The weather at Yarhtah was milder than in other parts of Kadaar. Protected from the icy mountains gales by lees of black rock, warm breezes wafted off the sea and helped to grow wheat along the highlands, which the Yarhtah women turned into delicious flatbreads baked in outdoor ovens.
It took two moons for Bonn and the other Skaard men to build the ship to take them to Oran. Starlex didn't mind the wait. Her days filled with wholesome activity and laughter, her nights with passionate lovemaking with her new husband. But she knew it wouldn't last forever. The Thrades would certainly return.
* * *
Rigel made good use of his time in the tower. Flenn Illymium recovered their vigor enough to teach him the rudimentary arts of trans-omniscience. Rigel wanted to fly as high as Raki's wings would take him, swooping high and low over the Crimson Sea. But when Flenn assured him he'd end up at the bottom of the sea if he were to try it, Rigel relented and agreed to start with a tiny dormouse the old seer had caught under his teacup one afternoon.
The operation was a success and Rigel experienced the joys of scurrying around the floor like a tiny creature until Flenn's Tomcat, Miko, padded into the tower library and immediately gave chase. Nearly devoured, Rigel hid behind a stack of books waiting in terror until Flenn discovered the reversal spell.
Rigel spent days in bed recovering from the ordeal. Flenn told him although it was unfortunate, it was a blessing in disguise because it underscored the danger of such a transformation. Rigel assured them he would never again underestimate its power.
During his training, Rigel formed a special bond with Raki. Flenn had warned him about overconfidence, but Rigel could barely restrain his joy when he first lifted off from the balcony railing of Oran tower and pierced the white clouds with Raki's long beak.
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Once he progressed to where he was able to psychically merge with the bird, he would fly all the way to Mynimium and report back to the king the progress of Oran's troops. Once a raven was trained to follow a route, it never deviated. But a man at one with a Lila bird was unstoppable.
Unless he were to happen upon a dragon. According to the latest reports, Quetex was last spotted over the farthest regions of Kadaar. Many feared the ancient beast would join forces with the Thrades. If that were to happen, all of Ardelym would be at risk, man and enemy alike.
"Does a dragon have the wherewithal to make an alliance with the Thrades?" Rigel questioned Flenn one night during the ancient seer's nightly stargaze. "What I mean is can a beast actually reason the way a man can?"
"Many men cannot reason at all," Flenn replied from behind their spyglass.
"True, but he can learn. Can a dragon learn?"
Flenn chuckled said, "Every living creature acts instinctually, a man more than any of them. The fact that he can justify later with his 'reasoning' is part of his self-delusion."
"But what about a dragon?" Rigel insisted impatiently.
Flenn swung the spyglass toward the mother/daughter moons hidden behind a curtain of haze and said, "One never knows what a dragon might do. Best to stay out of its way."
The following morning, after Flenn had performed the spell which seemed to gain more power with each application, Rigel flew from Raki's perch with a great flap of purple wings that sent Flenn's scrolls rolling from the high desk. With a triumphant caw, Rigel circled the tower twice, sailed over the citadel wall, and then swooped down low over the sea to tease the sea lions poking their heads out of the surf to gaze at the great purple bird.
Catching a warm draft, Rigel flew further out to sea than he ever had. The air turned chilly as he neared the shore of Kadaar. He was just about to navigate Raki to turn back when he spotted a Skaard ship knifing through the rough sea. He swooped down close enough to see the warrior Bonn Skaard standing at the bow of the ship with the princess close beside him, her white hair glimmering in the bright sunlight.
Starlex is alive! he rejoiced, diving down to meet the ship.
And she's coming home!