Free The Realms of the Gods by Tamora Pierce Page A

Stormwing. “We thought your Queen Barzha would finish Ozorne once he was a Stormwing. Instead, he shows up in the spring with our enemies, and hundreds of Stormwings at his back.”
    â€œTwo hundred and forty-eight Stormwings to be exact,” Rikash said bitterly. “Those who did not care that he held a queen and her mate captive. Those who ignore the fact that he took his Stormwing crown by killing Jokhun from behind. Those without regard for Stormwing law. They are the army that followed him to the mortal realms.” He laughed. “Queen Barzha and her followers are fugitives, Daine. We stayed in the Divine Realms when the barriers fell. Here, at least, we are partly safe from Ozorne and his flock.”
    Ignoring his pronounced odor, Daine put a comforting hand on the Stormwing’s shoulder. “I’m sorry to hear it. How are Queen Barzha and Lord Hebakh?”
    â€œTired,” replied the immortal. “As am I. Ozorne sends groups back to harry us. It is not enough to have most of us as followers—those who will not follow, he wants dead.”
    â€œHow many are on your side of it?”
    Rikash shook his head, making the bones in his hair clatter. “Sixty-three, in all.” He tried a smile; it was half bitter. “Don’t take us to task for not killing him. We’ve tried our best.”
    Daine sighed. “We humans haven’t done so well at it, ourselves.”
    Sarra, Weiryn, and Numair came out, carrying their lunch, as the three animal gods materialized at theirplaces by the table. With Rikash positioned downwind so that his odor wouldn’t spoil their dinner, the plates and bowls were passed.
    â€œHas anyone thought of a way that we can go home?” asked Numair.
    â€œThere is none,” growled Weiryn. “The Great Gods are speaking to no one as long as Uusoae fights them.”
    Daine moved the food on her plate. “What about the animal gods? I came here last fall, while I was in Carthak. You took me back to the mortal realms then, Badger.”
    â€œNot possible,” replied the great animal. “You were dead then. All I had to do was put you back into your mortal body. With both of you still alive, not all of the animal gods together could move you between the realms.”
    â€œYou are far better off here with your mother,” said Weiryn. “If you insist on leaving, then wait until the fall equinox, when the gates open for the likes of us and you. And there’s one of those things again!” he cried as the darking oozed onto the table, having climbed up Daine’s leg.
    â€œLeave it be, Da,” she told him. “It’s not hurting anyone.”
    Stretching to make itself taller, the darking changed. Up came a serpentlike neck, supporting a wedge-shaped head. The body the darking made was long and slender, with powerful hindquarters and long forepaws that were as nimble as hands. Two great wings unfurled out of the blot’s shoulders.
    â€œDragons,” Rikash said. “This creature is right, whatever it is. They might very well take you back. You have been looking after their young one.”
    â€œYou mean for my daughter to journey to the Dragonlands? Absolutely not,” Weiryn snapped. “It’s too risky.”
    â€œThey might refuse to help,” Queenclaw pointed out.“I never met a dragon that wasn’t perverse—they’re worse than we cats. Even the Great Gods can’t force a dragon to do anything it doesn’t wish to.”
    â€œI’m almost positive they will do it,” said Rikash, bating. “Don’t forget, we Stormwings know them best—our eyries border on the Dragonlands. They are proud. One or two of Skysong’s kin will feel they must repay you for what you’ve done, and one is all you need to go home.” He looked at Numair and grinned. “Well, it may take two. There’s so much extra of one of you.”
    The