The Oathbound Wizard-Wiz Rhyme-2 by Christopher Stasheff

passed for his laughter again. "I got 'em knocked!"
    "I see." Matt sighed. "And I have to admit I'm glad of your company. You realize, of course, that we stand a very good chance of going down in flames."
    "As long as it's not hellfire." Narlh shrugged. "With that sorcerer on my tail, I'm likely to be drained, anyway. But with a wizard to help, the odds are a little better."
    "Yes, except that I'm leading you into greater danger," Matt said. "Still, look on the bright side--I might have strong enough magic to make them kill us quickly, in self-defense."
    "There you go!" Narlh agreed. "Of course, if you decided to turn back, I wouldn't object."
    "Be a little disappointed in me, though?"
    "No, not really." The dragon head turned toward him, frowning. "Why do you say that?"
    "Because I would be." Matt turned his face downhill. "Well, let's march. Looks like it's going to be a long day,"

They'd only been on the road an hour or two before Narlh grew impatient with the slow pace and flew back to the campsite to pick up the saddle. Matt climbed aboard, and the dracogriff set off at what was, for him, a comfortable pace. Actually, it wasn't bad for Matt, either, once he got used to the notion of leaning forward in the saddle, to prevent the whiplashing that came from the monster's long, lazy leaps, and caught the rhythm of the slight posting he needed. Not much, though--Narlh's gait was like a horse with innersprings.
    "I take it flying wouldn't be much faster than this?"
    "Oh, some," Narlh allowed, "but I hate flying. Still, if you insist..." A suspicion formed in Man's mind; he remembered how close to the ground the dracogriff had stayed when last they'd flown. It hadn't been all that obvious, on a mountain hillside when they were chasing a rolling rock--but now, on a road with a much gentler slope..."If you would. Just for a little way--I want to stay used to the rhythm of it, in case we need to take off in an emergency."
    "Oh, all right," Narlh grumped, and lit out in a long, flat run, faster and faster, wings spreading wide to the sides...
    Then they were airborne. Matt looked down and saw the ground sinking away... But not very far.
    "Uh--you can go higher than this if you have to, can't you?"
    "Don't worry," Narlh snapped. "If I see a tree, I'll loft over it." He took a quick glance at the sky behind him, then turned back to face front. It gave Matt a chill. What would have happened if that tree had shown up while Narlh hadn't had his eyes on the road? "I...take it you'd prefer not to go higher if you can help it."
    "Oh, I can help it! You can be sure of that." Narlh turned back to scowl at Matt. "What're you getting so nervous about? Who's doing the flying, anyway?"
    "Me! So would you mind keeping your eyes on the road?" Narlh snatched a quick glance at the sky, then turned back to front, muttering something about the people in back always having to have things their own way.
    Matt gave up. "Okay, that's enough for an air drill. You can go down now."
    "Thank heaven!" Narlh huffed, and slowed down to a long gallop as he hit the ground. Matt was reminded of an albatross, with that need for a long runway--only this time, he was hanging on to its neck. It was a rough landing, but all in all, Matt decided it was safer than flying with Narlh.

It was afternoon when they spotted the refugee family. The father was pulling a handcart, slogging away, keeping the cart going mostly by throwing the weight of his body against it. The mother was carrying a baby, and the children were fussing, protesting with every step.
    Matt's heart went out to them.
    Then the mother saw Narlh. She gave a cry of alarm, and suddenly the cart was standing in the roadway by itself, as the family headed for the roadside brush.
    "Hey! Hold on, there! Doggone it, I'm a nice guy!" Narlh roared, and leaped after them.
    Matt just barely managed to hold on. "Uh--it might help if you didn't charge them, Narlh."
    "What's this charge business? I'm just trying to catch