The Arrival (Birthright Trilogy #1) (29 page)

'CATHERINE!' Alek roared at the woman who glowed an intense red and got hotter to the touch with every moment.

‘Hurry Alek. Or I’m going to have to drop her.’

Loushka knew that an energy pulse like the last one Cat had thrown out would knock her unconscious. It’d be better to drop the woman and snatch her back after she’d released. Loushka hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

'I’m sorry, Cat,' Alek hissed through clenched teeth. He gave her a swift slap across the face.

The blow jerked my mind back like I’d been dashed with cold water and I gaped at Alek, one hand to my stinging cheek.

‘It worked!’
exulted Loushka. She let the others know.

There was a collective sigh of relief amongst the men and griffons as the women returned to their normal colors. The girls were exhausted from the sudden and immense swell of energy they’d created, each slumped in the saddle.

‘Alek. What just happened? Are they okay?’
Elena demanded.

Alek shifted Cat in his arms to look at her face, she was conscious and her normal color slowly came back.

‘Yes, we had a scare which made them react,’
Alek searched for an adequate description. There was a long pause as Elena processed Alek’s words.

‘Get them here as soon as possible Alek. I’ll be meeting you on the inner gate with Yakov and the Lieutenants, so make sure they are presentable and have them wearing their weapons. I need them to make the right impression.’

‘We’ll see you in less than an hour’,
Alek thought back and Loushka sent the message to the other griffons.

'Cat.'

I blearily registered that Alek shook me, wanting me conscious. I blinked and tried to sit up, 'What?'

'We’re going to be arriving very soon and we need you looking presentable.'

Good luck with that, I thought and started to drift off to sleep again.

Alek frowned as Cat started to slump in his arms again and he shook her much firmer.

'Catherine.' He said her name loud enough to make her jump.

'Wake up. We need to get your weapons strapped on and your cloak and your hair sorted.' Alek regarded the mess of hair in front of him thoughtfully.

Well then hop to it, I thought, glaring at him. A total waste of time. Focused on the task at hand, Alek leaned past me to rummage through the saddle bags. Resigned, I raked my fingers through my hair, trying to neaten it, and winced as they caught in snags and knots. I grumbled as Alek pressed my daggers into my hands, then jumped a mile when he accidentally jabbed my hip while buckling my sword.

He laughed then teasingly ran his hands to my ribs.

'Ticklish?'

With a dagger in each hand there was a moment of silence as I thought my answer to Loushka who barked in laughter. I finished fastening the daggers to my arms, and Alek set my cloak about my shoulders.

Just my hair.

With a silent sigh I reached back to wrestle it into a French braid.

Alek watched as Cat’s hands deftly folded her hair into a complicated braid and admired the unique color. The rich, ruby shades glinted in the evening sun. The end result was a thick neat plait that hung to mid back. Cat turned and looked at him, one eyebrow arched.

'Presentable?'

The slow, sexy smile that spread on his face caused major butterflies in my stomach as I smiled blithely back.

Damn, he's an attractive man.

'Perfect,' he assured me.

I turned, settling back into the saddle trying to look alert and alive, instead of knackered.

Kassie cursed as curls slipped out of her hands then spun round to glare at Rumal when he chuckled, both hands clutching her hair.

'Don’t laugh,' she cried indignantly. 'Just cause you’re bald.'

She jerked back in her seat and grumbled more as Rumal roared with laughter.

This wasn’t fair, she grumbled to herself, why do I have to look presentable now, while flying, on a griffon? Really did the person who requested this even consider the logistics? She scowled as she wobbled on the saddle while giving her hair another twist.

Large warm hands gently touched hers, and Rumal spoke in her ear.

'Let go, I’ll finish it for you.'

She hesitated for a moment, but figured if it looked awful at least the blame would be on him. A smug smile touched her lips and she surrendered the masses of curls to him.

Quick and efficient, Rumal shaped Kassie’s hair into an elegant twist, fastening it with one of the wooden pins he kept in his saddle bag.

'Done.'

He felt her start in surprise.

'What? How did you do that?' she demanded as she delicately touched the twist to feel the shape of it.

'Only the men in our culture keep their heads shaven, or at least very short.' Rumal explained, 'And my little sister has hair like yours, all crazy curls. I used to watch as my mother tamed it. The pin in your hair is one my sister wore in hers. It’s a little piece of home when I’m far away.'

