Gryphon's Eyrie by Andre Norton & A. C. Crispin

Author:Andre Norton & A. C. Crispin [Norton, Andre]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, General, Science Fiction, Fiction
ISBN: 9780812531695
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 1993-02-28T13:30:00+00:00

"If he wishes to accompany us tomorrow, he will have to go through the Gate with us," Alon said. "He could not possibly follow us across two continents and an ocean—to the other side of the world."

"How can we manage to carry him?" she asked, dubiously eyeing the falcon's rending beak and sharp talons.

"With difficulty, I am sure," Alon said. "I will strive to communicate the problem to him tonight, with Dahaun to help me. She can mind-speak nearly any creature'."

As he finished speaking, the falcon stretched out his wings, 152, ANDRE NORTON AND A.C. CRISPIN

and, with a quick motion of his arm, Alon helped him launch himself skyward. Monso's breathing had slowed and calmed, so they set off again. Steel Talon wheeled in the sky above them, flying so high at times that he seemed naught but a pinprick of black against the blueness.

The slopes before them now were grassy and gently rolling, so Alon put the Keplian into a steady canter. They were headed due north, Eydryth realized, judging their direction from the position of the sun. She relaxed into the stallion's gait, balancing easily on those powerful haunches, feeling the rhythmic push and glide beneath her. Before long the steady motion had lulled her into a near-doze.

Finally, they struck on a dirt road, well-traveled by the looks of it. "Not far to go now," Alon said, and she straightened. "I am going to let him run a little," he warned. "So hold on!" He loosened the rein and Monso immediately surged into a full gallop—and then the Keplian, with a snort, fought to get a free head; his strides came faster and faster yet!

"Easy ... easy, Monso ...," Alon said, but the horse only increased speed again.

"Can you hold him?" she cried, alarmed, only to have her words whipped away by the wind of their passage.

Eydryth clung to her companion's belt, resting her head against Alon's back and half-closing her eyes as the landscape flashed by them so fast it made her dizzy. This was the first time she had ridden Monso at a run in daylight, and the half-bred's speed both excited and frightened her. She could feel Alon's back muscles bunch against her cheek as he struggled to regain full control. He spoke softly to the beast, all the while striving with every bit of horsemanship he possessed to keep the Keplian from breaking loose and running totally free.

Finally, the creature's pace slackened slightly, and Alon again had full mastery. He turned his head slightly. "Are you still with me, lady songsmith?"

"Yes," Eydryth managed to gasp. "But when he goes like that... I cannot help but be frightened."

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.