The firebird followed Samuel and the net tentatively, still very nervous, but his sweet promises and gentle nature won her trust and she settled into the net as comfortably as she could, no longer struggling. It was just as well - the sparks that naturally fell from her feathers no longer caught the grass on fire, and when she was lifted to Jigano's saddle he found her warm but not painfully so.
"Wisely done," he nickered back at his friend as Samuel mounted up once more - mounting was becoming easier with practice, the bard noted with amusement, deciding to find the silver lining of the situation. But, gods, he was tired of this ridiculous equine shape!
Once again his steps seemed to transcend both time and space, bringing them back to the palace courtyard as the sun rose behind them, highlighting their entrance in dramatic red and gold. Sleepy guards blinked at the sight, taking a few moments to realize that the bird in the net at Samuel's side glowed with living flame. One man turned and ran to the palace as Jigano paced with what little dignity remained to him in his wake. Right up the steps he went, with a muttered: "Hang on to the saddle, Samuel. We're making an entrance." Something he took a grim sort of delight in after spending so long with hooves.
Heedless of any protests his hapless rider might make he made his way through a vaguely grand entrance hall which bled its way into an impressive throne room with gold accents and stained glass windows set high up in the ceiling. The guard knelt at the foot of a great golden throne, animatedly describing what he had seen at the gate, but the king brushed him aside, rising as Jigano made his stately way over the rich red carpet leading to the central dais. His eyes were all for the bird at Samuel's side, greed and avarice now plain to see on his aged features.
Beside him the Vizier smiled darkly, speaking for the king in a ringing voice. "Well done, loyal huntsman! Now - bring her to us at once!"
The firebird took one look at the Vizier and the King and then trilled in concern and fear, Jigano flinching as she began to heat up against his side. "Oh, oh no, no no no! They are not good men, woodsman! Not like you! Please, you must tell me - do you have my feather still? The one you said you found?" They were still far enough away to whisper to each other, but, like Jigano, no one else seemed able to understand her anyways.
"Wisely done," he nickered back at his friend as Samuel mounted up once more - mounting was becoming easier with practice, the bard noted with amusement, deciding to find the silver lining of the situation. But, gods, he was tired of this ridiculous equine shape!
Once again his steps seemed to transcend both time and space, bringing them back to the palace courtyard as the sun rose behind them, highlighting their entrance in dramatic red and gold. Sleepy guards blinked at the sight, taking a few moments to realize that the bird in the net at Samuel's side glowed with living flame. One man turned and ran to the palace as Jigano paced with what little dignity remained to him in his wake. Right up the steps he went, with a muttered: "Hang on to the saddle, Samuel. We're making an entrance." Something he took a grim sort of delight in after spending so long with hooves.
Heedless of any protests his hapless rider might make he made his way through a vaguely grand entrance hall which bled its way into an impressive throne room with gold accents and stained glass windows set high up in the ceiling. The guard knelt at the foot of a great golden throne, animatedly describing what he had seen at the gate, but the king brushed him aside, rising as Jigano made his stately way over the rich red carpet leading to the central dais. His eyes were all for the bird at Samuel's side, greed and avarice now plain to see on his aged features.
Beside him the Vizier smiled darkly, speaking for the king in a ringing voice. "Well done, loyal huntsman! Now - bring her to us at once!"
The firebird took one look at the Vizier and the King and then trilled in concern and fear, Jigano flinching as she began to heat up against his side. "Oh, oh no, no no no! They are not good men, woodsman! Not like you! Please, you must tell me - do you have my feather still? The one you said you found?" They were still far enough away to whisper to each other, but, like Jigano, no one else seemed able to understand her anyways.
