Bab 400: On the Mountain

LERRIN

The birds carrying them were panting heavily for the entire last hour. At one point Lerrin feared they may begin to descend early and risk being sighted.

But the birds plowed on, until finally the mountain that overshadowed the Royal Cave began to loom from below them, and Lerrin braced.

The most difficult and dangerous part of these operations were the landing. The wings of the birds made significant noise when they were taking off, or beating for speed.

They'd learned to circle, riding the winds until they could drift onto their chosen clearing. The birds at the front, where the wolves feet were positioned, would drop their ends of the harness, and the wolf would drop out—shifting to beast form while in the air to give themselves four legs, and the added agility to make the landing. But more than one wolf had broken a leg when the birds dropped a few feet to high, or their speed had been too quick.