Luvians
Kendra and Mendigo met Henrick in the courtyard near the stables. The alcetaur had a huge bow over his shoulder, a quiver of arrows dangling from one side, and a sheathed long knife on the other. He gazed at Kendra without a smile. "Your brother?" he asked.
"Seth went ahead to the stables," Kendra said. "He's excited about the griffins."
Henrick scowled. "Griffins are good for accessing the mountains or the more distant reaches of the sanctuary. But dragons patrol the sky as well. We want the protection of the High Road, which means feet on the ground, which means horses."
"I don't think he was expecting to ride one," Kendra said. "Of course, you never know with Seth."
Henrick started toward the stables. "Your brother is unpredictable?"
Kendra hustled to keep up. Mendigo rattled along beside her. She didn't want to make Seth look bad. First impressions were important. "Curious," she said.
Henrick shook his head. "Wyrmroost is a death trap even for seasoned adventurers. A curious child has no place here."
Kendra felt mildly offended on Seth's behalf. "He is the caretaker."
"And I'm the gamekeeper," Henrick said. "As I understand it, my charge today is to keep you two alive. Is that correct?"
"Yes," Kendra said.
"Then curiosity is a problem," Henrick said.
When they entered the large stable, Kendra smelled hay and animals and leather. She saw Seth and a dwarf at the far end of a long row of stalls. At first her eyes passed over the horses, but her gaze returned to the nearest when it used its mouth to turn a page in a book. The book rested on a lectern inside the stall. Several shelves on the inner walls of the stall held a variety of hardcover books. After turning the page the horse kept staring downward.
"Is that horse reading?" Kendra asked.
"All of them read," Henrick said. "They're mute Luvians."
Kendra scanned other stalls, noticing bookshelves in all of them. Several other horses were staring at open books.
"I've never heard of Luvians," Kendra said.
"They were donated by the Zowali Protectorate."
"Is that in Africa?"
"It's one of the protected territories here at Wyrmroost. You'll learn more about it in the days and weeks to come. Have you not looked at a map yet?"
"I haven't," Kendra admitted.
Henrick stared at her grimly. "You are leaving Blackwell Keep as caretaker in a time of unrest without having consulted a map of the sanctuary?"
Kendra gulped, feeling like she had shown up on the day of the test without studying. "I guess I should have taken a look."
"Quite an understatement," Henrick said. "What if a dragon carries me off? What if I drop dead?"
"I guess I would follow the High Road," Kendra said. "We're not supposed to leave it, right?"
Henrick's expression softened a degree. "At least that is a reasonable answer. And the horses know their way around. But you should be more prepared. This is a hostile environment. Proper preparation can reduce the risks."
"I'll remember that," Kendra said earnestly.
Henrick gave a nod. "The Zowali Protectorate is the territory of the talking animals. The Luvians are the illustrious breed of talking horses."
"They can really talk?" Kendra exclaimed, looking at the animals with new interest.
Henrick moved closer, crouching down to whisper. "Not so loud. These are all mute Luvians. Though born from the Luvian line, they have lost the power of speech."
"But they can read," Kendra whispered.
"Their minds are plenty sharp," Henrick said. "The Luvians donate their mute children to the keep as a form of exile. Luvians are very protective of their ability to speak. It's a dwindling trait. They don't allow mutes to mingle with the herd."
"How cruel," Kendra whispered.
"A harsh reality," Henrick said, "but not cruel. The silent ones receive excellent care here. At the age of two years, we give them the option to run free. Few take it."
Kendra approached the nearest horse, chestnut with white splotches. A nameplate on the stall read: Glory.
"What are you reading?" Kendra asked.
The horse looked at Kendra, then used her teeth to tip the book on the lectern, making the cover visible.
"Pride and Prejudice!" Kendra said. "You have good taste!"
"It's her favourite," said a gravelly voice off to one side. Kendra glanced down at a dwarf.
"Hello," Kendra said. "I'm Kendra."
