"Kings of the land and the sky we are; proud gryphons."

- Elizabeth Munro, Wingspan

Chapter 4

"Keep your feet planted, sword up." Reyna said to him four days later, as they spent the cool morning training in one of the sparing rings.

Keith adjusted himself accordingly and locked eyes with her own yellow cat eyes lest she remind him again.

Each of the Amazons that were part of Lance's entourage had taken turns teaching him new things that he could use in battle, new tactics. Things he wouldn't have thought to even try until they suggested it.

They'd been at it for four days- training with anyone who was willing to spar with him, working with Lance on how to shoot an arrow or guns that they apparently seemed to have.

Though they weren't normal guns that shot bullets, these guns shot beams that were gathered from ones own quintessence. Unsurprisingly, Keith made more progress with the former. He was a better fighter with swords than he was with arrows and guns.

He never seemed to hit the target, his shot would land quite a ways away from the center and then he'd get irritated and throw a tantrum. Lance's words not his.

It's not his fault though, okay maybe it was. But in his defense, the arrows that the Amazons used were not normal arrows. At least he was pretty sure they weren't. Normal arrows didn't weigh more than fifty pounds last he checked.

Reyna swiped his feet from him and Keith went down with a grunt before the tall violet haired Amazon planted one foot on his chest as she looked down at him.

"Eyes on me. If this were a real battle, you'd be dead."

Keith wiped the sweat from his brow and took Reyna's offered hand to get to his feet. They'd been at this for half an hour already, but he kept getting distracted.

Seeming to sense this, Reyna sheathed her sword and offered him a bottle of water. "You seem distracted today. More so than usual." She took a swig from her bottle before looking down at him. "Something on your mind?"

Keith let out a frustrated sigh, "Its just-it's been almost two weeks. Two weeks! And we haven't heard anything from Voltron." Keith's eyes turned frantic, "What if something happened to them?"

After the council meeting where the queen had declared that he was not only allowed to live (yay) but was able to stay in Cloyetera as well (double yay), the queen herself and Lance along with their bodyguards had gone back to where Red lay underwater and with a little help from the mermaids, err myr he corrected himself, they were able to bring the red lion back to the city where the science and engineering division was currently fixing her.

"Ah, I see." Reyna said as she took a seat on the cool grass. She didn't seem to mind that her toga dress cut a little more as she crossed her legs. "You simply have to be patient." Keith looked like he wanted to argue, so Reyna continued speaking, "What is that mantra you said your friend told you about?"

Keith sighed and took a seat across from her and crossed his legs or at least tried to but the toga they'd given him didn't let him so he simply spread his legs out and crossed them at the ankles. If Pidge ever saw him wearing it, he'd never live it down. "Patience yields focus."

"Yes that. That right there is a good saying. I'm sure your friends are all right. You red lion's repair are almost done as well; it's been sending a signal for days I'm sure your friends will notice it."

Keith sighed but nodded as he finished the whole bottle of water. Reyna regarded him with narrowed eyes before she got to her feet and offered her hand to him. Keith took it and reached for his weapon but Reyna shook her head at him.

"You're obviously not in it today. Let's call it a day," she turned a mischievous grin at him and Keith narrowed his eyes in suspicion, "I know something that will lift your spirits up."

Keith quirked an eyebrow in challenge. "Is that so?"

Reyna's smile turned downright devilish. "We're going to go see Lance."

Despite himself, Keith's lips twitched upwards and Reyna's smirk turned wider. Quickly wiping the expression of his face he tried to look nonchalant as he looked down at his nails like they were the most interesting things in the world. "I thought she was busy with her mother today."

Reyna checked her wrist where the transparent bracelet that all Amazons were required to wear was and scrolled through a message she had just received. "Nope. According to my darling Adina, the queen just left to finish some last festival details but left with strict instructions for Lance to finish her training for the day. If we hurry, we'll be able to catch the last few minutes of her training."

Keith was already walking away and Reyna snickered as she counted down from ten. It was when she was nearing four that he came back with a faint tint to his cheeks.

