The shrill scream cut through the blue sky sharply like an
arrow. Everyone in the party cringed and shivered as the sound was even worse
than the classic ‘nails on chalkboard’. “Harpies…” Walker growled, “Why did it have
to be harpies?”
“Got some grudge against harpies?” Shade asked him, “I mean
more than the normal hatred everyone has of them?”
“I just…” Walker clenched his teeth, “I hate harpies.”
“What’re they doing this far north, I wonder?” Callie asked
as she looked across the barren landscape in front of them. “No trees or
mountains around here for them to make a good home.”
“Probably being pushed out of their homes by the jade mines
farther south of here.” Rede told her, “I remember when I was in the Kings’
council that the harpies there were quite a concern. Kanith never went to deal
with them though as the harpies had quite the defense set up.”
“You thinking the new King Lance went for it?” Callie asked
him.
“He’s all about money. Doesn’t give a shit about the
soldiers he’d lose just to increase the size of those mines.” Rede sighed,
“It’s the best explanation I can think of at least.”
“If the harpies are being pushed up here, then they’ll be starved and pissed.” Walker said, “They see us, they’ll attack.” Another shriek shot across the land.
“Unless…” Shade spoke quietly to himself as he pondered.
“Unless what?” Callie asked him.
Shade shook his head, “No…it’s a bad idea that none of you
would like.”
Walker smirked, “Well when you word it like that…I already
like it.”
“It’s risky and I can’t say for certain it would even work.”
Shade told them, “Forget about it.”
“Come on man, or woman, whatever you want to be called…”
Rede sighed feeling embarrassed, “What is it?”
“Just spit it out, Shade.” Callie said.
“Oh fine.” Shade relented, “I was just thinking of how
harpies do have basic communication skills. Often times those that live near
humans can speak about as well as our lovely Gorgos.”
“You-…you…you-” Walker licked his lips while endlessly
blinking, “You wanna what?”
Shade chuckled, “Theoretically we could talk to them. In
fact they would probably be more likely to talk to us if we had Gorgos do the
communicating for us. No offence, love,” He looked over at her, “But that way
they won’t feel nearly as insignificant.”
Gorgos smiled and nodded at him, “Gorgos help. No mind.”
“Okay, but…what good would talking to them do?” Callie
asked. “Also why would they want to talk to us?”
Shade shrugged, “Can’t say I know for certain, but I’m sure
we could negotiate some sort of safe passage deal.” He paused for a second, “If
what Rede says is true, than there will be…what…hundreds of harpies up here?”
“Thousands.” Rede told him, “Thousands upon thousands. The
only larger harpy nest we knew of was their home aerie with their Queen.”
Shade whistled impressed, “So a safe passage deal would be
very…VERY helpful.”
“Probably.” Rede nodded at him.
Walker stood there shaking his head in disbelief,
“We’re…we’re going to try and talk-no not talk, actually communicate and make a
deal with harpies?” He pulled on his hair, “I’d rather try to deal with mimics
civilly.”
“Yo man,” Callie looked over at him, “What did the harpies
do to you?”
Walker threw his hands up, “Nothing! Nothing at all! I
just-I just can’t stand them. I just can’t.”
“Well, we need you to keep it together for us,” Shade told
him, “Just stand by us and remain silent for the whole thing.”
Walker sighed heavily and gathered his composure,
“Mmkay…mmkay…”
“Good, good. So…Gorgos,” Shade turned over to her, “We need
you to try and talk to the first harpy we run across. All we want is safe
passage through this area, ask what they’d want in return. You’re smart enough
to know if it’s a viable option for us.” Shade took a deep breath, “You’ll be
on your own, we don’t want to overwhelm them with too many people trying to talk,
so it’ll be just you and your judgment. You got this?”
Gorgos smiled widely at him, “Gorgos won’t let down.”
Shade smiled back, “I know you won’t.” He turned back to
Callie and Rede, “Nothing else to do besides walk for now.” A third sharp
scream filled the air.
Callie shrugged and nodded at him before continuing to lead
them across the barren landscape. It didn’t take long for them to spot harpies
flying in the distance. There was no cover on the land here; they knew the
harpies had to have spotted them. That assumption was confirmed as a red
feathered harpy faced them, screeched getting the attention of the flock, and
proceeded to lead them at a barreling pace towards the party.
