the_lioness | Buzzard Rocks

The sun was beginning its descent toward evening when they turned down the road to the village. Thayet left Buri's side, where she'd been riding for the last hour, and cantered Merrily to the head of their company.

Before Daine discovered the Stormwings, the queen had intended to camp a few days in Buzzard Rocks, teaching the trainees how to handle a recently raided village, how to ask the right questions and discover clues; but they had all agreed riding on at first light made good sense, given the new threat.

Still, it frustrated Thayet. She reached up to pat her tightly pinned hair and straighten her simple tunic and white shirt. The Riders had sent word to the villagers last month to prepare for their arrival. As queen, Thayet would have to explain that they can't stay as intended and apologize for any inconvenience, keeping her own disappointment in check.

She schooled her features into a quiet calm and stared straight ahead, watching the group of huts and sheds that marked the border of the Rocks grow closer.

And closer.

Until she realized something fundamental was missing: the movement of everyday life.

"Sarge! Buri!" she called out in a clear, even voice.

Her officers appeared at her sides. One look and Thayet knew that they were equally uneasy at what they saw -- or didn't see.

"Break the trainees into groups and search the village."

They nodded and began to bark orders while Thayet slowed her mare to a walk and dismounted, eyes on a low, thatched dwelling. Grabbing her bow, she went inside.

Alanna was tired.

Last night's efforts had drained her more than she wanted to admit, and her backside was beginning to protest the long ride. Her neck also ached, though she knew well that was due to her constant study of the clouds dotting the sky over the sea. Somewhere out there, Stormwings could be watching their progress, taking note of the queen's position. More than once Alanna had to bite back a sharp command for Thayet to take cover.

Buri sympathized without having to say a word.

When they crossed on to the forested road to the village, Alanna relaxed by degrees until she was almost looking forward to their destination. She'd visited before, years back. And tomorrow they would reach the Swoop.

She smiled to herself, but it faded when she focused on the village. Already picking up her pace when Thayet called for Sarge and Buri, she rode past and slid off Mithros.

Sword drawn, Alanna conducted her own search. It was quicker that way. Then again, it wouldn't take any of them very long to realize the village was deserted. Homes, barns and livestock pens were all empty.

Everyone gathered in the village square. "They had time to pack," Alanna reported. "It wasn't a raid or disease-"

A trainee screamed.

Thayet looked up from her study of the well when Selda cried out, following the girl's line of sight to several bird-like creatures flying low over the water and the fishing boats that sat abandoned and sad looking on the beach. They were massive, golden and fierce.

Horse Lords, she thought, gaping.

All around them, ponies and horses went mad, snorting and stomping and shrieking with terror; some bolted for the rocks, some for the trees.

Thayet snapped to attention. "Weapons!" she yelled, notching an arrow to her bowstring.

The creatures seemed to spin in the sky and came back to harry them. Their wings flapped slowly, like sails in a gentle wind, like they needed only the barest of efforts to stay aloft. As they came, they released roars that raised goosebumps along Thayet's arms.

"Stop!" someone screamed, but Thayet raised her bow and took aim, releasing the arrrow seconds after Buri shot hers. The creatures had already moved out of range.

"No!" It was Daine. "Leave them be!"

"We're under attack!" Buri snapped back.

"Don't shoot! They don't understand. If you'll give me a second-"

Thayet glanced at Daine, gaze assessing, but she was already reaching for another arrow. Seconds later, a pony snapped it in half with its teeth, barely missing her long fingers.

On their second pass, the winged creatures slashed the canvas roof of the supply cart and set several spare mounts to jerking their heads with wild fear, including Darkmoon. Heart racing with the familiar rush of battle, Alanna looked back and forth between the queen and her war horse, and cursed. She wanted to soothe him but the threat was ahead, bearing down on them.

Daine had her arms up, pleading with the others to stay their shots. Alanna chewed on her lip and gripped her sword tighter, considering Daine, considering why she might be so insistent, when suddenly the remaining ponies and horses turned on the humans. Arrows were snapped, arms head-butted or lightly kicked. Sarge's gelding even knocked him over.

Alanna felt her blood begin to boil.

Running toward the sea, Daine pleaded in turn with the creatures. "No! Stop! It's not what you think! It's not what they think!"

Eyes hard and frowning, Alanna marched to Darkmoon and rapidly switched her tack over from Mithros. Not to soothe him. Unfortunately not that.

The creatures banked to either side of Daine, narrowly missing crushing her beneath their massive bodies and claws. Something she said must have reached them. One swooped down over the waves and settled on a large rock, while the other slowly flapped its wings until it landed before Daine.

Thayet released a breath she hadn't been aware of holding.

Griffins, she could see now; she had insisted that Sir Myles explain his report on identified Immortals to her personally. Dangerous, yes, but also undeniably beautiful. They had the bodies of lions, and the wings and heads of eagles. Even seated on its haunches, the male cocking its head at Daine made Numair seem short. It scratched a talon in the dirt and regarded them steadily.

"It's all right to put down the weapons?" asked Numair. The griffin gave a majestic nod, astounding the mage. "You can understand me?"

