Chapter 308 (1/2)
Chapter 308
Caera and I appeared atop the snow-capped cliff guarding the entrance to the Spear Beak villageBranches of aetheric lightning crackled around us froreeted by the sharp, beady stares of several dozen oversized birds
Large torch lights cast a ware and filled the hollow htly acrid scent
Suddenly, a cacophony of sounds erupted froan to flap, honk, and screechA few even took to the skies carrying long, colorful strea over us in an intricate pattern
“Are they…throwing us a party?” Caera asked hesitantly
“Stay on guard,” I whispered before taking a step forward
Immediately, the crowd of Spear Beaks parted to create a path for us, revealing Old Broke Beak garbed in an elaborate fur coat that reflected the flickering lights cast by the torches
Lining each side of the path to Old Broke Beak, warriors of the tribe held out a variety of food
“Welcohty ascenders!” Old Broke Beak squawked excitedly, rousing another wave of cheers from his tribe“Yes! Today, we celebrate our warriors’ return”
As if possessed, the overgrown birds all began to squirm and move erratically to a rapid beattheir beaks on what looked to be a giant druan to walk toward us, his stick-thin legs quaking slightly as he took slow step after slow step
Curious to see what he and his village had planned, I waited for hiently placed a wing on each of our shoulders and let out a mournful honk
“The scouts say that Swiftsure fell in battle, but he has been brave, yes, very brave, and will soar high with the Creators!” the old Spear Beak squawkedCaera and I exchanged a wary glance
Lowering his frail wings, he continued“Our scouts also tell of your triusThis deed will be written in history for all our tribe members to read, yes!”
‘Their attitudes are a lot more huis thought weakly froer wrapped around is wasn’t yet strong enough to maintain a physical form after his use of the Destruction Rune
“It’s nothing heroic,” I dis e have to do to leave this zone”
“Heroic, a good word! And a true one, yesWe Spear Beaks can only bow in awe at your bravery,” he said before gesturing with one wing toward the table with food“Ascenders, you ht you gifts of food and drink!”
“Is that all for us?” I asked, looking sTwo carried slabs of meat, while three others did their best to hold handfuls of a fruit that looked like giant blueberriesA sixth carried a sharp black stone, while the last two each held an earthenware jug that sloshed when they moved
Old Broke Beak nodded his head“A huift from humble Spear Beaks, yes”
Caera subtly squeezed the back of h her smile didn’t falterEven without prior preparation on nonverbal signals, I knehat she meantIf the Spear Beaks were as crafty and cold-hearted as I feared, it was possible they would try to do aith us and take the portal pieces for themselves
Hoould I eliminate an unwary, yet ainPoisoned? I wondered, though when I met Old Broke Beak’s eye, I made sure to keep my face passive, even thankful
“Without any disrespect, we couldn’t possibly accept such giftsSurely your brave warriors should be allowed to enjoy such spoils theaze“It would be h if we could siain”
The old bird stood wordless as his good eye travelled up and down aze went until he finally spoke
“Very well! While soh not I, no, not Old Broke Beak—to reject a Spear Beak’s gift, I see that Swiftsure’s ascension to the Creators has been difficult to bear, and so has put the ascenders off their hungerIt weighs on us also, very much soBut a feast will still be prepared, yes!” he said with a nod“Come to Old Broke Beak’s hut, so that we may sit and discussThere is much for you to tell”
Old Broke Beak led us past the line of Spear Beaks holding gifts, and though the giant berries looked delicious, they served to remind me of the memory that Three Steps had shared with me, and I kneas best to avoid any potential trap the wily birds h to bait in two cautious Shadoho were taught from birth to watch out for Spear Beaks, then they were sh to poison some food in an effort to weaken or even kill us
‘I thought your cockroach-like body was iis chimed in
But Caera isn’t, I repliedI’d rather be rude than stupidAnyway, I wanted to see how Old Broke Beak reacted to our refusalNow stay quiet and focus on recoveringYou’re useless to is roll his eyes as he replied, ‘Aye aye, princess’
The couple whose egg we had consuangly Spear Beaks, staring at Caera and I as we followed Old Broke Beak into his hutI thought of the dark shape in the sky above the Shados’ village and wondered if it had been Red Wings who had followed and spied on us
Once the elderly chief led us inside his home, he dipped his cracked beak and stepped back outside“Please get some rest hereThere is still much to be done, but I will be back soon, yes”
“WaitWe came here with the portal pieces like you asked,” I said hurriedly, not wanting to wait“I want to try and repair the portal e have now, so we just need your tribe’s piece and we’ll—”
“No” Old Broke Beak clacked his beak sharply to cut me off“You ht now, ascender only holds threeRest for now, and ill together find a way to claim the final piece”
With that, the chief hobbled away, leaving Caera and I alone
Caera let out a sigh beside”
“That’s putting it mildly,” I said with a scoff as rass where Old Broke Beak usually sat
“It’s unlikely the old bird left the one thing ant alone in the same room as us,” the Alacryan noble chimed in as I made my way tohere the portal piece had previously been hidden
I rifled through the bedding, but only found the dusty floor of the chief’s hut“damn it”
Caera rery
It hadn’t been that long since we’d first arrived at the Spear Beaks’ village, grateful for Swiftsure’s assistance and the village’s hospitalityBut in that short tied…I had seen toothat transpiredI should’ve noticed it sooner: the facts that didn’t quite add up to what these tall birds had told us, the animosity that all other tribes had toward the Spear Beaks, the bird people’s eagerness to use us for their own purposes
If it hadn’t been for the Four Fists chieftain’s challenge, wethey were anything but wild aether beastsIf it wasn’t for the lingering doubt I’d felt after that battle, we ainst the Shados for their aht of Three Steps and the rest of her tribe’s corpses scattered about in a maelstrom of Caera’s soulfire andin following my instincts, and while lives were lost, much worse could’ve happened if I had trusted Old Broke Beak implicitly
While the elderly chief and his tribe still thought ere on their side, I had to be patient and wait for the rightmy aether reserves to recover while he rests,” I answered, turning to the Alacryan noble
That hen I noticed that she was no longer shi+vering fro a blanket over her shoulders“Are you not cold?”
“It’s a lot warmer here than beforeMaybe because of the torches they have lit outside for the festival,” she said, shaking her head“Anyway, do you knohat caused hi our battle?”
“It had to do with hian“It’s difficult to explain, but Regis is a lot ic than I ah I’ic”
“So he wasn’t able to fully control it,” Caera said in understanding
I looked down at ic is really harh, which is isn’t li at a un ra back up, I could see the Alacryan noble watching ht
I frowned“What is it?”
“It’s nothing,” she said, revealing a faint smile“I just appreciate the fact that you’re able to share these things with meEven if I don’t fully understand, I doubt this was so you would have revealed to me e firstaway froaze“The fact that I could silence you at any ed”
Despite my threat, however, Caera let out a chuckle“Yes, yes”
~