The Arrival (Birthright Trilogy #1) by Nicole MacDonald Page A

hard, lowered my sword and forced a smile, inclining my head.
    'Hi. Your timing is impeccable, it’s most appreciated. My name is Catherine; this is Laura, Kassandra, and Sian.'
    The girls managed tight smiles.
    'And this.' I stepped to the side, 'Is my dog Audrey.'
    Audi wagged her tail at her name.
    'And that,' I pointed upward, watching their eyes follow the gesture. 'Is Kassandra’s cat Lucky.'
    Lucky meowed plaintively from the branches above. The silence happened again while they stared at us and the animals for a moment.
    'Do you usually take your cat with you?' queried one of the men, Gredel I think. He had light hair and was a tall heavy-set man with an open face.
    Kassie shook her head, 'No sir, but then we never expected to be in this situation.'
    There was another silence as the men studied us. They seemed to be communicating though no one said a word.
    More than a little creepy. I exchanged a concerned look with Kassie. What happens next?
    Rumal watched the small woman or girl who’d just spoken. He’d assumed they were older when they first spotted them. They were very experienced fighters but the one that had spoken to Gredel, Kassandra, that was her name, seemed younger now he could see her.
    ‘What’s happening now?’ Kerak demanded, he was excited to be involved in all this.
    ‘Ask Loushka if we should set up camp.’ Rumal requested.
    ‘Loushka says Alek agrees.’
    ‘Thanks, Kerak.’
    Loi shifted her weight to the other foot, the air was still tense though it seemed as though their rescuers meant no harm. Deciding to be direct about it, she spoke up
    'How is it you come to be here? In the middle of a storm? In the middle of the night, no less?'
    Alek hesitated at the blunt demand. He’d expected it but had hoped it might be when the sun was up and they were rested. The Sorceress Elena ordered the Griffon Guard to leap to this place only a couple of hours ago and their griffons were exhausted, though exhilarated, from the feat. They’d never leapt so far before, but Elena was adamant they got here before anything bad happened.
    He stared at the one who’d spoken.
    'We were told that some people were in need of help in this direction. Why don’t we discuss this more when the sun is up? I’m sure you could use a few hours sleep.'
    Loi looked astonished at his answer.
    I nodded, 'Fine.'
    Turning my back on the men and griffons, I walked to where we’d stashed our bags. The others joined me and we began to dig. I heard footsteps and whirled around to find blue eyes rather close to mine, staring curiously.
    'Urk!' I fell on my backside, startling Alek.
    What? Hasn’t he heard of personal space?
    'Oh I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to surprise you,' Alek offered a hand to the red haired girl, drat what was her name? Oh Catherine, that was right.
    Catherine stared at his hand a moment then took it. He nearly jerked back at the snap of electricity that passed between them, but kept his grip and pulled her to her feet. She came to shoulder height on him, she’d seemed taller from a distance.
    'Sorry,' I grinned up at him. 'I have high body electricity when I’m hyped up.'
    I watched in amusement as he mouthed the phrase “hyped up” then focused his brilliant blue gaze on me.
    Ooooh pretty.
    'Why are you digging?'
    Alek stared at me and for some weird reason I couldn’t seem to get a grip on any words.
    I could hear the rational voice in my head bellowing at me, oh for goodness sake Cat, he’s going to think you’re a total moron.
    Sabyn snorted in amusement at the sight of the redheaded girl gazing at Alek.
    ‘Looks like Alek’s charmed another,’ he thought to Tomiar.
    ‘Leave the poor girl alone,’ Tomiar admonished him. ‘She’s just exhausted that’s all.’
    Sian turned back to see Cat gaze at Alek in a somewhat awed manner.
    Ooh no, she thought and marched over, giving Cat a shake to snap her out of her reverie, then shot Alek a hard look
    'You’ll have to forgive her; she’s