Ashton wasn't surprised to see Lucian already mounted, he was surprised to see nannies also mounted while carrying the two younger children while Serafin and Natasha shared a horse. The Gippsi delegation was the last to come rushing out carrying their supplies. Since all the delegations' carriages and horses were kept in the barrack stables, they had to make a quick detour on foot while the imperials were following on horseback.
Ashton waited off to the side as the delegations' secured packs to horses, there was little chatter as everyone mounted up, the lions and gryphons were pacing around the periphery while they kept the imperials separated from the delegations. Seeing the rest ready, Alexei mounted his lion, waiting for orders.
Agapi and Ashton were at the head of the procession, "Little one," Agapi cautioned as they started down the main road.
Ashton narrowed his eyes, well over a hundred people were protesting at the palace gates. He waved his hands and the gates flew open with a gust of wind. "Leaving would be in your best interest." Ashton called out just loud enough to be heard by the now silent mob.
Agapi sucked in a deep breath as she went on her hind legs, then came down with a crash that sent everyone in front of them flying. "If any step in our path, eat them." Agapi ordered with a screech. The lions and gryphons roared their understanding.
Neolani gripped her spear, her lion had gone up on its hind legs as well when it roared. Ashton hadn't answered any other questions about his haste to leave the capital… and clearly it was serious enough that all the beasts were already on edge.
Ashton's gaze swept through the streets once, then he started walking forward as the rest followed.
Lucian gripped the reins of his horse; Ashton was usually all about protecting the common folk… this rushed escape… Lucian signaled Jaxon who had Monroe's horse tethered to his own.
"Majesty?" Jaxon asked as they pulled forward, while Ashton looked like he was walking his pace was fast enough to keep the horses and lions trotting. The gryphons had taken to the sky and were circling above.
"My heart is beating like earlier, stay close." Lucian warned as he unfastened the strap keeping his sword from falling out. Jaxon and several guards did the same.
After a brief internal struggle, Jaxon released Monroe's reins. "Don't wander off." Jaxon ordered seriously looking back into his brother's eyes.
Monroe gulped as he nodded, he was clutching the reins so hard his hands were white. They trotted all the way to the capital gates… well where there had been gates, now there were just barricades and armed guards.
Ashton drew them to a stop while Agapi kept walking forward until she passed the barricades. Ashton then motioned for Neolani to pass, then Alexei and the children while he watched the ground. Nothing. He walked past the barricades, out of the dragon's nest.
For the first time in months, he was surrounded by the damned, he could see further than a few yards, and the worst of the cold had dissipated. Unfortunately, he couldn't really enjoy the moment.
Neolani watched as Ashton stepped past and just took in a deep breath, "Ash?"
"Nothing, a container of water and sand on the ground." Ashton ordered while the rest waited restlessly.
Neolani quickly placed a small bowl on the ground and poured water inside, Melia did the same with sand. They watched as Ashton nodded, then they both stepped back.
"Forward by delegation," Ashton ordered watching the large bowls. Each delegation passed without so much as a ripple, or even a grain of sand shifting. Ashton narrowed his eyes at the imperials, then nodded for Lucian to proceed.
Lucian's heart was beating so fast he felt as if it were just humming at this point. His spine was also coated in sweat, he kicked his horse lightly, the closer to the gate the harder his heart beat.
Jaxon could see the sweat trickling down Lucian's neck, but his expression stayed the same. His own heart was racing but from tension. If something didn't happen soon…
As soon as Lucian crossed past the barricades there was a ripple in the water. Ashton continued to watch, then as soon as the last imperial guard passed the barricade the ground beneath their feet shifted just enough for the water and sand to move.
Neolani paled, if they hadn't been watching… the subtle shift would have gone unnoticed. She stared at Lucian as her heart started to race… at least one beast was already on the hunt.
Lucian had also seen the movement in the bowls. He'd also felt the ground shift… not an earthquake… but as if something had accidentally shifted the ground while passing. "What was that?" Lucian asked as his heart put on a sprint so abruptly his chest hurt.
Ashton glanced over the imperials with a sardonic smile, "That was the start of the hunt." Ashton nodded to Neolani and Melia, "Mount up, we don't stop until we reach the hunting grounds." Ashton ordered moving to Agapi's side.
"Haste may not be our best option." Agapi warned as her feathers bristled.