He coughed awkwardly into his hand as he looked to the side, "I ah-don't know where she is." He mumbled.

Reyna threw her head back and laughed before she began pushing him in the right direction. "Males," she muttered with a shake of her head, "are idiots."

Despite the early hour, every shop was open as they walked through the city. A few Amazons greeted them as they passed, something Keith had eventually gotten used to since Lance made it a point to always walk through the city where everyone could see them.

The first few times had been awkward, some of the Amazons still raised their weapons at him or glowered at him but Lance would keep him distracted with idle conversation and after a few days of Keith not going berserk like they thought he would the Amazons had adapted and some even talked to him whenever he passed by.

There were a few musicians playing an instrument that looked a lot like bagpipes from Ireland. They sounded pretty good though; Lance's favorite bakery was open as well and he could already smell the sweet odors as they passed by. One thing that Keith absolutely loved about Cloyetera was the fact that they actually served food very much similar to Earth.

When Keith asked, Lance had told him that she and her mom would bring back food that they really enjoyed from Earth to share with the rest of the Amazons. The Amazons clearly loved it and had done their best to imitate the food that their queen and princess seemed to love.

And boy did they succeed. When food had been served to him the first time he'd almost cried at the sight of bacon. Sure it was purple but the taste was exactly the same so he let it go. Hunk would absolutely love this, he'd tried some other food over his time in Cloyetera and he loved everything that they'd served him.

The crowd seemed to increase the further they went into the city, Amazons coming and going out of coffee shops, others buying weapons from the blacksmiths. There were a few with long white dresses that went all the way down to their feet walking with medical books in their hands; healers probably.

Every now and then a griffon would sail past them and give a cry of greeting and Keith would track their every move until they disappeared. He had still not gotten the chance to ride one yet and he was a bit disappointed but Lance had been busy.

Her friends had offered to take him on a ride with them but he politely refused. Lance had made him a promise and like she kept reminding him; she intended to keep it.

The sound of clashing blades and excited squeals made Keith frown as he and Reyna finally made it to the training ring closest to the ocean where a gathering of women were surrounding the field and cheering on-Lance?

As Keith and Reyna pushed through the crowd, Keith was able to get his first look at his friend since the day before and the sight before him made him shiver. Lance was wearing a black and white toga dress that cut across her knees, as it was her favorite style. Her short brown locks were tied in a loose bun as she parried and clashed swords against five other older Amazons.

Keith had not gotten the chance to see Lance fight yet, but now that he had he felt like having a sparring match of his own. Lance was good. The sparing field was definitely bigger than the one he and Reyna had been using. Lance and the other five she was sparring with were using every space available.

The five Amazons increased by three more and as one they all charged at Lance only for her to flip backwards a good feet away before spreading her legs out and laying a solid punch to the ground that had it crumbling.

The eight Amazons lost their balance and Lance used the opportunity to change weapons from her swords to her bow in one swift move before she started throwing arrow after arrow at the Amazons who were still trying to get up. Some had gotten their legs stuck between an opening in the ground and brought up their shields to protect themselves, the arrows pierced right through the shields mere inches away from their faces, while two Amazons finally regained their balance and went after the princess.

One of the Amazons leaped at Lance and threw a punch at the princess's face only for Lance to block it with her bow. There was a crack and the bow was split in half just as the Amazon brought out her other fist and struck.

Lance barely had time to block it by crossing her arms in an X motion but the punch still sent her flying before she rolled to a crouch and eyed her opponents with a smirk on her lips.

Two more Amazons suddenly joined the fray and the cheering grew in volume as the now ten Amazons charged at Lance with a battle cry. Keith made as if to help her; ten versus one was cheating wasn't it? But Reyna reined him in and shook her head at him.

Her yellow cat eyes turned back to the fight and she grinned, "Our princess is strong. Just watch."

Keith frowned and turned his eyes back to the match.

Lance took a deep breathe and got to her feet before she splayed her arms out and suddenly the Amazons stopped in their tracks as slowly Lance lifted them up with her mind and sent them flying.

