The Missing Kin by Michael Pryor

'The Way of the Horn? Is that your code,
large one?'
    'Aye.'
    'But you've lost one of yours. What does that
mean?'
    Targesh lowered his head and shifted his weight
before looking up again. 'We were in danger from
a creature of A'ak magic. If by breaking my horn I
could save my friends and redeem the honour of my
kind, it was the right thing to do.' He took a deep
breath. 'I used it to destroy the menace.'
    Adalon felt for his friend. He had rarely heard
Targesh make so long a speech.
    The Flightmother stood. 'Hear this, Winged
Ones, hear the youngling! Imagine if doing the
right thing meant giving up one of your wings!
Could you do it?'
    More awed rustling greeted this as the Winged
Ones peered at the strangers and shared whispers.
    Kikkalak spoke up, her voice shrill. 'Fair words
can hide a foul heart, Flightmother. Are not the A'ak
the liars who enslaved our ancestors?'
    'How could we forget?' the Flightmother said.
She peered keenly at the three friends. 'The A'ak
were cruel deceivers. They were masters at getting
other saur to do their bidding.'
    Low, angry whistles greeted this statement, the
elevated watchers expressing their displeasure.
    'So,' the Flightmother said. 'Perhaps you are not
all A'ak. Perhaps one of you is, and has enslaved the
others.'
    Adalon frowned. Where was the Flightmother
going with this?
    The Flightmother snapped her beak. 'Done. If
one of you dies, the other two will go free. Tell me
which one of you is the A'ak.'
    For a heartbeat, the three friends looked at each
other. Then Adalon stepped forward. 'Take me,
Flightmother. I am A'ak.'
    Claws dug into his shoulder and Adalon stifled
a yelp as he was dragged back. 'No, don't listen to
him,' Simangee said as she vaulted past him. 'He's
a little daft. It's me you want, not him.'
    Adalon was about to protest when he felt a
mighty hand on the back of his neck. Simangee
jumped when a similar one took her neck and gently
eased her aside. 'No,' Targesh said. 'It's me.'
    Simangee stamped. 'Dolts! Don't you know
what's good for you? Just be quiet and let me take
care of this.'
    'Flightmother,' Adalon appealed. 'They are
injured, weak, brain-fevered. They don't know what
they're doing. Take me.'
    The Flightmother held up a hand. 'Enough,
enough.' Her eyes were bright in the torchlight. 'You
cannot be A'ak, none of you. The A'ak would never
volunteer themselves for death.'
    'They wouldn't?' Simangee said.
    'No. The A'ak were utterly selfish. They cared
nothing for others, only themselves.' She nodded.
'Be at peace. You all may live.'
    Adalon let out a great breath. 'This was just a
test?'
    'Just? There was no just about it. Each of you
was prepared to sacrifice yourself for your friends.
That is no small thing.'
    Adalon glanced at Simangee and Targesh. They
all shared hesitant smiles. He felt honoured to have
such staunch friends. He knew he'd do anything for
them, and they for him.
    The Flightmother gestured to the guards who
were holding Adalon, Simangee and Targesh.
'Release them. Bring them to my perch.'
    Flanked by her personal guard, the Flightmother
went to the rear of the dais. The old Winged One
leaped into the air and was gone, disappearing into
the darkness beyond.
    Once freed, the three friends were led through a
tumbledown doorway and up a flight of stairs. The
guards stayed close, but the Flightmother's command
had changed the way they treated the prisoners.
No more prodding with spear butts.
    Kikkalak brought them through a curtain of
hanging leaves. Adalon looked around, then stopped
still. Targesh bumped into his back. 'Careful,' Adalon
said, putting out a hand to prevent Simangee bustling
into the room.
    Targesh grunted and took a step back.
    Opposite, where once a solid wall had stood,
the entire side of the room was open to a dizzying
drop. The smoking mountain was close by, to the
right, belching more fire. By its lurid light, Adalon
could see jungle stretching out in front of them.
They were high above the crowns of the tallest trees,
and