Chapter Seven
Anger coursed through Myrina's veins, heating her blood to a painful boil. Her body temperature had raised so much that as she stepped through the snow as gracefully as a cat, the white powder hissed and spat when it came into connection with the sole of her boot. In such a mood, not even Assyrian tried to calm her down.
The small band marched their way down the fields and she quickly led them to Hagrid's hut. She knew the students and this giant creature were good friends and she also knew they would miss him terribly. The least she could do was give them a last goodbye for the gods knew how long. As the giant man came lumbering out of his house – his enormous canine following him and casting wary glances in the direction of the 'shifters – all five of the students bolted for him. Snow flew in their wake and in the wake of the guards flanking them in case anything decided to attack while their attention was otherwise engaged. As her people ran down the hill, only Myrina, Assyrian, and the man who had returned were left to continue at a leisurely stroll.
The man was silent, no doubt still feeling chastised from his failed attempt to solve what he saw as an injustice. He walked with his head bowed and his eyes watching the heels of his leaders who strode with pride and heads high before him. Although she appeared to be sidetracked with something, Myrina had given almost her undivided attention to this man – watching and waiting for his next outburst. What small part of her notice the man didn't hold went to her dear brother who was looking around anxiously.
When they were halfway down the hill, the feisty woman grasped her brother's arm and pulled him to a stop. They were close enough to protect the humans if the need arose, but they were far enough away that the fore-mentioned wouldn't hear their conversation. Myrina opened her mouth to speak, but shut it again when the returned man spoke quicker.
"Milady I apologize. I fear I have done you a great wrong and my heart is sick because of it." He began, falling on his knees in front of her with his remorse. He held his hands up to her pleadingly as she turned to him, a sad expression on her face as if something dear to her had been hopelessly lost. "Forgive me Lady and never again will I question your judgment or that of your brother's, but please do not simply act as if the bond between us has broken."
Assyrian shifted awkwardly from foot to foot, glancing around and desperately searching for something to give him a reason to escape this conversation. Myrina, however, now took no notice of her brother's fidgeting. "Please Theovane… Not now…" She replied somberly with a voice surprisingly soft. "Let us pass through the portal before we speak of such heavy things. As for forgiveness… I know not who I should forgive, that too must wait until we have returned safely to our homeland…" And with that she walked away, leaving Theovane still on his knees and looking as if his world had just been destroyed. Assyrian placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, but the kneeling guard simply rolled it off and stood to shove past him. Assyrian let out a sad sigh as he watched the young soldier tromp off after his sister, the love those two had once shared now jagged and torn. Perhaps beyond repair, but he couldn't know the future.
Myrina stood and gave one final glance to the giant castle before leaping into the air, wearing the form of a large griffin. Behind her leaped three hippogriffs and two more griffins; the griffin being native creatures of the land they now flew toward. Behind her immediately followed Theovane in the form of griffin. Then came Etrussen in the form of a hippogriff, Harry and Ron sat squarely on his broad back. After he, came his son Archay, carrying Hermione and Ginny. Behind them leaped Julian and Assyrian, both in the form of hippogriffs with Luna – riding with a vacant-minded smile on her face – upon Assyrian's back.
With each mighty wing beat of the 'shifters, they rose higher and higher into the sky until the clouds engulfed them. Yet even then, Myrina and Assyrian drove them higher and higher. Finally, they came to the gateway between their worlds. A blue and purple portal suddenly opened around them with the sound of electricity and thunder echoing in their ears. With expert precision, Myrina guided them through until all of a sudden the opening between the worlds had closed behind them.
Their flight lasted almost an hour before they reached Angora, the ancient castle of the Exile Forces. They landed and instantly were surrounded by a circle of spears sharpened so finely they were almost transparent. Smirking at the looks of surprise and awe, and in most cases fear, Myrina raised a hand and said something in her native tongue; a string of rapid syllables that flowed together with the likeness of water. At her command, the spears seemed to dissolve with the speed they were removed from sight. Instantly, laughter was heard as the men and woman who had guarded the five students were all pulled into strong embraces and heart-felt welcoming. As their rejoicing went on, a path was cleared and down it walked a young girl, barely out of toddler-hood. Behind her walked a tall man, his face hard and unreadable. It was Myrina who reacted first.
Dropping to her knees and holding out her arms, a look of such devotion and love coming to her face that Harry nor any of the other students had seen on her visage before. "Armine, my darling!" She breathed, a tear heard in her sweet voice.
Armine ran to her, giggling and leaping as she went. When she was close enough the child leapt into the outstretched arms of Myrina who held the changeling tightly and close to her heart.