Something old stirred deep in Simus’s mind, like a muscle rarely used. He needed no more warning. “Pive,” he shouted as he sheathed his dagger.
All the small herders turned toward him, their bows and arrows out, waiting to defend their charges. The gurtles stood, their heads up and alert.
“Back to the tents,” Simus commanded.
Pive screwed up her face, but obeyed, calling a command to her fellow herders to move off as fast as their gurtles could go. Pive’s ponytail bounced behind her as they ran.
Snowfall mounted, her horse stamping as it sensed the danger. Simus ran to his, and pulled himself up in the saddle. His horse snorted, dancing. “Snowfall,” Simus yelled, as he pulled free the bow secured to his saddle. “Your magic? Permission granted.”
Her glance was puzzled, but then her eyes went wide with understanding just as she turned to face the foe.
It was as if all the Plains had gone completely silent. There was only the wind, and the sound of leathery wings down-stroking against the wind.
The creatures were huge.
The first ones passed over head, paying no attention to them. Simus’s horse trembled, but didn’t move, obedient to his commands.
Simus saw dark, leathery wings, and lizard-like heads topped with long, black, curling horns as they sailed past. Their tails were long and spiked at the end. The downdraft of their flight carried the stench of rotting meat to his nostrils.
They were headed for the Heart. Perhaps they would—
The gurtles milled nervously, then broke as the first monsters flew over. They bolted at a run, away from the threat.
Simus’s stomach sank. The gurtles were following the children.
Two of the creatures hissed and dropped down into the herd, landing on their clawed back legs. One snaked out its long neck, caught a gurtle in its jaws, and tossed it into the air.
Simus watched in horror as the monsters hopped through the herd, lashed out, killing anything that moved. In heartbeats they had killed so many.
One of the monsters launched up, and he heard Snowfall gasp as it soared high, carrying a dead gurtle in each claw as it flew away toward the Heart.
The remaining creature hissed and pinned its prey with long claws, and bent its snake-like neck for the killing blow. The gurtle screamed as it died.
The rest of the running herd collapsed to the ground, disappearing into the tall grass.
Simus couldn’t believe the suddenness of it.
Neither could the creature. It flapped its wings, peering about for more prey, and then focused on the only movement in its line of vision.
Pive and the others.
The children were fleeing, their gurtles continuing to run. Pive glanced back, and even at this distance Simus could see her fear.
Simus cursed himself for a fool. He’d sent those children to their deaths. “Pive, down, down,” Simus bellowed, knowing it was too late, knowing he’d—
He brought his bow up without thought, and launched two arrows, aiming at the creature’s chest.
The arrows didn’t pierce its hide. Didn’t even draw its attention.
The creature hissed, spread its wings, and then gave a hop before it jumped into the air, beating down with powerful wings, lunging after its prey.
‘Here,’the powerwhispered.‘Now.’
Snowfall didn’t have time to curse at its idea of a warning. She’d only time for one thought.‘Not the children,’rang through her head, making her own decision.‘Not Simus.’
Snowfall clamped her knees around her trembling horse. “Stand,” she commanded as she raised her hands over her head and called the power to herself, seeking a weapon.
The power answered.
