The Eagle Princess

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The raucous squawks of distress that spilled from Ink's throat where he sat at the top of her headboard sent Larissa shooting up in bed, gasping and crying out in fear. She gazed around quickly, looking for whatever had startled her bird, thinking that the invisible creature had returned.

The large black mass standing at the end of her bed sent her falling off of the side, letting out a scream, strangulated in fear. She hit the ground, turning quickly as she grabbed the empty water pitcher from the side of her bed and threw it towards the creature.

The pewter container left her hand before she recognized what the black creature was. She cried again, this time in dismay, out as the pitcher hit the massive black hound Ey in the face. He shook his head, his large, burning red eyes wide in surprise.

"I apologize for startling you," he said gently, quite calm.

"Oh, Oceane! Ey. I'm so sorry!" Larissa jumped to her feet and raced forward to stroke his face. She winced in guilt when he nuzzled her in return. "I didn't recognize you. You scared me."

"I'll accept the blame for not announcing myself."

"Excuse me!" Ink jumped to the foot of the bed, frowning at Ey. "Who are you? How did you get here? How are you speaking?"

"Erm, Ink, this is Ey. He's Andy and Nero's friend, and Oceane's personal hound. Ey, this is my bird Ink. He's a new friend of mine."

"Pleasure to meet you," Ey inclined his head.

"Can you understand me?" Ink asked, eyeing him critically.

"I can."

"Interesting." Ink tilted his head. He didn't quite see a black hound. His raptorial eyes could see the magic that composed Ey's canine body. The endless sparking lights of fire that humans couldn't normally see were all that took up his vision. "What are you?"

"I'm an ancient construct of magic. Rissa, Andy and Nero have sent me to check on you. They wanted me to make sure that you were safe and comfortable."

She smiled, sitting on the side of her bed as her heart slowed again. She ran a hand through her hair, the relief combating the surprise that had woken her so quickly. "Well, I'm safe anyway."

Ey walked around her bed and sat next her legs. He tilted his face curiously. "Is there a problem? I can return you home if you require it."

Larissa shook her head. "That's tempting, but I've already committed to staying. At least, for now."

"What happened?"

Letting out a long sigh, Larissa began explaining to him the surprise that had greeted her when she arrived. Ey's facial expressions were limited by his canine face, but she could still see the way his fiery eyes softened before he rested his head down on her thigh and allowed her to pet him.

"I apologize for the shock that reveal must have been for you," he said sorrowfully.

"I'll return home eventually," Larissa promised. "I don't even know why I agreed to stay in the first place. Zoe is surprisingly convincing. Too late to change my mind now though, I suppose."

Gently pushing on Ey's head to move him, Larissa got to her feet. She sighed as she looked out of the long, open balcony that gave her such a wide view of the far mountains.

"If you would prefer to leave, I've no qualms about transporting you," Ey offered as Ink flew from the bed to the back of a near chair.

"Tempting, but I did already promise that I was staying. I may have to take you up on that offer later, though." She turned and smiled at him. "Will you pass the message on to my family and the others that I'll be staying a bit longer and why?"