BlackWing: First Ordinance, Book 3 Read Online Free PDF

bumped his shoulder against mine and smiled back.
    There was a question I wanted answered, too. I knew, just by reading Terrett, that most of his kind could do what Kaldill and others could do—fold space. He knew that, but didn't know why he couldn't. I had suspicions as to why that was, but didn't want to voice my speculations. He'd been hurt badly enough by his mother already.
    Pulling away from that thought, I leaned my head on Terrett's shoulder. We had people to save and little time in which to do it.
    * * *
    Le-Ath Veronis
    "Vogeffa II is mostly water and marshland," Kaldill said as he presented the dimensional map to Justis and Berel. "Here is where Gungl is located, on the highest ground. Here," he pointed to another portion of the map not far from the capital city, "is where the farms are. The land is high enough to grow crops and raise animals. Beyond this point," he turned his hand sideways to indicate a demarcation farther south, "is where the marshland begins. The land is too spongy and the water turns salty past that."
    "The farmlands are where we'll do our research?" Berel asked.
    "Yes. That's all Lissa and Kooper want from us—to study the people and determine whether any are worthy of moving. They are worried about that part of the population, therefore, we will go."
    "Did they receive word of some threat or danger?" Justis asked.
    "In a way. Lissa and Kooper were visited by a Shining One, who'd received a vague message from the Three."
    "I wish I understood what you just said," Justis grumbled.
    "Not to worry—I understand it," Kaldill smiled at Justis. "We have a job to do. My plan is to leave tomorrow at sixteen bells. That will place us on Vogeffa II an hour after sunrise. A good time to start, I believe. Kooper says the people there are used to the unusual, so you won't have to hide your wings this time—or hold back from flying."
    * * *
    Vogeffa II
    Quin
    Hay was organized and on the road quickly. I worried about the villages farther south, though, and how long it might take them to do the same. Whatever Randl and Brandl had done to prepare the population was working, however, as the second and third places we stopped were ready to go in a short amount of time.
    I couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching, however, and Randl was clearly upset. He and his father dropped back to ride next to Terrett and me. Lafe rode at the front, both blades strapped firmly to his back.
    "Something knows," Randl whispered softly.
    "I feel the same," I agreed.
    Can you call people—like you can call animals? Terrett asked.
    "Huh?" I swung around to stare at Terrett.
    "They're coming," Randl wailed.
    For the first time, I sent a call—for humanoids.
    * * *
    Le-Ath Veronis
    Lissa
    I knew something was wrong, although I fought through the shock of hearing Quin's voice in my mind. She sounded terrified.
    Without hesitation, I shouted mentally at Kaldill; he, Berel and Justis had left moments earlier. I should have known that Conner's warning, in her guise as a Shining One, was more urgent than I thought.
    Kaldill, if you need me , I added to the message, but it was a moot suggestion—Vogeffa II was under attack. I folded space, shouting for my Falchani twins as I did so.
    * * *
    Vogeffa II
    Quin
    We heard the whine of the faster air vehicles first, with the chop-chop whirring of the airchoppers next. I was terrified, while some of the animals broke away from their herders and ran.
    I didn't blame them—I wanted to run, too.
    Anything to get away from the gunships Cayetes had sent after us. Lafe shouted at everyone to get down as the weapons of every ship fired in our direction. A dual line of bullets rained across the ground, heading straight for us.
    Half the people around us screamed. For a moment, I felt weightless, before I recognized the sensation; Queen Lissa—and her power—had arrived.
    * * *
    New Fyris
    Lissa
    "Kaldill?" I approached him carefully. He, Berel and Justis stood in a knot, gazing