The Arrival (Birthright Trilogy #1) (25 page)

She gave him a sideways look while she considered what was safe to tell him.

'Yes, well kind of. Our homeland is,' she paused, considering. 'More crowded than here and there are more ethnicities grouped together.'

Rumal looked confused. 'Ethnicities?'

Kassie mentally smacked herself; of course, everything would have a different name here.

'Different races?' she explained hesitantly.

He nodded in understanding and then looked hard at her.

'What’s your race? You’re different to the others aren’t you?'

She smiled, pleased he had noticed, and explained how she’d been born in a different country, Malaysia, with a different climate and so had slightly different features; her Dad was European and her Mum Malay—though she didn’t explain that to Rumal; and a different accent. Rumal listened closely.

'And Laura is from somewhere else too?'

She nodded.

'Loi is from Scotland and they have rather heavy accents compared to Sian or Cat. They’re both from New Zealand so that’s why they sound so similar.' Everyone poured out the lodge, so they put the conversation on hold while they finished their goodbyes.

Sometime later and Kassie sat in front of Rumal with Lucky in her bag, on her lap. The weather was stunning once again, and the flight smooth. She remembered something she’d been meaning to ask Rumal and leaned back against his chest to look up at him.

'Why is Kerak so young? Are you new to the Griffon Guard?'

Rumal smiled down at Kassie. She was such an attractive little thing, he thought, with her crazy brown curls and hazel eyes. He stroked an errant curl from her forehead, causing her to flush and thought about her question.

'I’ve been with the Griffon Guard since it was established. Originally I’d linked with a Griffon named Ofelaan. She had the most beautiful golden wings', he smiled, remising.

'I think Kerak’s will achieve that color when he’s older.'

Kassie was mesmerized by Rumal’s deep rich voice and his unusual accent. She focused on what he said and frowned.

'What happened to Ofelaan?'

Rumal sighed. She could feel his sorrow and turned to grasp his hand, looking up into his eyes.

'I’m sorry I didn’t mean to pry. Please don’t talk about it if it pains you.'

Her anxious face touched him.

Ofelaan would have loved her, he thought. He was silent for a while as he gathered his thoughts and Kassie cuddled close to him though her head barely reached mid chest. He chuckled then unable to resist teased her.

'Look at tiny Kassie; she’s barely bigger than a child.'

He ran a finger down her cheekbone.

Kassie’s eyes went flat as she glared at him.

What is it with tall idiotic males and my height, she thought.

'I am only three inches below the average height thank you very much. And I can whip your ass any day.'

Fuming, she jerked forward to the front of the saddle.

Oops.
Rumal froze unsure of how to respond. He hadn’t meant to insult her. It hadn’t occurred to him that she might be sensitive about it.

‘Maybe you should apologize,’
suggested Kerak.
‘What does she mean by "whip your ass"? I thought she only carried a sword.’

Rumal shrugged,
‘I’m not entirely sure.’

He could almost see the waves of annoyance pulse off her. Thinking hard, he made an attempt to lighten the situation.

'Is whipping ass's something you do regularly?'

Kassie bit her lip as she tried not to smile. Okay, maybe she’d overreacted a little, but she wasn’t letting up that easily.

'Only to idiotic males who suggest I’m vertically challenged. I can squeeze into places you’d never fit in.'

Umm, actually that didn’t come out quite as I intended.

Well if I don’t point it out, he might not notice, she thought.

Rumal roared with laughter, 'But would I want too?'

He watched as Kassie’s back quivered. She still didn’t turn round though.

Might have to try something else, he thought and reached forward to tug on a curl. It broke her cover and she began to laugh, reaching out to ruff Kerak’s mane.

‘Good one.’
Kerak sounded relieved.
‘Now she looks happy.’

Rumal reached and snatched her up in his arms, causing her to shriek in surprise. Once she was settled in his lap he stroked a finger around her face again, tucking some stray bits of hair out the way.

'Now where were we?' He asked.

'Ofelaan. You were telling me about Ofelaan and why Kerak’s so young compared to the other griffons.'

Rumal nodded and re-gathered his thoughts.

'You’ve heard of Elena the Sorceress?'

'Yes, Alek mentioned her.'

