Exodus: The Windwalker Archive: Book 3 (Legends of Agora) (18 page)

I see this Aurora Snowfell who Azzeal says will one day slay him. I see her in my dreams and visions many times. I want to hate her for what she does, I want to kill her before she is born. But then I see into her heart.

-Gretzen Spiritbone

Talon put Brightwing down on the road from the mines just outside Skomm Village. Han had thought it better not to try and land the hawk in the middle of the village even with its unique camouflage. They had talked about it for a long time, but in the end Talon agreed that the best way to go unnoticed in Skomm Village was to look like a Skomm. It was risky, for it required Talon to forgo his leather armor, but be had Chief with him, and unlike the silver hawk, Chief could actually become invisible.

“Get in and get out,” said Han. “I’ll be watching from on high, and I’ll intervene if I have to, but Shierdon cannot be linked to the overthrowing of Winterthorn whatsoever. So be smart.”

They had torn Talon’s pants at the hem and ripped off the sleeves of his shirt. Both items had been dragged around in the mud to make them look as tattered as possible. There was nothing that could be done for Talon’s boots, however, and so he had been forced to go barefoot.

“I’ll be fine,” said Talon.

“If a Vald or a Vaka sees you, don’t hesitate to strike. They won’t,” said Han. He slapped the reins, and his silver hawk leapt into the air, followed by Brightwing. Soon they blended in with the dark sky overhead and disappeared from sight.

Talon looked down the road toward the mines and a chill ran down his spine. He hated being back here. Even after all this time, it felt as though he had never left. It was as if the entire ordeal since leaving Volnoss had never happened.

He shook himself out of his daydreaming and started for the village with his head down, knowing that Chief was somewhere nearby, watching over him. Han would be above him already, watching as well.

Breathe, Talon. You can do this. You’ve got to do this. No time for second guessing. No time for weakness. You’re a deadly warrior. You’re—Feikinstafir!

A Vaka on horseback rounded a building at the edge of the village and came riding slowly toward the mine road.

Talon thought to run and hide behind the nearest hut, but then he realized that was his old Skomm instinct talking.

Keep your head,
he told himself, and continued toward the village with his head bowed.

“What you doing out so late? Eh, throwback?” the Vaka called from his horse.

Talon’s blood instantly boiled at the old insult He drew strength from Kyrr and stopped on the road to face the Vaka.

“Working late at the mines, Vaka.”

“Working late at the mines?” said the Vaka as he drew closer and squinted at Talon.

“You ain’t dirty enough to have come from the mines.”

Feikinstafir!

Talon was caught and he knew it. He silently chastised himself for giving such a stupid answer and tried to think of something…anything!

The man looked closer, and Talon lowered his gaze to the ground.

“Look at me when I’m talking to you!” the Vaka yelled and drew back his whip.

Talon was the faster, however, and even as the whip fell on him, he was darting toward the horse in a blur of motion. He caught the whip in the middle and gave a yank. The surprised Vaka held on tight and was yanked from the saddle and landed hard in the mud. Talon was on him in a flash, leaping on his back, covering his mouth, and slitting his throat from ear to ear. He held firm until the man stopped moving and glanced around.

A Skomm man was standing shock-jawed only a few dozen feet away. Talon offered him a slow nod and brought his finger to his lips.

The man nodded back and continued on his way quietly.

Talon glanced up, knowing that Han must have seen him. “Chief,” he hissed.

The wolf nudged him in the arm, though he remained invisible.

“Drag the body into the woods and hurry back.”

Instantly the body was pulled down the road by the invisible wolf, and for a moment Talon watched the strange scene. He tied the horse off to one of the nearby huts and got off the road, opting instead to walk through the cluster of tents and huts.

He made it to Majhree’s house of healing without incident and knocked on the door softly. At first there was no answer, but then the shuffling of feet could be heard on the other side of the door. Tears came to Talon’s eyes when he heard the sound.

Majhree opened the door and glanced at him sideways like a bird from her crooked position. “Well then, what do you wa—”

“Hello Majhree,” said Talon with a smile.

