Stand on the Sky by Erin Bow

Author:Erin Bow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HMH Books

* * *

A third day. Moon Spot looked at Aisulu and sighed, but made no fuss as she mounted. The horse, at least, was getting better at this.

“Let me help you with your arm this time,” said Dulat. “Little miss strongman.”

He put his hand under her elbow, adjusting the set of her arm and shoulder, then stepped back and considered her. Then he stepped in and moved her arm again. He was trying to fix her, but she didn’t feel fixed. She felt weird. She felt awkward. Toktar shifted from foot to foot. Moon Spot took a couple of steps forward and started to browse.

Aisulu leaned forward to scratch her horse’s neck and get her attention back. And as she did it, her arm slipped into place. It was weird, it was awkward—​and then, all of a sudden, it was right. She’d found the right place, and it was like that moment when she’d learned to see mouse holes. In an instant, everything changed. The prop held up her wrist as if she were hanging from the sky.

She grinned at Dulat, purely delighted. “Like this?”

“Like that!” he said—​and Fox Tail took advantage of the moment to step on Dulat’s foot. Her uncle grimaced and hopped, but he was grinning back at her. “We’ve been lazing along, these two days. I’ve heard that you can go a little faster.”

“Ha! I’ll show you fast,” she said, and leaned forward, her face brushing the eagle, her knees digging in. Moon Spot stamped twice and then took off at a run. Aisulu settled her toes into her stirrups and rose out of her saddle, floating above her horse. With her arm supported, Toktar seemed to weigh nothing. He was hoodless. He was all hollow bones and bright eyes. He stiffened his neck and leaned the arrow of his head into the wind of their speed. His wings opened for balance. They were shaggy and the feathers under his chin were as scraggly as a boy’s first beard, but his face was pointed toward the far horizon.

Feeling Toktar ride the wave of balance on her arm, Aisulu knew deep down in her bones that this eagle—​who had her heart and was her heart—​this eagle was a thing that was meant to fly.

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