'There is another Sorceress in this realm. Jenviet DeNaga. She schemed along, with her brother Diantew, to defeat the entire world and reign over it. Now the DeNaga’s, as a family, have a history of defeat against Elion so Jenviet and Diantew knew they couldn’t attack head on. Instead they waited for the right time. Elena had just established our Griffon Guard, and we were at a training camp in the Merrej Dessert. In the middle of the night Jenviet and Diantew attacked us. We were caught unaware and scrambled to defend ourselves. The late King was killed trying to protect us. In fury we attacked as one managing to snare Diantew and kill him. We nearly had Jenviet, but she slipped through our grasp. Ofelaan and I sped after her with the others close behind, but just as we were about to attack she spun back on us. Jenviet released a massive energy wave and…'

Rumal rubbed his forehead. The memory was still painful.

'Ofelaan took the full blast. She was killed instantly.'

All traces of annoyance and laughter had left Kassie’s face and she looked up at him, her eyes shiny with unshed tears. She gave his knee a gentle squeeze. He was surprised to feel his throat go thick with emotion at the sympathetic touch.

'It’s not all bad. I got to link with Kerak.'

His voice was gruff as he reached over to slap the side of the griffon in affection.

‘And I count myself very lucky for that,’
he thought, aware the griffon had listened in. Kerak gave a rumble of pleasure at the compliment.

Kassie sniffed, and blinked rapidly.

'How long was it before you met Kerak?'

Rumal smiled at that memory. He told Kassie the story of the tiny determined griffon pup that made his way by himself across the great expense of the Delos Sea. Rumal had sensed the griffon pup when he was born and he and Gredel had set out on Phroma to meet him on the Isle of Pati.

When they arrived they found his mother, Frianya, frantic after trying to find her pup. Another pup told them that Kerak had intended to find his ‘friend’ and was last seen heading off toward Elion. After an anxious race back to Elion they arrived at the Port where a message from Elena awaited them. Kerak had arrived three days after they’d left, and while exhausted, was otherwise in good health, waiting for their return.

'Kerak has a reputation that’s well known in Elion.' Rumal laughed, 'And admired.'

Kassie shook her head, impressed.

'How small are griffon pups?'

'I’ll show you when we get to the castle.'

'What’s your world called?' I asked Alek.

He looked at me in surprise.

'Gar'nyse. It means ‘To Glow with Life’ in our old language.'

'That’s unique.'

'What’s your world called?'

I considered the question suspiciously.

I don’t think it’ll mean anything to him.

'Earth.'

There was a long pause, making me apprehensive.

Did that mean something to him?

Alek stared down at Cat, looking at him in concern, and struggled not to laugh as he confirmed, 'Earth?'

She nodded.

His lips twitched.

'Your world is named Earth?'

She nodded again, looking more concerned.

He started to laugh.

'Your world is named after dirt. What, they couldn’t think up a better name?'

Cat’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

'I don’t know. I wasn’t there when they named it,' she snapped.

‘Oooh, what did you say to her?’
Loushka demanded,
‘She’s putting out that energy again.’

‘Her world is named dirt, oops sorry, Earth,'
Alek chuckled.
‘I thought it seemed a little unoriginal.’

‘Earth? Really?’
Loushka was amused.
‘Well it’s certainly simple. Maybe it’s so they can’t forget it. Since they’re always standing on it.’

Daron spaced out while Sian talked, but she wasn’t offended. It meant he talked to Nesha.

'Is your world really called Earth?' Daron sounded incredulous.

Sian was startled.

'Yes, why?'

Daron started to laugh, 'Loushka told Nesha it was named after dirt but I didn’t believe her.'

Back on Loushka’s saddle Alek teased Cat. Loushka threw in a couple of good retorts too. Cat appeared to struggle not to laugh and he was determined to get to her.

'So Catherine’s a diirrttyy girl.'

My jaw dropped, I hadn’t heard that tragic comment for a long time and the last time it had been uttered by a very drunk workmate.

I wish I could come back with instant quips like Sian or Kass—not that hers always come out right.
Unable to think of a good come back I gave Alek’s thigh a damn decent punch instead.

'OW!' he yelped.

'HA! Dead leg.' I yelled, then held tight to the pummel and drew my legs up—lest he get any ideas. Laughing, I turned, still in my crouched position to look at him. He held his leg and laughed so hard that tears rolled down his cheeks. A funny buzzing in my ears distracted me and I shook my head.

It must be the angle I’m on, I thought, and shifted position.

‘Alek! Are you okay?’
Loushka had felt him jump and was concerned,
‘What happened?’

‘She gave me a dead leg.’
Alek, still laughing sent her the image.

Loushka was bemused.
‘Didn’t one of your cousins use to do that to you?’

‘Yes,’
He gasped for breath after all that laughing.