The Amazons landed with a grunt but were on their feet in seconds. Shrugging, Lance took out her two swords and twirled them in her hands before running straight for them. Lance blocked, kicked, and tripped the women off their feet with ease until all ten of the Amazons suddenly took out whips and whipped them around Lance's hands, her feet, her chest until she was spread eagle.

Lance struggled and grunted but the Amazons held firm as they spread themselves out. Lance was starting to sweat; it took a bit of effort but Lance willed her legs to move with some difficulty and started to drag the Amazons toward her while the Amazons themselves planted their feet on the ground but that seemed to be no help whatsoever because Lance was just that strong.

Lance's eyes glowed a bright blue and suddenly all of them were in the air, the Amazons released cries of surprise as they were now dangling from their whips and with a yell Lance tossed them to the ocean and the whips came loose.

The gathered crowd released a mighty cheer and Lance lowered herself to the ground. As soon as her feet touched the ground she staggered and Keith was suddenly there holding onto her waist so she wouldn't collapse.

She was shaking he realized.

He cast a worried look over her before gently lowering her to the floor one hand still around her waist while the other was around her shoulder, "You okay?"

Lance released a shuddering breath and nodded, though she was still shaking, "Yes, I'll be okay. I usually don't use my powers all that much but I suppose mother is right." She released a shaky breath, "I do need the practice."

A hand clamped down on her shoulder and Lance barely managed to turn her head to see Reyna crouched down to her level looking at her with pride. "That was seriously awesome! They way you just threw them into the ocean was so darn hilarious!"

Running feet suddenly headed in their direction and Adina came to a stop as she crouched in front of Lance with a water bottle in her hands. "Here you must be tired, your highness."

Lance took the bottle and finished the whole thing in one go before she smiled at her friend, "Thanks Adi, but seriously just call me Lance. We're friends you know."

Adina blushed and scratched her head in embarrassment, "Sorry, sometimes I forget."

Reyna placed her hand around the black haired girls shoulder and reeled her to her side before planting a kiss on her cheek, "I think it's cute."

Adina giggled and touched her nose with her girlfriends in happiness. Even after seeing them kiss in front of him so many times, the sight still surprised him. Mostly because he couldn't believe that Reyna was with someone who was so shy and meek, he'd expected her to be with someone as loud as her but as long as she was happy who was he to judge?

Glancing down at Lance he was happy to see that the shaking had mostly seized and slowly helped her to her feet as the crowd surrounded them and congratulated her. Splashing footsteps made their way over to them and Keith saw the ten Amazons that Lance had fought with making their way over to them.

All of them were completely drenched but they all wore matching grins as they neared Lance, at the sight of them the crowd parted slightly and as one the drenched women took a kneeling position.

"Very well done your highness." One of the Amazons said with a grin, "Next time we'll add another ten to make this more challenging."

Lance groaned, "Please don't."

Everyone chuckled and with a few more congratulations the crowd slowly began to disperse and went back to doing whatever it was that they were doing before.

Lance stretched arms upwards before turning to Keith, "You're up early, did you do some sparring of your own?"

Keith nodded and pointed at Reyna, "She was sparing with me."

Reyna snorted, "More like kicking your butt but whatever you say," the violet haired Amazon said before she took hold of Adina's arm and started leading her off somewhere. "Now if you'll excuse us, we have a date. Cesti and the other two will take over for us." And with a last backward wave, the two women disappeared.

Lance turned to Keith and smiled, "I have a gift for you."

Keith grinned, "Oh?"

Lance nodded and started dragging him by the arm, "Trust me, you'll love it. Now follow me!"

Now normally Keith would have tried getting out of her hold because he didn't like being led along like a dog but after Lance kept repeating the motion in all the time he was here he'd given up and just let her lead him to wherever she wanted to.

Lance led him away from the sparing field to a field covered in small flowers before she let go of his wrist and let out a loud whistle.

The flapping of wings gave her secret away and Keith grinned as a griffon landed a few feet away from them.

"This is Nyx, and today you get to ride her."

Nyx was beautiful.

And tall.

