Chapter 1
The Bird Council
Alba, the barn owl was to speak before the Bird Council. Every month, the birds of the world would flock to a giant tree on top of a mountain to discuss current affairs. Alba was one of the few birds that believed that the banishment of the crows without trial was unjust and that they should be allowed back into society. Unfortunately, they were a minority and Alba did not know how she was going to win against Lord Otus.
Lord Otus, the Long-eared owl was Royal Advisor to King Strix, and despite his dour, pompous personality he had a certain knack for making the king and everybody else doubt anything that sounded remotely close to change. He was rarely seen out of his usual political attire nor without Beak, a woodpecker who served as his butler, chauffeur and aide and was probably about as humourless as his master.
Alba perched on a branch before the council, took a deep breath and spoke, "Birds from around the globe. It's been little more than a century since the crows were banished from our societies. They had no choice but above all they had no trial."
"Thank you, Miss Alba," said Lord Otus. "I am sure that you mean well, but I think we need to be realistic and realise that once you have been proven guilty, a trial is pointless."
"But the course of justice has been wrong before," said Alba. She knew that Otus would say something along those lines, so she had been ready for that one, but she was not ready for what came next.
Lord Otus eyed her contemptuously and said, "Let me make one thing clear, we are not humans and the mere suggestion that our justice is as moronic as theirs is as unthinkable as it is insulting."
He looked towards his party. His party had a few owls and falcons within it, but it consisted mostly of pigeons, who were not the brightest of birds. Why, you may ask, would Lord Otus throw his lot in with those incompetent fools when all they are known for is their incoherent warbling? But that was Lord Otus's tactic. Pidgeons always followed the crowd… and the crowd followed Otus. Pigeons always warbled whenever they agreed with anything Otus said, and not only did it mean that Otus was winning but it drowned out any opposing argument. Already the pigeons were starting to whisper amongst themselves.
"And we must remember that it was not too long after the crows appeared that humans somehow learnt how to fly."
"Superstition was great back then," said Alba. "If you want us to be realistic, Otus, then we should move on from those days and…"
"I will be addressed by my title," snarled Otus. "And frankly, I am appalled that you would speak of our ancestors in this way."
Almost as if they had been trained to do it on cue, the pigeons warbling began to intensify. Otus somehow had the uncanny ability to speak over the pigeons warbling, "They knew what they were doing when they banished those filthy creatures to where they belong… away from our society. They still steal despite the pain of death they were banished under and they have never made a move to prove their innocence. Surely child that is a sign of guilt."
The pigeons warbled so loud it was anyone's guess how Otus made himself heard.
"This brings me to my own proposal. Our banishment of the crows was a mere sign of leniency, but they have taken advantage of our tolerance long enough. The time has come to remove the threat of these abominations permanently." The pigeons warbled yet again. "My chief supporter is none other than General Span."
A huge falcon in military uniform swooped down from the branch he was perched on and joined Lord Otus.
"My fellow birds. This has been a war lifetimes in the waging. Showing the enemy mercy was the only real mistake we've made. But the time to right this wrong is at hand. Let us remember the age old proverb, "The sky is freedom." We will defeat this enemy, and this proverb will mean something to all birds once again."
It was not just the pigeons that warbled in agreement. Every owl, falcon and bird hooted, screeched or tweeted so loud, it was impossible to hear anything else.
Alba bowed her head. She knew she had lost. Otus and Span walked past Beak.
"Very good sir. Your speech left me speechless."