Ashton glanced up at the sky and took a deep breath, "Better to settle the lordlings before the beast gives into temptations." Ashton disagreed as he let his soul flames out.
Agapi eyed the youth, his soul form was still ever changing. "We are with you." She swore bowing her head until her beak nearly touched the ground.
"Fly with me Agapi," Ashton called extending his wings and shifting his stance now that his center of balance was higher up.
Agapi flared her wings as she shot up and circled the procession once, even including the imperials. "Do not fall behind." She ordered as she cast a spell to decrease their weight, after the first spell was complete, she cast a second spell so the wind would practically carry them along.
Ashton leapt up, while it wasn't true flight… it was freeing. Ashton only increased his soul armor enough to look proportional, he was only a third the size of Agapi as they started down the main road.
At first Neolani was tense because she thought they were in a rush. With Lady Agapi's spells, they were moving faster than any horse could possibly hope to keep up but… Ashton's sudden playful mood dispelled that notion.
At first Agapi ignored the youth's close encounters, he would dart forward only to barrel roll around her. After the third time she deliberately clipped his wing in passing, she chortled when he nearly fell. Agapi pulled forward by the time he corrected and chased after her with a screech of indignation.
Alexei burst into laughter as Ashton started chasing Agapi around. He was clearly trying to pull at her tail feathers in retaliation but she kept dodging or pulled up sharper than he could keep up even with his smaller body.
Just when Ashton was about to catch Agapi's tail Darvic dove bombed him. Catching the smaller form in his front claws he clutched Ashton close and spiraled straight down. Less than twenty feet from the ground Darvic released, pulling up with a screech of victory. To further bask in his accomplishment, as he flared his wings before darting forward.
Ashton had to cast a gust spell otherwise he'd have hit the ground, he used the current to correct then level out. He kept low to the ground, then let his form burst into flame.
Darvic had been watching so when the youth disappeared, he immediately banked hard to the left, attempting to escape into the tree line, unfortunately the flames appeared right in front of him. Before he could recover from the blinding light, a bird less than half his size planted itself on his face.
Just as Darvic was about to peal him off Ashton shot up, and Darvic crashed into a tree. Ashton let out a victory cry as several trees were toppled. Darvic lay on his back dazed. Ashton looped twice before he shot forward to catch up to the procession again.
"Pretty sure that was cheating!" Alexei called as Ashton continued to trumpet his success. His banking left and right over them looked more like gliding than flying.
Agapi chuckled, "Twas a feat in itself, the little one is a fast learner."
Ashton preened as he passed Neolani and Alexei, his tail feathers may have clipped Alexei's head as he passed, but who's to say?
Lucian had been watching the display, less than 15 minutes they had traveled far enough for the capital to be little more than an outline. Perhaps 30-40 miles, at this pace, they would reach the hunting grounds in an hour or so. His heart rate was all over the place, faster when Ashton was father away, but the closer he was the calmer his heart. As Ashton kept pace overhead his heart finally calmed.
Jaxon wasn't sure how they were all moving so fast, but he was able to encourage his horse to catch up to Lucian, "Majesty?" He called as he kept an eye on Monroe.
"Whatever it is, is avoiding Ashton." Lucian informed while he kept his eyes forward. After another few minutes, whatever had been making his heart race had been left behind.
Jaxon nodded as he started to watch Ashton continue to tease the gryphons, most indulged his game of chase while a few just kept pace while he wove between them. Periodically when one would be close to catching him, he would burst into flames and appear elsewhere as discontented screeches echoed.
Rommel was tracking how quickly they moved, along with Lucian's reactions. While Ashton looked playful… not once did their pace falter, even when the larger male gryphon had crashed. The two younger imperial children were also causing a fuss, Lucian only reprimanded the nannies to keep pace.
Devlin hesitated but fell back to take a large wash basin from a guard. He cast a levitation spell then tied three ropes around it, after tugging dramatically to make sure the basin stayed level, he approached Wyatt's nanny.
The nanny hesitated but after a nod from Concubine Lasvill she slowly released the guard she was clinging to so Mage Devlin could put Prince Wyatt in the basin along with a blanket. The young prince was still crying and thrashing around.
Devlin sighed, but eventually just cast three barriers, one to keep Wyatt from falling out, keep the wind out, and a sound dispersal so the screaming was reduced to mere muffles. The youngest princess was still in swaddling clothes, Concubine Ofelia was personally riding horseback with her daughter.
