The falcon's daughters

Chapter 9

The green fields swayed in the chilly wind and Kit pulled the cape closer around her shivering body.

- So where are we going now? To Morat'x?

Lace couldn't help but smile at the eagerness in her voice.

- Not quite yet my girl. First we have to stop in Pitory to refill our supplies.

She nodded and looked around the vast fields. On the horizon she could see black smoke rising towards the sky. 

- Lace what's that?

She pointed to the smoke and Lace frowned as he saw the thin black tendrils rising towards the sky.

- Smoke. Something is burning. Strange. The only thing in that direction is ... Pitory.

- Pitory? Isn't that where you said we are heading?

- Yeah it is. Come on Kit. We need to know what has happened.

They urged on the horses and were galloping across the dry road. As they approached the outskirts of the city.

- It is too late.

Silently they rode in amongst the ash-covered ruins. Smoke was still rising from the blackened wooden houses. Kit's voice was nothing more than a whisper as she looked at the devastation surrounding them.

- There is nothing left. Just ash. What happened here?

- Probably the gords.

- The creatures that were talked about at the inn?

- So you heard it.

- Yes, but I don't understand. If they are so kind then why do they attack people and cities?

- Do you remember the rik'oti?

She nodded and Lace continued talking.

- I think that somehow they have managed to capture the souls of the gords.

- But that is awful! Isn't there anything that can be done to help them?

- I told the innkeeper my suspicions. He will ensure that the information reaches Queen Genevie. You understand my friend. The only way to save someone who has lost their soul to rik'otin is to kill the rik'oti who has the soul. A rik'oti has five sharp claws on each hand. Claws as long as a man's forearm. They have a special poison in which they dip the claws. The poison is so strong that the slightest scratch means death.

- But if they are so dangerous how does anyone even dare to try to kill them?

- Queen Genevie's dragon warriors will take up the fight.

- I heard about them too but they couldn't defeat the gords.

A small smile twitched at the corner of Lace’s lips as it dawned upon him that there were so many things that she had yet to learn.

- I probably never told you about the gords but imagine a creature as tall as two grown men and with the width as three.

In the corner of her eye she noticed how Dorcha froze and she could almost feel the fur rising on her back. Beneath her, Chiro's muscles were tense. When the panther's voice sounded in her head, she followed the big cat’s gaze across the burnt down houses.

- Kit!

- Lace does it have a raggy coat all over the body, a dog-like face, hanging ears with gold rings and leather clothes?

Her voice was low and Lace looked surprised at her.

- Yes but how ...

- Just like that one.

He looked at the direction she pointed out and there it was. A gord loudly was going through the rubble after what had once been a forge.

- Turn Chiro around and ride to the mountains as fast as you can. Don't stop for anything. Do you understand?

She nodded and speeded up Chiro, galloping out of town as fast as his hoofs could carry him and his young rider. They stopped a few miles outside the ruins.

- Do you think it saw us?

- Gords have poor hearing and even worse eyesight. Fortunately, we had the wind against us. Their sense of smell is incredibly good. Had he caught up on our scent we would have been doomed.

- I didn't think they were that big, she mumbled and smiled at Chiro. You were good my boy.

- We will stay here tonight.

- But what about the gords?

 - I think we can be safe here.

She took the saddle from Chiro’s back and then his bridle.

- Aren't you going to tie him up?

Lace looked at her in amazement as she put away the things.

- Why? I don't think he is going to leave me.

Chiro walked over to Kori who was tied up under a tree and started grazing. Kit sat down and picked up the bundle with food she had been given in Tykori.

- Lace we were supposed to get more food in Pitory. What do we do now? We left Tykori two weeks ago. The dried meat I have left is not going to last us long.

- We will do some hunting. We have Dorcha with us.

- But she has never hunted before. What if she can't.

- What do you mean with cant hunt!

Dorcha quickly raised her head and looked insulted at Kit who continued apologetically.

- I didn't mean it that way.

- She's a Panther Kit. It's an instinct for her. And I think she has hunted a bunny or two on the islands.

- One and another rabbit. Humf rather like a few hundreds of them.

Lace was unaware of the panther's sour comment as he continued to explain their situation.

- In Morat'x there are no animals or plants. If we want to eat while we are there we must hunt. We'll start tomorrow. It will be a good opportunity for you to practice with your knives.

- Do you really think I will have to use them during this trip?

- You can never be too careful, my girl. You have to be sure to hit whatever you’re aiming for. But now I think it's time for us to get some sleep.

He looked up at the setting sun and Kit gave Dorcha another piece of the dried meat before she wrapped it again and put it in her satchel. She pulled a blanket over her body as she laid down next to the big cat's warm body. Lace couldn't help but to smile at how fast she had fallen asleep.

- Keep your ears on guard tonight Dorcha. We don't want any surprises.