(eng) K. J. Taylor - Risen Sun 03 by The Shadow's Heart

Author:The Shadow's Heart [Heart, The Shadow's]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY

THE ISLAND OF WILD NORTHERNERS

The first time Caedmon saw the island, he was almost shocked by its size. To him the word ‘island’ had suggested something small, but ‘Wild Island’, as Heath had dubbed it, had enough space for a small town. Or it would have, if the landscape had been more hospitable.

It rose up out of the ocean ahead of him, dark among waves the colour of slate. Jagged rocks and spiny conifers gave it an uneven, dangerous-looking outline. The air out here was icy, not helped by the ocean, but as the three griffins flew closer Caedmon couldn’t spot any of the snow he had been half expecting. He was relieved about that.

Echo flew ahead to show the way. A long journey had made his wingbeats slow and heavy, but he was close now.

Once he was above the island, the spotted griffin spiralled downward to land. Shar and Garsh followed.

Echo’s landing spot was an open area — ‘field’ would have been too generous, even though there was some ragged grass about. He crouched to help Heath dismount then lay down on his belly to rest, apparently feeling safe enough here not to stay on alert.

Shar landed close by, snorting when Saeddryn decided to leap off her back before she had crouched down. Caedmon, more sensitive, politely waited for the proper moment to get off before going over to help Myfina get down off the hulking Garsh.

Saeddryn, as always, was on her guard. She landed in a hunched posture and kept it as she slunk around the clearing, sniffing the air like a griffin, with one hand on her sickle. ‘Smells of people,’ she growled eventually.

Heath was standing by Echo, steadying himself with a hand on the griffin’s shoulder. ‘They’ll have seen us by now,’ he said. ‘They keep watch for the wild griffins. Don’t want to get eaten.’ He looked rather pale, possibly from the cold.

Saeddryn’s lined face was full of suspicion. ‘They’d better not try anythin’ funny. I’m in no mood.’

Caedmon and Myfina glanced at each other, and from Myfina’s expression Caedmon guessed she was thinking the same thing as he was. Saeddryn was getting worse. Ever since her latest mission, which she hadn’t yet said anything about, she had grown even more icy and aggressive.

Nearby, Heath glanced at Saeddryn. His usual amused expression was absent; instead, he looked tired and rather sad. ‘They won’t,’ he said hoarsely. ‘They’ve got even less of a sense of humour than you, my Lady. Just wait here and they’ll come. I should be ready …’ He reached up and adjusted his griffin-hide hood.

Caedmon had already begun watching the trees all about, along with Myfina. But it was Saeddryn who saw them coming first. She turned sharply and pointed. ‘There.’

Caedmon looked, and after a moment or two he saw them. A group of people were approaching, moving in an easy, loping way. At first all he noticed about them was that they looked tall, emaciated and ragged. But he was quick to notice a second thing: they were armed.

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