Wind and Stone

Chapter 6: Lochlann

Chapter 6: Lochlann

“Obviously you can’t go,” said Wren. Lochlann looked from Akton to Talfryn, wondering what sort of shifters they must be. That Wren lumped them all in together, that they were Kynithremyln, meant they had to be…then he considered whether they both knew he was a shifter himself. He was uneasy with the idea.

“Obviously we have to go,” said Akton. “We’re Kynithremyln. To go against the queen’s orders is to ask for death.”

Lochlann caught his sibling’s eye across the room before looking away. Arvi had tried to convince him to join but he’d refused. He doubted Queen Ylenia wanted someone like him anyway. What use was a griffin who couldn’t fly? He had these visions of her Kynithremyln all shifting and wending off to special missions on her behalf, and he never fit that.

Wren rolled her eyes.

“What is the Queen of Emylnor asking of you, then?” She nodded toward Talfryn. “Maybe our paths align, and we’ll walk together.”

Talfryn shook his head. Lochlann studied him a bit more closely. He’d thought Akton was attractive, but Talfryn certainly was, too. He tried to pull himself together. They were discussing war and orders and here he was, eyeing the men in the room, wondering what kind of a chance he’d have with either of them. Maybe more of one if they all ended up traveling together.

“She summons us immediately back to Ylenia,” said Talfryn, summarizing as he read. “Officially, as Kynithremyln. Dragon forces have been attacking along the borders, and at least one city has also turned on her.”

“So they didn’t get all Basil’s people out from the Guard,” said Akton, shaking his head. “Shit.”

“The dragons must be taking the opportunity after Emylnor’s been weakened,” said Talfryn, then, “She doesn’t say what she wants us for, but she does mention we’ll be on a special mission.”

“With me,” said Wren. “Don’t stare at me like that. This isn’t a prime opportunity being taken. This was planned. He wanted Ylenia to be weakened all along.”

“Who?” asked Talfryn.

“The Dragon Lord,” said Lochlann, aware everyone was looking at him again. Wren had explained everything to him and Arvi on the trek over to this tiny town. “Lord Fanglyr Reynox. He’s supposed to be ancient—he’s the one Queen Ylenia originally had her famous battle with. He’s been wanting to take Emylnor ever since.”

“So you were listening,” said Wren. “Good. We need to all work together on this.”

“Ylenia told you that you were our secret mission?” asked Akton. Wren laughed.

“Ylenia doesn’t even know I exist, unless they keep good records up at the palace. Whatever mission she’s sending you on, this one’s more important: we have to stop Lord Reynox.”

Talfryn shook his head.

“No,” he said. “I’m not doing this again. One arrogant megalomaniac is enough. I will go to the Queen’s City, and I will do whatever it is she tells me to do, but I’m not going down this path again.”

“You have no choice,” said Wren. “You and Akton have too much valuable experience from dealing with that basilisk.” She paused. “And I think on a personal level you’ll be happy you decided to stand by my side when this is all over.”

To Lochlann’s surprise, Akton turned to him.

“Do you believe anything she’s saying?” he asked. Like he trusted Lochlann.

“Yes,” he said. “She’s shown me things.”

“Like her little fire trick?” asked Akton, but Wren’s voice came between them.

“Enough. We’ve been dancing around this for too long. Yes, we’re all shifters—with the exception of Arvi.”

“I really am just around for the maps,” they said, then indicated the door. “Shall I step out?”

Wren nodded.

“We won’t be long. Close up the rest of the windows, too.”

She waited and an uncomfortable silence fell. Lochlann was about to say something when Akton spoke first.

“Are you going to shift first, then?” he asked. Wren didn’t seem to care how coldly he acted toward her and Lochlann wondered how they knew each other, what had happened between them. Akton seemed verging on pissed with her.

“Powers first,” said Talfryn, glancing at Lochlann for a moment before Akton. “That was how we were introduced, after all. You want me to show off my flame.”

“And I do what?” asked Akton. “No, wait, never mind. I don’t want anyone cutting me.” He noticed Lochlann staring at him. “I heal better than normal. Especially with rue. No scars, even.”

Lochlann found that impressive. He himself had used shifting to help with the scrapes and bruises of youth—until his parents stressed enough it was dangerous to remain shifted while asleep, even in your own home. Anyone in Lethrin could stumble on your secret. People treated him poorly often enough without assuming he was a threat.

“Flame, then,” said Talfryn, showing a palm full of fire for a moment. Lochlann had to look away when their eyes met. “And you?”

“Wind and ground,” said Lochlann. He gestured to the room with his right hand. “You were thinking about cleaning in here, right? Crack a window and let me handle it for you.”

Talfryn’s eyebrow raised but he turned and did so. Lochlann stirred up his magic, forcing back the nervousness as much as he could, and then guided it around the room. The dirt and grime all sprung up, out from every crack, peeled away from every wall, and the air he manipulated blew it out the window. Talfryn’s eyes lit up.

“Thanks—that saved us hours,” he said.

Akton scowled at him. “With everything happening you’re still thinking about a library?”

Talfryn grinned at him now. Wren cleared her throat.

“I manipulate everything,” she said, and burst into a surging mass of elements. This—along with Arvi’s insistence they were going along for new maps—was what had convinced Lochlann he ought to at least travel with her for a while. Fire wound up one of Wren’s arms, dirt and splinters along another. A whirlwind sprung up at her feet. She twirled a finger and a little corkscrew of water encircled it. Then, in a moment, it was gone.

Akton and Talfryn pulled their gazes from her to stare at each other. Lochlann braced himself for what he knew was coming.

“And we’ll all shift as one,” said Wren. “Now.”

Lochlann still hadn’t shifted in years, not even on the way to Teorg. But it was something a person’s body didn’t forget, the feel of reassembling yourself to a new, comfortable shape. He took up more room as a griffin, all bronze feathers and golden fur, and he flexed both his wings, testing them. They were same as always.

He looked over at Akton’s form first, expecting something large, finding instead a weasel on the floor. Talfryn likewise was a smaller shifter, a salamander with his head held high. Wren, however, was glorious. Lochlann blinked, unable to stop staring at her. She shone, feathers like the sun, as she flapped her wings steadily to remain airborne. Then she allowed herself to drift down to the floor where she tilted her head and examined them each in turn.

When she shifted back they followed, all three of them gaping at her. Wren smiled.

“Don’t look so surprised,” she said. “Of course the Child of Life and Death would be a phoenix.”