“I was able to see through the gap in the doorway,” she said. “Rankstine had some kind of orb in that room. Inside the orb was a mini version of Grandwood. The whole town, including Highborn Bay, and I could see small people walking around inside it.”
“Wow, really?” Thomas asked astonished.
“Yeah, but I didn’t see anyone beyond the city limits,” she added.
“I wonder if that’s how he’s keeping everyone trapped inside Grandwood?” Thomas asked.
“That was exactly my first thought. And maybe that’s what he’s using to control people and make them follow us. But it must have limits to its power, and for some reason, his manipulation over people doesn’t work very far beyond the city’s limits.”
“That would explain why that guy following Bo suddenly acted like he was lost and turned back,” Thomas said.
Kirsten nodded.
“Wait,” Thomas said, “so if Rankstine knows where everyone is in the city at all times, he knew we were in there with him, right?”
“I’m hoping he didn’t look until we were already gone, but yeah, it’s probably safe to assume he knew we were spying on him.”
“What do you think he’ll do?”
Kirsten shrugged, “I’m not sure, but the best place for us to go is outside the city limits.”
“Okay, let’s go home and look for the others. We should warn them that Rankstine might be searching for us.”
Chapter 31
Feasting with Dwarfs
No! Zahara snarled, rearing back.
Zahara, Anders said in frustration.
“If she keeps doing that every time we try to put it on we’re going to be here all day,” Maija said.
Come on, Zahara. The saddle was designed to be comfortable for you and me both. We’ll need to get used to it sooner or later, why not when we’re not flying into battle? Anders urged.
Zahara stepped forward, It looks like it will be constraining. Are you sure that’s supposed to be comfortable?
Yes, it’s what dragonriders have used throughout history, Anders said holding up the complicated webbing of straps.
Zahara raised her lip, but lowered her head, letting them know she was finally willing to give it a try.
Ivan says it will take some time getting used to it, but it will make it easier for me to hang on during flight. I don’t want to hit an airmine and fall off again, Anders said as he and Maija gently placed the leather seat on her.
Zahara shuddered for an instant when the saddle came to rest on her back. Maija and Anders stepped away, expecting her to rear again, but she didn’t. Zahara bent her neck around and examined the unstrapped saddle.
It’s, soft, she said after straightening herself.
See, I told you it felt comfy, Anders said.
“She seems to like it,” Maija said.
“Now we just need to figure out how these connect,” Anders said as he stooped to pick up one of the leather straps that hung from the saddle.
After several confusing attempts to fit the saddle properly, Maija said, “Maybe we should get Ivan or Natalia to help with this?”
Anders watched Zahara walk a few paces, feeling the fit of the saddle. It slipped off her back and hung around her stomach. Running his hand through his hair, he conceded, “Yeah. I don’t think that’s how it goes on.”
Maija summoned Ivan to help Anders with the saddle. The troll-skin saddle Ivan commissioned for Anders and Zahara proved to be less complicated to cinch up once the experienced rider showed Anders how to work the strapping.
The large bags didn’t attach directly to the rear of the saddle as Anders had expected. Each time he’d tried to affix them, Zahara couldn’t properly lift her arms because they came to rest over top the middle of her leathery wings. Instead, the bags hung over her haunches, folding comfortably behind the crook of her wing where the backsides met before her tail. The bags were large enough to hold an additional rider if one wished. They were connected by long straps fitting off the backside of the saddle and extending down the length of her back connecting with the bags. The back end of the strap wrapped around Zahara’s tail, so the bags wouldn’t come flying forward if Zahara had to take a steep dive while in flight. A third set of straps ran around her underside, connecting at the base of each bag, ensuring they wouldn’t come loose if she flew upside down.
Zahara complained of the discomfort of the tail strap but gradually accepted it, for safety reasons, so the bags wouldn’t knock Anders off during flight. They wouldn’t have needed the extra bags if they were going alone. The smaller bags that attached at the front of the saddle near the handles were large enough to fit a change of clothes and several other supplies. In traveling with Natalia, Maija and Ivan, however, they’d need to carry all of the group’s clothing as well. Given that speed was necessary for their arrival, the elves would need to be unencumbered by luggage when running through the forests and over the mountain trails. Zahara would be slowed by the extra weight from Ivan, Anders and the packed bags, but Ivan assured her if she climbed high enough, the winds would carry her much faster than when she’d flown lower to the ground in the past.
As Anders packed for their ambassadorial mission to Hardstone, he realized the clothing he owned was less than acceptable for an audience with a king and queen. When he’d visited the High Council in the past, he’d been wearing the leather battle armor Britt had given him. Though the armor wasn’t suitable to wear for such an audience, at least it told a story and served a purpose, one appropriate for the dreary task they were setting out to complete. This time, however, the purpose and story were different; the political and diplomatic visit demanded more fashionable attire. As Anders looked at the clothes he owned, he quickly realized he’d need something more fitting to the tastes of nobility.
Anders walked down the stone corridor of the second-floor dormitory. He entered Ivan’s room to find Maija and Natalia standing inside.
“Let me guess,” Ivan said, addressing Anders, “you don’t have anything presentable to wear for the mission either?”
Anders glanced to Maija and Natalia, who looked at him impatiently, “Well, yes. That’s just what I was coming to ask you about.”
“Very well,” Ivan said, turning to the desk behind him against the wall of his room. He opened a drawer and pulled out a pouch. Digging into it, he rattled among the coins. He then handed some money to Natalia, “Take him with you and make sure he gets something suitable for the occasion.”
Natalia thanked Ivan and pushed her way past Anders as she left Ivan’s room. Maija took Anders by the arm and they followed her sister as she led them down to the front of the building.
“I know a few places where we can find something for all of us,” Natalia said when they’d stepped out onto the grass. “Can Zahara give us a ride since you’ll need to come along?” she asked, giving Anders a pointed look.
Anders nodded. Moments later, Zahara walked around the side of the training facilities. She was wearing the travel harness, trying to get used to the extra bulk before they flew. When Anders asked her to carry them to Cedarbridge, she gladly accepted. It would allow her the chance to feel how the saddle handled with multiple people on her back.