Each of the griffons golden feathers shone like polished metal, the white of her breast looked smooth and bright. As Lance dragged him over, Nyx's blue eyes went from Lance to Keith in curiosity.

Keith started dancing on his feet, he'd been dreaming of this day since the first time he'd seen a griffon fly over his head.

Red sent him a huff of annoyance in his head and Keith quickly consoled her.

You know you're still my girl Red.

Keith got a mental image of the red lion swinging her tail in happiness and he smiled.

"I wanted to go for a ride and get this beautiful girl here some more than deserved fish for making her wait for my last visit."

Nyx puffed her feathers and let out a little squawk before nuzzling Lance's cheek with its beak.

Lance giggled, patting her neck, "So? Want to join?"

Keith narrowed his eyes at her, "Is that a trick question?"

Lance laughed and reached for one of the pouches hanging of Nyx's side and pulled out a familiar set of clothes before handing them over to Keith.

"We finally found your clothes," Lance sent him an apologetic look, "We didn't mean to lose them and it took us a while but we finally found them."

Keith took his clothes from her and hugged them to his chest. He thought he'd lost them forever after letting one of the Amazons wash his clothes for him. Thankfully Lance still had his armor so that was something.

Lance politely turned her back when he began to change from the white toga he was wearing to his familiar black shirt and black pants, thankfully he had combat boots with him. Once done, Lance turned around and handed him a hair tie, which he used to tie the back of his hair in a small ponytail though some strands still fell to his face. Lance procured a few clips and tied those back as well before deeming him ready.

Nyx lowered herself to the floor and Lance put the saddle on her before she climbed her side in one fluid motion before she reached down a hand for Keith. Lance hauled him in front of him and Nyx slowly got to her feet. Surprised, Keith gripped Lance's arm and she laughed as she laid her chin on his shoulder. "Don't worry, I won't let you fall mullet."

Keith shivered and Lance clicked her tongue and Nyx spread her golden wings and started flapping them as she started to run.

She flapped her wings once.

Twice.

And then Nyx suddenly shot to the sky and Keith will admit it, he screamed. His eyes watered and he felt his stomach go straight up his throat. It's a good thing he hadn't eaten anything yet otherwise he would have surely thrown up.

"Holy shit!" he yelled.

Lance laughed behind him and urged the creature to go faster and holy crap they were flying fast. Nyx suddenly did a flip and Keith gripped Lance's wrists so hard he was sure he left her bruises.

Nyx kept flying up and up and whoa those were clouds! The griffon stopped flapping her wings and then they were falling and was this suppose to happen? Lance just laughed and laughed even as they were falling and just when Keith was sure they were going to plummet into the ocean, Nyx spread her wings wide and angled herself until one wing was dipping the ocean and Keith could feel the droplets of water hit his face instantly cooling his face.

And then Keith was laughing alongside Lance as he slowly ever so slowly spread his arms out towards the sky and let out a whoop of joy. His friend followed his lead and let out a whoop of her own.

"Hold your breath!" Lance yelled over the wind and Keith barely had time to do as she asked before Nyx dove for the ocean and oh crap the water was freezing! The Amazon princess tapped his shoulder and Keith opened his eyes to see underwater. "Look over there!" Lance pointed in the distance. He followed her gaze and his eyes widened as he saw the underwater city of the myr.

It looked bright and from where they were swimming, he could just barely see some of the myr swimming along before Nyx plunged them back to the surface and Keith took a lungful of air.

Keith's teeth were shattering but that wasn't enough to wipe the maniac smile from his face. He felt Lance lean her chin on his shoulder and he could feel her smile, "Having fun?"

He was grinning like an idiot and he tried to speak but after opening and closing his mouth and failing to say anything for the third time he just shut it his mouth. Lance seemed to understand what he wanted to say though if the knowing smile she gave him when he turned his head to her was any indication.

Lance felt her heart sore as she gauche Keith's face from where she was sitting behind him still gripping the saddles so they wouldn't fall off.

The red paladin hadn't stopped smiling since they set off on Nyx. The sea breeze from the ocean below them ruffled their hair as Nyx dipped her other wing into the ocean that had Keith letting out a surprised laugh when the droplets splashed them in the face.