Loi was grateful of her straight hair at the moment, knowing the struggle Cat and Kassie were probably having. She slouched back against Sabyn’s chest and smiled as he wrapped his arms around her so she was encased in her cloak. Nice and warm. Very soon they would be at the castle and all their questions would be answered, so she felt pretty relaxed about the whole thing now.

Sabyn glanced at the woman in his arms and could just make out her eyes beneath the veil of hair, they were closed and he felt her muscles relax as she drifted off.

‘Is she sleeping?’
Tomiar asked.

‘Yes, I know we’ll be there soon but a little sleep may make her feel better—at least it can’t hurt,’
he thought.

Gredel watched as the sun began to slowly set.

‘I think the sun should be hitting the castle as we arrive,’
he thought to Phroma.

‘I hope so. It will be a beautiful first sight for the girls.’

Gredel felt a surge of excitement. Citaan would be waiting for him when they arrived. He was almost tempted to ask Phroma to fly faster but he knew that wasn’t fair. She already wanted to get there faster so she could see her son, Ageip. Gredel wondered how much the youngster had grown since he last saw him. Perhaps his child would bond with Ageip once it was born, Gredel smiled at the thought.

I started violently when Alek suddenly shifted position and blinked in surprise.

Oops, didn’t realize I’d nodded off.

'Cat look,' he pointed into the distance.

I stared where he pointed, and at first, could just make out a bright white spot. After rubbing my eyes and squinting I could now make out a shape in the almost blinding light.

'What is it?' I asked, still trying to register the shape.

'It’s the castle.'

I could hear the pride in Alek’s voice and closed my eyes for a moment to rest them. When I opened them again, the rays of light had moved and now I could see it. My stomach fluttered. It was a beautiful sight. A magnificent white castle that shimmered in the light of the setting sun. It was bordered by the Anguem range and then dense forest.

I stared, feeling anxiety and admiration swirl about me.

'It’s beautiful.'

It looked like it was taken from a story tale on Earth and just plunked here. How appropriate.

And we’re here. Now we find out what happens next.

Alek watched the expression of awe on Cat’s face with pleasure. He’d looked forward to showing her the castle all day and the sun’s last rays had been the perfect setting. Phroma flew closer to Loushka and Gredel waved to Alek from her back. They waved back, and Cat called out to Audrey who was in the saddlebag.

As Loushka neared the inner gate Alek could see a group of people waiting for them.

The griffons landed in sequence with Loushka being the foremost. Alek gave me a swift hug then swung his leg over the saddle and slid down. There were muffled thuds as the other men slid down.

I stared wide-eyed across at Sian and Loi on one side, and then at Kassie on the other. Turning back, I watched as Alek and the others approached the group gathered to greet us. He stopped a few meters from the front of the group, and the rest of the men halted behind him.

All those in the group waiting, bowed very deeply.

Hmm okay, must bow when introduced, I thought, taking mental notes. Alek spoke briefly to someone, then turned and beckoned us.

The women exchanged another glance then quickly slid down from the griffons. Kassie gave Kerak’s leg a squeeze before she left, and the griffon made a soothing noise, like a purr. Feeling nervous, she headed toward the other three. She saw Audrey waiting for Cat by Loushka’s foot and the dog shadowed them as they moved. They strode forward in a line and stopped just behind the men.

Alek turned and indicated, 'May I introduce Catherine.'

I bowed and he continued, introducing the others who bowed at their names. Then he turned to the other party.

'And may I introduce the matriarch of the Mestarn line, the Sorceress Elena.'

A beautiful woman stepped forward, smiling, and inclined her head in greeting. Alek indicated to the man on the left of the Sorceress and introduced him as Yakov, the late King's adviser. I felt a pang of homesickness as I stared at the man smiling at us.

He reminds me so much of Dad, I thought, the open smile and blue eyes. Even Audi whined at him, something she only did to Dad.

Yakov smiled.

'Alek, you haven’t introduced us to someone.'

Alek laughed and bent down to give Audi’s head a pat.

'This is Catherine’s dog Audrey.'

He continued with his introductions and introduced the three men in uniform as the Lieutenants of the General Guard.

'Lieutenant Ignatius, Lieutenant Payton and Lieutenant Rashid.'

The three men gave stiff bows, their faces curious as they observed us.