Bird Furious

Essa snapped the book shut, louder than she should have. No. I can’t accept that. Then she laughed. What am I going to do, change it? I wouldn’t… maybe I would. Maybe I will. Um! No! That’s forbidden for a reason! Don’t be stupid, Essa, she told herself. Yet her feet still took her to the Sunray.

Haly stumbled onto the red rug in the marble hallway, nearly knocking over a lamp. She caught her breath, then rounded on Sykel with a glare. “How could you? Wynn was in trouble!” Sykel shooed their confused little brother down the hallway. “‘I know, Evalyn. Basilica needs to come first.” ”But—“ ”It’s over, Wynn’s good as dead, TAAron’s actually dead, and nothing we can do will make a difference. They can do it just as well without you.” She folded her arms, looking guilty. “Besides, there’s a feast. Tonight. To make your betrothal official.” “Tonight?” “Yes, we cut this thing insanely close. Come on. We need to get you ready for—“ “No! You can’t just take me! I’m not your puppet.” Squinching her eyes shut, Sykel rubbed her temples and let out some sort of a squeaky noise. “I don’t like this any better than you do. Evalyn…” she opened her eyes, voice softening. “I’m so sorry it’s like this, I really am. But… please, play this game. Please. I’ll find some way to make it up to you, I promise. But Ev—“ she stopped. “Leiance Saeri Basili, little halcyon, we need you now. We need you to be Evalyn. Just for a little while, please.” She hasn’t called me that for… years. So many years. It’s so good to hear it from somebody who didn’t—she derailed her train of thought before her sorrow could manifest more than a jerk in her chest. “Okay. Okay, Sykel. I’ll play along.” The two left to get ready for the feast. ~~~~ Essa left the comfortable, carefully decorated offices behind for the Caves. The Caves was where all the important things were stored, the things that—for some of them—not even the agents were allowed to be near. But the library was fine. It was always available. Everyone she passed with a curt nod knew there was nothing to fear. Essa never went past the library. She was very law-abiding, carrying two titles—High Caseworker and Manager of Risk. Essa? Rebel? Never. The shelves rose in the stone room, miles and miles of thumbnail-sized manuscripts that could be grown when called upon. She passed them all without a second glance. She was here for something else. Ah. Here. Average cover—set with opaque gems that hinted at various elements within. Waving a special rod over the book enlarged it. Title page, chapter one, two, three. She wasn’t interested in any of that. How does it end? Footsteps sounded behind her. She used the rod again, shoving the small book into her pocket. Then she stacked some fallen ones unconcernedly. Jove rounded the corner and smiled. “Enjoying the atmosphere?” ”It helps me focus to be around them—all the books.” A believable lie, one that was usually true. ”I’m looking for that one with the ninja? Who can’t lie?” ”Index is over there.” He left. She reopened the book.

“Wait!” Squirming, she locked eyes with whoever was around. “I’m sorry. About all the—“ you know the rest

HalfHalcyon 1454

Between bites, Kealie asked, “So where are we going exactly?”

There’s more. Tell him more. Fumbling for words, she clenched her fists. What is it? What do I say? She didn’t know. ”Bye,” she called, feeling the insufficiency of the words. “Bye. See you soon.”

Thank you!!

She opened her mouth to say yes, but the syllables caught on her tongue. It felt like she should say something, do something. Anything. But it eluded her. ”Will you…” she swallowed. “Will you wait for me?” But that felt so insufficient…

“You can’t leave like this! Not with a lie! Tell me!” Surging, the anger peaked… and it felt to good. It’s fake, she realized with a start. She tried to shake it out of her head, force it out of her core, but it wouldn’t leave. “No, forget that. It’s Rylla talking.” With a deep breath, she managed to put the anger at bay. “TAAron, I… I’m so sorry. About all this, and about everything. I’m so sorry and I’ll miss you so much, and I… I love you too.” Rylla gave up and retreated, leaving Haly to try to wipe away the tears inexorably rolling down her cheeks.

Tell Ranryu never to eat kumquat pancakes without checking for Eshibli crystals first. It’s dangerous. 1450

“What, you want your last words to me to be a lie?” She snapped. She felt a faint sensation of pleasure, but it faded. Rylla was getting better at being subtle.

IM ME AGAIN 1448

“What?” Suspicion joined her anger.

Haly grabbed Lerac and thrust him in TAArons general direction. “Stop being upset. It wasn’t your fault; you did your best with the cards you were dealt. Talk to him.” She stepped back to contemplate her anger in silence.

Kealie beamed. “Thanks, guys!” She dug in, and ate a lot. A lot a lot. Not quite half—maybe more like a third. But it was a lot.

She shook her head. “It’s not fair. I try so hard, for dozens of people… and I can’t save the one I love best. I think… I think I’m mad, TAAron.”

She brightened. “Food! You have food! Is it ready yet? Can I eat it? How much? Is half okay? I think I could make do with half.”

Unsure, and a little frightened for some unnamable reason, she took it. “It just makes everything so much harder. Why can’t things ever be easy?” The sorrow, the pit in her stomach, began to fill and replace itself with anger. Slowly, only coals at first. But they grew.

“No,” she whispered. “It can’t be. That’s impossible.” She shook her head hard. “It can’t be.” Oh, but her eyes professed a different conviction.

“No.” I wish. “We we’re trying to get you back, but it didn’t work. I’m so sorry.” Her voice carried an oft-used edge of grief.

Shocked and amazed, she brought her hands to her mouth. “TAAron. You’re really dead.” Tears sprung to her eyes. “Hi.”

“Yes, please.”