The Aebeling by Michael O'Neill

Author:Michael O'Neill [O'Neill, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy, Epic, Science Fiction, Action & Adventure
ISBN: 9781622876013
Google: aHRmAwAAQBAJ
Amazon: B00JS8VRV6
Goodreads: 22010823
Publisher: First Edition Design Pub.
Published: 2014-04-17T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13

With the arrival of his fourth spring in Meshech, Conn left Atrak and headed for Halani with Oisin and Daray. After ten days on the road they left their escort of wiga in Hama, and the three of them headed on alone. Conn had sent a pigeon – carrier pigeons were a much more efficient system than an arrow in a tree – telling them they were coming. Pigeon breeding programs were now established in all his domains and, secretly, in most of the cotlifs. As well as a communication system, they also served as a source of chemicals and food.

As they rode up the road that led into Halani, a group of riders were waiting for them. Conn was surprised; normally he made it a day into Halani before he encountered a welcoming committee, and he was certainly didn’t expect to be met by Caewyn and Derryth. They rode up with their normal heartiness, until they got close enough to see the third rider. Derryth was in mid-sentence.

‘Conn, what a pleasure to see you...’

Caewyn didn’t pause; she rode straight up to Oisin and greeted her like an old friend. ‘Well met, cousin, welcome to the great forest. My home is your home.’

Oisin, who had had time to prepare for this meeting, responded equally. ‘Thank you cousin, I am honored to be your guest.’

Derryth regained his voice; ‘Gyden, a cousin from Piada. You don’t see that every day.’ He greeted her formally and Caewyn rode back and gave Conn a big hug. She admonished him.

‘Feorhhyrde; it has been hundreds of years since we have had a visitor from Piada – you could have given us some warning. And you have brought another visitor – a Lykian no less. Are you going to introduce him?’

‘My apologies, Caewyn; Daray il Erbil, please meet Caewyn il Halani. She is singularly the most important person in Halani. Caewyn, Daray is my apprentice.’

She smiled. ‘Apprentice ‘what’ exactly – you are a man of many talents.’

Caewyn rode forward and stretched her hand out.

‘I am pleased to meet you, Daray il Erbil. I know that we will be friends.’ As she held his hand, she continued. ‘And with the Feorhhyrde as your guide, you are destined for great things.’

‘Of that I’m not so sure, Caewyn, but certainly there is not a day that I am not learning something new.’

Conn introduced Daray to Derryth; and then spent the next two days explaining how he came to have a Piadan in his possession – and why he thought Caewyn was more important than him.

As they rode, Derryth pointed to the pinto that Oisin rode. ‘You can see why we were confused. That is a real Elfina horse. I’m even surprised to see her.’

Oisin patted her mare. ‘She is the last of her kind. Once she is gone, there are no more.’

‘Perhaps she will breed with my colt?’ Caewyn asked; she was riding the colt, and the two pintos seemed very comfortable riding side by side.

Oisin agreed. ‘I hope so.

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