"Exhilarating, isn't it?" she mumbled near his shoulder. Keith slightly turned his head to peer at her and she smiled as she gazed at the rippling crystal clear ocean before them, "When I first rode Nyx I was scared at first, I mean she just jumped off a cliff! I was ten, I was freaking out!" Keith chuckled and she felt the vibrations this close to him, "But then she started soaring high and I let out this shout; I was so excited. And on every ride I'd been on with her, that feeling has not gone away." She closed her eyes and sighed, "It's-"

"Exhilarating," Keith finished for her.

"Yes," she murmured, "It's simply exhilarating."

Nyx dove sharply and Lance wrapped an arm tightly around Keith as both riders braced their thighs as the griffon dipped into the water and sent something hurling into the air. A second later, she easily caught it in her beak.

The thing looked like a fish but was twice as big and with more than two eyes on it.

The thing in her mouth trashed but Nix was not deterred and then there was a crunch as Nyx swallowed the creature in one gulp.

"Whoa," Keith muttered in front of him. "Just swallowed it one gulp."

Nyx turned her face towards them and squawked, Keith turned his head toward Lance in confusion.

Lance smiled and patted Nyx on the side, "Sure thing girl. I'm ready whenever you are."

Keith frowned, "Ready for what?"

Before Lance could answer Nyx dove into the ocean and Keith barely had time to hold his breath before they came out of the water. Nyx threw something into the air before catching it in her beak. Nyx quickly killed the creature and tossed it in the air towards Lance who despite its thick size caught it easily in one hand.

Keith turned halfway to look at what she was doing.

"She likes it a little burnt sometimes so I'm helping her out." Lance explained.

Keith blinked in understanding and watched as sparks of electricity appeared on her fingertips before covering the fish like thing in blue electricity. It only took a few seconds for Keith to know that the fish was cooked.

It smelled strangely like chicken.

Lance ripped a piece off and threw the rest of the fish to Nyx who ate with a little pleased sound. Lance ripped the piece she was holding in half and offered her friend the other piece.

Keith blinked and stared at the offered piece in horror. That thing had been alive just minutes ago and Nyx and Lance were just eating like nothing. The griffon he could understand but even Lance?

Keith shuddered and Lance laughed.

"You're going to upset Nyx if you don't eat it you know." A teasing gleam appeared in her eyes as she looked at Nyx who had turned her head slightly towards them, "In fact, if you don't take it she just might drop you off somewhere and never let you ride her again."

Keith knew she was just teasing him but his eyes darted over to Nyx and he could have sworn the bird narrowed her eyes at him.

He snatched the piece from Lance's hand and took a delicate sniff.

Still smelled like chicken.

As he brought the piece to his lips to take a bite, he was all too aware of the two sets of eyes looking at him in expectation. He took one last breath, closed his eyes, and took a bite and began to chew.

His eyes flew open.

This…whoa. It definitely tasted like chicken but there was a hint of spiciness to it? That was weird but he was not complaining. He shoved the whole thing in his mouth and let out a moan of appreciation.

Now that was fucking delicious.

He must have said it aloud because Lance lightly smacked him for cursing but she didn't look too upset. Nyx let out a noise that sounded like an amused laugh as she continued to fly them above the ocean.

"Not that bad right?"

Keith finished chewing and swallowed before he answered, "It was really good. How come you guys don't serve this?" he asked as he started licking the flavor of his fingers.

Behind him Lance finished her own piece and was licking the remains from her fingers as well before she answered, "Because the griffons really like it. We tried once and a whole herd of them flew over and took them from us."

Keith laughed and turned to her in disbelief, "Really?"

Lance gave him a serious look that only made him laugh, "Really really."

Keith's face was numb with cold by the time Lance steered Nyx to a small hill were the bird lowered herself so its two riders could get off. His limbs were sore and he winced as Lance slowly helped him get down.

The princess grimaced, "Sorry. I forgot that you're not used to riding, next time I'll give you better clothing that's suited for riding."

