Return of the Crown (14 page)

As noon neared, a sad song filled the air. It
was unlike anything Ravyn or Blade had ever heard, as if someone
were playing a mournful tune on a trumpet. They followed the music
to a clearing in the trees. The sound rose from a deep pit in the
ground. They leaned forward, peering down.

A unicorn stallion stood alone, head hung
low. Spying them, the snow-white unicorn tossed its head, the
woeful tune changing. Rising in a wild crescendo, its song shrilled
in rage. Stabbing his horn in their direction, he reared a
challenge, legs pawing the air.

“Hold up friend,” Blade soothed. “We aren’t
here to hurt you.”

The unicorn thrashed about, hooves spraying
dirt and rocks as it crashed into the earthen walls surrounding
it.

Centering herself, Ravyn imagined the notes
making words she could comprehend. ‘By the Light, let me talk with
this creature, assure him we mean no harm.’ With the next blast of
sound, she understood.

“Murderous thieves! You will not have my
horn.” The magnificent white unicorn stared at her with murderous
intent. His horn threw off an opalescent blur as his head swung
viciously from side to side.

“We are merely travelers through these woods.
We did not set this trap. We were drawn here by your sad song.”

Blade was staring at her, jaws agape. “Ravyn,
you sound like a flute. Are you speaking to it?” he asked
incredulously.

Ravyn held up her hand to Blade, gesturing
for silence. The unicorn stilled, staring up at her.

“How is it you speak like a unicorn
filly?”

“By the blessing of the Light, I suppose. I
wished to communicate with you so we could help you. I am Princess
Ravyn; my family is strong in the service to the Light.”

“Princess Ravyn? You were destroyed years ago
along with the Queen and King. Now Zelera rules Aigerach.” The
stallion snorted in contempt.

“I was whisked to safety, and have returned
to take back the crown.”

“Where have you been?”

“I will tell you after we get you out of that
hole. You will allow us to help you?”

The unicorn nodded his proud head. “Aye, but
what can you do to help Princess?”

Ravyn turned to Blade, “Can we use your rope
as a sling and raise the Unicorn?”

“We could try, but I fear the two of us are
not strong enough to pull him out. We could probably dig into one
of the ends of the pit and make a ramp.” Blade began rolling up his
sleeves.

“Wait, I’ve got it. I moved several large
boulders in the cave when I escaped. Maybe I can lift him out.” She
eyed the large beast. “No, I know I can,” she said nodding her
head. “Just get some food out for me; I’ll be famished when I’m
done.”

Focusing on the place where the magic dwelt
within her, she called up an image of the unicorn floating light as
a feather. Nervous tooting shook her focus, but she rewove the
magic tightly around the stallion depositing him gently on the
ground beside the pit.

A celebratory blast filled the air. “I’m
free! Thank the Light you came. Thank you, Princess.” The unicorn
bent its head over a snowy foreleg, the opal horn touching the
grass.

Blade beamed at Ravyn. “You did it! He sounds
so happy.”

Focusing on Blade, Ravyn imagined him
speaking with the unicorn.

“Tell him he is the most magnificent unicorn
I’ve ever seen, Ravyn, and that I would never harm him,” Blade
trumpeted. Excitement blazed in his green eyes.

“I believe you just did that yourself,” the
flute trilled back.

A deep horn sound emanated from Blade as he
laughed. “Ravyn, you are most amazing.”

“I concur,” the unicorn added.

Ravyn reached out to touch the silken mane,
“You know my name, and this is my friend Blade, a knight opposed to
Zelera’s tyranny. What is your name?”

“I am Giallag, the leader of the unicorns in
Wanderer’s Forest. You said that you are traveling through. Where
are you headed?”

Ravyn took the waterskin and provisions from
Blade’s hands. Taking a bite of the dry flatbread, she nudged Blade
to answer.

“We’re going to Veris. Zelera has imprisoned
the King and Queen in some sort of evil spell. We’re heading over
the Dirfawr Mountains to meet up with a Master of the Light. He’ll
help Ravyn learn to work with the Light Arts. Then, we’re off to
confront Zelera.”

“Seems to me she already knows how to work
with the Light,” Giallag tooted.

Blade smiled, pride puffing his chest. “She
does appear to be a natural.”

Ravyn handed some jerky to Blade. He sat on
the grass, gnawing at the stick of dried beef. Joining him, Ravyn
sighed as she watched Giallag begin grazing on the sweet meadow
grasses.

