Sky Rider by Terry Mancour

Author:Terry Mancour [Mancour, Terry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-11-29T07:00:00+00:00

Dara stared at the knight. What he had said had been nearly poetry, she realized.

Before she could reflect further on the unexpected explanation, Lady Ithalia arrived at the table. Dara dutifully stood and greeted her, as did Sir Ryff.

“Dara, could you meet me in the high meadow in the morning, with Frightful?” she asked, glancing at the knight a moment before addressing her.

“Sure,” Dara agreed. “Did your grandmother send more . . . falconry tips?”

“Among other things,” Ithalia nodded, smiling. “I think you will be pleased.”

“My lady,” Sir Ryff interrupted, “is there any chance that Lady Falwallen will be in attendance?” he asked, hopefully.

“Nay, my lord,” Ithalia said, sympathetically. “She is ensconced in Laesgathel, deep in council with her father by magic. The Spellmonger upset a great many things at Carneduin,” she explained. “The Emissaries are all trying to calm their respective kindreds, now.”

“Her father?” Sir Ryff asked, with interest.

“One of the great lords of the Alka Alon,” Ithalia reported. “He rules fair Anthatiel, the City of Rainbows, in the far Mindens. Nor is he well-disposed to her fascination with the humani, I’m afraid. Or the humani in general.”

“That’s what they call ‘humans’,” Dara explained to the knight. “Considering he was already long-established before humans ever came to Callidore, I guess I can see his point.”

“What?” Sir Ryff asked, confused. “Why would he dislike us?”

“We’re too big, too loud, ignorant, dirty, we don’t live long enough to have a decent conversation, and we smell funny,” Dara shrugged. “What’s not to dislike?”

Ithalia wrinkled her nose. “A blunt way of putting it, Dara, but not untrue,” she sighed. “Her father has never forgiven the Council for allowing your people to settle the mainland, and he is stubborn, even among the Alka Alon. He is even less happy that the humani have stirred up the gurvani on his very doorstep.”

“We didn’t start that!” Dara defended.

“From his perspective, you did when you invaded the gurvani territory two centuries ago, just after his daughter was born,” Ithalia countered. “Thus you see the difficulty of communication between the two civilizations. Thankfully, many of us are willing to overcome those difficulties. My cousin Astalia, for instance – did you enjoy your time with her at Carneduin, Dara?”

“Oh, yes, she was a lot of fun,” Dara assured. “She showed me . . .” she said, trailing off as she looked at Sir Ryff. How would the ignorant country knight react to the mysteries that had been revealed to her in the Hall of Memories? Not well, she decided. “She showed me a lot of fascinating things,” Dara finished, simply.

“Astalia is one of the brightest minds of the Avalanti,” Ithalia said, proudly. “She’s said to resemble my grandmother in temperament and intelligence, as well as her interest in the humani. I had hoped you two would become friends.”

“Why would you want her to be friends with me?” Dara asked.

“Because you are destined to become one of the most important wizards of the age, I think,” Ithalia said, thoughtfully. “Establishing good friendships between our peoples will be key to the next few decades.

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