"Make yourself visible!" Bracken yelled. "Simurghs prefer light to darkness. As she approaches, roll so she can see me."
Raxtus became visible, scales resplendent in the sunlight. "Touch me, Kendra," Raxtus said. "I could use the extra energy."
Kendra laid a hand against the claw around her torso, and Raxtus began to shine with his own light. They seemed to gain altitude faster.
The roc closed again, wings shortened for greater speed. As the vast bird drew near, Raxtus banked, tilting his underside up to better display his passengers.
"Mighty simurgh," Bracken called in a magically magnified shout. "Like you, I am numbered among the Children of the Dawn. Lend us your skies, windkeeper, for our need is dire."
The roc swerved away, apparently giving up the pursuit. Raxtus righted himself and resumed climbing. The roc let out a screech that seemed less of a challenge than the previous cries.
"Good thing," Raxtus gasped. "I didn't want to frighten anyone, but that would have been only a matter of time."
"The simurgh here is well fed," Bracken said. "So are her young. She would willfully devour a unicorn only in a time of famine."
"Don't celebrate yet," Warren warned, pointing toward the largest ziggurat. "We have company."
"I see them," Raxtus said. "Just clearing the trees."
"Three harpies," Bracken reported. "The roc drew the attention of our enemies. How far to the edge of the preserve?"
"Too far," Raxtus puffed. "We need more altitude. They'll catch up and I'll have to evade."
At first, Kendra didn't see what the others meant. Then she spotted the three winged specks rising toward them. "How big are harpies?"
"Not huge," Warren said. "Our size. Horribly fierce, though. Picture winged hags."
"Can't you take them, Raxtus?" Kendra asked.
The dragon spoke in panting bursts. "Unburdened? Fresh? In an emergency? Yeah, I could probably handle them. Right now? I'll do my best."
As Raxtus circled higher, the harpies closed, becoming more distinct. The wiry women had wings instead of arms, and talons instead of legs. Their long hair fluttered wildly in the wind.
"Here we go," Raxtus said, veering away from the fertile valley toward the arid monotony of the desert. Though his wings flapped vigorously, they no longer rose as rapidly. "I hate to leave that updraft. If we'd had another couple of minutes to focus on climbing, I could have outrun them."
"Should all else fail," Bracken said, "swoop low and set us down."
"Or drop me now," Warren said.
Kendra looked down. They were thousands of feet above the desert. "Are you crazy?"
"If it means the rest of you make it out, it would be worth it."
"I won't drop anyone," Raxtus said.
"These harpies are only engaged in reconnaissance," Bracken said. "I see no other pursuers. If our enemies knew who we were, they would be throwing everything they have at us. It could be much worse."
"Can the harpies leave the preserve?" Kendra asked.
"Not over the wall," Bracken said.
"Unless," Raxtus gasped, "they don't belong ... to Living Mirage."
"They belong here," Bracken assured them. "The Sphinx keeps Living Mirage locked down tightly. He wouldn't want any creatures coming and going."
"Won't the wall stop Raxtus from leaving?" Kendra asked.
"Nothing can enter over the wall," Raxtus wheezed. "But most of the defenses ... are focused outward. I don't belong here. Finding a way in ... is the trick. After that, I'm free to leave. Same with you three."
"They're gaining," Warren said.
Kendra was facing forward, so she really had to contort herself to look back at their pursuers. Two of the harpies had climbed higher than them. One was flying lower. Their gaunt, greenish faces glared with determination.
"Don't let them scratch you," Warren cautioned. "I'd rather get bitten by plague tats."
Kendra held her palm against Raxtus, hoping her energy would give him a boost. He had not reverted to his invisible state.
"The one below is trying to cut off a dive," Bracken warned.
"I see her," Raxtus said, sounding flustered. The two above them were quickly gaining. One bared her pointy teeth.
Warren spoke up. "If you drop me from here, could you catch me?"
"Probably," Raxtus said.
"Good enough," Warren said. "Wait for it. Wait for it."
"I'm not going to--"
"Don't argue!" Warren snapped. "Now!"
Raxtus let go of him, then curved into a steep dive. Kendra craned her neck to watch Warren. The harpy below was on a course to intercept him. Plummeting through the air, Warren drew his sword. The harpy tried to swerve away, but with a brutal downward stroke, Warren hacked off a wing as he plunged past her. The momentum from the blow made him spin awkwardly as he fell. The caterwauling harpy went into a spiraling plunge of her own. Shedding feathers, the severed wing descended more slowly.
The desert rushed up toward Kendra with alarming haste. Fully committed to a whistling dive, Raxtus neared Warren, who had righted himself and was now falling spread-eagle like a skydiver. The dragon grabbed Warren and then tried to pull out of the hurtling dive. G-forces tugged dizzyingly as Raxtus wrenched them back toward level flight.
Blackness encroached around the edges of Kendra's vision, and then they were skimming along the ground with her feet inches above parched dirt.
Raxtus slowed, dropping them gently. Beating his wings, the dragon gained altitude and veered off to one side, becoming invisible.
"I take it all back," Bracken said. "I'm glad you have the sword."
"Are you all right?" Kendra asked.
Warren grinned. "I'm surprised to be alive. That would have been a very big belly flop into a very dry pool. Here they come!"
The two remaining harpies were soaring toward them. One was looking over her shoulder, an extended finger tracing the flight path Raxtus had taken. Either she could see him or else she was estimating. The other harpy increased her speed, coming right at them.
"Care to lend me your sword?" Bracken asked.
"I've got her," Warren said, holding the weapon ready. "Watch Kendra."
Bracken took her hand and pulled Kendra back. The harpy who had been tracking Raxtus swerved to one side, wings flailing, talons raised, and was suddenly jostled roughly from the sky. Raxtus flickered into view after the impact. The headless harpy flopped to the arid ground.