At the Gilded Goblet, in Riverside, after their venture into the Spiderwood...
Having sent her hawk, Huck, with instructions to seek out the Master of Songbirds, Granny waits anxiously for a response from the druid. Though they've never actually met, there's a mystical kinship between the two--it's almost as if the wilderness around Riverside has been shaped by the druid's presence, or perhaps is a reflection of it. All of these feelings lead Granny to believe him to be a warm, caring person.
Many of Riverside's folks have met him--he breezes through town on occasion, usually to consecrate the earth when a new farm is started, or to attend a local festival. And all tales of the Master of Songbirds tell of his namesake companions, a loyal flock of songbirds that fill the air with harmonies day and night when the Master is about.
The silence of the chill night air, after imagining the pleasant background noise of songbirds, is foreboding, and Granny can't help but fear for the safety of Huck. So it's not altogether surprising when the night's silence is disrupted by the awkward flapping of heavy wings, announcing Huck's return--and in an injured state.
Rushing immediately to examine the hawk, it's apparent that one of his wings has been pierced by a bolt, or perhaps an arrow. It's not a grave wound, and should heal in time, but explains the hawk's ungainly flight. Nestled gently in the hawk's talons is a tiny songbird, alive but weakened as with some malady, as well as a small bunch of purple flowers.
Granny recognizes the flowers immediately, having stumbled upon them in her wanderings with Kragh. The flowers are not native to the region, thriving instead in the wetlands further south, but the pair encountered several patches of them in the woods north and west of Riverside, perhaps a half-day's walk from the town.
The full context of the message, however--as clearly both the songbird and flowers were meant to serve as a message from the Master of Songbirds--remains a mystery.
Granny immediately takes the two animals up to her room and begins treating them. She is amazed at the skill of the Master of Songbirds to have charmed her hawk into not eating the songbird. She digs through her sack to see if she has enough medicinal herbs for the both of them. She mixes some hyssop with distilled water for the songbird, and attempts giving the tincture by eye dropper. She does not have hope that this will cure the bird completely, but she hopes that it will ease the symptoms. Once she feels she has administered enough, she turns to her hawk who has been hobbling around somewhat impatiently. She begins by removing three damaged feathers. Huck tolerates her treatment, but still nips at her hands as she works. Thankfully, the wound is small and she has faith that a paste of ground cloves should speed the healing. Huck won't be able to fly for a few weeks. So, as soon as she finishes his bandage, she sets out to catch some mice for him.
ReplyDeleteThe songbird, content to be treated, accepts the tincture and stares at Granny as she works with the hawk. Huck shows marked improvement after Granny is through administering her aid. Once complete, Huck hops away awkwardly to rest until Granny returns with mice.
ReplyDeleteThe songbird watches attentively the whole time, regarding Granny and the hawk with curiosity. Then, surprisingly, it flies to Granny's shoulder, and begins whispering into her ear. Its voice is high-pitched, but clearly understandable, and it speaks the common tongue!
The songbird relates that the Master of Songbirds is sickened, and requests Granny's assistance at the place where the purple flowers are found. A new druid has entered the region, challenging the authority of the Master of Songbirds--Granny knows this to be part of the hierarchy of her order, where ambitious druids must literally displace, by whatever means possible, the eldest druids to attain rank and power. The Master has been assaulted by magic, and lies immobile and deathly ill.
Then, before Granny can respond or ask any questions, the songbird chirps "Thank you!" and darts out of the open window, into the night.
Oh, and great first post! 100 XP awarded!
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