Daine listened. "A little, he says. It's ideas he gets, like 'weapons' and 'safety.'"

"Thank you," Numair replied.

Alanna's temper was in check as she heard bits and pieces of this and saw the griffin land, but just barely. Sentimentality didn't save lives. Trust did, and what just happened with their mounts violated that trust. Later, Daine would answer for it.

Gold washed mail shirt, gauntlets, helm: Alanna donned each with the ease and speed of years of practice. Using the cart as a mounting block, she pulled herself up on Darkmoon and lifted her shield from where she'd hitched it to the saddle. Next she drew her sword.

The great horse danced under her, coat soaked through with nervous sweat. "I am sorry for this," Alanna told him.

Scared as he was, Darkmoon responded to her commands and moved toward the Riders and griffin at a brisk walk. It took a firm hand, a careful seat, but she maneuvered him in to place beside the queen.

Daine turned conflicted eyes on the knight and her horse, then came over to stroke Darkmoon's muzzle.

Alanna barely looked at her. "Ask him where the village is," she ordered.

The tone of Alanna's voice commanded attention. Thayet tore her gaze away from the griffin to glance at her friend and felt her eyes widen. Alanna was every inch the king's champion, staring down a potential enemy. Her stallion, a horse Thayet knew she loved and pampered, was miserable with fear; but it provided the knight with a height advantage she wouldn't have on the ground.

Underneath the unflinching exterior, Thayet could see Alanna's temper was simmering; it wasn't hard to hazard a guess as to why.

"Please, sir. I'm very new at this," Daine was saying, as the griffin studied Alanna. "You have to-"

Thayet looked at Numair, who was working his jaw with worry.

"Lioness, I... I think he wants you to explain the device on your shield. He won't talk about anything else till you do."

Resisting the urge to tilt her head like the griffin, Alanna answered curtly. "It's a lioness, my own sign. A female lion."

In response, the griffin spread its massive wings. A ripple ran over its body from head to toe, then it resumed its prior position, attention on Daine.

The girl was having obvious trouble translating. Her face was creased with concern, her voice thready. Alanna was about to say something when Numair stepped up and scooped Daine's nape in his large hand.

"Calm down. Relax," he said. "I'm shielding you. Take a deep breath -- good girl. You can manage this -- just go easily."

She seemed to relax. After a long moment she told Alanna, "He says there're too many griffins held captive on human shields. That's why they attacked the village -- no, 'attack' isn't right. They flew over, like they did with us, to warn the people not to raid the nest and steal the little ones for shields. They're nesting atop that large spire of rock."

Daine pointed, and Thayet could just make out the nest. It was in the rocks above where the female had perched.

The griffins simply wished to protect their family.

"How many villagers did they kill in this 'warning?" asked Alanna. "And Daine, you'd best not lie to protect them."

While her expression softened somewhat at the explanation, it still didn't account for the deserted village. It was her duty to uncover the truth of the matter.

Daine waited for the griffin to talk to her. "I couldn't lie if I wanted to, Lioness. He won't let us." She paused. "That's not right. Lies can't be told near a griffin. He's surprised we didn't know. That's why they were captured for shields."

Alanna blinked.

Thayet shifted her attention to Numair as he stepped forward, clearly fascinated. She felt much the same. "There haven't been griffins here in centuries. We've forgotten the lore," he explained. "Does he know how long it's been since they were seen in human lands?"

"He -- sorry, Numair -- he doesn't know what you mean. I think he doesn't understand time as we use it. He does say they killed no one. The villagers screamed a lot, then they ran. They're at a great stone house about a day's ride down the coast."

Thayet started to smile.

Alanna breathed in and released it slowly, loosening four of the fingers clenching her sword hilt.

"Pirate's Swoop. That's easy enough to check. Is it true about lying around them, Numair?"

"I'd heard it. You could try," he suggested.

Thinking, Alanna pondered a lie. I love sailing seemed like a good test, but the words stuck in her throat. Eventually she grinned and admitted, "I can't."

Once the Lioness relaxed, Thayet felt it safe to move closer and ask, "How do they live? What do they eat?"

"Fish" was Daine's answer, delivered more rapidly than the others. "Dolphins if they can get them, seals, sea lions -- but mostly fish. He says there're big ones in the open ocean."

"No cattle? No sheep or pigs?"

Because a queen had to be concerned with the villagers' sustenance and livelihood, not just their lives.

"No, mum. They think grass-eaters taste nasty."

Thayet nodded and thought about this for a moment. "Will he agree to let the villagers come back and not harass them?"

"Ouch!" Daine flinched, then managed a smile for the queen. "As long as they keep away from their nests, he doesn't care what people do. Their voices -- our voices -- discomfort their ears. They don't want to come any closer to us than they must, to protect the little ones."

Listening closely, Alanna began to truly appreciate the griffins. She ran her eyes over their shimmering coats and took note of the proud angle at which they held their heads.

No longer considering them a threat, she could admire them for the gorgeous creatures they were.

"It would be a shame to destroy such magnificence," she declared.

The griffin preened at the praise.

"All right," Thayet said with a laugh. "I'll talk to the locals when we see them. Tell your friend we will fight them if they harm a human or any livestock."

