“Not much that I don’t already know. There was an old book that had his depiction, and I’m fairly certain he’s the Ancient Hirovale’s creature of the night. The text described his likeness perfectly. It also affirmed that the Bird of Ash used to assist the Ancient in claiming souls.”
“If he chooses,” Holis adds, looking at me from across the table, “your babe will be able to turn anything to ash with his touch.”
“What?” I look to him in astonishment, then back at the beast with wide eyes.
“It is one of his gifts,” the Discerni twin gives me a small smile, “and now he is the Ancient’s gift to you.”
“To King Zander, then,” I shake my head, “not a gift to me. I came across him on behalf of the book I searched for the King.”
“No,” Mana’s silent voice adds, his blue-green gaze watching me steadily as well, “the bird appeared to you, Alexis. He is yours, just as you are now his.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You will in time,” the quiet twin gives me another rare smile, “he will serve you exceptionally.”
“But I have no need for his service,” I look around the table with a frown, “what am I going to do with a magical bird?”
The baby beast nips at my arm, his yellow eyes sad and solemn as the room goes quiet.
“We’ll take you back to Bardot,” I tell the Bird of Ash, “you belong to the King.”
“I don’t think anyone at this table believes that, Alex,” Cal says after a small pause, “not even yourself.”
I frown at my friend before looking back at the magical beast in confusion.
What am I to do with a Bird of Ash?
TheBird of Ash.
Why would I want him? And why did Holis say that he was the Ancient’s gift to me?
None of this seems right.
Hirovale, the Ancient of Death and Exploration, has been asleep for thousands of years. How could he possibly send me something?
No.
He’s not mine.
Better to lend his magical abilities to someone who can actually harness them. Someone not like me, not human...
Dinner plates start falling on the table in front of us, pulling me from my thoughts. The Bird of Ash walks towards a glass of water now on the table, his body not tall enough to reach inside.
“You’ll need to name him,” Morose says as I tip the glass, “or have you already?”
“I haven’t,” I shake my head as the bird drinks heavily, “did the Ancient Hirovale have a name for him?”
“Nothing that I can find,” she grimaces, “any text on his creature is rare. I will have Clair write to you with anything else that comes up.”
“Thank you,” I nod, picking up my knife to cut small chunks out of the raw meat that’s been provided. I place a few pieces on the table and watch as the Bird of Ash leans down to smell the food. He promptly picks it up with his beak and swallows the piece whole.
“What of the book you searched for?” Prince McQuoid asks, watching the two of us in quiet curiosity. I sigh and push my own plate aside, unable to avoid the question any longer.
“I found it,” I reply softly.
The room stirs. The Prince and Princess shift in their seats, as do Holis and Mana and Morose. The only ones who remain still with me are Keane, Desmond and Cal, though the Master Informer seems intent to keep his narrowed eyes on the twins. I turn around to look at Golem and watch as he gives me a nod. The silent gesture urges me to continue, so I take a deep drink of ale and think of those soft black feathers that covered the book, feathers that are not unlike the bird who stands before me now.
“The book was…”
