The Wyvern's Spur - Kate Novak [151]
Giogi folded his wings and became a dead weight, his stinger still embedded in Flattery's throat.
The added weight of the wyvern was too much for Flattery to support. Unable to fly together, the gigantic creatures fell faster. The dragon tried to twist in Giogi's grip, to break away, but the grip of the talons was too firm, and the daggerlike stinger kept jabbing him. The ground, covered in a thick forest, came up to meet them.
Flattery tried to somersault, to dislodge Giogi, and they both began spinning as they plummeted.
At the last moment, one of the gigantic creatures pulled away from the other. Its shadowy form spread its great batlike wings and swooped low, skimming the treetops and gliding swiftly to the north.
The other gigantic form smashed into the trees with an impact that rattled cottages miles away. The woods rumbled with the sound of the crash, and all the wildlife within was silent. Then, softly, the spring peepers began to sing again.
22
Coming Home
From the journal of Giogioni Wyvernspur:
The 25th of Ches, in the Year of the Shadows
Second Codicil by Olive Ruskettle
Three days have passed since the events I described in the previous codicil to this volume, and Giogioni has still not returned to Immersea. I'm beginning to wonder if Mother Lleddew didn't peer into her scrying font and see what she wanted to see: Giogioni soaring away from his battle with Flattery, when that may not have happened at all.
Perhaps she confused the wyvern with the dragon. I've tried to suggest this to Dorath and Cat, but they vehemently refuse to believe Giogioni might be lost to them forever. They ride up to the House of the Lady daily to consult with Lleddew, who tells them Giogioni will return when he's ready.
Dorath has become very attached to Cat as a consequence of their common anxiety, and Drone is quite pleased to have drafted the enchantress into his service as an assistant, now that Gaylyn's time is occupied with Amberlee. Cat, while very unhappy with Giogi's absence, seems content comforting and helping his relatives.
I caught Thomas weeping over Jade's little silver spoon yesterday. It turns out that two weeks ago she bumped into him in the street, and besides lifting his purse, she'd also stolen his heart. After a whirlwind courtship, he'd introduced her to his closest confidant-Drone-with the results already described herein.
The mausoleum key was in Jade's bag, and I returned it to Drone but asked to keep the gifts he gave Jade as keepsakes. I gave Thomas the silver spoon.
Gaylyn begged me to sing at Amberlee's blessing next week. She's a hard woman to say no to. Drone has invited me to stay at Giogi's townhouse to keep the light in the window for him. After Amberlee's blessing, though, I think I'll leave Immersea. It's too lonely here without Jade.
The front door opened and slammed shut. Olive put down her pen. Thomas usually went in and out through the kitchen, and he never slammed doors. Cat and Dorath would still be up on Temple Hill at this time of the day. The parlor door opened.
"Heigh-ho, anyone about?"
"Giogi!" Olive cried, running to the young man who stood in the doorway. For a moment, she'd forgotten he was a human, well over six feet tall. She drew back before she embarrassed herself by hugging one of his legs. She held out her hand.
"Congratulations on your victory," she said, shaking his hand and smiling from ear to ear.
"Oh. Thanks. Where is everyone?"
"Thomas is shopping. Cat is out with Dorath. They'll be back in a while." Olive looked down at the nobleman's muddy, torn clothes and his scarred neck and his bruised and haggard face, covered with three days' worth of stubble. He looked like an adventurer. "You have just enough time to clean up."
"Good. I must be rather distressing to look at. I wouldn't want to worry anyone."
Olive laughed, "too late for that. What took you so long?"
Giogi's expression grew as distressed