Daine winced at the sounds in her head. "He says don't insult him by calling me his friend. His kind has better things to do than associate with humans." She blushed.

Thayet's smile faded somewhat, but she nodded once more.

Daine added, "He says at least my voice doesn't hurt his ears."

Raising her sword, Alanna offered the griffin a respectful salute. "Your point is taken, sir. Return to your nest, and we won't inflict our voices on you again."

The griffin gave one last screech and took to the air, meeting his mate above their heads. The setting sun glinted off their wings. Together they flew in dizzying spirals back to their nest.

Alanna swallowed, trying to wet her dry, scratchy throat. Without another word to anyone, she rode back to the supply cart.

Thayet recalled her thoughts as they approached the village and had to laugh. To think she'd been worried about upsetting the villagers. By now she really ought to know the rules have changed. This isn't the Tortall of ten years ago, or even last month. What concerned them then seemed simple by comparison.

Taking quick stock of the situation, Thayet observed shocked trainees, scattered ponies and tents that wouldn't pitch themselves. That wouldn't do.

"Trainees!" she barked, straightening her shoulders. "Collect and care for your mounts. Make camp in the square, before we lose the light entirely!"

Purpose will replace worry and fear, she thought to herself. Lifting her bow, she went to find her mare.

"Good boy," Alanna crooned to Darkmoon, slipping him another pilfered apple. "Good, obedient boy. If I could, I would have spared you that."

A fire burned brightly in the town square. The light licked over tents and Darkmoon's coat, and drew Alanna's eye. Several trainees were preparing supper, while the officers and Daine checked the trainees' work with the ponies. Daine proved herself useful rounding them up; without her abilities to call and soothe, they might have been at it all night. Alanna could admit that, now that she felt less likely to explode at the slightest provocation.

She sighed and leaned against Darkmoon's neck.

"Best make it an early night," Thayet said, coming up behind Alanna. She hooked her hands in her sword belt, but stood as composed and regal as she would in a fine gown. "Followed by an early morning, we'll be at Pirate's Swoop by evening."

She smiled and ran her hand down Darkmoon's shoulder.

"I do hope George is prepared."

Alanna grunted by way of an answer, but a faint smile broke the hard look on her face.

They stood in silence for some time, stroking the large war horse and watching the routine of the camp.

Eventually Alanna said, "We have to say something. We can't let it go."

Thayet's hand stilled. Laughter rang out from somewhere nearby.

"I know."

A nod.

"There's such a benefit," Alanna went on, "but we also have to acknowledge the risk. It's not her fault."

She knew this well. Perhaps it was the similarities between Daine and the fears Alanna herself had had about her Gift at that age that made it harder for her to put aside the caution.

"It's not, but she must be made to see the consequences, the dangers that go along with a lack of control. Control should be her aim, not a byproduct."

Edited 2009-05-08 01:53 (UTC)

Pursing her lips, Thayet looked for Numair and Daine and found them speaking with Onua near the mage's tent. She had faith in Numair and his teachings and knew Alanna did as well, but this would be better coming from someone else.

"No time like the present, Lioness."

One last pat for Darkmoon and Thayet led the way to the others, telling them in a low voice that they needed to talk.

"You shouldn't have turned our mounts against us," she informed Daine when they had moved away from the main camp. Nothing about her demeanor was unkind, but no one would doubt her conviction, either.

Alanna nearly smiled. This was Queen Thayet, not Thayet the unassuming, friendly woman who groomed her own horse and commanded the Riders.

Daine looked like she'd swallowed a frog. "I didn't -- honest. They did it without me asking. If you don't believe me, maybe we could bring the griffins back --"

"No. We just got the ponies calmed down," Alanna pointed out, sharply.

"You had best study control, mistress. If we can't trust our mounts, we're in trouble," said Thayet.

Numair came forward. "There's only so much she can do. This is wild magic, Your Majesty -- not the Gift. She can't help animals knowing her feelings any more than she can help breathing. I've tested her control. It's as good as she can make it. Wild magic is unpredictable -- thus the name."

Looking protective, Onua wrapped an arm around Daine. "It's got to be harder on her than on us, Majesty. She's a good girl."

Daine blushed again, pleased.

It was good enough. Thayet nodded, stretching sore muscles. "I'll be so glad when we reach Pirate's Swoop. A hot bath and a night's sleep in a bed, and I'll be a new woman." She smiled. "I'm not going to bite you, youngster. I'm not even angry, not really. I will say this -- riding with you has been an eye-opener!"

"Welcome to the club," Numair said under his breath, smiling wryly.

Mollified, Alanna grinned unrepentantly at Numair. She'd had headstrong, unpredictable students in the past, and did not envy him his path.

The outcome of the talk was satisfactory, and she offered Daine a genuine smile. Her temper was banked, her worry assuaged. Now she could laugh.

"You know," she drawled, savoring the moment, "I have the feeling that if the people come back, this is going to be a very honest village from now on."

Onua snickered. Alanna slid her a sly smile that only grew wider when the K'mir said, "If so, a lot of husbands will be sleeping in the barn."

Buzzard Rocks

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