"Didger," the dwarf said. "Glory is one of our best and brightest. Sweet disposition, still in her physical prime, with plenty of strength and endurance."
"I need a horse for today," Kendra said.
"You're the new caretaker," Didger said. "You can have your pick."
"But I haven't been here long," Kendra said. "I don't know the animals. What horse would you suggest?"
Tapping the side of his nose, Didger glanced at Henrick with a grin. The dwarf was missing at least two teeth. "This one has some sense."
"I'm not without hope," Henrick said.
Didger looked back at Kendra. "How experienced are you with horses?"
"Not very," Kendra confessed.
"Then Glory could be just the one," Didger said. "She's very considerate of her rider."
"Sounds good to me," Kendra said.
"Why not ask her?" Didger prompted.
Glory had stopped reading and had shifted her head so she could gaze at Kendra with one large eye. The animal seemed politely interested.
"Would you take me to Terrabelle today?" Kendra asked.
The horse stamped once.
"Does that mean yes?" Kendra asked.
Glory bobbed her head and stamped again.
"One for yes, two for no," Didger said.
Kendra stroked the furry cheek of the horse. "You enjoy Pride and Prejudice, but you're stuck communicating with yes and no."
Glory stamped once.
"Does that frustrate you?"
Glory gave a very loud stamp and bobbed her head.
"In the play area they have letter tiles," Didger said. "Sometimes they spell out messages. Glory writes poems."
"These horses read books!" Seth announced, coming down the aisle between the stalls. Kendra recognized the dwarf at his heels as Obun.
"I figured that out," Kendra said.
"Have you seen the griffins?" Seth asked.
"Not yet," Kendra said. "I was choosing my horse."
"We get to pick?" Seth asked.
"We're the caretakers," Kendra reminded him.
Seth whacked his forehead with his palm. "How do I keep forgetting?" He fingered the medallion. "How do I choose?"
"Are you an experienced rider?" Didger asked.
"I've ridden a centaur," Seth said.
"Careful how you mock," Henrick warned.
"I did!" Seth said.
"What self-respecting centaur would condescend—"
"Broadhoof, at Fablehaven," Seth said. "It was an emergency."
Didger folded his arms. "Discounting emergency centaur romps, how much experience—"
"Not much," Seth said. "But it's a safe bet that I'm a natural. Do you have any horses like Tempest?"
"Who is Tempest?" Kendra asked.
"Their wildest griffin," Seth said, pointing toward the far end of the stable. The griffin stalls were much larger than the horse stalls, with perches and rocky mounds inside, more like an enclosure at a nice zoo. "The fastest, the fiercest, but not safe for humans yet."
"That griffin may never be rideable," Obun said. "Too much spirit."
"She knows the preserve well," Didger said. "She'll take you where you request. But by her own route, in her own way. She's uncontrollable. Makes even the most seasoned rider sick. But it's hard to give up on that much raw ability. She'll be quite the mount if we can gentle her."
"Do the griffins read?" Kendra asked.
Both of the dwarfs laughed.
"No, lassie," Didger said. "Griffins are a different order of intelligence than the Luvians. Smart for an animal, mind you, but not readers."
"All the horses read?" Seth asked.
"For the most part," Didger said. "Noble can be reluctant."
"Tell me about Noble," Seth said.
"One of our three stallions," Didger said. "On flat ground, probably the fastest."
"Where is he?" Seth asked.
Didger led them down the aisle to the stall of a chocolate brown horse with a black mane. The animal nibbled at hay in a feed box.
Seth picked up the book on the lectern—The Cat in the Hat.
"Picture books," Seth said. "Look, Kendra, he mostly has picture books."
Kendra peered into the stall. Slim, brightly colored spines lined the shelves. No novels. The longest book she spotted was Frog and Toad Are Friends.
Noble stared at Seth.
"You're a reluctant reader?" Seth asked.
Noble stamped once.
"But you like to run fast?"
Noble stamped again.
"I want this one," Seth said.
"Not a bad pick," Didger said.
