Winds of Fury by Mercedes Lackey Page B

Starblade was the strongest he had been in months, but the weight of a carried raptor seemed to multiply with each passing minute.
    Hyllarr leapt to a low branch with only three wingbeats, and regarded the departing Tayledras. Starblade stood on his own before Darkwind, without resting on his walking stick.
    â€œIt is time to go, son,” the elder Tayledras said quietly, as more of k’Sheyna filed through the arch. “I have not said so until now, but what you are about to do is more important than a single Clan, Darkwind. You carry the bravery of all our ancestors with you, not just k’Sheyna. I am proud of you, and where your mother is, she is proud of you as well.”
    Darkwind swallowed audibly. Although he had been determined to remain stoic, his throat tightened and his jaw twitched. His father had not spoken to him of his mother with anything besides a tone of self-pity and grief. Now, he spoke of her memory as something factual, not as something that was a knife through his heart. He was healing, and becoming better than he was before. The simple bravery of speaking plainly what was in his heart brought back early childhood memories of how Starblade was invincible and unshakable in Darkwind’s eyes.
    â€œI send my prayers with you, my son.” Starblade smiled crookedly, and for a moment, many of his years dropped away. The creases of worry and pain changed to become smile-lines, something that hadn’t crossed Starblade’s face in recent memory. “When you return, you will surely have more tales of life in the Outlands than any scribe will ever be able to pen. And some of them might even be true!”
    Darkwind laughed, and embraced his father with none of the hesitancy that such embraces had caused before. His own tears touched his father’s. “And I expect to hear many tales of your own adventures in dealing with a wild Shin’a’in and a crafty hawkeagle! I think that between them, they will give you no end of excitement!” :I?: Hyllarr replied, in feigned innocence. :Not It Am only meek, crippled bird.:
    A shadow and rustle of cloth announced Kethra’s approach. “I most certainly shall keep his days and nights active,” the Shin’a’in Healer said firmly, taking her turn to embrace Elspeth and Darkwind. “Take care of each other, children,” she added giving them each a penetrating glance. “Remember, together you are far stronger than you are individually. I think that is something that no enemy will ever be prepared for.”
    Starblade took Elspeth into his arms, and whispered into her ear, “Watch over my son, dear lady. He is unused to having someone to guard his back, and may not ask for help. Give it anyway, unasked.”
    â€œI will,” she promised fervently, and kissed him, an act that surprised them both and clearly delighted Starblade.
    Starblade lifted his walking stick, and Kethra took the other end onto her shoulder as he did the same. Hyllarr glided down from the branch and alighted between them. His talons closed firmly on the walking stick and he folded his wings, accepting a caress from Starblade. Then it was time, and they took their places as the last in the line.
    â€œClear skies, Father.”
    â€œWind to thy wings, my son. I love you,”
    And then they were gone.
    Snowfire seemed to wake from her trance; she glanced around the clearing to make certain that there were no stragglers. She saw that Summerfawn already stood on this side. Her eyes took in the smoldering embers of the brazier. Then without a single backward look, she strode across the threshold of the Gate.
    With a flare of energy, the Gate collapsed.
    And for the first time, Darkwind, Elspeth, and Skif were the only k’Sheyna left in the heart of what had been k’Sheyna Vale.

Chapter Three
    T he Kaled’a’in clan k’Leshya had been in possession of the Vale for less than a day, and already the place