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Aurin moved to begin harnessing Earendil. "We don't do anything with the feathers," he replied. "They are far too big to be of any use to us. The rocs collect them themselves, and they use them in their nests."

He pointed up at the cliff upon which the castle had been built. "See those caves there?" he asked, indicating the dark holes in the side of the cliff's face. "The rocs have their nests there. Dozens of them. They live there, unless we have need of their services. Each roc will answer to only one call - though many rocs may answer to one person."

He double checked everyone's harnesses before sitting just ahead of them right where the great creature's neck met its shoulders. He began to strap himself in.

"All ready?" Aurin asked, looking over his shoulder at the others once his harness was secure.

"Ready," Rhea grinned excitedly. She wasn't worried about anything. Worse come to worse, she knew she could save herself - not that she thought it would be necessary.

"We are ready," Earendil nodded. He was a little more nervous, but he wouldn't let it show.

Aurin nodded and spoke to the roc, and the roc rose off the deck, spreading its wings wide. With two large flaps, it was in the air, and they were soaring through the sky, higher and higher.

Earendil was pretty sure he had left his stomach somewhere down on the ship, and he found himself gripping the enormous feathers below him. The constant up and down motion of the muscles beneath him felt very strange. It was so different from flying on the back of Kelirahc's dragon spirit ...

"This is amazing," Rhea cried gleefully, spreading her arms wide. "So different from flying on my own!"

Rhea was more than happy to agree, but she was the type of person who enjoyed the extremes of life, and she was having a lovely time of it.

Earendil on the other was still trying to convince himself that he wasn't going to break his neck from the wingbeats alone.

They soared over the cliff and made a loop around the castle before they flew into a large cage-like structure. The roc was flying slowly now, and it flew towards the tower that made up one wall of the cage. It perched on a 'branch' that was about ten feet thick, and settled low to let its passengers off again.

"Here we are," Aurin said, undoing his harness and turning to help the others. "This is where the rocs are normally roosted when they're in use. One of the reasons why Earendil-sola was taken under suspicion when he first arrived was because he had landed directly in the castle yard, so to speak."

"A spirit?" Aurin looked at Lin curiously as he began to unharness her. "How do you mean?"

Rhea was helping herself with her harness, and she had it off quickly. "Their people are given the spirits of animals to aid them when they need," she explained. "That is why there is no roc on our ship, because it returns to Haldia when its task is done."

Aurin looked thoughtful as he moved to help Earendil. "I think I would miss the companionship," he murmured. "Skyel has been my dear friend for as long as I have been Captain."

Aurin smiled and stroked the roc's shoulder affectionately. "She and I have been through a lot together," he murmured lovingly. "Rocs live a very long time. Not as long as elves, to be sure, but thousands of years. They are family to us, we of the sky."

Earendil eyed Senka. "I'm with you," he muttered. "Though I'm not sure I have much choice."

"Besides," Rhea giggled at Senka. "You were the one who wanted to come."

Earendil looked over at Lin. "Speak for yourself," he pointed out, "I can't fly!"

Rhea giggled and patted Earendil on the shoulder as they followed Aurin off the roc's back, onto the perch. "There, there," she grinned, "I'm sure you'll get used to it."

Earendil was glad when they were on solid ground, even if a wrong step could send them plummeting hundreds of feet to the ground far below.