The Legion's Trial (The War Gryphon Saga Book 3) by Robert H. Fleming

Author:Robert H. Fleming [Fleming, Robert H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2022-08-30T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

The morning came quickly. Talia had at least managed some sleep. The ocean against the rocks was now only a dull droning for her ears.

But the voices within, beyond that of Axias’s bond, still raged.

The gryphon sat on her haunches atop the keep. She looked east over the sea from her terrace. Through their bond, Talia felt distant, but they would soon be together again in the sky.

The princess descended from her room and was led out the entrance hall, moving over the bridges that formed a Dueling Infinity once more. She was given a black horse outside. This grounded mount fell in line behind the chariots of the king and queen. The two smaller princesses stood to either side of their father on his ornate ride. His horses were white with silver harnesses.

The column clattered down from the keep’s cave entrance. The chariots were cumbersome navigating the switchback of the descent, but soon they were bustling across the training field. They pushed through the town to little fanfare.

When they reached the port, the vessels of both Talia’s potential pathways were waiting for them, a merchant and a warship.

The king dismounted and walked out onto a wide dock with only a single skiff tied to it. Halys and Bryas waited alone by the skiff. Each warrior sister held a long spear and a grim face.

No one bowed to each other. The family didn’t speak in greeting. All eyes turned to Talia once she’d followed the king.

The princess took a breath.

Just beyond the port were arrayed the ships of Halys’s fleet. Talia picked out the hull of Pondyras and saw the open deck of the bow that could await Axias’s landing.

But farther out to sea, almost to the horizon’s drop off, waited a line of merchant ships. There would be space on deck there as well, and a much safer path forward for Talia and her mount. There was stability there, at least until she reached Belgada.

The king eyed her, hoping his glare would will her onto his pathway. Halys’s look wasn’t far from a glare either. But Talia now knew the warrior captain well enough to see through the hardness and picked up on her desire and pleading. The warrior half of the Tyrhian royals wanted adventure. And the Belgada civil war would give that to her.

Axias cawed as she took flight off the keep terrace from behind them. No one on the docks heard the call but Talia. The princess looked east and spotted the gryphon as she banked around with wings wide and drifted toward them.

She circled once to drop her speed and then clattered into a landing. The king shielded his eyes against the wind from the wings. Halys and Bryas didn’t move from their vigil at all.

Tanox stepped forward, opening his mouth to ask Talia for her decision. Talia didn’t give him the chance.

She swung up into Axias’s saddle and felt her mind at ease from their reunion. Axias pivoted, passing his eyes over the king and forcing him to take a step back.

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