Enna is a Land God: Book 3

Yevette

We reached Sky Keeper nearing on midday. It had rained a little in the morning, but by the time we rounded a bend and came face to face with the stone city, it was back to being beautiful. Warm even. And I was in a stellar mood, fairly bouncing in my saddle on Kishi's back.

Stupidly, I had not been prepared for the fan fare, however. One second I was jittery with excitement and the next I was trying to make myself as small as I could on the back of the fox. We had stepped onto cobbled streets that were lined with people for a good long stretch, leading to a rather large, if somewhat crumbling, stone building.

I heard Margund laugh next to me. "Sit up! Wave!" He said boisterously, flashing a grin and flicking his own wrist in a short wave. "They are here to see us, after all. And I have no doubt it is you they wish to see most of all."

"Somebody please burry me in a hole..." I mumbled, displaying what was likely more of a grimace than a smile at the gathered harpies that we passed.

It appeared to be true that most of these monsters were far more interested at getting a look at me than anyone else in this rather stately procession. As stately as a march of monsters could be, anyway. The many gathered harpies stood on their clawed feet along the road, clapping or waving, while also craning their necks and pointing once they got sight of me.

I was very uncomfortable, but at least the harpies themselves were rather nice to look at. Most of them were around five and a half feet tall with hair in shades of brown, white, or grey, with a few other colors splashed in here and there. Many seemed to keep their hair long, and often braided and decorated with colorful beads and feathers.

As we drew closer to the building I saw that the harpies actually were not alone in making up this crowd of spectators. In, amongst them, were what I thought, at first, were horses. Actually, I guess they would be Equestrians, as I was told that calling them horses was rude.

I could not get a good look at them between all the feathers and bright colors worn by the harpies, and their wide spread wings. But I could have sworn I saw what looked like a red furred stallion for a second, before we moved forward and it was lost in the crowd once again.

"Seems like the Ogres are not here..." Mumbled Brixie. She, too, was looking at the crowd, but her eyes were more searching than full of wonder.

Margund sighed. "Are you surprised?"

"They never show up when they are told to." Grunted Lagdon, making sure that he was between me and the people.

I guess the ogres didn't like being told what to do. I sure hope they didn't wait too long to show up, however. If they took too long, I wondered if the summit would start without them.

"Welcome!" I heard a voice call above the noise of the crowd. As we neared the speaker, the people surrounding us began to settle down.

As the guards and such split, making room for we dignitaries to pull to the front, I saw that there were three harpies standing before us, standing on a short rise before the entrance of the building. Two of the harpies were younger males, each built compactly with bright yellow eyes and short brown hair. Neither wore a shirt, but both had their chests painted in interesting designs of turquoise, white and red. Even the feathers of their wings seemed to have been painted. Both looked enough alike that I decided they were related, if not out and out twins.

Between the two men was an older woman. She was slightly hunched, her own wings looking heavy on her back. Her hair was long and shiny, but greyed, and her face was weathered and tanned. Despite that, I still thought she looked quite pretty. She definitely had a very beautiful smile that had a little of my anxiety melt away.