Dozens of harpies landed around them while a handful more
circled above. The harpies on the ground skittered across the land with
anticipation while they constantly hissed and chirped. Gorgos slowly held her
hands up at the red one who had originally spotted them, “No fight! No fight!”
She pointed at the harpy, “Talk. Trade. Make deal.” She shook her head, “No
fight. Friends.”
The red harpy glanced around at its comrades before stepping
forwards. It pointed at Callie and Rede, “Humans take land.” It hissed at her,
“Kill many of us. Why talk to you?”
“Want safe travel. Willing to trade for it.” Gorgos told
her, “Not involved with human king.” She pointed at Rede, “Wanted killed by
king.”
The harpy looked over at Rede, “King want dead?” She asked
him inquisitively.
Rede nodded at her, “Yes.”
The harpy narrowed its eyes at him for a few long seconds
before speaking up, “Dislike human king?”
“Yes.” Rede said again, “Hate him.”
The harpy smiled showing its razor sharp teeth as it looked
back at Gorgos, “Safe travel? We starve, we die, we wither away. We angry, want
food…you food.”
“No wish fight,” Gorgos told her, “Will defend. Please.
Trade.”
The harpy took a deep breath and started to chirp with the
others around them. After a while of communicating with its brethren it faced
Gorgos again, “You. Stay put. I return with…smarter.”
Gorgos nodded at her, “We stay. We wait.”
“Good.” The harpy quickly took off and flew away.
“I don’t like this…” Rede whispered as they waited.
“It’s our best hope.” Shade told him, “We should be thankful
we got this far. I halfway expected them to go into a frenzy when we tried to
talk to them.”
Rede sighed at her, “That doesn’t make me feel any more
comfortable.”
“Be like Walker, just close your eyes and pretend it isn’t
happening then.” Callie chuckled, “Don’t worry, I won’t judge you too harshly.”
Rede grumbled and ignored her.
It took quite some time, but soon enough the harpies started
to move out of the way as multiple armored harpies with blade like claws landed
and formed an empty circle. Rede quickly
looked at Shade, “I told you-“
“STOP!” Shade quickly interrupted him while his eyes widened
in shock. With the formation the new harpies had established, a new, large and
gorgeous, green and blue plumed harpy landed in the middle of them. All of the
harpies, besides the guards, immediately lowered their heads in respect at the
newest arrival. “Bow!” Shade hissed at everyone. “Bow!!” She again said with
urgency as she bowed.
Walker was the first to obey, and soon afterwards the other
three awkwardly followed. The guards nearest to them parted and allowed the
large, but graceful harpy, to walk closer to the party, “Which one of you is
the leader?” She asked in a scratchy voice.
They all looked at each other confused for a few seconds
before Gorgos spoke back up, “No leader. We…equals.”
The harpy chuckled at her, “No need to talk so basic with
me, dear, I know your language.” She looked at Shade, “You know who I am?”
Shade shook his head at her, “I can recognize a harpy
princess when I see one.” He smiled at her, “It is an honor to meet you.”
“You are smarter than the rest of them?” She asked.
Shade shook his head again, “Only in some subjects.”
She nodded at him, “So…you want safe passage through these
lands from my broken brood?”
“We know we couldn’t stand against so many of your kind,”
Shade told her, “So yes, we are trying to acquire safe passage.”
Amused, she quickly exhaled at him, “I give one choice.
Either you face the wrath of my personal
guard right now to become food for my flock, or…or you help reclaim our
home. That is the only way I can guarantee you safety from my harpies.”
“Wait you-“
“SILENCE human!” The harpy princess hissed at Rede
violently. Rede shut up immediately and swallowed his words in fear. She turned
back to Shade, “So, do we have a deal?”
“Push the humans back to where they were, out of your home?”
Shade asked her.
“Yes, and then you can go wherever you were headed without
any trouble from my flock.” She smiled sinisterly at him.
Shade took a deep breath, “Well, can’t say I like that idea
much, but it’s better than the other option you’re giving us right now.” He
forced a chuckle, “You have yourself a deal.”
She chattered excitedly, “Good! Good! Come, follow us. Do
not worry, we will fly slowly so you can follow. We will take you to the
mines.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No comments:
Post a Comment