It’s highly unlikely.
Please tell me what’s happened. Are Bran and Gil …
They’re alive. That’s all I know.Zul did not lie; he knew they were alive because Bran kept the triad bond blocked. If they were dead, that connection would have disappeared and Gil would have taken charge of it.
Ursula shuddered with relief.I assume something went very, very wrong with Bran and Gil’s revolution.
Yes.
Do you know what?
Not yet.
When you do, will you tell me?
When it’s safe to do so.
She sighed.I hate you sometimes.
I know.
Chapter 29
Ursula fell asleep cuddled against Zul’s broad body as the wyverns carried them through the night. When they arrived at their first destination, the beasts were weary and subdued and disinclined to hunt. Zul knew they would rest before hunger and thirst drove them to hunt for meat and water.
He hoped the beasts would head for home, but doubted Suvesh’s family would be so lucky. The Fangrys Triad would have to reimburse them for the loss of such valuable beasts. Regardless, he, Suvesh, Crow, and Ursula needed to move beyond the wyverns’ notice or become prey themselves.
“Can you carry the boy?” Zul asked, his voice a hoarse whisper.
Suvesh nodded as he slung the straps of the two satchels over his shoulders. Crow, exhausted, slept curled at Suvesh’s booted feet. “Do you know where we are going, my lord?”
Zul nodded. “It’s a place I’ve visited many times over the years.”
He shrugged the straps of the other satchels over his shoulders and scooped Ursula into his arms, cradling her against his chest.
Without further discussion, Zul started walking. The small, wiry castratus—still taller than the hybrid female—picked up the exhausted youngling and followed in his footsteps. He wondered why Suvesh had pursued a life in domestic service andsubmitted to castration, but did not voice his curiosity. Of greater importance was the castratus’ strength, stamina, and loyalty.
They walked for hours, the first hour at speed to put as much distance between them and the wyverns as possible before the beasts roused themselves to hunt. He’d landed them near a water hole where wildlife gathered to drink for that very reason: the wyverns would prefer easily found prey. He just hoped there were no other wyverns in the area. Perhaps there would be an oryxis. The wyverns would enjoy the vicious fight after which they could gorge upon its flesh. Engorged wyverns tended to be sluggish, which would also work in their favor.
Zul varied their speed as they hiked across the high desert, alternating the speed of a battle march with the less strenuous pace of a parade march. As the horizon brightened, Zul adjusted his direction. It was easier navigating at dawn than in the darkness of night.
Ursula stirred. “Wha… who?” She blinked against the early morning sunshine aiming for her eyes. She began to squirm, and the arms confining her tightened.
“Settle,” Zul ordered.
Her eyes flew open, and she remembered what was happening. “Where are we? Where is Crow?”
“Suvesh is right behind us carrying Crow,” Zul replied. “We’ve another two leagues to go before we can stop.”
Ursula tried to remember how long a league was, then gave up. A Urib league was measured differently than an imperial league which was three miles. She squirmed again. “I can walk.”
“I can walk faster,” Zul replied, not lying but also not telling her that he’d rather enjoyed carrying his mate and relished the press of her body against his.
“I have to pee.”
“Mama? Mama!”
“My lord?”
