Wingborn (26 page)

When the two women strode off, chatting
about a small Lowland breeder Mhylla sometimes did business with,
Derrain assumed he was supposed to follow. Their conversation
didn
’
t mean much to him,
but he didn
’
t mind. All
that mattered was the miryhl they were leading him to, one that
might become his. Personally recommended by the great Mhylla
Wrentherin. He chuckled, wondering how many Rift Rider pairs could
say that.

“Here.”

He blinked at the bird in front of him,
wondering what made it any different from a dozen others in the
eyries. It was on the larger size, he noticed, with curiously pale
eyes in a soft barley shade. Its feathers were glossy brown with a
russet hue under sunlight, but its only distinguishing markings
were the black tips to its wings and tail.

“Well, go on,
make friends,” Mhylla encouraged, unhooking the barrier rope so
that he could get closer.

Mhysra showed no fear crossing the unmarked
line, holding out her hands and smiling as the bird lowered its
head.
“
What a fine girl
you are,
”
she greeted,
raising her eyebrows at Derrain, silently questioning why he was
standing on the walkway like a lummox.

With a deep breath, he cautiously approached
the miryhl. She waited, the feathers on top of her head rising with
interest, before she lowered her beak and rumbled. Years of
observing Cumulo and Mhysra had taught Derrain a few things, so he
gently tickled the eagle
’
s crest. It was warm and smooth.

“Her name’s
Zephyr,” Mhylla said.

“Zephyr,” he
repeated, and the miryhl rubbed her beak against his chest. She
seemed friendly, which was all he could ask for as he stroked the
exposed skin beneath her eye. Both drooped shut and she purred, the
sound vibrating through her beak into him.

Growing more confident, he stroked over her
face to her neck, fingers burrowing through the abundant feathers,
silky soft and rippling beneath his touch. The miryhl raised her
head, inviting him to stroke her chest, back and wings.

Dazed, Derrain explored the bird with his
hands, having never had such an opportunity before. Cumulo
didn
’
t like being
touched without permission, so it was the first time Derrain had
caressed glossy feathers or felt powerful flight muscles. His hand
ruffled over her chest and her steady heartbeat pulsed against his
palm. He was enchanted.

“
B
eautiful.
”

“Yes,” Mhysra
agreed. “She is.”

Zephyr chuckled, twitching her wings as if
she was embarrassed, and Derrain knew he had to have her. She was
lovely, strong and humble. Bigger than Cumulo and built on sturdier
lines, she looked comfortable. Which was how he viewed himself. Not
too showy, nor too fine. She would be strong enough to put up with
him and was sweet besides. What more could he ask for?

When she turned towards him, he stared into
her pale eyes and smiled.
“
Yes.
”

At the edge of his vision he saw Mhysra grin
as Mhylla rubbed her hands together.
“
I
’
ll
fetch the paperwork.
”
Marking the slate outside the enclosure, Mhylla rummaged through
her bag and handed him a stack marked with Zephyr
’
s name.
“
Test flights are tomorrow, bright and early.
Mhysra, I expect you and Cue to lend a wing.
”

“Of course.”
She shrugged, unbothered by the announcement, while Derrain felt as
if the ground had tilted beneath him.

“
Test
flight?” he croaked, one hand still buried in Zephyr’
s
feathers.

Mhylla raised her eyebrows.
“
How else can we know if
you
’
ll make a decent
match or not? We don
’
t
allow a preliminary bond on sight alone, you know. No one is quite
that stupid.
”

He blinked. That was yet another thing
he
’
d not really thought
about: flying. On miryhl-back.
“
I
’
ve
never flown a miryhl before.
”

Mhysra chuckled.
“
Not many have. You
’
ve flown bullwings and horsats,
haven
’
t you?
”

“Yes,” he
agreed, but compared to a giant eagle his flights on leatherwings
were meaningless.

“
You’
ll get used to it,
”
Mhylla assured him, patting his shoulder.
“
Now, I
’
d best get back to work.
I
’
ll see you both
later.
”

While Derrain tried to wrap his mind around
the changes sweeping over him, Mouse bounced out of the crowd.
“
Mhysra! Derry! Have you
made your Choice yet? Not you, Mhysra, of course, you
’
ve already got Cumulo. Is this
yours, Derry? There
are
so many! I never imagined there were this many miryhls in the
whole world
. Isn
’
t it amazing? I don
’
t know where to start. Are you done? Can you help
me? What should I look for?
”

Mhysra put her hands on his shoulders to
stop Mouse
’
s jittering
and raised her eyebrows at Derrain.
“
We
’
re
done, aren
’
t
we?
”
When he nodded, she
turned to Mouse and started questioning him about what he wanted,
what he
’
d seen and
whether there were any he liked.

Ignoring the chatter, Derrain turned and
tickled Zephyr
’
s head.
“
I
’
ll see you in the morning.
”

She blew softly on his face and rubbed his
chest with her beak, then shoved him playfully away.

“I can take a
hint,” he chuckled and, with a final disbelieving stroke of her
silky feathers, he let Mouse sweep him up in his bouncing bundle of
enthusiasm.

AFTER CHOOSING
MOUSE
a placid male named Onyx, Mhysra turned her attention
to Corin, finding her a female whose mottled feathers would make an
ideal scout. Then others asked for help and the rest of the day
vanished. Only Dhori had chosen by himself, and Mhysra had been
impressed by the slender silvery Latinym.

It had been a good day. She
’
d thoroughly enjoyed herself, but
was also relieved when she could finally leave. Not that she
expected much rest, since her aunt and cousins were staying at
Kilpapan House. After a short bath, Mhysra left her room to find
things were even worse than she
’
d anticipated: her parents were entertaining. Lady
Kilpapan had arrived from Wrentheria with the rest of the family
and their eagles that morning, and since so many members of the
miryhl-breeding community were in the city, she couldn
’
t resist bringing them all
together. Life was business, as she frequently reminded her
children.

