Windrunner's Daughter by Bryony Pearce Read Free Book Online Page B

bring more back with me.”
    “You’re scaring me. What have you done to yourself?”
    Wren pushed one hand through her shorn hair. “All these cups have water in and here is food. Do you understand?” She held her mother’s hand until she nodded.
    “Where are you going?”
    “I’m going to find Colm and Jay.”
    “Y-you’re going on a Run?” Her mother sagged.
    “I can do it.”
    Long fingers tightened in Wren’s, so dry the skin crackled. “It’s forbidden.”
    “I know.” Wren hid a shiver. “I’ll be fine.”
    “It’s dangerous.” Shadows filled her mother’s eyes. “I know you’ve listened to your brother’s lessons, but you can’t do your first flight alone. And you don’t know the route your brothers took.”
    “Then I’ll find a cure myself.”
        Tears teetered on her mother’s cheekbones. “What if something happens to you?”
    “I won’t let you die.” Wren set her jaw.
        Her mother huddled over a coughing fit that brought tears to Wren’s eyes. “You’ll be leaving me alone,” she gasped. “Like your father and your brothers.”
        “I’ll be back in two days. Three at the outside. I promise.”
        “Three days.” Her mother touched Wren’s face with hands that still shook from coughing. “You look so much like your father.” They sat like that for a moment, neither wanting to let go, then Mia’s arm dropped, too exhausted to hold on. “But you have my eyes,” she sighed and closed her eyes. “When you see your brothers, tell them I love them.”
    Wren nodded and her throat felt like wood. “I love you.”
        The reply was so quiet she could hardly hear it. “Love you too.’
    Wren left her mother’s curtain open so she could see the airlock, then she hung Jay’s spare goggles over her wrist, scooped up the wings and walked away.
    With a breath that tasted of hope, Wren pressed her palm on the pad and, when the airlock cycled round she stepped outside. She did not look back.

Chapter three
     
    It was a short walk to the Runner Station perched on the landing strip. No-one had been in since Wren had cleaned up after her brothers a week before and the smell of stale sweat lingered; she could taste it even through the filters of her mask. Wren left the airlock open in an attempt to freshen the room and a tiny sand snake slithered inside.
    All but one of the wing stands stood empty. Wren stiffened as she tried to remember the last time there had not been at a full complement of wing-sets in here. Where were all the Runners? Maybe she would find out.
    With a shudder, Wren unwrapped Jay’s old wings. They emerged from the blanket like a butterfly from a chrysalis and when she hung them from the stand the silvery material dropped in folds to hang a hand-span above the floor, only slightly shorter than the larger pair on the stand behind them.
    The thin metal struts of ‘her’ wings looked fragile as bird’s bones and when Wren breathed out through her mouth, the material rippled.
    Her hands shook as she stroked one rubbery airfoil; then she turned and slipped her arms inside the straps that hung from the front. She buckled the belt tightly across her throbbing chest and found that her wrists fit comfortably into the bracelets.
    Wren studied her hands; unexpectedly steady. She took a deep breath.  She was going to find her brothers and help her mother.
    “What are you doing?”
    Wren spun as the airlock filled and instinctively she stepped back, trying to hide her wings in the gloom.
        “I knew it - I knew you’d do this.” It was Raw. Triumph glowed like emerald fire in his eyes.
        “What are you doing here?” Wren hissed. Her hands came up and Raw laughed.
        “You think you can fight me?” He stepped forward and the lock cycled shut behind him. “Do you know what the Council will do when they find out what you’re planning?”
    “And you’ll enjoy telling them. Go on, run.” Wren glanced towards the closed