Her eyes went wide and she slapped her hand over her mouth, as though afraid she might cry out.

“Talon?” she whispered and glanced around the outdoors. “Hurry, come in, come in.”

Talon followed her into the healing house, and a rush of memories as fresh as yesterday came rushing back to him.

“Should I prepare a bed?” asked one of her apprentices.

“No need. This here’s a special visit. I’ll need some privacy. If I’m disturbed, they better be dying.”

“Yes, Maj.”

She led Talon past the cot he had spent so many days in and down a short hall off the back of the building. When they came to a door, she quickly ushered him in, glancing conspiratorially over her shoulder.

“Majhree, I—”

She turned and hugged him tight, crying against him with tears of joy.

“Oh but the gods have answered my prayers,” she said, kissing his face. “How in Thodin’s name can this be real?”

“It is good to see you too.”

“Well let me look at you. My you’ve gotten tall and strong.”

“I haven’t really grown that much,” said Talon, though he could feel his face blush with the compliment.

“There’s something more about you. Ain’t the half-dead Skomm I met near on a year ago who’s standing before me now. That’s for damned sure.”

“Thanks, Majhree. You look great too.”

Majhree huffed and fanned herself. “And ain’t you a big lair.” She offered him a seat at a small table set at the end of the bed. “Now tell me, child, why’d you come back here?”

“I came to get you out of here.”

Her smile slowly left her face and turned to a frown.

“I’ve a silver hawk waiting in the forest,” he added.

She shook her head slowly. “Well, if you ain’t the craziest barbarian on Volnoss. I told you when you left that I couldn’t leave. I’ve got too many—”

“It’s Akerri. I’ve found her, and she isn’t well.”

“Thodin’s beard,” she said. The news added even more of a slope to her back. But then she straightened with purpose. “Where is she?”

“She’s on Freedom, headed to Sherna. I can get you there by morning. But you’ve got to trust me.”

“Freedom?”

“It’s a ship, used to be a slaver, now it’s a Skomm warship.”

“Skomm warship!”

She ducked down, realizing how loud she had been, and watched the door, listening. When no sound came from the hall, she continued, quieter this time. “You’ve got to tell me everything from the beginning.”

“I will, but we don’t have time right now. I’ve got to get you out of here. You’re the only one I’d rather have by her side other than myself.”

“Why can’t you be by her side? Why did you leave her?”

“I’ve made a deal with the King of Shierdon. He helped me get Akerri back, now I have to help my father defeat and replace Chieftain Winterthorn.”

Majhree’s eyes widened with every word, and by the time he finished, she was gawking at him, flabbergasted. “You’re something special, Talon Windwalker.”

“There’s more, and I can’t wait to tell you, but not here.”

Majhree nodded and glanced back toward the hall. “But what about my patients? Without me—”

“They’ll make do. Don’t worry. I’ve a plan to free the Skomm as well.”

Again, Majhree was speechless.

In the end Talon convinced her to come, and they made their way back out into the wide room.

“Let me say my goodbyes,” she said at the door, and Talon nodded understanding.

A few minutes later she returned with glossy, puffy eyes and indicated that she was ready.

“We’re headed for the mine road,” said Talon. “Chief is out there right now watching the place, and a silver hawk rider circles above. Follow my lead and you’ll be alright.”

Majhree nodded, and together they walked out of the house of healing for the last time.

How do the gods see us? Surely we are like ants to them. We stomp around the ground without a care for such tiny creatures, so too must the gods. It is said that they love us. If so, they must weep every day when they look upon Volnoss.

-Azzeal, Keeper of the Windwalker Archive

The night was quiet. The trees remained motionless in the still air. There were still a few Skomm coming and going, but they saw no Vaka when they stepped out of the healing house and began south toward the mine road.

Majhree shuffled beside Talon, doing her best to keep at a fairly brisk pace as they moved from shadow to shadow. The walk from the house of healing to the beginning of the mine road was no more than ten minutes, but at that moment it seemed to take forever. They kept to the allies between huts whenever possible, but soon they were forced into the open spaces as the village became less dense and began to open to the southern forest.

