40 Taking a Prey-Ride (1/2)

”It'll be fun,” said BugleHead enthusiastically.

”It is the only logical solution to your conundrum,” HerbGuild added. ”I have no doubt the mermaids would destroy the boat and anyone in it if we attempted to return in that manner.

HoneyBeard was unconvinced.”We do not have an assurance of safety from the harpies once we leave their house.”

Storm snorted. ”That assurance only applied to the evening, anyway.It is now morning.”

”Which is hardly reassuring,” HoneyBeard replied.

”There is bad weather approaching,” Herby said, unconcerned.”We need to cross before it arrives.If you fine ladies will please provide any assurance of the satyr's safety from your dining table, we can move on without plans.”

Lady swift finished packing two functional copies of the prophecy rock into a blanket, fixed with a belt.

Storm smirked. ”You should consider it an honor to get the chance to fly, even if it is a foreshortening journey.

Herby raked her talons on the shingle floor with irritation.”You are not assisting with expediting the mission, my lady.”

”And I've been flying twice before,” HoneyBeard grumbled. ”It's not so great.”

”It's pretty great,” BugleHead muttered.

”He's not as stupid as he looks,” Storm said mildly.Then she poked HoneyBeard in his side causing him to jump about a foot in the air.”But you're still my favorite.”

HoneyBeard walked daintily over the floor to the open area of the pavilion that looked over the cliff.Although they had made a hard journey of it on the way over, the mainland was just visible as a slight blue-green haze on the horizon.

He used to just live in a world surrounded by a river on one side and a mountain on the other. A small, perfect world that met every one of his needs.And as satyrs went, he was considered pretty brave for being willing to go up the mountain yo get the flying leaf or to welcome a new member of the herd from the cave of MotherMirth.