• Common • Rakahi • Gravokian
"A greedy father has thieves for children."
Ten little birds, Ten little spies.
“I know, I know,” she cooed, collecting the cages one by one. Fresh from the market, they were a bit dirty, and the white birds trilled in annoyance and lamentation, jostled as she walked, “Soon, I promise.” The Naer looked over her shoulder and began to undo the latch of the first cage, holding it up to look into the creature’s eyes. Its little chest rose and fell in quick succession, and she wondered how long it had been locked away. Navyri closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
When she spoke again, she spoke the language of the birds, “You are safe now. Be still.”
Almost immediately, it quieted. Watching her, waiting. She opened the cage and with caution, began to slip her hand inside. Inexperienced with most birds, she was gentle and slow. The poor thing could fit into her palm, so tiny and delicate. Its feathers were a brilliant white in perfect cohesion with the snowy wasteland around them, and its wings were dipped in black. The trader had called it a Snow Bunting, a very common bird in Viden attempted to be sold as a pet, “I won’t hurt you.”
Her hand hovered in the cage and the bird regarded it suspiciously. Lowered into the snow, Navyri tried not to shiver in her wool lined pants, her simple cloak pooling around her in a swath of rich indigo. At once, the little bird jumped upon her finger, “Very good. Are you ready for freedom?”
“Yes. Yes. Yes.”
She gasped, having understood it. The other birds were now quiet, watching from their own confinements, “Then let it be so. I only ask for one thing in return.” Navyri began to pull her hand from the cage, the bird remaining in place. She had feared it would take flight the first chance it got, but yet it remained loyally upon her index finger. Tarouz magic. With a motherly touch, she began to stroke the slope of its breast, “I need you to find me something. If you see it, bring it to me. If you cannot, come and tell me where it is.”
Drawing the avian into the warmth of her body heat, Navyri revealed a partially unrolled map, tapping the image in the corner. The bird’s head turned back and forth as it inspected the parchment, and she hoped it capable of such complex thought. “Do you understand?”
“Yes. Yes.” It scooted back and forth in her possession, eager to be released. It was endearing to watch those restless feet in the cold, dreary grey light.
She smiled, “Good, time is of the essence. Go now. Enjoy the skies once more.” Navyri gave it a kiss upon its head and offered it to the clouds. The first spy opened its wings and she reached for the next.
“I know, I know,” she cooed, collecting the cages one by one. Fresh from the market, they were a bit dirty, and the white birds trilled in annoyance and lamentation, jostled as she walked, “Soon, I promise.” The Naer looked over her shoulder and began to undo the latch of the first cage, holding it up to look into the creature’s eyes. Its little chest rose and fell in quick succession, and she wondered how long it had been locked away. Navyri closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
When she spoke again, she spoke the language of the birds, “You are safe now. Be still.”
Almost immediately, it quieted. Watching her, waiting. She opened the cage and with caution, began to slip her hand inside. Inexperienced with most birds, she was gentle and slow. The poor thing could fit into her palm, so tiny and delicate. Its feathers were a brilliant white in perfect cohesion with the snowy wasteland around them, and its wings were dipped in black. The trader had called it a Snow Bunting, a very common bird in Viden attempted to be sold as a pet, “I won’t hurt you.”
Her hand hovered in the cage and the bird regarded it suspiciously. Lowered into the snow, Navyri tried not to shiver in her wool lined pants, her simple cloak pooling around her in a swath of rich indigo. At once, the little bird jumped upon her finger, “Very good. Are you ready for freedom?”
“Yes. Yes. Yes.”
She gasped, having understood it. The other birds were now quiet, watching from their own confinements, “Then let it be so. I only ask for one thing in return.” Navyri began to pull her hand from the cage, the bird remaining in place. She had feared it would take flight the first chance it got, but yet it remained loyally upon her index finger. Tarouz magic. With a motherly touch, she began to stroke the slope of its breast, “I need you to find me something. If you see it, bring it to me. If you cannot, come and tell me where it is.”
Drawing the avian into the warmth of her body heat, Navyri revealed a partially unrolled map, tapping the image in the corner. The bird’s head turned back and forth as it inspected the parchment, and she hoped it capable of such complex thought. “Do you understand?”
“Yes. Yes.” It scooted back and forth in her possession, eager to be released. It was endearing to watch those restless feet in the cold, dreary grey light.
She smiled, “Good, time is of the essence. Go now. Enjoy the skies once more.” Navyri gave it a kiss upon its head and offered it to the clouds. The first spy opened its wings and she reached for the next.
