.
The ersatz Mayard and true Rhiann made their way to the waiting Cloudmares and Lennard.
The Shapechanger Lennard said, “You look like Rhiann and I look like you. Syrrth will expect to carry me and you should ride Urra. I suppose you’ll want to remain with Syrrth. Urra carried Rhiann before. Shyrra has no Lennard to carry. Wait!”
Beautiful Syrrth abruptly flew away.
Lennard mused, “Why’d Syrrth leave and Shyrra stay? Guess it doesn’t really matter. We ought to get going. We should try to get to Low Gap before dark.”
The Cloudmare Urra sent a silent message to Rhiann, “I’ll continue to carry you, young sorcerer. Your ruse is wasted on me. I see into your mind. Mayard’s business is his own, and I learned long ago not to question your uncle’s actions. Think what you want to say to me.”
Urra with Rhiann and Shyrra with the Shapechanger-formerly Lennard-now copy Mayard flew away from the Hanging Gardens. Rhiann snuggled into Urra’s soft plush hide and held on tightly.
Urra sent another silent message, “Are you going to follow us to Thynna?”
The invisible siren Maranna silently replied, “Yes, Urra. Mayard has asked me to watch over him. He is powerful, but very inexperienced.”
Urra sent back the message, “Maranna, what sort of experience do you plan to offer him?”
Maranna replied, “I don’t appreciate what you are implying, my friend. I only have his best interest in mind. I maneuver easily in Thynna. Most sorcerers don’t oft employ Detect Invisibility” spells.”
Urra continued, “Mayard’s plans oft perplex me. I’ll bear the youth back to Thynna, but the Copper Mountain folk will not welcome my sort. Our presence will be counterproductive to Mayard’s plan.”
Maranna said, “All these years, Urra, and I still don’t understand telepathy. How does young Rhiann not “hear” us?”
Urra said matter-of-factly, “I’m not thinking to or about him.”
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