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The next half turn passed by in a blur for Halley. Silon and Antel’s behaviour in training was not as overt as it had been with Fargo, but that made it easier to conceal.

The three faced their last test. Halley knew her individual maneuvers were flawless as she exited out of them and caught the updraft to join Antel in the middle of the air, while Silon caught the downdraft to do the same on the other side. She regulated the speed of her ascent to synchronize with the speed of Antel’s descent as they pulled up level with Antel in unison and switched to a floating position. The last move was executed in perfect unison as they regulated their speeds to a controlled descent until they were half a body length from the ground. 

The final manoeuvre was a three-way forearm lock, requiring a simultaneous extension of their arms as each one grasped the leather forearm of the Novice closest to him or her. Antel, in the centre position, would end the manoeuvre with a forearm lock on both sides. Halley extended her arm at the perfect moment, but Antel fumbled with his forearm lock as she descended. 

Kyrie pulled the lever, and their feet touched the ground. Halley’s face turned three shades of red. Anger and shame vied for supremacy in her emotions as silence filled the chamber, and she sensed Antel and Silon swaying beside her. She lifted her head and stared straight ahead.

“Have my eyes have failed me?” Kyrie began.

“No, Instructor, I completed my lock,” Silon interjected.

“I executed both locks, Instructor. It was Halley who fumbled her lock with me,” Antel announced.

“My timing on the lock was perfect, Instructor. It was Antel who failed to lock with me,” Halley countered.

“Silence!” Kyrie yelled as he paced. “In all the turns that I have been instructing Novices, I’ve never seen this happen.”

“See, females don’t belong here!” Silon taunted.

“Agreed,” Antel declared.

“To your chambers!” Kyrie bellowed. 

Halley ran to her chambers and slammed the door behind her. Hot tears poured down her face. She’d done everything that was asked of her and succeeded, despite the sabotage attempts.

Intense feelings of anger and indignation slammed into her raw emotions. 

Their words are false! Can you not see through their actions this turn?

She gasped as she realized she was hearing Auger’s voice. Halley tried to think of something else to distract herself. She felt a building restlessness inside and outside of the Keep. She shook her head to clear it. 

The daylight dimmed and the time for the evening repast arrived. A loud banging on her door startled her. She hurried to open it.

“Follow me!” Ryvka ordered.

As they approached the Klaven, the sound of many voices ricocheted off the stone walls. Ryvka marched straight toward the large gong, picked up the mallet, and struck it hard. The resulting sound drowned every voice out and sent tangible vibrations through them all. Halley stopped and stood still.

“Silence!” The Elder demanded in a severe tone that was bone-chilling.

“Is this how the Welkin behave in the Keep? What about your Aigles? What state are they in because of your own emotions?” 

Each word struck like a hammer blow, and shame covered the faces of all, except Antel and Sorin. They stood glaring at her with pure malice. The Elder grabbed their upper arms and propelled them forward to stand in front of everyone. 

“What poison are you sewing into the minds and hearts of this Keep?”

“Not poison, Elder… the truth that you refuse to see. Females are not of the Air and do not belong in this Keep,” Silon replied with such venom the hairs on the back of Halley’s neck stood up.

“She failed the test today, Elder. You must banish her!” Antel added.

Ryvka struck the gong behind them. Silon and Antel dropped to their knees, holding their ears in obvious pain.

The entire cavern was silent. 

“You say you speak the truth, but our Aigle partners tell us otherwise.” He stopped and motioned for Kyrie to approach.

“I returned to my chambers after the wind tunnel test today, convinced Halley had failed. Auger responded with anger and outrage. He accused these two of lying and told me I was blind to the events of this turn. Auger showed me everything. I went to the Elder’s chambers to resign as Instructor, but…”

“I refused his request, for I too was blinded. Presage showed me what I could not see. Every Welkin in this Keep, ask your own Aigle now!”

The ominous silence shifted into a muted hush as Halley realized she could hear a multitude of voices. She stopped herself and stared straight ahead until the gong sounded again.

“WatchWing Leaders, consult with your wings and report.”

Thirty heartbeats passed, and a large group of Leaders surrounded Ryvka and Kyrie. Their voices created a loud buzz that rose into a crescendo and then ebbed into silence.

“Never have two Novices brought such shame to this Keep. Your hatred toward Halley and Fargo resulted in attempts to sabotage their training. You made sure Fargo’s death looked like an accidental fall, but you murdered him! The penalty is death—take them!”

The WatchWing Leaders carried them away. Kyrie put a hand on Halley’s shoulder. “Come, you must see this through with the rest of the Keep.”

A few heartbeats later, Halley had climbed up the steep stone stairs onto the top cliffs of the Keep. It was hard to make out the rest in the darkness. Kyrie guided her with his hand on her elbow, and the Welkin parted before them until she was standing a body length from the edge. 

