Free Wingborn by Becca Lusher Page A

get
permission? ” Derrain
asked, from where he was lounging in the doorway.
    “ Two
very long years,” Milluqua agreed from her seat on an upturned
bucket, as she checked the braiding on Ripple’ s reins. A
lady she might be, but she ’ d also been raised in practical Wrentheria.
    “ You
didn’ t have to live with his sulking, ” Mherrin groaned. “ How we suffered! ”
    Milluqua sniffed. “ You didn ’ t have to put up with the earl ’ s disapproval. ”
    “ At
least it isn’t aimed at you,” Mhysra grumbled, attacking
Ripple’ s tail. “ It will never be aimed at you. ”
    “ Bitterness does not become you, dearest,” Derrain cooed,
ducking the brush she threw at his head. The puppy barked and
strained her lead to reach it. “ Here you go, bumbling pup. ” Derrain gave her the brush and she
settled down with it between her paws, tail wagging, teeth
chomping.
    “ You
can’ t give her that! ” Mhysra snatched it away. “ She ’ ll break it. ”
    “ You
shouldn’ t have thrown it then. Bumble might get
hurt. ”
    While
they bickered, Milluqua handed the bridle to her cousin. “Tell
Mhylo to take better care of his tack – this braiding is badly
frayed. Ripple’ s a good mare, but it ’ s not something you want unravelling
mid-flight. ”
    “ Thanks,
Milli. I’ ll let him know, not that he ’ ll be grateful. Lazy git. ” Kissing her cheek, Mherrin began
tacking up. When Mhysra put Ripple ’ s saddle on, he caught her eye over the
horsat ’ s back. “ You are going to hand
that letter in, aren ’ t
you? ”
    “Depends,” she
mumbled. Her cousin raised his eyebrows and she focused on the
buckles. Since he was the one who’d forged her father’s signature,
he should have been the one advising caution. After all, he would
have the most to lose if they were caught. Then again, Mherrin had
never had much sense. Whereas she probably had too much misdirected
honour. “I just wish they’d say yes. It doesn’t feel right starting
out this way.”
    Her cousin gave a cheerful shrug. “ More fool them. And
more fool you. ” He
tweaked her nose. “ I
can ’ t see why
you ’ d want to work with
those toffs, but since you do and it ’ s what Cumulo needs, good luck to you,
cuz. ”
    “ And
you.” Ducking under Ripple’ s neck, she threw her arms around
Mherrin. He was her
favourite cousin and she ’ d miss him. The past four days had been horrible
and full of arguments, but Mherrin had made it bearable. He could
always cheer her up.
    “ Don’ t get dismal now, ” he murmured, and she smiled.
    “Watch your
back.” She slapped him between his shoulder blades. “A lone flyer
is always vulnerable, especially on a horsat.”
    He rolled his eyes as he pulled away. “ I ’ ve flown even more than you, Wingborn. I
think I can take care of myself. ”
    “Make sure you
do,” Milluqua said sternly, coming over to neaten his collar. “I’d
be displeased if anything happened to you.”
    Mherrin glanced despairingly at Derrain. “ Girls! ”
    Derrain smirked but wisely said nothing, as
he untied Bumble and moved aside so that Ripple could leave her
stall unmolested. “ Fast
winds and clear skies. ”
    “ T ry not to die of boredom at the selection
school. ” Once outside,
Mherrin hopped into the saddle and tucked his knees beneath
Ripple ’ s wings. The
horsat shivered all over and pranced with readiness. “ Until next time! ” At Mherrin ’ s signal, Ripple lifted her head and galloped for
the takeoff ramp, wings unfurling. One beat, two, she hit top speed
and leapt.
    For a moment they hung weightless over the
sheer drop to the Cloud Sea, hundreds of feet below, then the wind
caught beneath Ripple and she soared. Spiralling on the updraft,
leathery wings spread wide, she circled and rose with each lazy
flap. With a final wave, Mherrin gathered his reins and Ripple
powered forward, legs galloping on the air, and away they went.
    Mhysra sighed, wishing she could go too. She
missed