And I am back, people! Wonder no more on my cliffy for it shall be revealed at long last. Another character will now be introduced into this chapter for a brief appearance only.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own in any ways the work of Kathryn Lasky. The only things I do own are the plot, Kurth, Serenade, Threka and Maritha.
—
Chapter 6: The Truth
"Is there a reason for you to leave so soon?" Serenade asked.
"I wish you hadn't asked that question, Serenade...," I sighed.
"If you don't want to talk about it, I won't force you to give me a reason."
"No ... no," I whispered. "I can't leave you in the dark after all we went through. You have a right to know certain things and this is one of them."
"You had another dream, haven't you?"
"As perceptive as ever, friend," I praised my friend.
"Thank you but I really don't think praise is going to answer my questions," Serenade replied.
"Ah, yes! I'm terribly sorry! Yes, as you predicted, I had another dream. That dream was, however, one that allowed me to foresee the future. Of course, you weren't with me and from what I recall of that dream, I killed one of the owls of St. Aegolius in order to rescue an owlet from their grasp. That hinted towards the fact that I encouraged the missing Pure Ones to fight after Metal Beak ordered their retreat," I explained.
"You would probably ask me why I think that and before you do ask that question, I will answer you by saying that when I escaped with the owlet clutched in my talons, the sky was turned into a battlefield. Owlets were dropped one after the other and the owls of St. Aggie's retreated after the Pure Ones's counter attack. The full moon's light marked an event I name the Great Downing. If you had heard Mist earlier, you would understand why I need to go there," I continued.
"What exactly did you tell him? I am becoming more and more curious," Serenade asked as she turned to face Mist.
"It appears that Kurth and I have the same ability: to see into the future. While we do have the same strange power, his appear to be far stronger than mine. And before you ask; yes, I saw the question form on your beak. I am only able to see the future as a blur but he can do much more! He sees into the future almost as if he were actually there. Even more, he also sees into his past in an awakened state. Not even I, who has been exposed to the flecks, can do that."
"Flecks? What are those," Serenade asked since she was not accustomed to the flecks like Mist and I were.
That single word managed to send a shiver down my spine as the memories of being a first-degree picker flooded back my mind. Memories I tried to suppress from existence now came back against my will. I explained at the best of my ability what flecks were to Serenade and after my explanation, Mist followed and explained the risks of being exposed to the flecks while being an egg. She told us that she was about seven years old despite her rather colourless feathers and that the flecks had interfered with the growth of her wings, thus preventing her to fly properly. That was probably why the patrols from St. Aegolius mistook her for an owlet back when she was taken there.
"So, you expect me to believe that tiny, metallic shards rendered you almost flightless, gave your father the ability to see through rocks, which sound absolutely absurd, and that they drove your grandmother completely yoicks, causing her death?"
"Would you still doubt if I told you that all of what I told you is real? That I saw it with my own two eyes," Mist told the Great Gray.
"Well, yes. Your story is really unbelievable," Serenade replied.
"You'd be best to believe her, friend. Flecks are materials we do not comprehend. Trust me, I picked for them at St. Aegolius and those metallic shards do some awful things to our gizzards. It's almost as if it disorient us. At least, that's what I felt when I picked for them. They also seems to possess some sort of magnetic properties, meaning that normal metals are rendered useless against them."
"In short, no owl can really fight using battle claws when its enemies possess flecks..."
"Not entirely. Certain metal have properties that cannot be affected by the flecks but I do not know which one as I was never interested in metals and battle claws," I interrupted Serenade.
"Precisely why you wither want to fight without any battle claws or with battle claws made from those kind of metals," Mist added.
"But how do you know so much about those?"
"As I told you before, I was exposed, although only a little, to the flecks while I was still in St. Aggie's and as for my knowledge, it would be best for you if you did not know where it comes from," I answered.
"Has it always been a habit of yours to speak in riddles like that?"
"Why, of course! I can't give you any information so easily. It would be too easy for you. You should also know by now that sometimes, some things are better left unrevealed," I churred.
"Yes, I do know that. It's just that you are such a mystery to me and I want to learn more about those mysteries of yours."