"Are you sure?" Henrick challenged. "What about Princess? Her disposition is more—"
"No horses called Princess," Seth interrupted. "Or Fluffykins. Or Pony Face. A stallion is a boy horse, right?"
"Yes," Didger said.
"I want Noble," Seth insisted.
"Ask him," Didger suggested.
"Who, Henrick?" Seth wondered.
"No, ask Noble," Didger clarified.
Seth faced the dark brown horse. "Want to get out of here? Take me to the Fair Folk?"
Noble gave a loud stamp.
"Isn't that a lot of horse for a beginner?" Henrick asked.
"It's a Luvian," Obun said. "Sure, they have different dispositions, but don't forget how superior any of them are to a common horse."
"Seth is the new caretaker of Wyrmroost," Didger explained to Noble. "We need him safe and sound."
Noble gave a light stamp.
"It's a deal," Seth said.
"Is that all right?" Kendra quietly asked Henrick.
"I suppose," he grumbled.
"You two head over to the play area while we get them saddled," Obun said.
Seth led the way to an open area where a pair of horses stood at opposite ends of a table with a chess board between them. A white horse with grey dots gripped a bishop in its teeth and took a pawn.
"Now I've seen everything," Kendra said.
"What kind of play area is this?" Seth complained. "It's all board games." He was right. On other tables Kendra saw checkers, backgammon, and Scrabble. "Don't they ever run around?"
"Any horses can run around," Kendra said. "It's incredible that these are playing chess."
"Starshine and Socrates are chess fanatics," Henrick said. "They spend half the day playing the game, and the other half reading books on the subject."
"Do they ever go outside?" Seth asked.
"There's an exercise yard," Henrick said. "And messengers ride them to the different territories."
Seth looked up at Henrick. "Are you sure we shouldn't take griffins?"
"We need the protection of the High Road," the alcetaur said.
"What higher road than the sky?" Seth asked. "Are you sure this isn't because you're too heavy?"
"I'm an alcetaur," Henrick said, straightening. "I don't ever need a griffin to transport me. But the last thing we need is dragons slaughtering our new caretakers in flight."
"Not the goal," Seth agreed.
"Besides, griffin riders need to take the correct precautions," Henrick said. "Although griffins are normally reliable if you express a destination, no intelligent rider takes flight without a map."
"I have a map," Seth said, patting the satchel at his side. "Got it from Brunwin this morning."
"Have you looked at it?" Henrick asked.
"Enough to know Terrabelle is northeast from here," Seth said. "We have to go through a pass to get there. It's in a big valley surrounded by mountains. I have a compass just in case."
"Seth likes to bring an emergency kit," Kendra said.
"I even have some magical stuff in it," Seth said. "The giant Thronis gave me a figurine of a leviathan that can turn into a real one, and a toy-sized tower that can transform into a big one."
"That is . . . sensible," Henrick said warily. "I have some magical items of my own that I use in a pinch. It's wise to be prepared." He scowled. "Unless a compass means you're planning to leave the road."
"Why?" Seth asked innocently. "What's off the road?"
"An agonizing death," Henrick said emphatically.
"The road sounds better," Seth said.
"Don't think for one moment that this is a game," Henrick warned.
"What?" Seth asked. "The horses playing chess?"
Kendra wanted to punch him.
"Leaving the relative safety of Blackwell Keep," Henrick said, his voice alarmingly calm and even. "I admire your courage. I'd rather have jokes over cowardice. But I have no patience for fools. And no interest in bringing corpses home to your grandparents. That is a real possibility at Wyrmroost. Many have died here over the years. Many more will perish in the future. It takes preparation and caution and skill and experience and yes, a little luck, not to be one of them."
"What about an untamable griffin that does lots of loop-the-loops?" Seth asked. "Would that help?"
"This is going to be a long afternoon," Henrick grumbled.
Cantering along the High Road on Glory, the wind in her face, Kendra finally realized how badly she had needed to get out of Blackwell Keep. No gloomy rooms, no whispered conversations, no worried faces—just a long road, a big sky, and rugged wilderness all around her.
