relieved.
He glanced at Targesh, and there was no confusion on the Horned One's face. 'Good,' Targesh said. 'Didn't want to miss breakfast.'
Simangee laughed and Adalon relaxed. 'I've been saving some of my finest tea,' she said. 'Let's share it in celebration of our famous victory.'
Kikkalak glided over and landed in front of the three friends. 'We'll chase them for a few leagues and make sure they don't come back this way,' she said, but she shook her head in disgust. 'No good staying here, though. I saw numbers coming this way, on steed and on foot, both sides of the river.'
Gormond trotted over, his eyes bright. 'They fled. Well done, O Winged One! You truly are a trusted ally!'
Kikkalak eyed him narrowly. 'Be that as it may, we can't tarry here.'
Targesh grunted and glanced at Simangee. 'No breakfast?'
Simangee patted him on the shoulder and smiled. 'Another time.'
Thirteen
Kikkalak clacked her beak in frustration. 'No, no, lift the net together, you lackwits. One at each corner.'
Adalon paused in the business of strapping on his armour. He couldn't help smiling as Kikkalak's Winged Ones attempted to hoist the fat cook in one of their nets.
The cook, a pale-looking Crested One, lay in the net and shivered, clutching at the ropes. He only stopped thrashing about after a sharp word from his master.
'Are you sure this is necessary?' Gormond asked Adalon.
'It's been a miracle you've avoided capture thus far, but attempting to cross Thraag would be foolishness. This is safer and quicker.'
'What about Sachi? She won't be around to chronicle my exploits!'
'It's all right, sire,' Sachi said. 'I'm sure I can fill in the gaps.'
'Hrrumph. But what about Bandit?' He reached out and patted the riding beast on its neck. Its nostrils flared and it tried to bite his hand. He pulled it away and smiled fondly. 'He's a fine steed and a good friend. I can't leave him.'
Adalon thought Gormond would be better off without the fractious beast. 'You face a difficult decision, Your Majesty. It's the sort of dilemma that has confronted us many times in our struggle.'
'Really?'
'Indeed. The life of a hero is not simply a life of fame and adventure. Many of the most difficult battles are with oneself.'
Simangee opened her mouth to speak, but Adalon shot her a warning glance.
'I see.' Gormond tapped his plated cheek with a finger. 'In fact, I thought as much. A true hero must do the right thing, even when it is difficult.'
Adalon nodded. There is truth in what he says, he thought and any urge to mock him disappeared. 'Turn Bandit loose, Your Majesty. Value the service he has given you. Remember his friendship. Wish him well.'
Gormond looked as if he was about to cry. He busied himself with removing Bandit's bridle and tack. Adalon came to help and Gormond nodded with gratitude. In a few moments, the steed was free, snorting and stamping. Gormond slapped him on the rump and he trotted a few paces before looking back uncertainly. 'Go, Bandit,' Gormond said. 'And may good fortune go with you.'
The steed shook its head and cantered into the spreading light of early morning. The other beasts, having had their tack removed, followed and soon disappeared.
'He will be all right?' Gormond asked.
'He may end up with one of Queen Tayesha's patrols, but they will take care of him. He's too valuable to mistreat.' Adalon mounted his brass riding beast and extended his hand. 'Here.'
With Gormond seated behind him, Adalon rounded on the Winged Ones. 'We will meet you at the Lost Castle, Kikkalak. Go with safety.'
He kicked his heels into the brass flanks of his riding beast. With a sound like the clashing of cymbals, it bounded off.
The day unwound under the pounding hoofs. Noon loomed, then passed as they kept up their fleet passage. As afternoon broadened into evening, Adalon felt Gormond sagging against his back with weariness. He signalled to Simangee and Targesh. They slowed to a walk under the canopy of the dense woods they were
He glanced at Targesh, and there was no confusion on the Horned One's face. 'Good,' Targesh said. 'Didn't want to miss breakfast.'
Simangee laughed and Adalon relaxed. 'I've been saving some of my finest tea,' she said. 'Let's share it in celebration of our famous victory.'
Kikkalak glided over and landed in front of the three friends. 'We'll chase them for a few leagues and make sure they don't come back this way,' she said, but she shook her head in disgust. 'No good staying here, though. I saw numbers coming this way, on steed and on foot, both sides of the river.'
Gormond trotted over, his eyes bright. 'They fled. Well done, O Winged One! You truly are a trusted ally!'
Kikkalak eyed him narrowly. 'Be that as it may, we can't tarry here.'
Targesh grunted and glanced at Simangee. 'No breakfast?'
Simangee patted him on the shoulder and smiled. 'Another time.'
Thirteen
Kikkalak clacked her beak in frustration. 'No, no, lift the net together, you lackwits. One at each corner.'
Adalon paused in the business of strapping on his armour. He couldn't help smiling as Kikkalak's Winged Ones attempted to hoist the fat cook in one of their nets.
The cook, a pale-looking Crested One, lay in the net and shivered, clutching at the ropes. He only stopped thrashing about after a sharp word from his master.
'Are you sure this is necessary?' Gormond asked Adalon.
'It's been a miracle you've avoided capture thus far, but attempting to cross Thraag would be foolishness. This is safer and quicker.'
'What about Sachi? She won't be around to chronicle my exploits!'
'It's all right, sire,' Sachi said. 'I'm sure I can fill in the gaps.'
'Hrrumph. But what about Bandit?' He reached out and patted the riding beast on its neck. Its nostrils flared and it tried to bite his hand. He pulled it away and smiled fondly. 'He's a fine steed and a good friend. I can't leave him.'
Adalon thought Gormond would be better off without the fractious beast. 'You face a difficult decision, Your Majesty. It's the sort of dilemma that has confronted us many times in our struggle.'
'Really?'
'Indeed. The life of a hero is not simply a life of fame and adventure. Many of the most difficult battles are with oneself.'
Simangee opened her mouth to speak, but Adalon shot her a warning glance.
'I see.' Gormond tapped his plated cheek with a finger. 'In fact, I thought as much. A true hero must do the right thing, even when it is difficult.'
Adalon nodded. There is truth in what he says, he thought and any urge to mock him disappeared. 'Turn Bandit loose, Your Majesty. Value the service he has given you. Remember his friendship. Wish him well.'
Gormond looked as if he was about to cry. He busied himself with removing Bandit's bridle and tack. Adalon came to help and Gormond nodded with gratitude. In a few moments, the steed was free, snorting and stamping. Gormond slapped him on the rump and he trotted a few paces before looking back uncertainly. 'Go, Bandit,' Gormond said. 'And may good fortune go with you.'
The steed shook its head and cantered into the spreading light of early morning. The other beasts, having had their tack removed, followed and soon disappeared.
'He will be all right?' Gormond asked.
'He may end up with one of Queen Tayesha's patrols, but they will take care of him. He's too valuable to mistreat.' Adalon mounted his brass riding beast and extended his hand. 'Here.'
With Gormond seated behind him, Adalon rounded on the Winged Ones. 'We will meet you at the Lost Castle, Kikkalak. Go with safety.'
He kicked his heels into the brass flanks of his riding beast. With a sound like the clashing of cymbals, it bounded off.
The day unwound under the pounding hoofs. Noon loomed, then passed as they kept up their fleet passage. As afternoon broadened into evening, Adalon felt Gormond sagging against his back with weariness. He signalled to Simangee and Targesh. They slowed to a walk under the canopy of the dense woods they were
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