"I suggest you don't look too deep ... some of my mysteries shouldn't be revealed at all. In any case, are my reasons for my hasty departure enough?'" I asked Serenade.
"Yes, they do. It will only be different from now on. I mean, travelling alone ... again. After all the times we've been together," Serenade spoke, he voice trembling slightly.
"I know what you mean ... it will surely be different, all alone once more. But I promise you this; we will meet again. Mark my words for I hardly ever break a promise," I told her, trying to comfort her.
"I hope you do. You are my first true friend and I don't want to lose you, so don't go dyin' out there!"
"Don't worry about that. The ones you should worry about are those Pure Ones I'm going to visit!" I let out.
"Now, now. It's a good thing to be enthusiastic but to much will make you cocky," Mist told me.
"I was only trying to comfort Serenade since she looked so down," I replied.
"I do know what you were trying to do, do not bother yourself with that. I was only making a point about how enthusiasm blinds our ability to judge properly."
"Don't worry, this is a point I will not forget anytime soon."
"I really do think you should get going soon, the moon will be in full shine in only a few nights. If you want things to go according to your dream, you should leave tonight," Serenade said.
"I was thinking about that but before I go, I want to know where you will be heading next after this?" I demanded.
"Obviously, I will be off trying to find my brother to that Great Ga'Hoole Tree the Spotted Owl talked about two nights ago. It might be a arduous travel but just like you, I believe that I can do this."
"Then take care, my friend. And Mist, I hope towards the next time we will meet once more. There are still many things that you need to know that I feel will be safe in your care. At least, more than most owls I may come to befriend."
"You needn't worry, Kurth. I just have this feeling in my gizzard that we shall meet again and more than just once," Mist said.
"Well, it has been good to be by your side, my friends. I'll be on my way, now," I told both Serenade and Mist.
"Do take care, my friend!" The two owls bid me farewell in unison.
It did pain me a little to leave them in such a manner but I knew, as Serenade reminded me, that the moon would soon become full and according to my dream, I would kill Threka and save that owlet from the grasp of the St. Aegolius's owls along with the other owls of the Pure Ones on the night of a full moon. If I had left even a night later, I don't think I would have made it to the Pure Ones's stronghold in time.
Anyhow, after I left Mist's care, I was faced with a harsh weather. It was raining heavily and strong winds were against me. If it hadn't been for my third eyelid, the debris thrown in every way would have certainly damaged my eyes. Thank Glaux for those third eyelid!
At least, that foul weather did not last for very long; two nights at the very least. The only thing that did bother me with that weather was that it forced me to slow down my flight periods. Since I was on a race against time, I didn't need something such as a storm to slow me down. I had to find the Pure Ones's stronghold before the night of the full moon. One of the reasons for this haste was for my thirst for answers and another one was for my dream to come true like the one I had before concerning Hortense, or Mist as she called herself nowadays.
I was getting slightly desperate and each, when I looked at the moon's cycle, I grew even more desperate. I began thinking that I wouldn't be able to make it in time and with that thought in mind, more dark thoughts emerged from the depths of my mind. Things such as the owlets' safety, Threka's death, my own questions being left unanswered.
No! I couldn't fall victim to failure once more! I had failed with Grimble when he needed help and that more than I could bear. I simply couldn't fall prey to indecisiveness and fear. I had to stay strong and believe in what I think to be right like Hortense, Soren and Gylfie did. They had their beliefs and their concept of righteousness and they upheld it, no matter what the risks of doing so may be.
Anyway, there was something I had omitted to tell both Serenade and Hortense and that was something that wasn't really pretty. It was in the same dream that I had back in Hortense's cave. I had revealed everything to my dear friends, at the exception of this small, yet disturbing detail. I saw it just before Serenade woke me up and upon remarking it, I began wondering how it had happened. I'm not talking about an owlet or or Threka but rather a bleeding wound that ran across my face.
It started at the upper right part of my face, passed over my right eye and then went down in the same angle it had started, which was a diagonal wound. So, knowing that it started upper right side, it ended at the lower left side of my face. It passed just over my beak and what surprised me the most about that wound was that my right eye was still intact. By some luck of some sort, the owl who inflicted me that wound was either too far or maybe something had stopped whoever did it from inflicting me with a far worse wound than that, maybe even death.
