Starrlings 1: House of Fire

chapter 20

L U M I

"Why do you call them spirit guides?" Lumi asked, glancing up at Raphael.

"Oh, that's an ancient air thing," Raphael said. "No one really says it anymore. But the old air starrlings believed in three things. Blood, salt and spirit. They believed everything in the universe was made of those three things. The connection we form with our kinnling was a connection of the spirits. Our powers aren't as strong without them, and so they guide us through the world, until we find our peace and then they'll guide us through the next world."

With her hand on Jinni's neck, Lumi could almost imagine that he would be her guide. He would guide her through this world, until she found her peace.

A shrieking cry alerted her to the giant falcon landing behind Raphael. She turned, realising that the men and women - the adults - had started moving bags inside, and taken Yainni towards a building that appeared to be kinnhouses, leaving Lumi and Raphael alone.

"Kala wants to fly again," Raphael said. "I'm sure Jinni wants to stretch his wings too."

Lumi felt her stomach drop. She hadn't even managed to mount on her fire tiger yet, let alone fly him. But Lumi had no idea how to say no to anyone, let alone the prince of Lombardia, who seemed to have a magical way with words.

Lumi took a breath, and then glanced back at her tiger. "Jinni," she murmured in the Fire language. "You're my kinnling. You obey my will."

Jinni stared at her. It was the first time Lumi had looked deeply into the tiger's eyes - she found them dark yellow, lined with black, and intense. Lumi felt her heart rate increase with adrenaline as she stared deep into the eyes of the monster.

"You okay, Princess?" Raphael called. "You need a leg up?"

Lumi's eyes widened, and she looked up, startled, towards Raphael.

Without another word, Raphael put out his hands for Lumi to step up, like she was a little kid. Lumi felt her cheeks reddening with embarrassment. She grabbed onto a handful of Jinni's fur, put her foot into Raphael's hand, and then used his momentum to swing herself, very ungracefully, onto Jinni's back, just between his wings.

Jinni let out a growl, but Raph said, "Hush, boy," and with that, Jinni settled. He flapped his wings, making Lumi grip onto him harder. It was almost as if he was ready to take to the skies.

Raphael was back on Kala's back in a moment, looking like it was where he belonged most in the world, and then Raphael let out a long whistle, and Kala took off in a thunderclap of beating wings. Lumi had no idea how to instruct Jinni to do the same. Luckily, it seemed she didn't have to. Jinni seemed to want to fly, and he launched into the sky after the falcon.

Lumi managed to contain her scream, but she still clutched onto the back of her kinnling's neck for dear life. Jinni's huge black wings spread to their full length and he propelled them up into the sky.

They were flying.

Jinni soared; a beast of black and orange, all muscle and wingspan, with a helpless Lumi clinging to his back. The tiger followed the falcon's trajectory towards the stars.

Kala flew with elegance, but Jinni beat his wings erratically, and their ascent was jumpy and unpredictable. Lumi was forced to dig her hands into the tiger, and her legs squeezed against his shoulders. She could feel herself shaking with nerves, but also with exhilaration. She'd never in her life flown alone on the back of a tiger.

"Steady, Jinni," Lumi murmured. "Steady, boy."

But she was astounded at the progress she'd made. From being attacked by the kinnling, to now riding him through the skies of Lombardia. She felt a burst of love and pride for the creature, and as the feeling flowed through her, so too did another surge of power, moving directly from Jinni's body into hers. The power of the kinnling flowed through her, and she felt the fire within her roar.

She was certain, in that moment, that despite the rocky start he would learn to obey her, and she would be his master.

And just as she was thinking that this was great - brilliant in fact - flying through the sky, soaring above the school and the students below, the master of a ferocious tiger, Jinni huffed.

And then he dropped.

This time, Lumi did let out a scream, as the tiger plunged towards the green lawn of the school below.

Adrenaline shot through her. Instinct took over, and she felt hot magic flow through her. She shot a burst of heat energy between her body and the tiger's, pushing desperately at the bond between them. But Jinni pushed back, as if he was fighting against her. He was rejecting her bond and he was plummeting them both towards the ground, bucking as he dived.

Lumi could only clutch onto his back in terror, as he twisted through the air, apparently intent on throwing her from his back.

A piercing cry of a falcon from somewhere above. Lumi couldn't see, had no idea what was happening. Her hair was across her face, and the world was moving too fast. But then there was a burst of wind, and huge talons latched into Jinni's back. Lumi felt the scrape of a giant talon come close to her arm.

Beneath her, Jinni struggled against the falcon, letting out a bellowing roar. Lumi clutched onto his back.

"Princess! Let go!"

Lumi raised her head, trying to see Raphael. Was he crazy? They were still too high. If she let go now, she would fall to her death. She knew that Jinni was trying to buck her, but she knew that her best chance of surviving was to hold onto his back until he got low enough that she could jump free.

"Let go!" Raphael yelled again, and this time the words came to her almost as a whisper in her ear, as well as a yelled command from somewhere above.

Jinni bucked again, and Lumi allowed herself to be thrown free of the tiger.

She felt herself falling through nothing for less than a second.

She opened her eyes with a gasp, to find herself on the back of the falcon.

"We've got you," Raphael said.

They landed, and Lumi tumbled from the back of the falcon. She found herself on all fours, dirt and grass between her fingers. She was panting, tears blurring her vision, her heart beating way too fast.

Lumi stumbled to her feet. Her instinct was to go towards Jinni, and make sure he was okay. He had landed now too, and turned around to snap at her, which stopped her in her tracks.

Raphael stepped between her and the tiger. "Hush," Raphael cooed, and a warm breeze surrounded them. Jinni's ears went back, but he tucked his wings against his body.

"What happened?" Raphael asked Lumi.

Lumi couldn't think of the words to explain.

• Author's Note •

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elle xx