The Elder struck a small gong. “Silon and Antel, as we toss you down to break like eggs upon the ground, your names will hold no place in the Keep’s history. You have betrayed us and you have betrayed the Sajan’s chosen, not once but twice.” 

He struck the gong. Halley watched in horror as the WatchWing Leaders picked the two Novices up and threw them over the edge; their screams echoed off the cliff walls.

Kyrie escorted her back to her chambers. She moved to open her door, but he put his hand over hers. 

“Halley, in the Keep’s history, this is only the third time we’ve had to do this. We do not tolerate murder or betrayal.”

She nodded as images filled her head. Auger showed her how the two Novices had planned to kill both of them the day of the challenge. 

“Get some rest. Tomorrow is your Linking ceremony.”

The shock subsided during the night; Halley’s sleep was restless. The Klaven was subdued when she arrived for the morning repast. Ryvka and Kyrie motioned for her to join them.

“Auger tells me you slept,” Kyrie said in greeting.

“How would he know?”

“I’m not sure, Halley. He and I are both relieved, though.” 

“Maybe your Aigle feels protective of our only remaining Novice,” the Elder mused.

Halley focused on eating her hot grains. “What will happen to the other juvenile Aigles not linked today?”

“One juvenile links this cycle,” Kyrie confirmed as she looked up. “The rest will remain wild.

“What about the next cycle, will there be enough juveniles for the Novices then?” 

“Yes, Halley, we have multiple nesting pairs every cycle. Not all juveniles are suitable for linking. Their parents raise and guide them until they fly from the nest.”

“Thank you, Elder. If you’ll excuse me, I need to prepare.” 

“Of course, I will come for you before the sun reaches mid-sky.”

Back in her chamber, Halley gathered up all her Novice clothes and placed them outside her door. Her closet now contained the tan leather uniforms of the Welkin.

She took a warm bath, changed into her new uniform, and braided her hair back out of the way. As she secured the final braid, she realized this was her last moment of solitude. A sharp knock on her door caused Halley to jump. She hurried to the door and smiled at Ryvka as she stepped out onto the pathway and closed the door behind her.

They made their way to the top of the cliffs, which looked vastly different from the night before. She followed the Elder through a maze of nests until he came to a stop at the base of one.

“Novice, you will climb into this nest and greet the four juvenile Aigles inside. Let them come to you. The one that speaks to you in your mind is the one who has linked with you. Do you understand?”

She nodded once and walked with even strides to the base of the nest, then began her ascent. It was much easier in the daylight than in the dim light of the cave. She paused at the top to catch her breath and then began her descent. Once her feet touched the bottom of the nest, she turned around. 

The four Aigles huddled against the far side. She moved forward until she was standing in the middle of the nest. Welkin onlookers formed a ring along the top of the nest.

A powerful downdraft almost knocked her over as Auger landed behind her. The juveniles gathered courage and began their approach.

I think it’s a female!

There are no female Welkin.

He’s a small male then.

What does size matter?

Halley was so caught up in the conversation that it took her a few minutes to realize she was hearing all four of them. 

Steady. Listen to what they say and then choose the one that resonates with your heart.

She acknowledged Auger’s advice with one small nod. The four juveniles were almost close enough to touch. They stopped and stared at her. She looked up at them. Their full colouring had yet to develop, but she could tell them apart. The Aigle on the far left had three white feathers at the base of its throat.

Stop looking at my feathers!

See, I told you it’s a female.

No wonder she’s so small.

The banter between the three captivated her so much that she didn’t notice the fourth juvenile break position and turn to face the others. His tail feathers were a mottled grey and white.

You’re all disrespecting a Welkin. Have you learned nothing? 

The voice held a noble tone and she could feel his umbrage. The other three glared at her and walked away.

Halley was utterly shocked! The fourth Aigle turned to face her. He took two steps forward and lowered his head until she was looking into his eyes.

I apologize for their behaviour, Welkin. My name is Edel.

She opened her mouth to speak and then closed it. My name is Halley. You have nothing to apologize for. I choose you, noble one.

Edel moved forward another step and lowered his head as he bowed before her. 

“His name is Edel!” She announced with joy.

The Welkin along the rim of the nest cheered. A plethora of other voices joined in, and Halley covered her ears, trying to muffle them.

You will learn to separate their voices in time, Halley. You are the first Welkin able to hear all Aigles.

How did you know, Auger? I tried hard to conceal it.

I knew you could hear me the first time we met. 

Edel stretched his right leg forward. Halley climbed up and lowered herself into the notch at the base of his neck. 

Do Kyrie and Ryvka know?

They do now.

Edel took two powerful steps and launched them skyward. A few seconds later he landed on the ledge outside the great cavern attached to her chambers.

This is your chamber, Halley?

No, Edel, these are our chambers. You have a cavern, though.

Of course, I’m taller than you are.

Really? I hadn’t noticed.

Photo by Omer Salom on Unsplash