Chapter 308 (2/2)

“Elder Broke Beak,” Caera said, her voice clear and confident as we followed behind the gangly old bird“You said earlier that your tribe would help us get the final portal piece, but we seee”

We had waited in his hut for several hours before he finally returned with a group of battle-scarred Spear Beaks behind him, only for hi on a well-lit path leading toward the steep cliff that sheltered their village

“The Spear Beaks will help you hunt the Ghost Bears, yesWe will find, and you will fight” His cracked beak nodded up and down as he spoke“But first, you must join us for a feastVery rare feast indeed”

I began to think of excuses to make in order not to eat any of the food provided by the Spear Beaks as we ascended the steep cliff

Two of the scarred Spear Beaks carried Old Broke Beak, since he was too old to flyWhile I was tempted to simply God Step to the top, I didn’t want to waste any aether in case things went south, so Caera and I jued protrusions of the cliff as footholds

We appeared on the ledge of a shts were elow over the crowd of Spear Beaks that were already thereA pillar of san to shuffle out of the way at the sight of Old Broke Beak

The elderly chief of the village aiting for us, his one violet eye gli“Behold!”

“Grey?” Caera’s voice was susted

I looked froaze to the “feast”

Laid out on a wide, flat stone was the huge Four Fists chieftainAll four of his hands had been reest of his tusksHis once silver hide had been flayed, while a large gash on his stoe, round blueberries as a roaring fire danced beneath the stone slab he was on

“What the hell is this?” I asked, unable to hide my revulsion

“A most rare feast!” Old Broke Beak exclaian to clack and caw in their rasping, birdish languageThe tribe listened, then cheered and crowed to the sky, a few even leaping froh peak

“I have told the to us, “of your victory over the brutish Four Fists clan, and how you killed their chief and left the clan weak and without protection” He followed this proclaaze drifted back to the Four Fists’ body“How’d you get this?”

“Raided the village after your battle,” Old Broke Beak answered proudly“An honor to feast on a fallen enemy, yes”

“Barbaric,” Caera muttered under her breath next to h I couldn’t tell if he understood what she’d said

“I’ust“In our cultures, we don’t eat…our fallen foes”

Old Broke Beak let out a raspy gasp“What a waste to leave strong eneround, but ill not force youWould the ascenders, perhaps, prefer another egg for energy?”

‘Did soy still

I shook et on our way as soon as—”

Old Broke Beak squawked, cutting s out to his people, then burst out with a single sharp noise

A cry went up fro and tearing at the half-frozen flesh like a wake of vulturesI turned away, letting e below

Two Spear Beaks had left the peak and were sloheeling down to the collection of huts

Beside me, Old Broke Beak said, “Spear Beaks will celebrate in the ene that is e it”

“As I was saying,” I started again, my jaw clenched in frustration, “ould like to leave soonMy companions and I see no reason to hunt the Ghost Bears unless we can’t make the portal ith just the four pieces we already have”

“Three,” the chieftain said, watching with apparent pleasure as his tribe devoured the Four Fists’ corpse“Honorable ascender agreed to fetch four pieces, and we agreed to give the fifthYou only have three pieces”

I let out a deep breath as I locked eyes with Old Broke BeakMy gaze was cal a palpable chill in the air made my intentions clearCaera and the old bird stiffened, and the three scarred Spear Beaks stepped up to guard their leader

“I’ve been civil up until now, but I’m at my limit,” I said, my voice icy“We are not a weapon for you to point at your enemiesYou can either help us of your own free will, or our time as allies will come to an end”

A veil of silence fell over the proceedings as even the Spear Beaks feasting on the Four Fists corpse stopped to stare at us

“As you sayStay, at least, for this feastSuch victories are not enjoyed often byWind and Thunder Cutter, let the tribe live this moment, while I retrieve you the pieceYes?”

“I will decline the ly old bird

Old Broke Beak clacked his beak in what looked like a display of frustration but quickly hid his eh“The heroic ascenders wish to fly as fast as Spear BeaksVery well!”

The chieftain let out a series of sharp squawks to one of the Spear Beaks behind hi our portal piece”

With a curt bow, the old bird shuffled back with his three guardsDespite their violet eyes boring holes in ht we could relax

That hen ish, like ard rasps

“G-Grey”

I felt Caera grab onto my arm for support as she stumbledOut of the corner ofin exciteround in a fit of labored breaths as I buckled to ainst my chest in fear for the Alacryan noble

“What…did you…do,” I said in a forced voice, turning aze fully toward the chieftain

The elderly bird let out a shrill laugh, which was echoed aht

“Old Broke Beak hty ascenders, no, but he has the best of brains!” he said while practically skipping toward us“You see, this one knew the ascender would not eat our foodSuspicious, yes! Obvious, yes!”

I fell tobehind me

The old bird remained a few yards away, safe behind his battle-scarred protectors, and continued to speak“This is why Old Broke Beak poisoned the fires so that smoke would be breathed in by the ascendersNot harmful to Spear Beaks, very bad for others!”

“Cae-Caera,” I ritted teeth

“Poison will not killAscender has to fight the Ghost Bears after all, yes! Ascender will give us four portal pieces, Spear Beaks will give back ascender’s mate,” the chieftain responded

“Won’t…kill?” I repeated

Old Broke Beak let out an impatient squawk“Yes! Won’t kill, won’t kill”

“Good,” I replied, no longer laboring to breathe

Violet lightning crackled around me as I God Stepped behind Old Broke Beak and otiations are over”