Free The Battle Sylph by L. J. McDonald

in. Devon started in surprise. They’re at my old master’s house, on the edge of the village.
    “What? They’re with Father?” His grip tightened on his knife, his face frightened, and she danced a sigh, pretty sure she knew what was coming next. Devon would deny it, but he really was the type to run to the rescue. Donal Chole was an old man now, but a battler would still see him as a threat. It actually bothered Airi a bit as well, if not in the same way. As long as that battler was left alone with his female, everyone else would be fine. If someone threatenedhim—or worse, her—he would turn the village into a crater.
    Donal had worked around battlers. He knew better than to threaten them, provided he was aware of what he had in his house. But he might not realize he’s got a battler, Airi admitted.
    That did it. “We’re going there,” Devon decided, standing and grabbing his pack.
    You plan to fight a battler?
    Devon almost gagged. “Oh gods, no! I just want to make sure Father’s okay.” He grabbed his sword and buckled it on. “I have time off coming to me. Let’s go rent a horse.” Airi could carry him if she must, but such a trip always terrified him and exhausted her. She knew he was really worried whenever he asked her to carry him.
    Devon went to let his superiors know he would be away for a while. Airi drifted along behind him, dancing around a few other sylphs in the hall as she did, communicating through touch and motion, since they weren’t allowed to speak. After centuries of slavery, though, they’d found ways around the rules, and she reacquainted herself with her friends, whether originally from her hive or not, before following her master out the door, headed for the main road that led east and then north.
    Leon carried his saddlebags outside, his sword strapped across his back along with his bow. With Ril he didn’t really need weaponry, but he’d never been a man to risk being unprepared.
    The bird sat on Lizzy’s shoulder, preening her hair while the girl looked up tearfully at her father. “Do you have to go so soon?” All of her sisters had been left inside, their screams of protest too loud for Leon to handle. He’d given them his good-byes and his hugs, but they were still screaming. Betha put a hand on Lizzie’s back, shaking her head.
    “You know I have to leave,” he told Lizzy wearily, tying on the saddlebags. “Don’t whine.”
    “But—”
    “I mean it,” he warned, and went to lift Ril off her shoulder.
    The battler snapped at him, and Leon jerked his hand back with a curse. “Ril! Behave!” The bird hissed but let himself be taken. Perhaps, Leon thought, he shouldn’t let the battler play with his daughters; Ril got more unruly each time he was taken away from them. But when Leon saw his daughter’s tearful face, he relented. She’d never forgive him if he took her pet away.
    “I’ll be back soon,” he promised her, then kissed Betha. “A few days only, I hope.”
    Turning, he mounted his horse and rode out the gate, waving back at his wife as he went. She waved in return.
    Lizzy ran alongside her father’s horse until he left the grounds, but then he coaxed the animal into a canter. With the manor behind him, Leon again felt Ril’s stare and felt the hate, the blistering, terrible loathing the battler harbored for him. Sometimes it lessened. Sometimes, when they were alone in the woods and no one else was there, it was gone, and Leon could almost be sure he felt other emotions from his battler, but now it was as bright and sharp as ever.
    His horse whinnied in fright, trying to leap sideways, and Leon sighed wearily. “Thanks, Ril,” he grumbled sarcastically. “It’s always good to have you back.”
    Climbing down from the attic, Heyou listened to the men’s voices at the front of the house. Mr. Chole was saying Solie wasn’t there, but he was a terrible liar. Heyou heard him stammer and walked up beside him. The old man yelped and jumped