Now, what does your heart say? Kanin asked gently.
Khollo closed his eyes, ignoring the voices that suddenly were trying to crowd forward to remind him why he should go, why he should stay. Others he had not anticipated also tried to make themselves heard, urging him to go back to Ishkabur, or to Ethgalin, to search the Fells for vertaga and wipe them out himself. But he silenced all of them in turn.
Finally, Khollo felt a growing conviction and knew that his decision was near. There was one voice pulling at him above the others, one that would not be ignored no matter how many times he silenced it.
We go, Khollo announced, opening his eyes.
Excellent, Kanin said, spreading his wings. Climb on.
Khollo scrambled into the saddle and secured the fighting straps. He had but a moment to think about whether he should really be relying on instinct in a matter like this, before Kanin had launched himself off the ledge and they were falling, rapidly gaining speed. The dragon spread his wings and slowed their descent, turning north. Then the wind caught them and propelled them along, whipping around Khollo and tearing at his hair and clothes. Kanin shot forward, darting around the next mountain faster than Khollo would have thought possible.
The wind is strong, Kanin observed. We will be out of the Fells soon. And then, on to your old home.
Khollo nodded and sat back, trying not to flinch at every gust of wind or every spot of turbulence. Just fly, he muttered to Kanin. I’ll be fine.
Kanin flapped his great wings and they soared higher, banking around a broken peak, then soaring over a highland valley that was filled with snow. Then they were dropping between two mountains, rocketing through a narrow pass. Kanin folded his wings and rolled all the way over to fit through the end of the pass, his wings snapping open again as soon as they were clear. And all the while the wind hurled them along at breakneck speed.
Finally, Khollo began to see gaps in the mountains that revealed not valleys and cliffs but open plains. They were nearing the edge of the Fells.
Hold on, Kanin warned. This last portion will be tricky. There’s a pass up ahead. I think I can make it.
You think?! Khollo demanded. Just go around, don’t risk –
He yelled in fright as Kanin went into a steep dive, making for a gap between two high cliffs that looked like little more than a crack in the stone. The dragon turned sideways, Khollo lying flat on his back, wings extended up and down. Stone flashed past above and below Khollo, less than a meter away. Then they emerged from the crevice and Kanin climbed straight up over a sheer cliff face, twisting and spinning to dodge a slight overhang near the top. Then they were falling again, gliding close to the ground.
One last trick, Kanin told Khollo.
The young warrior glanced up and saw there was a pine forest ahead of them, and beyond that the land was open. But above the forest was a massive overhang that left little room for Kanin to maneuver.
Just go around, Khollo urged. We have time to find a safer, easier way.
No, my heart says straight ahead, Kanin replied smugly, gaining speed.
You can’t use that to justify everything!
Kanin rose up above the trees, hovered, then twisted sideways and rolled to avoid the rock overhang. Khollo found himself upside down, head nearly brushing the tops of trees. Then, Kanin righted himself and they were flying over the lower foothills of the mountains and out into the Renlor Basin.
It’s a good thing I skipped breakfast, Khollo observed weakly, loosening his death grip on the fighting straps.
You could eat now, Kanin suggested. The flight from here is easy and steady.
Khollo nodded. Maybe just a little to settle my stomach. Do you need to eat as well? It’s been nearly four days since your last hunt.
Soon, Kanin agreed. If I see a likely meal, I will let you know before I go diving after it.
Good, Khollo said, rummaging in the bags tied to the saddle. He pulled out a small package of dried meat and some of the bread that Ezraan had taught him to make. What I wouldn’t give to be back on the ground right now.
Back on the ground? Kanin sounded absolutely scandalized at the thought. But we’re having so much fun flying! The mountains were exhilarating.
That’s one word for it, Khollo agreed. Humans just aren’t built for this sort of thing, Kanin.
Hmph. You will learn. I will help.
Khollo groaned inwardly, wishing that Kanin had a slightly less flamboyant personality when it came to flying. Let’s just fly straight for a while, shall we?
If you insist.
While Khollo ate, he surveyed the plains below, searching for any sign of vertaga, or any landmarks that would tell him where exactly they were. But there was nothing except the occasional hill or patch of dead, brown grass to break the even plain of pristine, white snow.
Around midafternoon, Khollo finally sighted a landmark, though not a particularly pleasant one. Below was a mound of gray stones, sticking up out of the snow. The charred rubble had all been buried by the winter, but Khollo still knew the place.
Holwey village,
