. Then she emitted the loudest whinny a pegasus could make—it was the urgent cry of a mare calling for her foal, and it was a sound Darthan should recognize, because the Ruk mares made the same whinny when their foals were sold and taken away.

  He peered at her, curious.

  Echofrost whinnied again, adding the same strident pitch to her voice.

  A dark head appeared in the window—Brauk Stormrunner. He rested his upper body on the ledge and glared at her. “Is that viper calling for Rahkki?” he asked Darthan.

  Echofrost flattened her ears. This was the man she’d kicked so hard he could no longer walk. Brauk’s red-headed caretaker, Ossi Finn, squatted next to him, her blue eyes round with awe. “Sula brought her friends,” she said.

  “Friends?” Brauk grumbled. “She’s just an animal.”

  “Show respect,” Darthan warned. “This is your brother’s Flier.”

  Brauk pulled his chest up higher for a better view. “A Flier doesn’t leave her Rider,” he said, speaking directly to Echofrost. “After everything Rahkki’s done for you, you left him alone with those stinkin’ giants.” He spit out the window and Hazelwind rattled his feathers.

  “Shh.” Ossi touched Brauk’s shoulder and he turned his anguished gaze on her. She spoke softly. “Harak said that the Highland prince took Rahkki. What was Sula supposed to do? Fight the giants by herself? And you heard her just now, she’s calling for him.”

  “I don’t know what she’s doing,” Brauk stated. “For all we know, she’s calling for a mate.”

  The woman laughed. “A mate? All the wild steeds are here.” She swept her pale, freckled fingers toward the herd, and a small gasp escaped her lips when she noticed the newly born foals. “Look, they’re starting families.”

  Brauk snorted. “You sound like my brother.” But his eyes glistened sadly as he pressed his head against Ossi’s belly.

  Clucking her tongue, Ossi considered the wild pegasi and turned to Rahkki’s uncle. “Why do you think they’re here, Darthan? They could have flown away after Brim fixed Sula up.”

  He stroked his chin. “I don’t know. But maybe they can help us.”

  Brauk sucked air through his teeth. “Help us? How? I can’t walk, fight, or ride.”

  Darthan sheathed his sword and exhaled, rubbing his eyes. He appeared much older than he had before Echofrost and Rahkki had left for Mount Crim with the Sandwen armies. “I don’t know,” he said. “But they landed here on purpose. Rahkki helped free them, maybe they want to return the favor?”

  “Not you too,” Brauk said with a grunt. “If they want anything from us, it’s food. They’re probably starving.”

  Ossi laughed. “They’re wild, Brauk. They know how to feed themselves.”

  Brauk withdrew his head, still angry and muttering. His grip on the ledge slipped and he hit his chin on the windowsill. “Oof!” he grunted, and then punched the ledge that had offended him.

  Cocking her head, Echofrost watched Brauk struggle. He’d cut her flight feathers after first capturing her, and she’d been unable to fly for a full moon. She’d dreamed of disabling him in a similar way, but to her surprise, she felt no pleasure watching him suffer. And while she couldn’t understand his words, she understood that Brauk hated her.

  “Why did you return?” Kol nickered to Storm Herd. “I thought you wanted to find a new home and live free.”

  “We do,” Shysong replied, “but we want to help Rahkki and I’Lenna first.”

  Kol turned to Echofrost. “So you weren’t just using him to save your friends?”

  “I was,” she admitted. “But now I want to help him.”

  Kol folded his wings, looking smug. “Rahkki tamed you,” he nickered.

  Echofrost gasped. “He did not!”

  But Kol ignored her and trotted off, swishing his long tail in a very annoying and very self-satisfied way.

  Echofrost folded her wings and blew hotly out her nostrils. Kol did not understand her and probably never would. She dipped her head to graze and pushed the stallion’s ridiculous claim out of her mind.

  8

  The Dragon

  I’LENNA WHITEHALL HAD BEEN TIED TO THE SUNSTONE for two nights without Granak or any dragon showing up. The guards blamed the bright moon for keeping the droolers away, but tonight was different. Clouds had rolled in, masking the silver light.

  Earlier this evening, the Borla played the drums again, calling their guardian mascot forth, and the clansfolk had disappeared into their rooms and homes. No one wanted to be caught outside when the hungry drooler appeared.

  I’Lenna waited beneath the dim sky, watching the three guards who were not allowed to leave her until the dragon arrived. They’d fed her small meals and freed her for short periods to take care of her needs. Creatures had come and gone—jungle rats and a curious snake. The guards had scared them off by shouting, but they were not permitted to help her against Granak or any drooler that arrived in his place.

  Now her tongue filled her mouth like a useless lump of cloth and her belly clamored ferociously. Chewing her lip, I’Lenna vowed to find Rahkki and bring him home. And in spite of how things appeared, the rebellion wasn’t over. If she survived the night, she had one final hand to play before she would admit defeat—the Stormrunners.

  She’d promised herself to keep the bloodborn family out of the uprising, even though General Tsun had pressured her to recruit them. The family had gone against her mother before and lost everything. And she’d never meant to befriend Rahkki that day in the Kihlari stable, right after the wild mares were captured, but then he’d smiled at her, and their awful past had fallen away.

  Since that moment, their friendship had risen from the deep like a giant octopus and wrapped its tentacles around them both. And now I’Lenna needed his family’s support, since all her followers were in prison.

  She studied the sky behind the drifting clouds. A sprinkling of stars lit the Realm, and the shadowy wings of the Dusk Patrol steeds veered south a
s they patrolled the clan’s boundaries. Tuni Hightower normally led Dusk Patrol, but since she’d also been arrested, Harak had assigned someone new.

  As the Sky Guard vanished behind the trees, I’Lenna spoke. “May I have some water?”

  The female soldier crossed the cordon, opened her waterskin, and offered I’Lenna a drink. As she sipped, water dribbled down her chin. “Why don’t you let me go? You know my mother is bad for the clan.”

  The woman shook her head. “I’m sworn to protect the monarch, Princess I’Lenna. I won’t break my vow.”

  The guard withdrew and I’Lenna scowled, but she understood the woman’s devotion. The soldiers and Riders took their oaths seriously, and it would not be easy for the Stormrunners to rally them against a sitting queen—if the family agreed to help her at all. I’Lenna might have to confess the truth about Lilliam stealing from the clan—that might convince them—but it would also endanger I’Lenna’s sisters and new brother.

  When the darkness was so deep that it swallowed even the shadows, I’Lenna heard a tree crack and topple over. Fear iced her veins. “What was that?”

  “Shh,” said one of the guards.

  Bracing herself, I’Lenna yanked against the iron manacles at the ends of the ropes, rubbing her flesh raw on the hard metal.

  More trees crashed against one another and then I’Lenna heard the terrifying four-beat gait of a spit dragon.

  “Time to go,” one guard said to the other. With sorrowful glances at I’Lenna, the soldiers retreated.

  Suddenly she wanted them to stay. “Don’t leave me!” But they had orders to obey.

  The dragon drew closer.

  I’Lenna tightened her muscles and crunched her belly, trying to pull her hands through the iron manacles. The hard metal rubbed off more of her skin. She yanked even harder and with a sharp pop, her right thumb suddenly dislocated and that hand slipped free. I’Lenna flushed with pain and triumph.