Fireclaws - Search for the Golden Read Free Page B

processed what I had said. “No, Ryliss, this is an emergency! Alex and Maya need to see you right away. They’re in their room, so c’mon, let’s fly!”
    Crap! I patted my puma on the head and directed her to wait in our quarters, watching her amble archly off. She made a special point of veering close to some of the merchants on the way and I’m pretty sure was the direct cause of some mysterious puddles appearing on the cobblestone street. Ducking out of sight behind a tack shed, I started the mental vision process and willed myself to become a black bird. My clothes morphed into feathers, as I shrunk, nose and mouth became a beak, and long elf legs shortened to mere stubs of bone and claw. Change complete, I took off after Nia. Pixies are slow flyers over long distances, and I caught up to her before we were even halfway up to the magnificent keep lording over the back of Sky Raven. Landing on the stone balcony which led to the Royal rooms, I ducked down so that I was mostly shielded from sight by the ornate railings and changed back. Smoothing my hair down as best I could and hoping my appearance wasn’t too outlandish for royalty, I reached out, and tapped politely on the glass.
    A few seconds later, Queen Maya herself opened the door and immediately enveloped me in a strong wordless hug and kiss on the cheek. The king stood just inside the door and mustered a weak grin. Whatever was bothering them had to be intensely personal as concern was etched on both their faces. Mentally, I took note that as usual, neither of them were dressed in royal fashions. Alex was wearing his standard Enchanter robe, and Maya a serviceable leather doublet over thick leggings and high boots. Honestly, they looked like people you would see on the street in any decent-sized town of this world.
    King Alex was holding Belle, their little girl, seated on his massive arm with her arms possessively around his neck. She was a little over four years of age now and born with her mother’s exquisite beauty and her father’s magic. Alex stepped closer and Belle stretched out to give me a sweet kiss, did I mention she was also a charmer?
    I’m pretty sure my face turned a few shades darker in embarrassment. Getting so much attention from your King, Queen, and Princess while you still have the dust and stink of the trail on your body was just wrong in my book. I bowed and went to one knee, trying to maintain decorum, just as Nia flew in and silently perched on Alex’s shoulder.
    “Pardon my appearance, your majesties, but Nia said it was urgent.”
    “Ryliss, you are a true sister to me.” Maya smiled, a small relieved tear running down her cheek and pulled me to my feet. “Why is it every time you come back from a mission you are so formal? It takes me a week or better to get you back to just calling me Maya, and then you leave again.”
    I grinned and took an over-excited Belle from Alex, cuddling her in my arms and rocking her gently back and forth. The curly-haired little Enchanter put a hand alongside my face and giggled. “Auntie Ryliss, I lost two teeth while you were gone…see?” She displayed her most horrifying grin, complete with vacancies. “At this rate, I’ll be rich enough to buy a pony soon.”
    “Rich?” I said aghast, looking at Maya for support. “Has someone been filling your head with that ‘tooth fairy’ nonsense again? Every dark elf knows that it is the Black Squirrel of Falworth that steals the teeth of children at night.”
    “And what does the Squirrel do with the teeth, then?” Belle said wide-eyed.
    “He puts them into a magical knothole in the biggest oak of the forest, and when he has them all, he waits and waits. When the child is older, a spirit animal, be it wolf, snake, bear or even Jag’uri, answers the call of the child’s soul. But since it is a spirit, it has no teeth in the real world, so it must go to the Squirrel to be judged. If the child and the spirit animal are worthy, the spirit