REALM'S END (BOOK OF FEY 1) by Jules Hancock Page B

the pool of healing waters. He liked to dip out of the sandy side of the pool where he could rest on his knees amongst the small flowers that grew around the water’s edge. Briok relaxed a moment enjoying his newly acquired ability to hear the water. As usual he was taken with the beauty of the lights as they played across the lake’s surface. Breathing in the air of the cavern, he felt somewhat refreshed. From where he sat by the water’s edge, he could see himself reflected in the underground lake’s surface. His face looked calm, but he knew better. He was nervous and afraid. Just as he reached out to run his fingers across the water, Briok heard a ker-plop, he swung his head around and there stood a member of the stone tribe from the council of elders.
         “Hello lad,” the stone’s craggy voice called out. “More water today, that’s a bit unusual isn’t it,” he asked, as he advanced slowly on his squat legs?
         Briok stared at the stone man a long moment, as his mind went blank with fear. “The Rowan is making an experiment,” he finally mumbled.
         “Ah I see,” the stone man said slowly rubbing his rough hands together. “By the way I was out enjoying the light this morning, and I thought I saw you flying away from the journeying cave. That was you wasn’t it Briok?”
         “What, er,” Briok stood up slowly and corked the bottle. He felt his face growing hot, ‘think, he had to think.’ He couldn’t lie because the stone clan all had perfect perception. It was said, the stone people could hear a lie almost before it was spoken, and he had to be careful to not give anything away either. Stone magic was strong and this stone elder was known for his heavy handed ways. “Yes elder I was there; it’s been such a long time since I’ve seen the cavern. I felt like seeing it this morning. Now if you will pardon me I need to see to my chores.” Briok bent quickly at the waist giving the elder a hurried bow, and lifting off, flew back the way he had come as fast as his wings could carry him. He dared not give the elder a chance to question him further.
         Outside the spirit bird still sat on the lintel. Seeing Briok it rose up in the air, and flew in small tight circles around and around Briok’s head. Briok couldn’t help but laugh, clearly the bird was delighted to have Briok return. Then it turned away and flew off down the long dark corridor, ready to guide Briok to the journeying cavern. The rest of the journey proved to be uneventful. Briok followed the little spirit bird as it flew between the great pillars, and on through the deepening darkness until the bird at last slowed at the smallest of doors. The spirit bird carefully straddled the stone lintel, and lifted his beak once again, as if in song.
         “You must have been a glorious singer, I’m sorry you aren’t able to sing any longer. I thank you for your skills in guiding me true,” Briok said, bowing low to the spirit bird.
         The small bird flitted across to sit on the lid of the water jug.
         “Say, that’s an idea. Would the water help do you think?”
          The small spirit bird body lifted up as if riding upward on an invisible wind. It then opened its transparent wings and floated gently down to settle itself once again on the bottle’s cork.
         “For your kindness to me, come and let me pour out a little water onto your beak, perhaps it will give you your voice once again.”
         The small bird rose up and flew like a fast moving beacon, circling the room around and around, its body whirring about the space as fast as it could fly. Finally it slowed down it and came to rest on the door lentil again.
         Briok laughed, “Good thing you didn’t fly that fast today, I would have been left far behind. Please come and sit upon my hand so that I might direct the water more easily.”
    The bird flitted over and came to rest not on Briok’s hand,