Kendra had been to Wyrmroost before, but she had never belonged here. There had been no protected roads on the way to the Dragon Temple. They had scurried around like thieves, vulnerable at every step. She hadn't fully comprehended how hard it was to enjoy the scenery when you were worried about getting devoured.
Today she not only had full permission to be at Wyrmroost—she was a caretaker! And she was being guided to a friendly destination along a secure route by a careful expert who knew the sanctuary well.
While riding a horse that appreciated Jane Austen.
Sometimes life was good.
Not too far into the ride, Henrick came near Kendra, pointing to the north. "We have company."
It took her a moment to spot the pair of dragons heading their way, one with golden scales, the other a bright red. The dragons circled high above but occasionally swooped near the road. Due to their size and ferocious appearance, Kendra felt extremely exposed. She kept reminding herself that an invisible barrier was protecting them.
"Intimidation," Henrick told Kendra after the red dragon glided particularly close. "Don't let it get to you. We're safe on the road."
"Does it matter that they know where we're going?" Seth asked.
"I don't think so," Henrick said. "This visit to the Fair Folk should be no surprise. Celebrant is just making a statement. He wants you to know he is watching. He wants you to feel like trespassers inside of his sanctuary. That causes real harm only if you believe him."
After a long run, the road began to climb more steeply and the horses slowed to a trot. Mendigo sat behind Kendra, wooden hands on her waist, metal hooks jangling with the bouncy gait. Mountains loomed ahead of them, pockets of snow shining white near the craggy peaks.
"You'll soon see why this is called the High Road," Henrick announced. "We'll rise a good ways before dropping into the valley."
"Hey, Henrick," Seth said, "are you faster than these horses?"
"We don't want to exhaust the mounts," Henrick said. "They need their reserves in case of an emergency."
"That wasn't an answer," Seth observed.
Henrick gave him a pointed look. "The Luvians have remarkable speed. But not many creatures on four legs run faster than I do."
"How did you end up at Blackwell Keep?" Kendra asked. "The outdoors seems more like your element."
"I'm the gamekeeper," Henrick said. "I spend most of my time roaming the sanctuary."
"Still, how did you get started?" Seth pressed. "Did lots of alcetaurs want the job?"
"It didn't have to be an alcetaur," Henrick said. "And no other alcetaurs wanted the job. We're a solitary breed."
"No families?" Kendra asked.
"Just temporarily," Henrick said. "When we're young. Alcetaurs aren't very numerous to begin with. There is no organized community, like with the other woodland taurans."
"The other what?" Seth asked.
"Rumitaurs," Henrick said. "Men with bodies of elk. And cervitaurs, men with bodies of deer. They move in groups. Alcetaurs spend most of our time on our own."
"How old were you when you left your mother?" Kendra asked.
Henrick gave her a funny look. "My . . . my mother was unusual. She stayed with me for a long time. Much longer than normal."
; "How long?" Seth asked.
"Well into adulthood," he said, a small catch in his voice.
"Did you live in her basement?" Seth asked.
Kendra wished for a rock to throw at her brother.
"I don't understand," Henrick said.
"Human reference," Kendra said. "Sounds like your mother meant a lot to you."
"She taught me valuable lessons," Henrick said, his voice more stable. "I sought out Agad years ago at her encouragement."
"Get a job," Seth murmured in an old-lady voice.
"It has given me purpose," Henrick said. "I am not the most sociable person at Blackwell Keep, but you should meet some of the other alcetaurs."
"Jerks?" Seth asked.
"Some of them," Henrick admitted.
"I knew some centaurs," Seth said. "Jerks too."
"Not surprising," Henrick said. "What surprised me is that you rode one."
"They can be all right sometimes," Seth said. "Just don't steal their precious unicorn horn."
"I can see how that would end badly," Henrick said. "They're surly enough without a reason."
"I've given too many creatures those kinds of reasons," Seth said. "I hope it doesn't catch up to me."
"Me too," Henrick said with a laugh. "At least today you're on a fast horse."