Her father, Marquis Frances Cologne was a general and had ensured all seven of his children were competent riders. His blue-black hair was bring whipped around in the wind but he made sure to stay right behind his daughter's horse. Princess Samara had been unusually fussy these last several days, yet today she kept watching Lord Reece and reaching out to babble nonsense.
He wasn't close to the Luthiger's or Lasvill's, nor was he an avid supporter of Lucian, but he wasn't a fool who couldn't reed the writing on the walls. Unfortunately, Duke Carlos had been reclusive these last several months… not to mention he'd been informed of rather disturbing news by mage relay this morning.
Ofelia glanced up as her daughter started to babble at the giant bird of fire again. While Samara could say a few words, none of them could understand what she wanted. Often Samara would get so frustrated she would just start to cry until she fell asleep from exhaustion. Ofelia had been hoping her father would be able to meet with Lord Reece privately… but that seemed impossible with all that was happening.
Frances watched as Ofelia carefully tucked the tufts of blue black hair into the swaddle as she galloped at full speed. Luckily she'd kept up with her practice, he also noticed her personal bow and the dagger bestowed on Samara at the new years banquet.
Ofelia jerked her head up when… the most beautiful noise she'd ever heard started. The sound was so unexpected that almost everyone was now watching the sky as Lord Reece… sang.
Alexei's heart started to calm, the wordless song echoed through them. The song was peace… tranquility, safety. The forest which had fallen silent for the first several notes, suddenly ripped as birds as far as the eye could see started to fly up converging on the procession.
Agapi glanced around, while most of the birds were quickly left behind, a few flew into her current and were swept along. This song was not meant for any human, today the little one called for his own.
Ashton had pulled ahead of the group and just let the barest hint of his soul free. His wing and tail feathers lengthened while a few crown feathers separated giving him a less generic bird look.
Zane struggled to not let the peace and comfort of the song sweep away his rational. Forcing himself to focus, he immediately saw the slight change's to Young Song's appearance. Despite the calm of the song, his heart started to race. While before he looked like a long legged Eagle… now his tail feathers alone were three times the length of his body…
Hundreds of birds flocked together, all that could joined in the song. They were welcoming, encouraging, embracing Ashton's ethereal song, many barreling around him.
Zane was shocked to see Yara was also among the flock, while Kira was anxiously begging to follow. His gift from Young Song had provided a link between them, so even though she was dozens of miles away he could hear her pleas. Zane barely agreed when he felt her immediately take flight.
For several minutes Ashton let his soul influence more than just his body. He let the power out and enjoyed the freedom of… everything. He could do it… just take off, leave everything behind. He was a solitary beast, a monarch. There was nothing to stop him… nothing could stop him.
Ashton indulged the thoughts for only a moment, then let the shift from freedom to control be heard. While no one could stop him, he would not lose himself. Now he poured his strength, determination, and endurance into his song as he started to gain altitude.
The gryphons took up formation behind the youth, following not just a leader, not just their lord. They followed a king. They gave their hearts, their devotion, they would give their lives.
Rommel's heart wasn't beating fast… but it was strangely hard… stronger. He barely managed to stay on his horse as he looked up and saw the beast of flame pull forward with all the gryphons and birds following. Then the flames of wings extended then just came to a halt while the rest… just crashed through him.
Neolani kicked her lion to make him run faster, she also added a dual wind spell to further increase his speed. As each bird or gryphon passed through Ashton's flames, his form shrank. The birds immediately flying in all directions. Ashton's form was still aflame but now falling fast.
Lucian watched as he also kicked his war horse forward, Ashton was falling! Before Lucian could order them to part so they wouldn't trample Ashton beneath their horse hooves, a flash of red flames encompassed them all.
Ashton had been watching the sun as he fell, but before he hit the ground he let his body burst into a true soul flame, then regained his soul armor. With one last note of freedom, he ruthlessly took control again as he flew only inches off the ground.
Neolani's heart settled as Ash regained altitude, she fell back to Alexei's side as they continued toward the hunting grounds.
Not even ten minutes later they could see the forest palace, the hundreds of guards and mercenaries had gathered, gawking at the procession.
Devlin could see the commotion even from over four miles away, birds were dive bombing the guards and mercenaries… spells were being interrupted mid-cast. Before he could start a spell Ashton flew darted forward and in the blink of an eye was passing over the palace.