Fire and Feathers by Shari L. Tapscott

Author:Shari L. Tapscott
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shari L. Tapscott
Published: 2017-02-09T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOUR

It's Just a Little Forest Fire

Despite Sebastian’s many protests, I know my plan is brilliant…providing I can actually get the chain on the creature. Once in place, the ice charm should inhibit her fire abilities, making it possible for us to harness her—in theory, anyway.

Even without her flame, she’s still a full-grown hippogriff…a complete, though arguably lovely, beast of nightmares with the spirit of a wild mare and a sharp, curved beak designed for ripping into prey.

We’ve watched the beast all day and are growing used to her patterns. She flies a little way off, only to return not long later with some unfortunate creature in her talons. Last time she brought back a full-grown mountain cat. At the sight of it, my stomach tightened with apprehension, and all the color leached from Sebastian’s face. He looked like he was going to be physically ill.

“Why are you smirking?” Sebastian asks from my side.

“I was just thinking that it’s too bad your token wasn’t charmed with courage instead of charisma.”

Sebastian rolls his eyes and goes back to watching our target.

We’ve decided to wait for the cover of night, hoping to catch the beast while she sleeps. The sun has just set, but its rosy glow still lights the horizon.

Soon it will be time to move.

We wait, patient, barely speaking. Sebastian's nervous. I know he is, but he hasn’t admitted it. I, too, am feeling twinges of unease, but I refuse to dwell on them.

Just like last evening, once the sky is dark and the air is past cool, the hippogriff lifts herself from her perch and decorates the blank slate of night with her flame. I watch her, awed. She’s incredible…and terrifying. Perhaps my idea isn’t a sane one after all.

No. I mustn’t think that way.

“It’s time,” Sebastian says as soon as the beast returns and settles down for the night.

We walk in the dark, staying as far from the cliff’s edge as possible. Tonight’s clear sky is both a blessing and a curse. It makes the trail easier to follow, and we’re less likely to take a wrong step that will send us careening down to our deaths, but we will be easier for the hippogriff to spot should she wake.

“Careful here,” Sebastian says from ahead.

Again, the trail has meandered toward the cliff. The spot Sebastian speaks of is too narrow for my liking, not even wide enough to stand comfortably.

Sebastian waits on the other side. “Take my hand.”

“No.” Like a fool, I glance down and then jerk my gaze back up. My leg begins to tremble, and my arms ache to hug the cliff face.

“Lucia,” Sebastian growls and extends his hand farther. “I’ll help you across.”

I shuffle forward, determined to ignore him, and my foot kicks a small rock off the edge. It clatters twice against the shelf below, and then there is perfect silence. I gasp in a shuddering breath, and terror freezes my muscles.

“My hand, Lucia,” Sebastian says again, his tone soft and coaxing this time.

“I can’t.

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