The Hills of Home (The Song of the Ash Tree Book 2) Read Online Free Page B

kind carve in your ships is a memory, nothing more.”
    “Then this is?”
    “A younger, smaller cousin, you could say.”
    “What do you call it?”
    “That is not for you to know.” It was said without threat or judgment.
    The creature stretched its neck and the rider patted it twice before sliding to the ground. He stepped closer to Raef but said nothing, his eyes roaming over Raef from head to toe.
    “Am I as strange to you as you are to me?” Raef asked.
    “No one who calls Midgard home has set foot here since the early days, long before your histories begin.”
    “Where is here?” Raef’s voice was soft.
    “Alfheim.”
    Home of the light alfar and only sparsely recounted in the stories from Raef’s childhood. He knew little of the place or those who dwelled in it. “And what do you want with me?”
    “What makes you think I want something from you?”
    “You ride that creature across the sky and descend on me as a falcon does its prey. How could I think otherwise?”
    The light in the alf’s grey eyes faded. “I must bring you to the others.”
    “Then I am your prey.”
    “I bear you no ill will. We do not allow strangers to roam freely.”
    “Why now? Why not drag me off when I was half dead? I could not have stopped you.”
    The alf looked at Raef as though this were an odd question. “You needed to live first.”
    “And if I refuse to go?”
    He whistled sharply and the creature rose up, spreading its wings wide. “Would you refuse him?”
    The creature’s smooth, leathery skin shone under the sun, the color of the ever-changing ocean splashed with burnished gold. The sunset eyes watched Raef and a low sound emanated from deep within the beast’s throat.
    “If I had a sword, I might.”
    “But you do not,” the alf said, his voice now harsh. He whistled again, a different call this time, and the creature was upon Raef, wings and clawed feet extended. Raef ducked and tried to roll under its belly, but the beast twisted with ease and pinned Raef to the ground with one foot.
    “I do not want to hurt you.”
    Raef kept still, one sharp claw pressed into his throat. “There is more you do not say.”
    He nodded. “I do not know what will happen to you. But still I must bring you. It is our way.” The alf touched the creature’s neck and it released Raef in one fluid motion. Raef stood, not removing his eyes from the stranger’s.
    “What do I call you?”
    “For now, nothing.” He did not ask Raef’s name but instead reached up to his mount’s back and pulled himself astride. Raef took his extended hand and climbed up behind him. The creature rolled its shoulders and unfolded its wings in anticipation of flight. Raef, despite his predicament, felt a tremor of excitement. If a command was uttered or the creature urged in any way, it was invisible to Raef. He only knew that one moment the ground was close, the next it was vanishing underneath them as strong wings propelled them toward the sun.
    They soared, they dove, they danced, and for Raef it was over all too soon, though they had covered a great distance. They descended into a narrow valley, closed on all sides and guarded by sentinel trees that rose above the rest. It was quiet there and it seemed to Raef a forest full of memory as they dismounted from the creature’s back. The beast took to the air at once and soon disappeared from sight.
    “This way. We continue on foot from here.” The alf led the way and the forest seemed to come alive with every step he took until Raef was certain he heard singing. The voices were soft and wordless and Raef stopped and looked for them among the treetops.
    “What is that singing?”
    The alf seemed surprised. “Do not your trees sing to welcome you home?”
    Raef raised his eyebrows and shook his head. “A sorrowful welcome, is it not?”
    “Sorrow? I hear only joy.” The alf furrowed his brow for a moment but then motioned for Raef to continue. “I should warn you. Others will not