“Stormfall agrees with you.”
Alanna’s normally cool grey eyes are now wide with shock. She looks back at the Bird of Ash as he pinches my neck, hopefully in acceptance of his name.
“Why am I not surprised?” she shakes her head with a side smile.
I grin and bring my hand up to my shoulder, “would you like to meet him?”
“What?” she takes another step back, eyes narrowing as she watches Storm’s talons land on my finger. “No, that’s alright.”
“Scared of a little bird?” I chuckle as the baby beast unfurls his wings, “you’re not one to back down from a challenge, Alanna.”
Alanna scowls, “well played.”
I laugh and bring Stormfall to her outstretched hand, watching as he jumps from my finger to hers. The Warrior Discerni holds her arm as far away from her body as possible, the position so awkward that it sends me into a fit of laughter.
“I will put eggs in your bedroll tonight,” she grumbles.
“A bird?” I laugh, “of all things, you’re scared of a bird?”
“Don’t try to sell this thing as just a bird, Alexis. I can feel the power rolling off of him.”
I brush away my tears and hold out my hand with a quiet chuckle.
“Come on, Storm, you’re making the Warrior lady very uncomfortable.”
Stormfall jumps back onto my hand as Alanna quickly walks away with her horse.
“Eggs and fish…”
I laugh and turn to the brown mare next to me, giving her some love.
“I’ve missed you too much, Millie girl.”
Millie snorts in greeting and moves her muzzle into my chest. I rub the front of her nose and let her take in the scent of the newcomer with me.
“There will be no fighting between the two of you, alright?”
Stormfall chirps in agreement and extends his wings, flapping them easily as he starts to hover in the air. I watch in amazement as he rises a bit higher and then lands gently on top of Millie’s mane, my gentle horse remaining still and unfazed as Stormfall raises his neck. His proud head pops up between her ears and gives me a look as if to saynot a problem here.
I shake my head with another laugh. This has been a beautiful morning so far.
“He seems to be fitting in well,” Princess Clair notes from behind.
I turn to her with a smile and dip into a curtsy.
“None of that,” she grins, reaching out for a hug.
I return her embrace and spot her holding a small bundle wrapped in cloth.
“Books for you. Two on the general history of Pyre, as told by the Pyrenese. An account of Livyatan and their Kingdom over the past seven hundred years, and last, a full text on the Ancient Ten. Morose said you’d be interested in reading into Hirovale, Damen and Windsor.”
Clair laughs when I take them excitedly.
“You and I will meet again in Red Falls, Alexis, and we will drink and read around the grand fire in the library. Perhaps this little one will even be in attendance,” she looks down at her belly with a soft smile.
“I would like that very much, Clair,” I grin.
“Me too.”
