“Confound it, what did I tell you about going up with any-
body but me? ”
She leaned close, and for a moment the emotions were so
strong she couldn’t speak. “Don’t make me say it,” she whis-
pered.
Perhaps he saw the pain in her eyes. Perhaps he heard it in
The Talismans of Shannara 341
her voice. He held her gaze a moment longer, then released her
hands and stepped back. “Just so you don’t ever do it again.
I’ve got a lot of time and effort invested in you.” He cleared
his throat “Let me see to Spirit, make sure there’s no real
damage.”
He spent a few minutes checking the big Roc, hands moving
carefully over the dark feathered body. Spirit watched him with
a fierce eye. When the Wing Rider spoke to him, the Roc
dipped his beak, spread his great wings, and shook himself.
Satisfied, Tiger Ty beckoned her over. He gave the bird a
proud glare. “He would have won. you know,” he said gruffly.
Wren didn’t say anything for a moment. Then she smiled. “I
thought he did.”
Tiger Ty helped her aboard and strapped her in. He stroked
Spirit appreciatively, nodded to himself, and joined her. Wren
glanced out across the night-frozen landscape, empty and still
save where Gloon’s remains smoldered and steamed. She felt
light-headed and worn, but she felt alive, too. The effects of
the Elven magic lingered, racing through her like sparks of
fire.
She had survived again, she thought, and wondered how
long she could keep doing it.
“They’re not going to win,” she said suddenly. “I won’t let
them.”
He did not ask her what she meant. He did not speak at all.
He just looked at her and nodded once. Then he whistled Spirit
into the air, and the great bird rose and flew swiftly away into
the dark.
XXIX