Alden took us into a tidy room lined in storage shelves, with a desk to one side and a worktable in the center, then went to fetch Socato. She came in on his shoulder, her tail feathers trailing down his back and her beak pointing toward the floor. Even the crest on her head seemed, well, crestfallen.
“There you go, sweetheart,” Alden cooed to the bird as he took her from his shoulder and set her on the worktable before me. “What will you do to her?” He asked me.
“I'm a Spellsinger, Alden. I'm going to sing,” I said dryly.
Alden grimaced at Odin. “I see the family resemblance now.”
“We are not related by blood.” Odin chuckled. “But thank you.”
I stared at the bird as I sought Kyanite's opinion.
You need something that will allow you to see and feel as this animal does,Kyanite mused. Then he declared,I've got it!
The strumming, folksy intro of Mazzy Star's “Fade Into You” started to play.
Perfect! Thank you, Ky.
Of course, my love.
It was a song about trying to learn the truth about someone—their deepest desires and dreams. What made them who they are. Trying to connect but only finding darkness. I needed to find what the songwriter had been searching for—a deep understanding of another being. I needed to sink into this avian mind and learn its mysteries.
As the magic rose and I joined my voice to it, I settled my intention in my mind. Even though the song implied failure, I could focus on the purpose and use it to succeed. My magic responded immediately, empowering my words and the meaning I gave them. They thrummed into life as they left my lips; I could practically see them riding the air between the bird and me. Socato lifted her head, her crest perking up, and turned her head sideways to stare at me with one black eye. I pushed forward with my magic and dove into that darkness.
I surfaced in a strange world of bright colors and sharp focus. Things zoom-lensed into sight, then retracted. My heartbeat sped up. Feathers ruffled as a cool breeze blew through an opening door.Myfeathers. No, I wasn't really a bird, that's only what Torin called me. I had to remember who I was or I'd stop singing and fail Alden like all the others.
So I focused. I remembered that I was only a visitor in this mind. The soft, swaying music swirled around my real body but the strumming of a guitar seemed to come from far away and the vibration of sound in my throat felt like tingles from a phantom limb. I continued to sing but as I did, I also searched the images that Socato presented me with. She knew why I was there and she wanted my help. Pictures flashed by—sections of the shop outside—then settled on one distinct visual. I took her memory and made it mine, then let my body snap me back into place. I opened my eyes and found the men watching me with expressions of admiration, affection, and—in the case of Alden—hope. I let go of my magic first, then finished the line I was singing. Kyanite softened the music into silence.
I grinned at Alden. “Come with me. There's something I need to show you.”
“You know what's wrong with her?” Alden asked in amazement.
“Not exactly.” I left the storage room and went behind the counter to my right. “But I know what she wants.”
“You do?!”
I went up to a rolling ladder and moved it where I needed it to be. Alden made no protest at me treating his shop as if it were my own, only watched avidly. I climbed the ladder, grabbed the jar Socato had shown me, and scurried back down.
“This is what she wants.” I handed him the jar. “I have no idea why, but it's very important to her.”
Alden stared at the contents. They appeared to be dried berries—little, shriveled, maroon spheres. His eyes widened and then he let out a bark of laughter. “It was here this whole time. Of course! Why didn't I think of it before?”
A strident squawking interrupted him as Socato flew out of the storage room and landed on the counter beside Alden.
“The next time you want a treat, just peck at it or something, Soc,” Alden chided her as he opened the jar and dumped some of its contents onto the counter.
Socato made a jubilant sound and started gobbling the berries.
“These are from the region where I found her,” Alden explained. “They must contain nutrients she requires. Or maybe she just misses the taste.”
“Losing something you love can have a terrible effect on you,” Darc murmured.
I glanced at him, hoping to feel something, but the only thing I felt was pity. I didn't think Darc wanted that so I looked away.
Alden gave Darc a long look as he capped the jar. “That it can. I'll be sure to keep a supply of these on hand for her.” He turned to Socato and pet her back adoringly. “I'll get the fresh ones for you soon, pretty Socato.”
The bird lifted her head and squawked loudly.
“Alden, the name?” Odin prompted.