At least, the wound wasn't bleeding that much when I saw it in my dream. Surely it had begun to dry at that time because it wasn't new anymore, or just because I had cleaned it and tended to it before the assault started. In any case, I had to quicken my pace for the full moon would soon appear. Judging from the moon's cycle and its form, the full moon would come by in five or six nights.
Anyway, First Light was coming fast and if I wanted to avoid getting mobbed a second time, I would have to find a hollow to rest for the day. I was lucky enough to find one soon after I began to search for one and even more luckier since it seemed to be desolate. I thought it was probably because the Pure Ones's stronghold was near but at the time, it was just a simple guess.
After the day disappeared and night came in its stead, I took flight again and I flew for two more nights until I found that peculiar hollow. At first, I thought it was just another desolate hollow abandoned to escape the growing threat that the Pure Ones had become. Oh, how wrong was I to have thought that! It was indeed inhabited. By an owl that seemed to know me, yet without knowing who I was.
"I'm sorry for my intrusion bit I need a place to stay for the day and I was wondering if you could offer me a shelter here," I told the owl.
"Why, of course you can, dear! Nobody wants to visit me with those Pure On ... no! You shouldn't be alive, let alone be here!"
It was clearly the voice of a female but the moment she gazed at me, she started going yeep. Before she fell against the hard wood of the hollow, I quickly flew to her side and stopped her from going totally yeep. I did it because she had said something that had piqued my curiosity and at certain times, everything that managed to pique my curiosity created questions in my mind and they needed an immediate answer.
"I got you. Don't worry, I won't let go of you just now," I told the old Barn Owl.
Her panic did not disappear right away but she seemed at ease knowing that I supported her. She then told me that she needed some time for herself in order to calm down and that she would be back in an hour or two. I asked her if I could stay in her hollow until she would come back. She answered by telling me that I could make myself at home until she did come back.
An hour later, she came back and she seemed more prepared than when I had first entered the hollow. She looked at me deeply before finally opening the conversation once more.
"As I was saying earlier, how is it that you are still alive?"
"I'm sorry but I think you have me mistaken for another. I'm actually searching for my mother out here in Ambala," I replied.
"Would she happen to be Nyra, perchance?" The Barn Owl inquired.
"How do you know that? I don't think we have met before, madam," I stated.
"I figured that if you weren't him, you would surely be his son. You look so alike, the both of you. And please, call me Maritha."
"You knew my father, Maritha?"
"Ah, if I knew him! He was my brother, for Glaux's sake!" Maritha exclaimed. "And he used to be so kind when we were still owlets."
"What happened to him, then?" I asked.
"He met Nyra. At first, he kept his kindness he so readily showed to other but the as years passed by, he changed," Maritha explained.
"What kind of change," I demanded.
"He ... became more aggressive, ruthless and eventually, merciless. I don't know what he saw in that owl but I never trusted her, let alone liked her. A few years after they met, the Pure Ones were created and then all broke loose."
"Let me guess: they begun recruiting Barn Owls and they shoved their ideals of purity into their minds. To think I was once one of them."
"Yes ... they unfortunately managed to get into your mind. I knew that Nyra was up to no good but it wasn't until the Pure Ones came to be that I became a slipgizzle for the Great Tree," Maritha said.
"The Great Tree? As in the Great Ga'Hoole Tree? like in the legends," I asked.
"The very one! But let me assure you that it is no legend. It does exist and it stands on the Island of Hoole. Anyway, I came to this hollow because it was not too far and not too close from the Pure Ones's stronghold. When I notice something strange, I can easily slip away and report to the Guardians."
"If my father was your brother, then that makes you my aunt, doesn't it?"
"Yes, it does. We never did meet before and I'm sure that your father never talked to you about me. Why do you ask, though?" Maritha asked me back.
"I have no memories of my past. All my memories go back to my arrival at St. Aegolius. Everything before that has vanished from my mind. Small pieces of that past get back to me with the help of strange dreams I have every now and then. This is why I seek the Pure Ones: to get answers to the questions concerning my past," I told my aunt.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you. If Nyra recognizes you, it could mean problems for you."
