of the nine hells, sentenced kinslayers to climb, bearing their victims on their backs.
No, climbing back up that would undo whatever good a swim did him. Nor could he Change here; there wasn’t enough room. Besides, there was no water or shade for the horse. He’d have to wait.
“Bah,” he said as he went back to fetch the gelding.
It was the glint of reflected sunlight among the trees that alerted him. A truehuman would have never seen it. Linden recognized it at once: sunlight sparkling on the rushing waters of a stream. He turned the gelding toward the promise of shade and water.
As he rode, Linden studied the land before him. The forest came close to the road here; before he’d seen it only as a dark line far in the distance. His unnaturally sharp vision confirmed that there was grass aplenty growing amid the trees at the edge of the forest. He could hobble the gelding and leave it here with a clear conscience.
Then he’d be off to find the perfect spot to swim.
He launched himself from the sea cliff, his wings sweeping down and out in short, powerful strokes.
This was freedom! He spiraled up into the sun, exulting in the feel of the sun on his scales, the wind sliding over his
wings, the sheer power of his dragon body. When he had enough height, Linden tucked his wings close to his body and rolled just for the fun of it.
He came out of the roll and set off along the coastline, humming one of Otter’s tunes in his head.
He’d gone a fair distance when a beach below caught his eye. He hovered a moment, struck by the look of it.
It was a wonderful place for a child to play, with odd-shaped rocks to climb over and hide among. Rann, he thought, would like it. He’d have to remember this place, though what good it would do the boy, Linden didn’t know. He couldn’t carry the prince here in dragon-form and it was too far for the child to ride.
Still, it wouldn’t hurt to look at it a bit closer, just in case … .
He rumbled happily deep in his chest. There, right below him, the rocks formed a pool perfect for soaking. He landed and Changed. A moment later he was stripping off his clothes.
He sighed happily as he slid into the water.
Time to ride back to Casna. Not, he reflected as he dressed once more, that he needed to take the direct route back. No sense in wasting the benefits of the swim by riding along a hot, dusty road in the sun. He’d go back by way of the woods. He had no fear of losing his way. By long habit, he’d scanned much of the countryside surrounding Casna as they’d flown in and had a fair idea of the way he planned to take.
Gods, what a scout he would have been if he could have done that when he was with Bram and Rani. Of course, if he could have, he wouldn’t have been fighting alongside them. He would have been duty-bound to find a peaceful settlement, he mused as he let himself flow into Change. Somehow he didn’t regret not Changing earlier in life.
With a powerful spring, he leaped into the air once more and flew back along the coast.
After a time he recognized the cliff that he’d jumped from earlier. His holiday was nearly over. He landed on the edge of the cliff and walked back to the woods.
The gelding, dozing in the shade of the trees, was annoyed at being asked to work again. It snapped halfheartedly at Linden as he laid the saddle on its back once more.
“Give over, gooserump,” Linden grunted as he tugged on the girth, “and give me one more notch. Now for your bridle.” He stowed the hobbles in the saddlebags once more, then swung into the saddle and set off through the trees.
Linden continued west through the woods. He’d been riding for three candlemarks or so now, enjoying himself; the forest here was oak and maple, ash and beech and birch. It had a friendly feel to it. As he entered a large clearing, he heard laughing voices close by. He kept silent and rode on.
He wished he didn’t have to return to the city. Still, he’d have
No, climbing back up that would undo whatever good a swim did him. Nor could he Change here; there wasn’t enough room. Besides, there was no water or shade for the horse. He’d have to wait.
“Bah,” he said as he went back to fetch the gelding.
It was the glint of reflected sunlight among the trees that alerted him. A truehuman would have never seen it. Linden recognized it at once: sunlight sparkling on the rushing waters of a stream. He turned the gelding toward the promise of shade and water.
As he rode, Linden studied the land before him. The forest came close to the road here; before he’d seen it only as a dark line far in the distance. His unnaturally sharp vision confirmed that there was grass aplenty growing amid the trees at the edge of the forest. He could hobble the gelding and leave it here with a clear conscience.
Then he’d be off to find the perfect spot to swim.
He launched himself from the sea cliff, his wings sweeping down and out in short, powerful strokes.
This was freedom! He spiraled up into the sun, exulting in the feel of the sun on his scales, the wind sliding over his
wings, the sheer power of his dragon body. When he had enough height, Linden tucked his wings close to his body and rolled just for the fun of it.
He came out of the roll and set off along the coastline, humming one of Otter’s tunes in his head.
He’d gone a fair distance when a beach below caught his eye. He hovered a moment, struck by the look of it.
It was a wonderful place for a child to play, with odd-shaped rocks to climb over and hide among. Rann, he thought, would like it. He’d have to remember this place, though what good it would do the boy, Linden didn’t know. He couldn’t carry the prince here in dragon-form and it was too far for the child to ride.
Still, it wouldn’t hurt to look at it a bit closer, just in case … .
He rumbled happily deep in his chest. There, right below him, the rocks formed a pool perfect for soaking. He landed and Changed. A moment later he was stripping off his clothes.
He sighed happily as he slid into the water.
Time to ride back to Casna. Not, he reflected as he dressed once more, that he needed to take the direct route back. No sense in wasting the benefits of the swim by riding along a hot, dusty road in the sun. He’d go back by way of the woods. He had no fear of losing his way. By long habit, he’d scanned much of the countryside surrounding Casna as they’d flown in and had a fair idea of the way he planned to take.
Gods, what a scout he would have been if he could have done that when he was with Bram and Rani. Of course, if he could have, he wouldn’t have been fighting alongside them. He would have been duty-bound to find a peaceful settlement, he mused as he let himself flow into Change. Somehow he didn’t regret not Changing earlier in life.
With a powerful spring, he leaped into the air once more and flew back along the coast.
After a time he recognized the cliff that he’d jumped from earlier. His holiday was nearly over. He landed on the edge of the cliff and walked back to the woods.
The gelding, dozing in the shade of the trees, was annoyed at being asked to work again. It snapped halfheartedly at Linden as he laid the saddle on its back once more.
“Give over, gooserump,” Linden grunted as he tugged on the girth, “and give me one more notch. Now for your bridle.” He stowed the hobbles in the saddlebags once more, then swung into the saddle and set off through the trees.
Linden continued west through the woods. He’d been riding for three candlemarks or so now, enjoying himself; the forest here was oak and maple, ash and beech and birch. It had a friendly feel to it. As he entered a large clearing, he heard laughing voices close by. He kept silent and rode on.
He wished he didn’t have to return to the city. Still, he’d have
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