Milluqua greeted Mhysra at the bottom of the
stairs and they shared a grimace.
“
I
’
m
sorry. I wanted to warn you, but mother roped me into organising
and there was never any time to send a messenger.
”

“Wonderful,”
Mhysra sighed, clicking her fingers to call Bumble away from where
she was tugging on the ribbons strewn across the chandelier. The
still-growing pup huffed and fluttered down from the ceiling, wings
drooping.

“
Poor
girl,” Milluqua chuckled, scratching the nakhound behind the ears.
“We’ve had to shut her in your room most of the
day
.
”

“
I
thought things in there were a little more haphazard than usual,”
Mhysra said, smiling at her sister and the puppy. She’d half-hoped
that the dog would transfer her affections to Milluqua, since they
spent so much time together
. Unfortunately, even though
Bumble liked Milluqua, she still preferred Mhysra. Gods alone knew
why, since she didn
’
t
even feed the creature.
“
There
’
s
no accounting for taste.
”
She patted Bumble and ruffled her wings, barely
managing to avoid an enthusiastic lick.

“
Aunt
Mhylla will want to see her,” Milluqua said, entering the ballroom,
where a buffet had been laid out to tide people over until supper.
“And at least you’
ll have people to talk to
tonight.
”

Mhysra hummed in agreement, filling a plate
with delicacies and slipping a slice of chicken to Bumble. It
certainly would be nice to enjoy one of her parents
’
parties for once. Usually they
were full of nobles and merchants who thought too highly of
themselves to waste time on the hoyden daughter. Unless they were
younger sons ordered to court the wild Kilpapan chit, for her
connections and impressive dowry. Mhysra hated the false smiles,
feigned interest and lack of conversation. She had nothing in
common with those people. Thankfully, tonight would be different,
and she planned to make the most of it.

“
Oh,
there’
s Derry. I asked mother to invite him. Can I leave you
with him? There were supposed to be three plates of berry tarts out
here, but I can only see two. And I
’
m certain there should have been a
trifle
…”
Still
muttering, Milluqua smiled at Derrain and hurried off in a swirl of
silk.

“
You’
re a fool,
”
Mhysra said, handing him a plate.
“
Brave, but ultimately
foolish.
”

He chuckled and picked up a chicken leg.
“
I thought you could use
the company, and it would have been rude to refuse. Your
mother
’
s never invited
me inside before.
”

“
Maybe
she’
s proud of you.
”
Mhysra shrugged as they worked their way along the
table, before taking their plates to sit out of the way. They were
soon joined by her cousins, self-consciously balancing plates on
their knees. Thanks to Milluqua
’
s attentive refilling of their wineglasses, though,
everyone relaxed as the night progressed.

To Mhysra
’
s surprise, more than one Rider attended. Even
Lieutenant Lyrai made an appearance. Mhysra thought that was brave
after the speculations at the Midsummer ball, although now that she
thought about it her mother
’
s egalitarian guest list finally began to make
sense. Captain Myran, Lieutenants Stirla, Fleik and Imaino,
Sergeants Honra and Rees also came, the latter not staying long,
for which everyone was thankful.

A string quartet played for dancing and the
addition of the Riders livened things up considerably. Laughing her
way through the spirited supper dance with Lieutenant Stirla,
Mhysra couldn
’
t remember
when she
’
d last had so
much fun at her parents
’
house. If society affairs were more like this, she could almost
reconcile herself to the life her parents demanded.

As Stirla led her off the floor, her hand
was snatched up and gallantly kissed.
“Lady Mhysra! You look radiant tonight.”

Breathless from the dance, she smiled at the
handsome face.
“
Captain
Torven! What a delightful surprise.
”

“The
generosity of Nimbys is famous, my lady.” He winked. “As are your
family.”

Her smile faded as her parents and Milluqua
approached, gathering their guests for supper.

Lady Kilpapan returned Torven
’
s bow with a polite nod.
“
I had no idea you were
acquainted with my daughter, captain.
”

“
A
recent pleasure,” he explained. “We encountered one another flying
into Nimbys two days ago. My ship was honoured by the presence of
so beautiful a Rift Rider.” He smiled flirtatiously and
didn
’
t see her
wince.

Nor did he seem to notice when Lord Kilpapan
gripped her arm, preventing her from slipping away.

“Rift Rider?”
Lady Kilpapan laughed smoothly. “My daughter is not a Rift
Rider.”

Oblivious to the tension, the captain waved
a dismissive hand.
“
Student, Rider, it
will
all be the same thing in the end. Such a flyer
and such a miryhl. The Riders are blessed to have her.
”

“A noble
sentiment,” Lord Kilpapan ground out between clenched teeth.

“
We are
indeed lucky to have such a Wingborn in our ranks,” a new voice
agreed, and Mhysra blinked as Captain Myran joined their
conversation. The presence of Lyrai and Stirla beside him explained
everything, and she shut her eyes, dreading that her father would
express his contempt and embarrass them all. She’d never spoken to
the captain before, but had heard so much about the near-legendary
man, so to make his acquaintance under such circumstances mortified
her.
Staring at the floor, she waited for the storm to
break.

“Women have no
place in the Rift Riders,” Lord Kilpapan growled.

“In times such
as these, my lord, there is a place in the Riders for any brave
enough to try,” Myran corrected. “As Wingborn your daughter is a
precious gift that should not be wasted.”

Her father
’
s hand tightened painfully and Mhysra locked her
jaw to stifle a yelp.

“Sir,” Stirla
murmured, and it was the earl’s turn to hide his pain as she was
abruptly freed.