THE SOUTHERN KEEP'S COURTYARD WAS tiny in comparison to the castles. Otherwise they looked quite similar, like the Keep was a smaller imitation of the castle. Loushka landed with a heavy thud and the others dropped around us. Leseach, Ignatius, and Rashid stood waiting for us.
'Leseach,' I said in surprise. 'When did you get here?'
Sian, having just climbed down from Sito answered. 'Sito and I brought them through when you were sorting Audi out.'
Oh right, I thought and felt a prickle of tears at leaving my beautiful girl behind. She'll be fine, and Ada will spoil her rotten, I reassured myself.
I slid down from Loushka and stood beside her, ruffling her mane.
'Wish it were over.' I thought to her. The solid coolness of her beak brushed past my neck.
'I know, Cat. It will be over, so