"I don't really understand what you mean by that, Maritha."
"There is a chance that if she planned something to get rid of him, she also planned to get rid of you, too."
"Why? Why would she do something like that to her own son?" I demanded, quite alarmed by her statement.
"I can't say. Nyra is a mystery not so many pierced through. Maybe she found something in you that was impure and needed you gone because of it."
"I see, so if I turned out to be impure, for some reason, she could have thought that I would not be able to take on the legacy that my father carried as leader of the Pure Ones. But what did you mean when you said that my mother planned something to get rid of my father?" I questioned her.
"I can't be sure but I think Nyra planned his death and replaced him with Metal Beak," Maritha told me.
"Another question, Maritha."
"What is it, dear?" She inquired.
"Why is it that you don't call my father by his name, whatever it is?"
"In the end, he relinquished his old name, desiring to be called High Tyto all the time. Even I ended up forgetting that name of his."
"And is the Pure Ones's stronghold far from here, in any case?" I demanded.
"Not really. If you fly starboard for about two nights, you should find it easily. Either you go to them or they come to you. However, I still disagree with your choice in going there ...," Maritha said.
"If you were in my stead, you would do the exact same thing," I replied.
"Maybe I would but be aware that you are risking your life in going there."
"You know that you can't stop and even if you tried, I could easily shove you aside," I said, coldly.
"Yes, I know. You were taught by your father when he was at the peak of his insanity. which means that you were raised to be a murderer. You would have no problems killing me if I ever stood in your way, would you?"
"You're wrong!" I let out.
"Aren't you your father's son. Isn't it your intention to go to the Pure Ones's stronghold in order to take back your rightful place?" She asked me.
"Entirely not! I already told you that my only goal in going there was to obtain answers regarding my past. Nothing else!" I burst out from anger. "Besides, even if you were to stand in my way, I would never use something as useless as killing. It only spawns more hate rather than solving any kind of problems. That's why I gave up on fighting a while ago."
"Well spoken words coming from the owl who killed an entire mob of crows with ease and incapacitated one of the Pure Ones's slipgizzle..."
"H ... h ... how did you know that?" I stammered.
"Haven't I already explained it to you? I'm a slipgizzle and so, I know many things and I had those two slipgizzles under my watch, so to speak," Maritha explained.
"Despite what you may think, I did not kill that owl! I merely crippled him to stop him from reporting to the Pure Ones. What must have killed him is either blood loss or a ground predator."
"That was also the case but you were still the one who caused his death nonetheless. You still inflicted him with a lethal wound. He would have died eventually, even if it that ground predator had not finished him. Everything is against you; you killed him and he was not your first victim. You are a murderer and you will always be!"
"No ...," I spoke.
"Yes, you are. Just admit it already! Admit it that you enjoy taking others' lives!" Maritha insisted.
"I am not ... like them! I will never be for I have something they do not possess!" I burst out.
"And what might that be?"
"Compassion. I have friends whom I care for and only one of them was a Barn Owl. I don't follow their ideal of purity anymore! I have gained a will of my own with the help of my dear friends."
"What you say may be true but nothing tells me that they did not send you. For that reason, I will ask you to leave my hollow," Maritha told me.
"And what if I refuse you kind offer?" I inquired.
"In that case, I will have to force you out," Maritha replied, pointing the battle claws hung on the wall of her hollow.
Knowing that arguing was vain, I complied to her demands, leaving her hollow. At least, this whole meeting had not been completely in vain. While Maritha did accuse me of many things I was not, I learned some other things about my father. Along with that knowledge, I learned that he had not always been evil. It wasn't until he met my mother, Nyra, that he began changing into the merciless leader of the Pure Ones.
I had also been told that even though he had changed in many ways, he still held a small part of the kindness he once held out to those around him. Maritha had tried to get into my mind and she nearly managed to do so if it hadn't been for Hortense's words. I remembered them when Maritha wanted me to admit that I enjoyed taking the lives of others. I did not enjoy killing at all. I rather hated it because when I truly enjoyed killing, I was only partly conscious.
