A reclusive inventor meets a man who will give her wings. Well, he will let her use his.

Ula has hidden from her own people in an effort to cease pressure from local government to create weapons against the Nine. When a man with wings comes knocking, she slams the door in his face.

Deniir has gotten as much information on the designer as he can, but seeing her taming some of the wild flying predators out back eases her rude dismissal of his presence. She is as wild as the beasts she uses to get airborne, and he sees the means to get her to follow him to the stars.

Offer her complete freedom and she will follow him wherever he leads.

Excerpt:

Ula felt a little guilty about closing the door on the man from the Nine, but she was so tired of folks wanting to use her talent for military purposes that it was a reflex she now regretted.

She sighed and quickly braided her hair. She knew just the thing to clear her head, and the flock was right outside.

A quick change into riding gear and she was ready to go for one of her personal pleasures and fly through the Gaian sky.

The rocs were nice birds and large enough to carry a human without difficulty, but they were impossible to domesticate. She didn’t have any issue with domestication; she rode them wild.

Ula clicked her tongue rapidly, and one of the birds screeched in response. Outside her balcony was a rock suitable for a landing site, and her favourite bird came at her call.

“Good afternoon, Bertrum.” She clicked her tongue again, and he settled onto the perch she had built for him. “Ready for some exercise?”

Bert settled and let her mount. She slid her feet into the stirrups and latched her flying belt into the saddle. Bertrum and his mate Eleth wore her saddles constantly. They were the only rocs that didn’t fight her every time. Ula suspected that the two birds actually thought of the harnesses as some kind of mating bands. They certainly clung together and preened when they were wearing them.

Once she was in place, she made a low chuffing noise and Bert took off. It was time to get the only freedom she had anymore; it was time to ride the wind.