*
The exiles had all inferred that there had to be an imperative reason as to why the Onan war sachem continued to remain with them on the island. The observation was never openly raised to Ayenwatha, but Janus, Logan, and some of the others had discussed the issue at length amongst themselves.
On the eighth day of their stay on the island, two stout Midgragardan warriors arrived in the early morning at the quarters that had been given over to their use. Politely, but firmly, they summoned Ayenwatha and all of the exiles.
Once Ayenwatha and the exiles had been gathered together outside, the stocky, bearded warriors wasted no time, escorting the group through the buildings of the seaside homestead towards the open grounds spreading beyond it. They marched out from the buildings and proceeded into a wide, cleared field, which had been set aside to lay fallow for the current growing season. Several incredible sights were awaiting the exiles when they arrived in the cleared expanse.
A gathering of armed Midragardan warriors was assembled around Eirik. Their cloaks blowing about in the chill winds, they regarded the newcomers quietly, as the group approached them across the open field.
Janus paid the Midragardan warriors no heed, as his eyes were riveted upon the amazing vision consuming all of his attention. Magnificent and striking, the creatures gathered in the midst of the field were breathtaking to behold. Most of them were standing upon their four long legs, but a couple of the beasts were resting their bodies on the ground.
The collective sight of the beasts rendered Janus utterly speechless. They were the essence of imaginative myth made into flesh and blood, living, breathing legends right before his eyes.
In the body, the creatures were akin to immense wolves. At the shoulder, the shortest of them was at least as tall as the height of an average human. The creatures had a noticeably elongated profile, with relatively narrow backs that ended in muscular hindquarters, out of which extended long, bushy tails.
Their burly chests swelled with a pronounced muscularity that flowed up and around to a pronounced hump just beyond the back of their necks. The heads of the creatures were incredibly wolf-like, with lengthy muzzles, broad faces, and upright, triangular ears. Their piercing, golden eyes seemed to look right through Janus, as the creatures regarded the approaching newcomers.
Their legs were longer and leaner in proportion to their bodies than were those of a terrestrial wolf. The legs ended in broad paws that were each equipped with a set of rather stout, very durable-looking claws.
A pair of very broad wings connected into the bulging muscle mass located down past the base of their necks. Tucked in at their sides, the wings were covered with an extremely fine layer of fur. The latter did not fully obscure the extensive network of veins lining the surface of the expansive appendages.
A thicker coat of lustrous fur covered the rest of their bodies, giving each of the creatures a particularly striking appearance. For most, the coats were of a silvery, gray hue. The luxuriant sheen of the silver coats in the sunlight made it look at a glance as if their fur was composed of the precious metal itself. A couple of the others were black-furred, and one was snow white, imbued with either an ebon or opal richness that fully matched the grandeur inherent in the coats of their silvery counterparts.
All of the creatures had harnesses and saddles for the accommodation of riders, both elements being noticeably different in fashion from those used by the tribal people on their Brega steeds. The leather breast straps were wide and thick, as compared with the long, thinner crupper straps crafted for the elongated forms of the wolf-like creatures.
The wood-framed saddles featured a lower pommel and cantle, and were fitted with a few additional, loose-hanging straps, a couple of which ended in metal buckles, for securing the rider to the seat. Hanging down from the saddles were sets of wide iron stirrups, a few of which had silver filigree ornamentation that showed brilliantly against the dark iron used to fashion them.
Around twenty-five of the impressive creatures were present within the field, exceeding the number of Midragardan warriors currently gathered there. Janus did not know what to say, as it was all that he could do just to continue walking alongside his companions while he stared awestruck at the winged creatures.
“The Fenraren are beautiful creatures, with a great heart and strength,” Ayenwatha said to Erika, just behind Janus, as they drew nearer to the gathered warriors. “You already know of our Brega. These are the sky steeds of the Midragardans. The Brega and the Fenraren are both of the Skiantha, the precious flying steeds of this world.”
“Absolutely beautiful,” Erika answered him with reverence in her voice.
Janus had to call up some additional willpower to take his eyes off of the stunning creatures, and glance over to Erika. Her eyes were filled with sheer wonderment as she gazed upon the winged beasts. She looked positively enraptured, such that she did not even appear to take notice of Janus looking at her.
Janus then saw that the other exiles were all standing still, closely gathered around Janus, Ayenwatha, and Erika, with similarly awed expressions.
“Fast and powerful… the Fenraren are a most special creature of the One Spirit,” Ayenwatha continued, in obvious admiration of the creatures himself. “They can soar like the great birds of the air, and they have the kinship, nobility, and ferocity of the wolf of the forest.”
When they neared the cluster of Midragardan warriors and Fenraren, Eirik strode forth to meet them. His tall, proud posture complimented his broad-shouldered frame, casting a dignified, resolute air about him.
He looked to Ayenwatha, and glanced towards the seven exiles. Janus noted the intense interest in his brief look towards them, a look that had not been present in his eyes when they had first arrived at the island.
*