Finishing the snack, Blade stood dusting off
his pants. “It was a great honor to meet you, Giallag, but we must
be moving on. We’ve a long way to go,” Blade’s deep horn
rumbled.

“The honor, I believe, was mine. You lost
valuable time helping me, and I would like to repay you. Let me
give you a ride to the base of the mountains; I can carry the both
of you.”

“Thank you. That would be greatly
appreciated.” Blade cupped his hands, boosting Ravyn onto Giallag’s
back. Then, stepping to Giallag’s rear, he vaulted off the
unicorn’s rump to land squarely behind Ravyn.

Giallag pranced in place, “I’ll take it slow
until you are settled, then we run.”

Walking a few miles allowed Blade and Ravyn
time to settle into the rhythm, and then Giallag entered into a
trot. The trot became a canter. “Hang on,” he tooted, his
excitement flowing out with each note.

The forest blurred into green, gold, and
brown as he entered into full Unicorn speed. Ravyn’s eyes teared as
wind rushed past her face. Leaping over streams and logs, Ravyn was
unsure his feet ever touched the ground. Her thighs hugged his
barrel, her fingers entwining in the snowy mane. She heard Blade
hooting, “Yeehaw! Faster, faster!”

Out of the sky, a dark blur streaked toward
Unicorn and riders. Raking talons tore across Giallag’s
hindquarter. Rearing in pain, Giallag tossed Ravyn and Blade head
over heels where they hit the ground hard.

Medina banked sharply aiming for Ravyn lying
stunned on the ground.
One rip across her dainty throat should
suffice
. Giallag dashed in front of Ravyn, opal horn spearing
the air. Blade stood sword in hand, ready to defend. Swearing,
Medina swerved to the side.

Flapping her wings hard, Medina invoked harpy
magic, creating a dust devil that whipped dirt and debris into
their eyes. Using the distraction, Medina dove at Ravyn again
snagging her arm. Ravyn cried as the flesh tore. Blade’s sword
whistled through the air nearly catching Medina. She banked,
circling, looking for an advantage.

“Please,” Ravyn shouted, “Why do you attack?
We’ve done you no wrong.”

“She needs no reason,” spat Giallag, “She’s a
nasty foul-tempered beast, damned harpies.”

“Zelera’s taken our only male and will not
return him unless you die. Nothing personal, sweetie,” she
screeched diving again.

The flat of Blade’s sword caught Medina,
flinging her back into the trunk of a solid oak tree. She slumped
to the ground in a dazed heap.

Giallag sprang to Medina, his horn dropping
for the final kill.

“No,” Ravyn shouted, leaping in front of the
helpless harpy. “She attacked us because of what my aunt has done
to her people. In a way, I’m responsible for her situation. One out
of ten harpies born is male, and very few survive childhood. If
Zelera has stolen the only adult male, it could be the end of her
clan. She’s only protecting her way of life.”

“She’s a filthy creature. We’re better off
without them,” raged Giallag. “She’d scratch your eyes and rip out
your heart given the chance. Stand aside, Princess,” he
thundered.

Standing her ground Ravyn struggled to find
an alternative. Killing the creature didn’t feel right.

Blade cleared his throat, “Ravyn, Giallag’s
right. If we don’t kill her, she will continue fighting, or worse,
alert her flock to where we are. Then our situation will be
desperate. Look what a single harpy can do; can you imagine a whole
clan of them?” Ravyn watched as blood oozed down Giallag’s flank,
and it was trickling down her arm as well. Her wound throbbed.

“I can bind her with magic. I haven’t tried
anything like this before, but let me at least try,” Ravyn
pleaded.

Giallag continued pointing his horn at the
harpy, and Blade’s sword stood at the ready. Suppressing the
adrenaline coursing through her veins, Ravyn centered herself. She
fashioned invisible cords binding the harpy’s wings and arms
tightly to her body, and tied her vicious taloned feet together.
Letting out a deep breath, she whispered, “I believe it’s
done.”

“I see no change,” Giallag snorted.

“Nor did you see one when we first began to
communicate. Trust me, it is done.”

“I will not lower my guard, Princess. If she
moves, I will spear her,” he growled, glaring at the unconscious
creature.

Retrieving the water-skin Ravyn splashed cool
water on Medina’s face.

Eyes bulging wide, the harpy cried in
frustration unable to twitch even a feather.

