Ortai Legacy

14 - Glacier (L)

"Are you okay?" Mar'kost murmured.

"Yeah." Though a little unsteady and light-headed, I managed to stand without help. That was a small relief, because I didn't want to look even more pathetic than I'd already done. Now I had to approach a giant predator and convince her not to kill the people who wanted to tie her up. No big deal.

I pressed my hands against my thighs to keep them from visibly shaking. Everyone here was relying on me to keep this from becoming a massacre. They didn't want to see me looking terrified, even if terror was the appropriate reaction in this situation.

Mar'kost cleared his throat. He was holding my polearm. "If he- she attacks, get down. I can defend you long enough for the firing squad to take care of her."

"If they think she's so dangerous, why haven't they done it already?" I asked in a low voice.

He winced. "If she's fast enough, she could take out one or two of them before they killed her. They won't take that risk if they can avoid it."

"Oh. Great." I was going to be the closest person to her if she attacked. And I had a sneaking suspicion that Mar'kost wasn't so sure about his ability to keep me alive in the face of a vicious Tundra drykon.

I took a few halting steps toward Bloodflight with Mar'kost at my side. A dozen guns aimed at her head and chest.

[Finally.] Bloodflight's voice sounded in my mind as she lifted her head to peer at me. She glanced around the clearing, head cocked and a curious feeling in her mental voice. It was almost like... amusement? But it couldn't be—unless she had no idea what a gun was.

She laughed in her mind and made a chuffing noise. [I know what guns are. These unenchanted bits of metal can't pierce my feathers.] Her voice was much clearer than before, and there was a sharp edge to it that made me shiver.

[I'm pretty sure guns can go through feathers.]

She hooted with mirth. [Your mind is as empty as a hatchling's. You know nothing of this world.] Pausing, she leaned closer with wide eyes. [How- ah, I see. Truly, you know nothing. You come from an arka-dead world.]

"What?" I stepped back with a quiver in my voice. How could she possibly know that? And why did she sound completely differently from yesterday?

"What's wrong? Is she going to attack?" Mar'kost asked.

I shook my head. "Give me a minute."

[As you are brain-empty, I will explain.] Yawning, she rose on her hind legs and stretched wings large enough to blot out the sun. When she folded them, she remained standing. [A drykon hatchling possesses more control over their telepathy than you do. Anyone can ravage your mind once you give them access. I knew this yesterday, but I submitted to you until I could regain some of my former strength.] At my horrified look, she added, [Don't fear me. Why would I hurt my translator? If the others attack me, I will spare you alone. Now, tell them what I say—and leave nothing out.]

I nodded slightly before looking around the circle of armed men. "She says she wants to tell you something. Also, she says the guns can't hurt her because they're not enchanted." I wasn't sure if I was allowed to share that part, but I didn't want anyone to get trigger happy if she made me share something provocative. Luckily, Bloodflight didn't make any indication that I'd upset her.

Whispers traveled around the circle. I caught several along the lines of 'she's crazy,' but it wasn't clear whether they were referring to me or Bloodflight.

[Tell them: I am Glacier, Sky Death, Killer of Hoarfrost.] She paused for me to relay her message.

I did so, careful to say everything word for word.