The Colt of the Clouds by Kallie George

Author:Kallie George
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2020-02-05T16:00:00+00:00

Fifteen

As they made their way to the cavern, Sophia continued to talk, but Pippa’s thoughts drifted to Hero. It’s not my fault he’s here. He followed me to begin with.

But when they reached their destination, the first thing she did was look for him. He wasn’t there. Her stomach twisted.

“Don’t worry,” said Sophia, reading her mind. “There’s more than one way to get here. Besides, it’s the biggest cave of all. It’s easy to find.”

The cavern was even more enormous than Pippa remembered, and hot too. Bubbles rose and popped in the pool of lava. Nearby, the fire horses were licking some rocks and the metal horses clanged as they played and galloped. In the ring in the center stood the strange half horse half rooster.

“He’s a hippalektryon,” said Sophia. “The hippalektryons were bred to be used in battle, but they weren’t good at running or flying. So the breeding stopped. Now there are only a few left. Everyone views them as monsters—but actually, they’re very gentle. He’s the only creature at the fire stables that can fly now. Yet he’s never left the caves, at least not as long as I’ve been here. Euippe says that he can’t fly well enough.”

Sophia pointed up. Pippa could just make out a sliver of light slipping through the rock ceiling, right above the pool of lava.

“There’s the tunnel that leads to the surface,” said Sophia.

“I know,” said Pippa, with a shudder.

“It’s for the most experienced winged steeds only. Helios’s horses would leave from it every morning. Pippa, you should have seen them. Their wings were made of fire feathers.”

“Fire feathers?”

“Feathers that can’t be burned, not even by the sun. On the morning Poseidon took over the throne, they departed as usual but didn’t come back. Euippe went to find out why, even though she’s not supposed to leave, and when she returned, she was shaken. She said Cyclopes had taken over the entrance cavern. . . .”

“They have,” said Pippa, shuddering again.

“Euippe said that a battle had taken place between all the gods and goddesses and that the winged horses have been captured.”

“But where are they? Do you think she knows?”

Sophia shrugged, then shook her head. “I doubt it. She loves horses as much as you, Pippa. Euippe would do anything to bring them back.”

Just as Sophia said her name, Euippe entered the cave, a bag slung over one shoulder. She was leading Tazo.

The colt looked wonderful. His coat was brushed and shiny, his mane and tail braided. Even his wings seemed glossier. Tazo pranced forward proudly.

“Paue,” commanded Euippe. Tazo stopped immediately. “Do you know the training commands?” Euippe asked Pippa.

“No, but I have this.” She pulled out Bellerophon’s whistle from around her neck.

“Ah.” Euippe examined it. “A powerful tool. Though only good for calling horses. Not for the subtler commands. Paue, stop. Petesthe, fly up. Basko, speed away. You will need those to practice flying.”

“You think he’s ready?” asked Pippa.

“Tazo is more than ready to carry a rider. He is stronger than any young colt I have ever seen.

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.