Avalon Rising by Rose Kathryn

Author:Rose, Kathryn [Rose, Kathryn]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fantasy, young adult
ISBN: 9780738744896
Publisher: Flux
Published: 2015-05-07T14:00:00+00:00

NINETEEN

I should run. I should follow Briana and Seamus and the two burly men to whatever village or shelter they might find refuge in; I should seek the closest aeroship port and find my way back to Camelot before it’s too late.

Caldor flies straight for me—I can hear the mechanical caw made richer with my jaseemat—and a rush of courage invigorates me. Merlin’s silly invention might buy me time. The falcon lands, sputtering nearly empty, and the musical notes of the rogues’ calls rustle with the shine of their raised, extended blades. I wrench Caldor’s steam valve open, take out the small purse of jaseemat, and cast a handful inside.

“Yaty ala alhyah.”

The jaseemat dances over the copper feathers and its iron beak. Black eyes stare at mine, and they’ve never claimed to hold any sort of life—even with jaseemat—but there’s a change, and Caldor comes to life. Wings broaden, their span longer than both my arms stretched as far out as I can manage.

“Fly!”

Caldor leaps into the air to catch a breath of wind. I’m on my feet and backing away, snow finding its way into my leather boots and my hair as I run. I glance over my shoulder at Caldor flying straight into the band of rogues. The falcon’s wings flap wildly—they slice open the necks of the unlucky two at the front. Shred their brightly colored garments. I tear away from the sight, at the horror of their blood on the ground. I run. Caldor will find me.

I race through trees dark like shadows, branches bare, trunks tall and unlike anything I’ve ever seen in Camelot. I’ve lost track of where Briana and Seamus ran to, and I must find a place to hide rather than try to outrun those who evaded Caldor’s deadly wings. Every path looks the same, every tree a withered twin of the next. There’s nowhere to hide.

“You cannot hide, Vivienne. But there is a way,” Merlin’s voice whispers in my ear. As I run, I turn to the translucent blue eyes lined in gold staring at mine through the atmosphere. It’s delirium; it has to be. “You know it already, girl. You have everything you need to beat them.”

A nudge at my memory reminds me of the spells in my pocket. Magic, yes. That could fend them off. I face my own mortality now, and magic would ensure I survive. But how could I think of doing such a thing? The spirit of Merlin is tempting me for a reason I still don’t understand, but I won’t let him win.

Besides, I have another choice. “If you mean your own sword, old man, so be it. Gawain was an excellent teacher.”

I stop running and seize Merlin’s sword from the holster on my back, holding it high. Merlin vanishes before I can see the outrage on his face for claiming his weapon as mine. Gallops—many gallops. I glance over my shoulder. Horses. Seven. Each carrying a rogue dressed like a prince of the skies: long coats lined in embroidered silver silk.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.