Lady of Wolves (Evalyce Worldshaper Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

the wyvern.
    “Kasai, can you have the other wyvern riders bring their mounts to the
Stymphalian
two at a time. The sooner we free them, the better. Vander and I can do the healing, if you and Aleister pull the pins out. The riders can keep the mounts calm. Are all of the wyvern riders Harriers?” she asked.
    Kasai nodded and whistled sharply, two short notes followed by two long. He repeated it, with three long and one short at the end. Two wyvern responded to the call, fluttering over to the ship. One was the second who had assaulted the ship. The other was a huge bull wyvern, battle-scarred and wary. He was almost as large as Amaterasu.
    Kasai explained what the Mage had discovered and showed the riders the spike taken from Thiassi. The riders obediently slipped down, taking up places by the wyvern's heads. Kalla stepped up to the bull wyvern as he grudgingly sank down to allow her and Aleister to climb up. Nearby, Vander and Kasai did the same with the other frost wyvern.
    Kalla unlaced the straps holding the leather armor down and searched for the pin. Beneath her the bull wyvern shifted, irritated. Finding what she sought, she gently prised the scale back and let Aleister pull the pin free, as she healed the wound behind him. The wyvern growled, a deep bass sound and, as she smoothed the scale back down, he reared up, bugling. Twisting his sinuous neck around, the wyvern fixed them with a piercing ice-blue eye.
    I am Baal, leader of the Rus Akkad. I thank you, for freeing me. You will do the same for the others?
    “Of course,” Kalla replied. Baal nodded, as they slipped down from his shoulders. He looked to where the others were clustered.
    Once we were many. Now there are only us seven left. My clan is gone, destroyed.
The wyvern's mind-voice was sad. He allowed his rider to climb back up, and fluttered away as Kasai called two more of the wyvern over.
    Kasai ran a hand over his face, as the last of the wyvern flew back into camp.
    “I am going to be in a great deal of trouble over losing the mage his slaves, but in this I am sure the Khan would agree. I hope.” He turned to Kalla. “What will they do now?”
    “Some may still stick around. If Baal stays, they all likely will,” Kalla replied.
    “Well, we might as well go and get this over with,” Kasai said.
    Kalla followed the Harrier as he began to walk towards the great Palace, one of the few stationary buildings in Karokorum. Aleister, Vander and the shaman fell in beside her. From Aleister she felt tension. His first foray back into his homeland since he'd left and he was smack in the heart of it. The mage was fairly certain that no one would recognize him. After all, he'd left when he was twelve. Still, he was wary as a wild sabretooth amongst wolves. From Vander, there was only curiosity. Of all the places the War Mage had traveled, Arkaddia hadn't been among them and the central city of Karokorum was a wonder to behold.
    The Arkaddians were a nomadic people, following the vykr herds across their vast territory and establishing tent cities at certain locations during certain parts of the year. Winter was traditionally spent by the Khan and his immediate circle here at Karokorum. The Palace had been built by the first Khan Arkaddia, many generations ago. It and its outbuildings and storehouses were the only stationary buildings in this highly mobile society. Tribute from the clans was sent here, to the Palace, where it was redistributed as needed by the Stewards, the only Arkaddians to actually spend their whole lives in one place.
    The Palace itself, built of red granite, loomed before them. Giant statues of Celestial Hounds flanked the entrance, iridescent pearls of zarconite clenched between half-open jaws. Under the right paw of the left Hound was an orb, shaped like a closed flower bud. Under the left paw of the right Hound was a pup on its back.
    As the group entered, they were greeted by the Seneschal, a whippet thin Sveldtlander dressed in