Gryphon in Light by Mercedes Lackey

Author:Mercedes Lackey [Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC000000 Fiction / General
Publisher: Astra Publishing House
Published: 2023-07-25T00:00:00+00:00

Silverfox crossed a few more names off the list of people and creatures who had volunteered for this quest. Both he and Ayshen had been surprised at the number who had, to tell the truth. So many that he had an embarrassment of riches, and rather than hoping he had someone who had at least dabbled in something, he found he had at least three beings who were experienced in just about anything he and Ayshen could think of that might be needed.

It seemed as if half of the experienced fighters of Ghost Cat Clan wanted to come; he’d finally narrowed that list down to four. All of them had experience in combat against humans and against non-human creatures. All of them were also skilled hunters and trackers. None of them were older than thirty or younger than eighteen. None of them had romantic partners.

Though that might change on the trip. The crew would be a mixed group, all alone in the wilderness, and things were bound to happen. It would be his job as a kestra’chern to poke his nose into their private business and make sure whatever happened would not negatively affect the group as a whole.

By manipulation, if he had to.

A thankless job, but a necessary one. Hopefully, everyone would understand that on a mission, some social manipulation was necessary to maintain focus. If he did his job well, they wouldn’t mind, either.

As Ayshen’s job was to take care of the transportation and supplies, his was to take care of the—well, call it “staffing.” This involved a fatiguing number of interviews and a great deal of diplomacy.

Strangely, it had been the Ghost Cat warriors who had proven to be the least of his worries. He had traveled to their camp and set up next to the central fire, in order to talk to the ones who wanted to go. It had been an education, in all the best ways. They politely came to the fireside to sit down while everyone else stayed away, and he found they were quite practical. The last of them, Tutack son of Kagen, had finally explained to him why they had been so cooperative and so accepting of rejection.

“The Bright Gryphon Kelvren, our friend, must have the best,” Tutack had said, with immense dignity. “But also, he must have those who will be a clan. We know who among us is best, but only you can find who will fit among those you have already chosen. To not be chosen is not a badge of dishonor. It is merely a sign that if you picked such and such a one, among those you have already chosen, there would be—” Tutack struggled for a moment before finding the word. “—what happens when you spin the firestick.”

“Friction,” Silverfox had supplied.

“Aye,” said Tutack. “And with friction comes flame.”

It had actually been that which cemented in Firesong’s mind that Tutack would be in the party.

If only this were something like a first-year Bardic student Episodic Tale,

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