Skyborn by Lou Anders

Author:Lou Anders
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2016-09-06T04:00:00+00:00

Karn’s backside was starting to seriously ache. His second day on the hippalektryon riding without a saddle was taking its toll. On the plus side, he was getting to be a much better rider. But he wasn’t sure he would ever be able to sit down again.

They were moving at phenomenal speed across the open grasslands, having left the mountain range behind them in the north. Karn shook his head.

“I’ve never been anywhere so flat,” he said.

“Flat?” the minotaur replied.

“The ground,” said Karn. “Norrøngard—where I’m from—is mostly mountains. We’ve got flatlands, but they’re wooded and hilly. This is, well…”

“As flat as a pancake,” suggested Asterius. “That’s what the northerners say.”

“What’s a pancake?” Karn asked.

“A waste of good wheat,” said Asterius. When Karn frowned, he added, “Flour, olive oil, honey, and milk. Mixed together and cooked in a frying pan. I’ve never had one, of course, but some people seem to like them.”

“Remind me to try one when this is over,” said Karn. He turned to the bull boy. “You are sure your father will help us?”

“Absolutely,” said Asterius. “You’ll see. My father is the bravest minotaur that ever lived.”

“Guess we’ll find out soon enough,” said Karn. A city had appeared on the horizon.

“Home,” said the bull boy enthusiastically. He spurred his mount forward.

At the speed the hippalektryons traveled, spotting a destination and reaching it was a matter of heartbeats. Karn marveled at the sight that came into view.

Labyrinthia was a round city surrounded by a high wall. A massive gate loomed up before them, flanked by two towers with stone protrusions carved to resemble horns. Asterius explained that the gate was one of four, each set at one of the cardinal points. As the hippalektryons halted, they were challenged by a soldier.

“Who goes?” the soldier called, peering down at them from a tower.

“Open in the name of the prince!” demanded Asterius to the guard. “Or do you want me to tell my father that you kept us waiting?”

“My prince,” the guard hastily apologized. “We did not expect you. Are you not a guest of the Calderans?”

“More like a prisoner!” yelled Asterius. “Now open the gate.”

The portcullis rose, and Asterius turned to Karn and grinned.

“Now you can see what a real city is like,” he said.

Karn wanted to reply that he had been in many real cities, but he could tell the bull boy was proud of his hometown, so he kept his mouth shut. However, he couldn’t help but let it fall open when they rode through the entrance.

The high walls that surrounded Labyrinthia continued inside the city itself. They lined the street, which was empty at ground level. Instead, homes and other structures hung from the sides of the walls, stopping about a story shy of the earth. Retractable ladders and staircases folded down from their lowest floors. While the streets were crowded with people—all of them minotaurs—there were no structures at this level.

“Why are the houses on the walls?” asked Karn.

Asterius gave him a look that said the question was a dumb one.

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