Keith spread his arms out and tried to reach his toes to get rid of some of the tension in him. He was definitely going to feel this even more tomorrow.

The sound of flapping wings had Keith turning to the sky to see Cesti, Ivy, and Harley in their own griffons flying a few ways away from them. Noticing his stare, all three of them waved before disappearing into a set of trees.

"Where they watching us the whole time?" he asked Lance as she plopped down on the floor and crossed her ankles.

"Yep, they are my bodyguards after all. They didn't want to intrude so they kept a few paces behind." Suddenly remembering something, Lance got to her feet and went over to Nyx who had settled herself near the trees where the sun was shining the brightest, folding her wings tightly and took out two small pieces of bread, a mix of meat and fruits, and leathery pouch that sloshed as she came back and took a seat on the ground beside him.

Keith took out the pins and hair tie and smoothed back his hair from his face. Both of their clothes were still a little damp but with the way the sun felt, they'd probably be dry soon.

Lance passed him some purple and green fruit that was shaped like a pear, beckoning him to eat. Keith began to dig in, grimacing when a sour taste invaded his senses before turning into something sweet at the end and relished the coolness of the fruit as a bit of juice slithered down his jaw.

It wasn't bad.

"What is this?" he asked the princess as he took another bite.

"The sour kapok, its sour at the beginning but at the end it turns sweet." She answered, tearing off a piece of bread and passing it to him. He took it with a nod of thanks. "There's also the star berries that taste a lot like blueberries to me, and the icy blumas that I swear to god taste like vanilla ice cream."

Keith smiled, "I'd like to try them sometime."

Lance nodded but her face fell, "Those only bloom during winter though. You'll be long gone by then."

Keith stopped his chewing before he slowly nodded. "Yeah, I'd be back with my team looking for the blue paladin and fighting the Galra."

Lance handed him the leather pouch and took a swig of something sweet and licked his mouth. He cast a sidelong glance at Lance and noticed that she still looked a little down. Not wanting their little trek to end on a sad note he bumped her shoulder until she looked back at him, "I'll make sure to visit though."

Lance smiled a little and she narrowed her eyes at him, "Promise?"

"Promise."

Lance still looked doubtful so Keith lifted his hand and took out his pinkie, "Pinky promise."

The princess blinked at him in surprise before she snorted and laced her own pinky with his. "This promise is binding Keith," she said with a smile, "No backing out."

Keith grinned, "I wouldn't dream of it."

They fell into silence, eating while the sun began to do down, but it was a comfortable silence. But with Lance, the silence never lasted long before the princess had something witty to say.

It started with a lame pick up line, something along the lines of Are you a campfire? Cause you're hot and I want s'more.

Keith chocked on his drink but Lance just continued.

"I'm not Rapunzel, but I'll still let you pull my hair."

Keith was shaking his head at her but he was laughing.

Lance leaned into his persona space and made her voice husky, "I know milk does a body good, but baby, how much have you been drinking?"

Oh well look at that. Keith was blushing. Lance laughed good naturedly as Keith tried to calm his raising heart.

Keith didn't have any pick up lines of his own, nor did he know any good jokes but he was good at something (besides fighting.)

"Do you have a coin?"

Lance checked her pockets and procured a golden coin and handed it to him. Keith showed her the coin and put it on his left hand. Making sure Lance was watching, he pretended to transfer it to his right hand and rotated his right hand.

He closed his right hand and lifted it to Lance, "Blow on it."

Lance gave him a wry smile and did as she was told.

He frowned, "What's that?"

Lance looked confused, "What's what?" she asked while looking around.

Keith brought his left hand up to her ear, making sure his palm was facing away from her face, and switched the coin to his fingertips before gently stirring her hair and procuring the coin from her ear.

"Tada."

Lance's jaw dropped as she looked at him, to the coin, to her ear, and so forth. "How did-I thought it was-"

Keith grinned at her and shrugged, "A magician never reveals his secrets."

Lance blinked furiously before her face took a determined edge, "Again. I shall figure this out."

Keith laughed, "Whatever you say, Princess Leah."

"Keith, don't call me that jeez!"