Champion of Fire & Ice - Megan Derr Page 0,12

delight, Davrin burst into laughter, the kind of open, delighted laugh he seldom showed, let alone so easily. A victory on the battlefields was not nearly as pleasing as being the reason for that laugh. It took everything Cimar possessed not to openly preen.

"Shall we have a drink?" Davrin asked as his laughter faded, leaving behind a smile that Cimar ached to taste. "Then I will let you be on your way to enjoy a good night's rest, since you have a long, arduous road ahead of you."

"A drink sounds wonderful."

Before Davrin could pour them, however, a brisk, commanding knock came at the door. Frowning slightly, Davrin went to answer it—and stepped back a moment later to admit Lady Aliara, Princess Korena's favored lady-in-waiting. On her right arm she wore a thick leather bracer, on which was perched a beautiful white peregrine.

"Milady," Davrin said, sketching her a bow. Cimar rose and did the same, remaining on his feet when she politely rejected Davrin's offer of a seat.

"I come at the bidding of my princess, to offer you a token for your journey, Sir Cimar."

His eyes widened. "Her Highness is granting me use of one of her peregrines?"

Aliara bowed her head in a graceful nod. "Such tokens are well within the boundaries of a challenge, and Her Highness feels it prudent you have an effective means of communication should you find circumstances are as bad as, or even worse than, expected at Castle Bone." She gave a sharp whistle, and the peregrine flew to one of the chairs and perched on the back of it. Removing the leather bracer, she gave it to Cimar. "If there was time, I'd have one made properly for you, but this one is adjustable and should suffice. Her name is Valor, and if you have the time now, I will teach you the commands you'll need."

"I most definitely have the time for that," Cimar said. "My lord, I regret we must share our drink at another time."

Davrin waved the words away. "The drinks will keep. I bid you both a good night."

Once the bracer was in place on Cimar's arm, Aliara gave another whistle—rather a sharp pair of them—and as Cimar lifted his arm the way she instructed, Valor flew straight to it.

"She's beautiful," Cimar said. "Good night, my lord. I look forward to sharing that drink upon my return."

Davrin bowed his head, and Cimar followed Aliara from the room and through the halls to the courtyard where Princess Korena kept and trained her beloved raptors.

A few hours later, well into midnight, he felt reasonably confident in his abilities to at least ensure Valor made it home with vital information should that be necessary. He dragged himself back to his room to get a precious few hours of sleep before he must rise so he and Lee could be on their way when the sun rose.

Thankfully, Lee returned shortly before he rose, saving him a trip into town. As they packed up a few last-minute items, he explained the details of the quest.

"I'm going to have some choice things to say about His Majesty when we're alone in the woods with no one to hear them," Lee hissed as he finished. "This is flagrant abuse and favoritism! He isn't even trying to be subtle."

"You don't have to be subtle when you're nigh untouchable," Cimar replied dryly. "Come on." He slung his saddlebags over his shoulder and led the way through the castle and across the yard to the enormous royal stables. Lee must have spoken with them at some point, because all four of the horses they'd need for this journey were ready and waiting. Strapping saddlebags in place, Cimar swung into the saddle, pulled up the hood his cloak, and led the way through the portcullis and over the drawbridge, lowered earlier than usual just for him—and presumably Grayne, though Cimar doubted he'd rise any time soon, if he bothered to begin his quest at all that day.

Once they were beyond the walls, he gave three clear, sharp whistles. A moment later, Valor came soaring toward him and landed on his shoulder like she'd done it a thousand times.

"Well, that will make obtaining food a good sight easier."

Cimar laughed. "Of course you go straight to food and not having to do the hunting yourself."

Lee grinned and began to sing as they headed off. Their goal was to reach the foothills by dark and stable the horses at a reputable tavern in the traverse town