Part 1 (1/2)
Sword Quest.
Nancy Yi Fan.
PROLOGUE.
A SWORD I IS M MADE.
Rosy clouds of dawn floated over the Island of Paradise. King Pepheroh of Kauria crouched among the fronds of the tallest palm tree, his linen robe and tail feathers whipping in the breeze. The old phoenix meditated on the Great Spirit with his eyes half open, hoping to hear his will, but his mind was distracted by the troubling news his messengers had been bringing him for many months. Between the earth and the sky, birds were struggling. Once they had freely shared trees and nest s.p.a.ce, seeds, roots, and berries, but, somehow, arguments had arisen. That led to cheating, then to stealing, and then to pecking and scratching. As time rolled steadily on, the most powerful winged creatures, feuding with one another, had turned to weapons. Four-winged dinosaurs and archaeopteryxes swooped down, killing and destroying. War spread across the ptero-world like a hurricane so that now nearly all lived in fear, distrust, and uncertainty. Pepheroh's magical kingdom was one of the last peaceful lands remaining.
”Help us, Great Spirit,” Pepheroh cried. ”Send us a sign.”
A sound came drifting on the wind, so faint that Pepheroh at first thought it was only his own hope whispering in his ear. But then he heard it again.
Make a sword, the Great Spirit told him. the Great Spirit told him. Somebird has to guide the world into order again. Make a sword, and he will come to wield it. Somebird has to guide the world into order again. Make a sword, and he will come to wield it.
Can a sword truly be used to bring peace to the world? Pepheroh wondered as he clutched his garments around him. ”How can I forge such a powerful sword?” Pepheroh wondered as he clutched his garments around him. ”How can I forge such a powerful sword?”
When the sword is nearly finished, I shall make it magical. But beware, the Great Spirit warned. the Great Spirit warned. Guard the sword until a worthy bird comes to claim it on the day of the fifth full moon three years from now. If an evil bird wields it, it will bring more disaster to the world. Guard the sword until a worthy bird comes to claim it on the day of the fifth full moon three years from now. If an evil bird wields it, it will bring more disaster to the world.
”Yes, Great Spirit,” Pepheroh promised.
After the blacksmiths and metalworkers all over Kauria heard the old king's proclamation, they came to present their service and skills.
A month pa.s.sed. Pepheroh was visiting the forge at dusk. Will this sword be a blessing or a curse? Will this sword be a blessing or a curse? he thought anxiously as his eyes followed every stroke of the hammer. he thought anxiously as his eyes followed every stroke of the hammer.
Suddenly, Pepheroh saw a flash of light beaming down from the sky. He realized that it was the tear of the Great Spirit, who was saddened at the warring world. The glistening drop fell onto the earth and shattered into eight gemstones, the largest bearing all the colors of the rainbow, and each of the others glistening with one of its colors.
As the biggest tear-gem of the Great Spirit streaked through the forge's open window and fell onto the hilt of the sacred sword, all the blacksmiths stopped, amazed. The sword was finished! Pepheroh touched the perfect blade with a claw. ”I shall save you for the hero,” he vowed.
Seasons pa.s.sed. In a holy chamber, the sword lay in a crystal case, waiting for its master to come.
Not all was well in Kauria. The dark power of chaos began to reach toward the island like a devil bird's claws, and the island's green lushness started to fade away.
”Will a hero come?” the old king asked.
”Your Highness, I will go out to find him!” Ozzan the toucan blacksmith said. ”I have seen scores of years, and my life's work was the hero's sword. It is my wish to see it wielded by the right bird, so I will go out into the mortal world and find this hero.”
”But Ozzan, it is dangerous for you.” Pepheroh reached out a claw to place a magical protection, but the toucan stopped him.
”This decision is my own, my good king,” he said, and flexed a claw to prove his strength. Under the worn, wrinkled skin there were still muscles from his younger days. ”I will take a badge to remind me of my home and of you. I will see to it that a worthy bird comes.”
There was a pause, and they could hear the wind blowing the sand around them. The toucan's blue-lidded eyes were s.h.i.+ning.
”Very well, Ozzan. You may go.”
Who loses and who gains is settled within a flap of the wings.-FROM THE O OLD S SCRIPTURE
1.
LOSS.
Hungrias II, the Ancient Wing, emperor of the archaeopteryxes, sprawled like a huge spider on his whalebone perch. He was staring out of a rounded window at the forests of Castlewood, but his eyes reflected the world. ”Secrets. Delicious!” he declared, his bloated face squished into furrows. ”No secrets can sneak past my mighty empire's eyes and ears. Yes, go on!” Down the great golden hall of the Sun Palace, the rows of plumes on the leather headgear of his knights all dipped forward as the subjects leaned in to listen. Across from them, his scholars swished their sleeves.
”The lowly birds in your territories are starting to whisper about rare gemstones. Leasorn gems, they're called,” the head of the scholars said. ”They have strange markings on them. It is said they come from the sky and have something to do with a hero. One in particular, our sources reveal, seems to hint at when the hero will come-sometime in three years.” The members of the court gasped. The scholar spread the claws of one foot wide in wonderment, then closed them abruptly. He pointed at a ragam.u.f.fin twitching beside him. ”I have found a witness, Your Majesty!”
”Speak.”
”Yes, Your Majesty!” the young archaeopteryx said. ”I chanced to see that particular stone during my morning foraging. 'Thank the Great Spirit the gem is here,' one of the birds around it was saying, so I knew something was peculiar. I hid and watched...”
Magical stones from the sky! thought the emperor, his gaze sweeping across the sunset painted on the arched ceiling. thought the emperor, his gaze sweeping across the sunset painted on the arched ceiling.
”Color! Location! Tribe!” Hungrias's eyes glittered as if two gemstones were already in his pupils. ”Speak up!”
”Beautifully orange it was, Your Majesty. It's about a couple dozen miles south of your Plains territory, with a band of doves living near a river.”
Sounds like something for me. Hero, the wise bird said? Well, I'll show how archaeopteryxes can crush all heroes! ”I must have this treasure.” Drumming his sausagelike talons, Hungrias straightened on his jeweled perch and barked, ”Sir Maldeor!” ”I must have this treasure.” Drumming his sausagelike talons, Hungrias straightened on his jeweled perch and barked, ”Sir Maldeor!”
”Yes, Your Majesty.” The head of the knights stepped forward on the carpet and bowed.
”Take some elite soldiers and find this gem for me.”
Before the knight could reply, the curtains behind Hungrias's throne trembled and a fat feathered ball waddled up to the emperor. ”Me too!” Prince Phaethon cried, his beak full. In his claws he held a blueberry m.u.f.fin. ”I shall go along. I must!”
”You're young. Battles are not for you.”
”I must! I want to learn how to fight. Please, Father!” the prince begged, crumbs on his beak.
Hungrias's tiny eyes flitted shut. Then he huffed and said, ”Sir Maldeor, I entrust my son to you.”
Phaethon grinned with green-tinged teeth.
Good grief, thought the knight. ”Yes, Your Majesty,” he managed to say. thought the knight. ”Yes, Your Majesty,” he managed to say.
The next day, Sir Maldeor, Prince Phaethon, and thirty soldiers journeyed to the dove tribe.