Kingdom of Birds and Beasts: The Complete Trilogy by Ivinya Alice

Author:Ivinya, Alice
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-07-20T00:00:00+00:00

HOMECOMING

The mountains crested in all their majesty around us, and I was grateful for the cold air keeping me awake and alert. The bitter wind slowly numbed the wounds in my arm, and I felt the muscles tensing around my battered joints. Jian was rigid with pain, and I was worried that if I fell asleep from exhaustion, my grip on him might slip, and he would fall.

‘I will do my best to explain, though the story is not straightforward. I want you to understand everything, but you may not want to hear it. I also have a past that haunts me.’

I patted his neck with stiff fingers to show I was ready and steeled myself for what I was about to hear.

‘There was a period when I worked alongside Jala’ban. Eleven years ago, a disease from the south swept though the trees and, despite the Old Magic and the Land’s Song, some withered and died and many became weak. Our beautiful world became tainted, because of the man’s treatment of nature in the south. We Spirit-Beasts did our best to nurse the trees, but there was anger across the land and a food shortage among the forest creatures of Sal’hadar.’

I frowned. ‘Is that what triggered the war with the Borderlands? Ten years ago when the Eastern Fort was overrun?’

There was an undercurrent of shame and pain as the eagle replied, ‘It was, amongst other things. The Spirit-Beasts longed to restore balance to the land beyond the Border. There was a great council and Jala’ban spoke of how war was necessary. He said even if all we achieved was killing humans of the new blood, it would decrease their numbers and help the lands recover. A necessary evil. Tama’ha, the leader of Sal’hadar, and Fey’da, the leader of Tamunden, agreed. Only Bula’s tribe didn’t participate in the attack.’

My blood ran cold. ‘And you joined in?’

The shame was thick now. Dark. ‘I did. I could see his logic, and I was angry too. Jala’ban can be very persuasive and manipulate even powerful Spirit-Beasts.’ His voice was thick with hatred as he mentioned the harpy eagle. ‘But I recognize that is no excuse for my actions. I drew on the Old Magic for the first time to make myself stronger. When the Eastern Fort was attacked, I flew over it and attacked the small villages with other Spirit-Birds.’

Horror and shock swelled in my stomach. He really was like the rest. Or had been. I tapped his neck for him to continue, knowing he could sense my emotions.

‘First, I killed two huntsmen running back to their village. Then I… I killed a girl slightly younger than you. I can still see her face, her long black hair. I didn’t know why she didn’t flee, why she stood her ground and attacked me with an axe. But once I killed her, I found her young brother cowering in the house behind her. He must have been about five. She was only a woodcutter’s daughter yet protected him and died for him without fear.

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