Ventus by Karl Schroeder

Karl Schroeder / Ventus / Page 694
to pounce, and she was terrified of being caught by them.
Nonetheless, she had gone only thirty meters or so up the first
stair before she sat down with a thump, and gasped, "I can't go
on. All this riding has ruined my legs."
Armiger frowned at her. He hadn't even broken a sweat;
there was no reason why he should, she supposed. He chewed
and swallowed the red quartz pebble he'd been crunching for
the past few minutes, and said, "We're almost there."
"I know that. Have you got any idea how much riding
takes out of you? I'm not used to it, Armiger."
He tilted his head to one side. "I could carry you, I
suppose." He extended a hand.
"I'd rather you didn't." Truth to tell, she didn't want him
touching her. That hand had been burned off, and regrown; his
skin had taken on a greyish tinge and she had been half sure
before that he had stopped breathing. Now she was sure of it,
as she saw him deliberately draw in air to speak.
"We cannot afford to lose any time,” he said. She
shrugged wearily. Armiger scowled, but said, “I'll prepare you
a pill that should help."
Her smile was ironic. "Thank you."
They sat in silence for a while. Armiger was abstracted;
she had the distinct impression that he was listening to
something. "Jordan Mason," he said abruptly, "we are at the
base of the stairs. We will rest here for a few minutes then
make for the top. You can meet us there."
"You think he's that close?" she said.
Armiger shrugged. "My creatures have seen him. He's
down there." He pointed. "But we can't go back for him. Not
with the Winds about to move on us."
"I know you had a plan," she said. "It failed somehow,
didn't it? You didn't get what you wanted from Jordan. You