five
Theledgewaswiderthan it looked from the air. Large enough for Eva to comfortably house ten horses—or the entire Trateri camp she'd been living in for the past several weeks.
Eva leaned over Sebastian's side, noting the sharp drop only a few feet away and the ground so very far below.
It was a long way down if the Kyren Sebastian brought her to see decided they no longer wanted a Caller. Chances were, she wouldn't survive a fall like that.
Eva's gaze lifted to examine the terrain they'd flown over, the view different from this perspective.
They were in a deep bowl, the base of the surrounding mountains hidden by the steep cliffs that encircled them. It was a mystery what geologic event had caused the formation of this place. Except for the cavern river Sebastian had flown through, Eva didn't see another way into or out of the bowl unless you went by air.
Was it a natural phenomenon? Man-made? Mythological-made?
As unlikely as it seemed given humanity's current abilities, Eva couldn't entirely dismiss the second. Legends had it that humans once held unimaginable power. The period of time leading into the cataclysm was said to have reshaped the land multiple times, leaving permanent marks courtesy of the arrogance that had destroyed their great civilization.
A deep voice intruded in her mind, bringing Eva back to the present.Hello, Eva. I've been waiting for you.
The other's presence was a burning inferno, a searing existence who, even shielded, carried an intimidating power.
With a sense of inevitability, Eva twisted to find the speaker framed by the mouth of a cave, eyes the color of blood trained on her.
"Orion," Eva acknowledged. "And here I was under the impression that I was the one kept waiting."
Sebastian's opposite, Orion seemed to glow against the backdrop of the cave's mouth, his coat the color of moonlight. As white and pure as the first snowfall. Horns jutted from his head, longer than even Sebastian's.
Everything happens in its own time.A thread of amusement filled Orion's voice.
Eva held in her snort. It wouldn't do to insult the herd lord. Especially when she could feel others around them. Watching—and waiting.
They weren't as powerful as Orion, but powerful enough. Certainly capable of ending Callers who didn't know their own limits.
Until she had a better grasp on the personalities of their audience, it would be wise for Eva to proceed with caution.
"Funny how you chose this particular moment in time for this conversation rather than any of the ones before or after," Eva said, still feeling a little peeved about the way this had all come about.
Orion was silent but Eva thought she caught a hint of laughter in his eyes.
A petite sorrel with a sweet face and intelligent eyes moved out of the cave, brushing past the herd lord.Is this her? The little human who wishes to be a Caller?
At that, one of Eva's eyebrows lifted. As far as she knew, she was already a Caller. No wish about it.
A shadow dropped out of the sky, landing hard on the ledge a few feet away. A blood bay stallion shook his head lightly.
Larger than any Kyren Eva had ever seen, his coat contained a rich red undertone while his legs, mane and tail were a dark black. The tip of one horn was broken and there were scars along his back and haunches that pointed to a violent life.
Something in the way he held himself told Eva he was a warrior. A capable one at that.
He reminded her of Caden. He had that same way of looking at someone. Quiet. Intent. A readiness in his stance that said he could end you at a moment's notice.
Polaris, you'll scare the poor girl.A nicker came from above as a Kyren with a chestnut coat folded his wings to land.
Then she'll show far more wisdom than most humans we've encountered.Polaris's gaze never wavered from Eva's as his words rumbled through her mind.
A light snicker came from the chestnut.
Watch it,Danyon,Sebastian warned.
You've grown bold since you joined the warriors,the chestnut crooned.Are you sure this human is worth challenging one of us?
