Page 56 of Wind and Water
Momma is laughing with Pallon and Wellon as if they have been friends all their lives.
“Do you think it’s possible I could see through Adhar’s eyes?” I find her in the sky once again.
“I think you would need to ask her for that connection,” he says in a sage tone, which doesn’t suit him.
I try not to laugh, but a short chuckle escapes. “You say that as if I’m in communication with the bird. It’s not as if she speaks words to me. It’s more like impulses.” I think about the moments when she didspeakto me. “Though when she told me her name, I heard the word in my mind. However, it wasn’t a voice. It’s hard to explain.” Even to myself.
“Ask, Wren. There is no harm.” He warns me to hold on as we jump a small stream, then continue following the larger river north.
It’s foolish to expect the raven to serve me. I shake off the notion. “I wasn’t sure you would wish to carry me anymore.”
Looking over her shoulder, he meets my gaze. A slight blush rises on his face before he looks ahead. “It is my honor to bear you. However, if you are uncomfortable, other arrangements can be made.”
“No.” I wonder how Momma would handle this. She’d be direct, and once everyone was mortified, they’d get over it. “I’m flattered that you’re attracted to me.”
“But you could never look at a centaur with those feelings.” He says it matter-of-factly and without any malice.
“That’s not true. I think you are very handsome.”
His shoulders pull back farther, and if I were in front of him, I imagine I’d see a puffed-out chest. “Then there is hope?”
“I’m afraid there is not. I think fate decided that Liam was for me long before I met him or you. As kind as your feelings are, I was always going to love Liam.” I hope not to hurt his feelings, but honesty is always best.
“I understand. Can we remain friends?” A fallen tree lies in the way, and Jadar must swerve to keep from stumbling over it. He grips my arm at his side to keep me in place.
Catching my breath, I hold him tighter and close my eyes until we’re back to a steady pace. “Of course. I hope we will always be good friends.”
“That gives me pleasure. Now, as your friend, I suggest you try to talk to your raven and ask to look through her eyes. There is no need to feel foolish or to be afraid. I am the only one who will know if you fail.” There is no need to see his face to know he’s grinning.
“Ugh. You tricked me. Fine. I’ll try.” I force some displeasure into my voice. “Just don’t knock me to the ground while my eyes are closed.”
He places his hand over mine. “I will keep you safe.”
Closing my eyes, I think of Adhar. I send my thoughts to her high in the bluish-purple sky.Adhar, can I see what you see? Will you let me?
At first, I feel nothing but foolish for trying to send my thoughts up to an animal. The newly familiar sensation of Adhar’s presence sweeps through me. It’s as if another part of my mind, one that's new and different, has opened. A moment later, I open my eyes and I’m soaring through the air. I feel the lift of a current under my wings and soar higher. The clouds are so close, I can almost touch them. Below, the land is flat, and the river splits the plains as they rise toward hills. Far in the distance, I see the hazy outline of mountains. Centaurs run in a triangular formation. From here, I can see Jadar in the center with me on his back… What? How?
Adhar croaks loudly several times.
I blink and I’m disoriented and slightly dizzy. I grip Jadar for life. Then it passes, and the wonder of what I’ve just done rushes into me. “I did it. I saw you and the river from the air. I saw hills and trees. The wind whipped through my feathers. It was amazing.”
“I wish I could fly, but I think centaurs are not meant to leave the ground.”
Considering where I am, it’s not strange that my mind immediately goes to Pegasus. “In my world, there are myths about flying horses. Not like centaurs, but they are winged. Now that I’m here and see how many myths from the books are real, perhaps there is a flying horse?”
“That would be something to see, but I’ve never heard of horses with wings. Perhaps that myth is from some other world.” He slows to a trot as Corell holds up a hand, indicating we’ll be resting near the river.
“How many worlds with life on them are there?” Legs tired, I slide off his back and have to hold on a moment before I can get my feet under me.
Holding an arm out for me to grab, he shrugs. “More than I can count and probably many more that we know nothing about.” He cocks his head. “In your world, you don’t use the portals?”
“No. No one even knows they exist. Most people think we are alone. Besides, humans don’t normally have magic to open the portals.” I don’t bother to tell him that if they did know, they would probably be terrified and want to destroy any means of reaching Earth.
“It’s arrogant to believe you are alone in the universe.” His tone is flat.
“It is.” What else can I say? Humans are fools to believe they are the only sentient life in the universe. Still, I won’t be the one to tell them any different. They’d call me mad and lock me away.
Liam strides over without the slightest signs of having been on a centaur's back for hours. “How was your ride?”