“Speak if you can keep a civil tongue,
wretch,” Giallag snorted.

“What did the great fleck of phlegm say?”
Medina croaked.

Giallag lowered his horn, menace evident in
his intent.

“He said speak civilly. Now what is your name
so that we may address you properly?” growled Blade, trying hard to
remain a gentleman.

Medina sized up Blade, taking in the
aggressive posture not to mention the sharp sword in his hand. “I’m
Medina,” she said. “Why ask my name if you’re going to kill me? Get
on with it. Jedro is gone, I failed, life isn’t worth the living
anyway.”

Ravyn squatted down in front of the harpy,
“It is not my desire to end anyone’s life. The Light surrounds
everything making all life precious. Zelera stole Jedro. She is
your enemy, not I. She’s my enemy as well. She stole my family from
me, and I am going to Veris to get them back.”

Medina stared at the dark haired girl.
Why
didn’t the girl let the unicorn or man kill her?
For the first
time in her life, the harpy had nothing to say.

Staring back at the bedraggled harpy,
compassion stole over Ravyn. A beautiful creature was hiding
beneath layers of filth and muck.

“I’m just going to take these twigs and
things out of your hair,” Ravyn said, reaching out and pulling
stray leaves and twigs from Medina's long auburn hair.

“What are you doing? Stop that!” shrieked
Medina.

“I think you’ve got lovely hair. If we
straighten it up a bit, you won’t look so frightful.”

“A harpy’s hair is her crowning glory,”
Medina squawked, “I worked hard getting it this way. It is just the
way I like it. Stop!”

“I’m cleaning you up. If you don’t like the
way you look when I’m done, you can just dirty yourself up
again.”

She set about washing the harpy’s face and
feathers until they gleamed in the afternoon sunlight. Untangling
all the snarls in Medina’s frightful hairdo took time, but when she
finished Medina radiated beauty.

Giallag muttered under his breath the whole
time. Blade looked on in interest.

“Do you have a mirror Blade? I think Medina
would like to see how she looks,” Ravyn asked as she finished
curling a lock of Medina’s hair around her finger. Auburn curls
framed the tan face. Bewildered green eyes searched the faces of
her captors.

“No mirror, but will the flat of my sword
do?”

Ravyn picked up the sword, holding it in
front of Medina.

The harpy turned her head away. “Harpy’s have
no reason to look in mirrors. We are not beautiful, never have
been, nor will we ever be.”

“What are you afraid of? Look, Medina, and
see for yourself.”

Medina turned her head looking into the
sword’s polished side; she winked one eye, then the other. She
pursed her lips, the image in the blade copying her every move.
“What magic is this? That cannot be me. Harpy’s are ugly freaks of
nature.”

“No magic was used at all, Medina, that is
the real you. You hide under layers of dirt and twigs and leaf
litter. This is what the Light meant for you to be.”

A tear slid down Medina’s cheek. “I, I am
leaking fluid from my eyes.”

“Those are tears. That is a normal emotional
reaction. You’ve never cried before?” Ravyn asked astonished.

“Harpy’s do not cry. The only emotions we
feel are hate, jealousy, and anger. This feels…strange.” A river of
tears continued falling from the forest green eyes.

“Medina, I would like to free you. But, I
must have your word that if I do, you will not harm my companions
or me.”

Medina sniffed softly, tears coursing down
her bronzed cheeks.

Giallag looked at Medina, uncertainty showing
in his face. “She is beautiful. Faugh, I never thought to see a
harpy I could admire,” he softly trumpeted.

“What did he say?” Medina sniffed.

“He’s admiring your beauty,” Blade murmured,
“and so am I.” Each feather glowed in the afternoon sunlight.

Medina looked to Ravyn, “Release me, and I
pledge myself and my flock to your service. I wish to show the
other harpies they are beautiful. This is something we never dreamt
possible but have secretly longed for. We will accompany you to
Veris and help you fight Zelera. We will rescue Jedro, instead of
doing her dirty work to get him back.”

“No, you must stay and care for your young.
You must learn to put their needs in front of your own so that more
will survive. If you take proper care of the hatchlings, many males
will reach adulthood, and you won’t have to fight over them. I have
to go to Veris to return the crown to my parents. I also have to
return an egg to a dragon. I’ll just add Jedro to my list of things
to return. All right, I’m releasing your bonds now.” She envisioned
the knots unraveling, and Medina pulled herself up erect.