Soon they left the safety of the village altogether and began the dangerous walk through the wide open area between the village and the mouth of the forest pass. As they drew closer, Talon began to dare hope that they would make it, but then the crack of a whip caused them both to jump. Majhree was the first to turn around and face the Vaka.

“What is it?” she asked with an annoyed slice to her words. “I’ve got a Vaka needs a treatment of Widow’s Lilly, else his foot’s going to rot off.”

Talon turned to see two Vaka on horseback slowly approaching them.

“Majhree, that you? Who’s that with ya?” asked the Vaka to the left.

“Of course it’s me. You know any other hunchback old ladies?”

“Don’t be smart, eh. You ain’t above gettin’ a floggin’,” said the Vaka to the right. “He asked you a question. Who’s that there?”

“One of my apprentices. I’m no spring chicken, you know. Now if you don’t mind—”

“I ain’t heard of no Vaka got a rot in his foot. You, Targ?”

The other Vaka shook his head.

“Come on over here, boy,” said Targ.

Talon had hoped that it wouldn’t come to this, but he needed to get rid of these men quickly. He got between the Vaka and Majhree, placed his hands beside his hidden daggers, and suddenly called to Chief.

There was a blue streak of light from the woods one moment, and the next, Chief slammed into Vaka Targ and rode him to the ground. Before the man could cry out in alarm, Chief had torn out his throat. The other Vaka went for his sword as Talon charged, but a bolt from a crossbow suddenly hit the man square between the eyes.

“Come on!” Talon told a startled-looking Majhree and grabbed her hand. He led her to the road quickly and began scouring the sky above.

A disturbance shook the trees, and Majhree gave a small cry when two silver hawks appeared on the road ahead.

“Hurry,” said Talon, glancing back every other second toward the village.

Han leapt off his mount and ran over to help Talon get Majhree up into the saddle. Her condition made it hard for her to move certain ways, but between the three of them, they got her strapped into the secondary saddle.

Talon took his seat and slapped the reins. Brightwing got a running start down the road and leapt. Three swift beats of her wings brought them above the trees, causing Majhree to take in an excited breath.

“Oh, my boy!” Majhree shrieked as they climbed higher and higher still. She clung to Talon so hard that he could hardly breathe.

When the silver hawks leveled out, Majhree let go slightly.

“It’s alright, you’re safe,” Talon assured her, gently patting her hand.

“I’m flying, Talon. I’m flying away from the village. It’s like a dream.”

Talon grinned to himself. To see Majhree so happy filled him with such joy that he thought his heart might burst.

They put down outside of Beorn’s Cave, and Talon helped her down. Majhree was shaking like a fall leaf in a windstorm.

“Are you alright?” Talon asked.

“That…that was amazing,” she said. Tears had run down her face and dried in the wind, causing long streaks down her cheeks from the heavy coloring she favored around her eyes. “It was like seeing through the eyes of a god.”

“It takes some getting used to.”

She suddenly clutched his shirt. “Was that a spirit who done in Vaka Targ?”

“It was my spirit wolf, Chief.”

Majhree shook her head, quite overwhelmed by it all. “The stories you must have,” she said with a click of her tongue.

“I’ll tell it all to you soon. But for now I need you to make haste to intercept Freedom. One of the riders is going to bring you.”

“I get to ride on one of those again?” she asked, delighted.

Talon laughed. “For longer than you might like.”

“Well then, the stories can wait. I’ll take good care of your Akerri until you get back.”

“Thanks, Majhree.”

She put a hand on his cheek and kissed the other. “Mind you come back, ya hear?”

“I will, I promise.”

She looked at him with understanding and nodded—he couldn’t promise such a thing, and they both knew it.

Without another word, she let herself be led to another silver hawk, this one belonging to Haze. He waved from on high before they left and nodded to Talon. “Give the chiefson hells.”

Talon watched them go, and a weight lifted from his heart. Knowing that Majhree would soon be at Akerri’s side gave him peace of mind and quieted some of his anxiety. However, now was the moment he had dreaded the most.

It was time to face his father.