Chapter Text
“Welcome to the Highlands, branchers!”
All-Courier Liyah strode up to the pair of new apprentices on the deck of the Yellow Audron, bright against the weathered wood in their new coats. They stood up straighter as she approached, as if they hadn’t just had their heads together whispering over Nomad.
“So, Captain’s asked me to give you two a little demonstration. I take it you’re good an’ familiar with bird harness about now, right?”
“Yes, Courier,” the shorter one said immediately, trying unsuccessfully to tuck wispy mouse-brown hair under her cap and out of her face.
“Name, kid?”
“Risal Bowercall.”
“Alright, Risal, point ‘em out for me.” Liyah whistled Nomad over and the big red kite obligingly left off the preening scattering bits of birddust and down across the deck and picked her way over. “Don’t worry, Nomad’ll help. She’s as mild as they come. At least on the ground.”
“Aah… sure. So, this one’s the martingale, the breast collar, the belly band, check line, brace loops…” Risal, after a couple moments of shyness, got right up under Nomad’s wide rust-and-white wings, naming every band of leather and bit of metal.
“Very good, very good!” Liyah crowed. Risal stepped back to join her fellow apprentice, laughing as Nomad reached down after her, soliciting for scratches.
Liyah held up one more piece—a band of double-stitched leather with two loops of metal at either end, as long as her leg. “An’ what’s this one?”
The taller one had been watching, every bit as intent as a hungry warbird. “It’s a Courier’s Courage.”
“That’s right, Apprentice…?”
“Rox Mistral, Courier.”
“Rox. It’s really a tether strap, but it’s one of the most important parts of your gear. You make sure these are in good shape, and you can fly through anything.” Liyah clipped the loops to the harness around her own waist and chest, and swung up to Nomad’s saddle just behind the wing-joints. She clipped in to the other tethers already waiting, fitted her toes into the brace loops, pulled the mask down over her face and her fingers around the holds in their fur-lined pocket on the saddle.
“And this, kids— this is why you always, always keep your Courage. Watch! Nomad, go! ”
Nomad hopped to the railing, spread her wings, and fell off the ship.
Courier and mount shrieked in exultant glee, twisting and rolling and corkscrewing through the air around the docked Audron ship. Nomad showed off why she was the best flyer in the Highlands, her forked tail and long narrow wings spinning her in moves that would leave another warbird grasping air. Liyah was upside down more often than not, the tethers keeping her in the saddle, and she let go of her handholds to wave at the apprentices and cheering skyjacks as they flashed one last time past the ship.
Nomad landed on the deck with a thump and a flurry of wingbeats a few minutes later. Liyah, flushed and laughing, hopped down and brandished the Courage.
“So, who’s next?”