Free Falcons of Narabedla by Marion Zimmer Bradley

he had helped, too. His weakness had won Narayan’s confidence. Well, one thing I knew, that futile idiot should not share the coming triumph. Nor should Narayan.
    Narayan—fumbling in my pocket, I touched something smooth and hard. Evarin’s mirror. Narayan, looking over my shoulder as I dragged it out, asked curiously “What’s that?”
    I pulled it out with a secret smile. “One of Evarin’s toys. Look at it, if you like.”
    Narayan took it in his hand for a moment, without, however, untwisting the silk. “Go ahead,” I urged, “Unwrap it.”
    I might have sounded too eager. Abruptly Narayan handed it back. “Here. I don’t know anything about Evarin.”
    I had to conceal my disappointment. With a feigned indifference I thrust it back into the pocket. It did not matter. One way or another, Narayan would lose. For Evarin and Karamy rode a-hunting today—and I knew what their game would be!

CHAPTER EIGHT
    Falcons of Evarin
    I pulled my cloak closer about me, prickling with excitement, as I knelt between Raif and Kerrel in the tree-platform. Just beneath me, Narayan clung to a lower branch. My ears picked up the ring of distant hooves on frozen ground, and I smiled; I knew every nuance of this hunt, and Evarin might find his deadly birds not so obedient to his call today. Not a scrap of me remembered another world where a dazed and bewildered man had flown at a living bird with his pocketknife.
    Coldly I found myself considering possibilities. A snare there must be; but who: Narayan himself? No; he was my only protection until I got clear of this riffraff. Besides, if he ever unsheathed his power, unguarded like this, he could drain me as a spider sucks a trapped fly. No; it would have to be Raif. I had a grudge against the fat man, anyway. I pulled at his sleeve. “Wait here for me,” I said cunningly, and made as if to leave the platform. Raif walked smiling into the trap. “Here, Adric! Narayan gave orders you weren’t to run into any danger!”
    Good, good! I didn’t even have to order the man to his death; he volunteered. “Well,” I protested, “We want a scout out, to carry word when they come.” As if we wouldn’t know!
    â€œI’ll go,” Raif said laconically, and leaned past me, touching Narayan’s shoulder. He explained in a whisper—we were all whispering, although there was no reason for it—and Narayan nodded. “Good idea. Don’t show yourself.”
    I held back laughter. As if that would matter!
    The man swung down into the road. I heard his footsteps ring on the rock; heard them diminish, die in distance. Then—
    A clamoring, bestial cry ripped the air; a cry that seemed to ring and echo up out of hell, a cry no human throat could compass—but I knew who had screamed. That settled the fat man. Narayan jerked around, his blonde face whiter. “ Raif! ” The word was a prayer.
    We half-scrambled, half-leaped into the road. Side by side, we ran down the road together.
    The screaming of a bird warned me. I looked up—dodged quickly—over my head a huge scarlet falcon, wide-winged, wheeled and darted in at me. Narayan’s yell cut the air and I ducked, flinging a fold of cloak over my head. I ripped a knife from my belt; slashed upward, ducking my head, keeping one arm before my eyes. The bird wavered away, hung in the air, watching me with live green eyes that shifted with my every movement. The falcon’s trappings were green, bright against the scarlet wings.
    I knew who had flown this bird.
    The falcon wheeled, banking like a plane, and rushed in again. No egg had hatched these birds! I knew who had shaped these slapping pinions! Over one corner of my cloak I saw Narayan pull his pistol-like electro-rod, and screamed warning. “Drop it—quick!” The birds could turn gunfire as easily as could Evarin himself, and if the falcon drew one