Welcome to Gaia! ::

Earendil nodded. "Of course."

He leaned over and stroked Senka's head softly. "Coming with me?" he asked her softly with a smile. "Or will you stay with Haldia a bit longer?"

"I'm staying," Celeb said quickly, jerking a thumb at his own chest.

Earendil chuckled. "I'll see you later then. Be good."

With Senka, that could be questionable ... especially as Celeb was insisting on staying, and Senka wasn't fond of males. One would think that four years together might solve that, at least partially ...

"I'll be good," Celeb promised, eying Senka.

Earendil chuckled and left the room, closing the door behind him. He headed back out on deck, looking around for Lin. He had just spotted her when he suddenly heard a gentle flapping of wings above, and he looked up, half wondering if it would be Haldia, but he didn't recognize the roc that was approaching with the intention of landing on the deck.

Earendil moved to stand with Lin, though his eyes were fixed on the roc. It was bigger than the one that Haldia usually summoned, though not much, and not as dark.

"Lin, are we expecting visitors?" he asked as he began to feel the wind from the giant wings. They had to be thirty feet wide - each!

Earendil frowned in confusion as he watched the roc come lower and lower, until it landed on the deck. It stretched its wings wide, then folded them to its back and settled closer to the deck.

There was a man on its back, dressed warmly but lightly, strapped to the roc's back. While he took several minutes to unstrap himself from his harness, others from the ship came closer to see who it was and what was going on, and some of the crew headed off in search of Roydon.

Earendil stepped forward. "Greetings, master of the sky," he called out in a strong voice. "What brings you to our ship?"

The man looked down at Earendil, threw off the last of his restraints, and slid off the roc's back and onto the deck. He bowed at the waist, then straightened again. "Earendil-sola, I assume," he said in quick elvish. "I am glad to see you are well. And the other?"

The man nodded. "That is good. I hope her recovery is a quick one. Earendil-sola, I have been instructed to ask if you are ready to return. There is no pressure, but His Majesty wishes you to know that you are welcome any time you are ready. I will be your steed and guide during your stay."

Earendil glanced at Lin, then tilted his head slightly at the man. "And you are ...?"

The man stood at attention and saluted sharply. "Aurin Striate, Captain of the Wing Riders," he said in a strictly military manner. "At your service, Sir."

Earendil nodded. "I see. Then Captain, I thank you for your service, but I am not ready to come with you yet. Can you give me two more days? I will be ready to accompany you then."

"Yes, sir," the soldier replied smartly, his speech still quick. "Shall I report that to His Majesty?"

"If you need," Earendil nodded. "Is there anything else that you need?"

"No, sir," the man replied, his hand still raised in a salute. "With your permission, sir, I will return, then."

Earendil nodded again and raised one hand to his brow, returning the salute. "Dismissed."

The man completed his salute, then nodded to Lin and headed back to his roc. He climbed up carefully, then strapped himself back to the harness. Earendil watched until the man finished harnessing himself in. At a silent signal to the roc, the bird raised itself on its feet, spread its magnificent wings, and took off into the air.

Earendil raised one eyebrow and looked over at Lin. "Interesting."