She squeezed back.
Until then, at least they had each other.
By now, their parade had begun to draw more and more eyes. People pointed, and children ran up and tugged at Jake’s backpack and plucked curiously at Kady’s clothes. Heronidus or one of the mounted guards continually waved them off.
An Egyptian girl, no older than five, with a shaved head and painted eyes, ignored Heronidus and rushed forward to Kady. She held up a flower with crimson petals. “You’re pretty.”
Kady accepted both the gift and the compliment. “Thank you.”
Jake noted a ring of relief in his sister’s voice at the simple act of welcome. Kady let go of Jake’s palm and clutched the flower with both hands. A ghost of a smile played over her lips. With this small gesture, maybe Kady now had something to grasp onto, something from which she could gain her bearings.
Was this how Calypsos’s community had first been founded?
By a simple welcome from one to another.
Jake watched at they rounded the next curve in the road. Directly ahead rose the castle of Kalakryss. He noted guards walking the walls. He wondered what sort of welcome they could expect.
He glanced to Marika.
Her face was pinched with worry.
Not a good sign.
8
STRANGERS IN A STRANGE LAND
With a spear at his back, Jake marched into the castle’s open courtyard. In the center, under a tree the size of a giant redwood, more soldiers lounged and laughed. To the left, backed against the castle wall, rose a set of stone stables and wooden corrals.
A soft chuffing noise came from their escorts’ mounts, sensing home and food nearby. The Othneilia threw their heads a bit, but the soldiers in the saddles tapped the beasts’ flanks with small sticks like batons, guiding them and calling out in soothing voices. Elephant riders in India controlled their mounts in the same manner.
As they passed through the gate, a group of soldiers approached. They came from exercise fields on the opposite side of the courtyard, where practice skirmishes with swords and spears were under way. Two-story barracks lined the fields. A tall man wearing a helmet that sprouted a crimson plume led the soldiers.
“The Saddleback Guard,” Marika whispered at Jake’s side. “Heronidus is in training to join their ranks.”
Heronidus stepped forward and saluted the soldier in the plumed helmet by raising his right fist to his chest. “Centurion Gaius, we have strangers to our lands to present to the Council of Elders.”
The centurion glanced to Jake and Kady. His only reaction was a slight widening of his eyes.
“We believe they may be spies sent by Kalverum Rex,” Heronidus added, and stiffened his back to the point Jake thought something might snap.
The centurion studied Jake and Kady. The hardness in his face softened with amusement. Crinkles around the corners of his eyes deepened, indicating the man laughed often. Jake found himself liking Gaius though he hadn’t spoken a word.
“If these are spies,” the centurion said, “then the Skull King certainly starts with them young.”
Heronidus shifted his stance. His face was beet red at the doubt in the centurion’s voice. He glanced quickly over to Pindor, as if blaming his younger brother. To save face, Heronidus turned back to the centurion and sputtered, “But shouldn’t the Council of Elders decide such matters and rule—”
Centurion Gaius clapped Heronidus on the shoulder, silencing him. “You are correct, young Heronidus. These two should be brought before the Council. Strange tidings mark their arrival here. Especially with rumors of late from our scouts sent into the deep jungle—at least those few who have returned….”
His face darkened, and he nodded to the two mounted riders. “I will take your charges to the Council. You two return to your posts at the gates.”
Gaius turned back to Jake and Kady after speaking to a young boy in a belted toga. The boy took off on foot, running toward the castle. Probably a courier, sent ahead to announce their arrival. “I am Marcus Gaius, first centurion of the Saddleback Guard.”
“Jake…Jacob Ransom. This is my sister. Kady.”
“Katherine Ransom,” his sister corrected, standing a little taller, though she blushed a bit at the man’s attention.
Gaius nodded. “Names as peculiar as your dress. If you’ll both follow me, we shall seek an audience with the Council.” He turned his gaze upon Heronidus, along with Pindor and Marika. “You shall all come and give a full report to the Council.”
To Jake’s right, Pindor groaned under his breath. He plainly was not happy that he would have to explain where he had been with Marika. On the other hand, Marika nodded sharply, fully ready to cooperate, to prove she was right about the strangers.
As a group, they set off toward the castle’s main entrance. Passing into the shadow under the tree, Jake heard a rustling overhead and stared up. Among the lower branches hung small creatures with scaly wings and pointed heads.
Tiny pterodactyls.
“Any word from the hunters in the field?” Gaius asked one of the lounging soldiers, who snapped to attention.
“No, Centurion Gaius. Not a single dartwing has returned from the jungle in a fortnight. We’re preparing to send one out now.” The man pointed to where another soldier sat on a stool. The soldier had one of the pygmy pterosaurs secured between his knees and set about tying a small silvery tube to its back, like a little saddle.
“We’ve been sending out two dartwings a day as ordered,” the soldier walking stiffly next to Gaius said, “but not one has returned.”
The seated soldier finished his work, stood, and tossed the tiny pterosaur into the air. Its wings snapped out, and it caught the wind. The creature sailed across the yard, and with a fluttering beat of its wings, cleared the castle wall and headed away.
Jake watched its flight, then stared up at the branches full of pterosaurs. They must be used as messengers. Like homing pigeons.
Distracted, Jake banged his knee into a box on the ground. A spitting hiss drove him back. The box was a wooden crate with bars across one side. A creature hunched at the back of the cage. Jake couldn’t make out what it was, only that it was angry at being disturbed. All he saw was a pair of golden eyes, reflecting the shine of the setting sun.
He stepped nearer, curious—then it suddenly lunged against the bars. Startled, Jake dropped back and landed on his rear. The caged creature was no larger than his dog, Watson. But this beast was all black fur with ripples of fiery orange. Hackles were raised and a short mane framed a muzzled face that sprouted fangs as long as Jake’s outstretched hand. The creature spit and hissed. Its curled lips revealed the full length of those fangs.