Wingborn Read Online Free

rigid
and, unlike the others, surprisingly large as it sprawled across
the ridge; a rarity in a city where space was at a premium. Then
again it was built several hundred feet above the others, so it
could afford to spread out.
    As Mhysra topped the rise and got her first
proper look at it all, she felt both underwhelmed and intimidated
all at the same time. True, the building didn ’ t look like much, but it represented
everything she cared about. Hopes, dreams, disappointments,
despair, honour, courage, power … the list went on. Her legs felt heavier with every
step, and that had nothing to do with the long, winding walk up
from the city.
    “ I
can’ t do this, ” she muttered, her strides getting shorter and slower. Arriving at a
fork in the path, she ducked cowardly off to the left.
    If the headquarters building was
uninspiring, the one she faced now was just disappointing. It
looked like a giant barn perched on the edge of a cliff. Which was
what it was. Except that it wasn ’ t home to any ordinary form of livestock.
    With each step towards the barn, Mhysra felt
lighter until she was practically bouncing. Roof hatches were
propped open around the highest level, letting in the bright winter
sun and letting out high-pitched shrieks, mutters and screams.
Everyday sounds from a miryhl eyrie.
    Grinning, she headed for the door and almost
collided with the man coming out of it. Liquid sloshed from the
bucket in his hand, releasing the unpleasant odour of blood. Mhysra
leapt back with a yelp, barely saving her skirt from a soaking. The
man ’ s boots were not so
lucky.
    He glared at her. “Can’ t you read? ”
    Startled by the harsh tone, Mhysra blinked.
She ’ d only spent eight
days in Nimbys but had already fallen into the habit of being
treated like a lady. No one had dared speak so sharply to her since
she ’ d left the
Lowlands.
    “There.” He
jabbed a callused finger at the sign on the wall. “Shift them big
eyes there and look close.”
    “ Rift Rider property. Keep out! Civilian access by
appointment only ,” she
read aloud, feeling her heart sink again. Gods, she hated this
city.
    “Got an
appointment, have you?” asked the man, smirking.
    Nettled, Mhysra drew herself up to her full
height, putting them eye to eye. “ My brother is a Rift Rider, ” she announced, with all the ceremony she
normally despised.
    The man rubbed his stubbly chin with a hint
of uncertainty, assessing the cut of her clothes. Skirts and
dresses were not her favourite attire, but she had to admit that in
this city they had their advantages.
    “ What’ s his name? ” he demanded, not prepared to admit defeat just
yet.
    “Kilai
Kilpapan.”
    The man wrinkled his nose. “ Kilai? ” he repeated, scratching his head. “ Don ’ t know a Kilai. You sure he ’ s meant to be meeting you? ”
    “ Hardly.” Mhysra chuckled. “He’ s at
Aquila. ”
    Her adversary scowled. “ What you doing looking for him here
then? ” he demanded,
since Aquila was half the Overworld away.
    “ I
wasn’ t, ” Mhysra
told him, trying not to laugh. “ And I never said I was. ”
    Any hint of deference vanished as he dropped
his bucket and folded his arms across his skinny chest, blocking
the door. “ Then what you
wasting my time for? Civilian access by appointment
only . ” He jabbed his
finger at the relevant words.
    Frustrated, Mhysra balled her hands in her
skirts. “ I
don ’ t want
access. ” Since she
clearly wasn ’ t going to
get it. “ I just wanted
to look. ” She edged a
little closer and tried the winsome smile that so often worked for
her older sister. “ Please? ”
    The man shuffled his feet, uncomfortable
with her increasing proximity. Mhysra debated whether or not to bat
her eyelashes. Deciding that it might be too much, she sidled
forwards again, backing the man ever so slowly through the doors
and into the shadows beyond.
    A demanding shriek shattered the gloom,
making them both jump.
    “ No!”
the man