Lost Wings

4~The Journey

Chapter 4

I hugged my grandpa as everyone got ready to leave. "Goodbye. I'll miss you."

"Bye, Hailey. Be safe. Your guards are all specially picked for your security, so please do as they say. Also, try to make sure your friends don't do anything stupid," he whispered. "Especially the hyper one with the red wings." He led me to Grey, who was now my own peryton -yes, there definitely were perks of being the king's only granddaughter. "See you in two weeks!"

"See you soon!" I waved.

At the leader's signal, everyone took off in a great flurry of colorful feathers. Autumn and I were the only ones on peryton-back, although other peryton were used to carry supplies.

"I miss Mr. Potato," Aiden, flying to my right, told me.

Autumn, who had overheard him, laughed and petted Juno affectionately. Chase was closing the rear with some other guards, and I couldn't help thinking that his uniform fit him pretty well. Autumn and I were stuck in the center of the group, for safety. As for Aiden, he and the other archers needed to take turn scanning the area for possible threats.

While I was leaning in on Grey's neck to avoid the wind flying into my face, Autumn casually turned around in her saddle and rested her back on Juno neck while she looked through a bunch of papers. She looked as comfortable as if she was sitting in a car, or perhaps a plane, though I had never been in one.

I got used to the rocking motion of my peryton and was about to fall asleep when our leader called for a halt. Everyone ascended smoothly, except for a group of archers who stayed aloft until we were safely on the ground. At a signal from the leader, they all dived down to join us. Although we had been flying for two hours, no one seemed particularly tired. Still used to seeing people running on land, I found this quite impressive.

"Air currents and thermals." Autumn smiled, guessing my thoughts. "And good military training."

"Still. Two hours." I lifted my eyebrows.

Around us, water and food was being distributed to Winged and peryton alike. A few guys were joking around with Aiden, and Chase was conversing seriously with the leader and his lieutenant, a young woman with peach wings.

Only Autumn and I, the only non-military of the group, were a bit out of the loop. We were treated more like important but fragile cargo than comrades.

The leader came up to me. "Good morning, Princess. We haven't had the time to be formally introduced yet. My name is Grant, and I am the leader of the squadron assigned to escort you. I hope your flight so far has been comfortable. I have called a halt for a quick rest and water. If you desire anything, please let me know, and I shall take care of it personally."

"Uh, wow. Thank you." I sent Autumn a look for help.

"The princess is pleased to make your acquaintance and very grateful for your offer," she rescued me. "However, she does wish to be treated less formally on this trip, if you don't mind. It would make it more relaxing for everyone involved, don't you think?"

Grant nodded. "If that is what you wish, Princess Hailey."

"Yes," I said eloquently.

When he left, Autumn burst into a fit of giggles.

"Oh, shush." I smiled. "It's weird to have an adult talk to you like that."

"I hope you never get used to it. It's probably just as unsettling to him to talk that way to a teenager."