The last time it happened, it was against those crows in the Barrens. In wanting to protect Serenade, I had awakened some instincts but not all those instincts were good ones. Some of them were those I had retained as a Pure One. At that time, I did not know what it was nor could I control it properly. Against that slipgizzle in Tyto Forest, I had somehow managed to control those instincts even if it had been for just a little.
But now, there was a hope of controlling them once and for all. Thanks to all the information my aunt had given me, I could reach the Pure Ones's stronghold in two nights. Well, that was if I could reach the place in one piece.
Anyhow, now that I knew where to find my accursed mother and her Pure Ones, I had no excuses whatsoever that could stop me from going there. However, before going there, I had to find myself a hollow to get some rest. It was folly to go there when I was so tired. Any strong winds I could encounter on this last stretch could easily brush me aside.
Most of the trees I encountered lacked a hollow but after a few hours of searching thoroughly, I finally found one such tree. It was a fir and one of the few in the area. Most of the surrounding trees were pine trees but sometimes, some fir trees could be seen amongst all those pine trees.
In any case, for once in many days, I did not have any dreams at all. Not one about myself neither did I dream of the future like Hortense often did. It felt somehow appeasing because it didn't trouble me in any way. Another thing troubled me, though. And that was the reason I decided to remain among the Pure Ones if I knew of their dark intents.
Moreover, my father also interested me greatly. I was wondering why he was so interested in Nyra. How was it that he remained with her despite all the evil she had shown throughout the years? This question haunted my mind but I had to concentrate on my travels if I wanted to arrive within the night. Maritha said that the Pure Ones's stronghold was about two nights from her hollow and I already had one night and a half done so I thought that I was surely very close to it.
And I was right, after all! Only a few hours after that come came to my mind, I noticed some sort of foundation in the distance. On the walls of that foundation were perched many Tyto owls. Some of them were Masked Owls, a few of them were Grass Owls and almost none of them were Sooty Owls. The most commonly seen owl in that castle was the Barn Owl, obviously.
When they saw me getting closer and closer to their stronghold, three of them flew towards me.
"Who're you? I don't remember seein' you her in the late," one of the owls noted.
"I wish to meet Nyra. I have personal things I desire to ask of her," I answered.
"Oh, you're not! If we can't speak to her normally, there ain't no way she will accept to speak to you!"
"He's right, you know ... we rarely have the right to speak to her under normal conditions," the third owl added.
"Now, I know this may sound yoicks but you'd better call her. I wouldn't want to slaughter you three just to see her!" I replied.
"Ah! As if you could!" One of the three owls barked.
"Would you mind being the one to kill me? I'm warning you, though ... it may end up being different from what you first thought."
"All right, then! If it means that you will stop pestering us, I will be glad to kill you. You may be a Barn Owl but we don't know who you are nor do we know what you want!"
He didn't really give off any warnings but as I saw him getting close and closer, it was as if I was reading his flying patterns. The Masked Owl I had provoked tried to attack me at several occasions. I, however, avoided his every attacks as if they were slowed down. Eventually, I bored myself of this little taunting and I finally decided to counter the Pure One on his next attack.
The attack he tried to land on me, and probably his last one, ended in yet another failure but this time, it would be slightly different. Right after the Masked Owl's attack missed me, I made a static spiral turn and cut open a large gash in the owl's neck. He quickly went yeep and then plummeted down to the ground floor, killing him. He could have just fallen unconscious but even in that circumstance, he wouldn't have lived for very long because of the wound I had inflicted on him.
"Great Glaux! This one was awfully slow! Next time, don't pick a fight with Kurth, you might not live to see the next night," I commented.
"Did you s ... say that you were named Kurth?" One of the two remaining owls asked, stammering from what seemed to be fear.
"Oh! So, I see that someone has heard of me."
"You know who he is, Charles?"
"If this is the same Kurth I have heard rumors about, then he is the son of the High Tyto that ruled the Pure Ones before Metal Beak. He was said to be a ruthless warrior and a pitiless killer. If he's that Kurth, his mother happens to be Nyra. Although, I heard that he suddenly disappeared some years ago, never to be seen until now," Charles explained to the Grass Owl next to him.
"In any case, my demand still stands. I need to see Nyra, and quickly!"
"Right! Of course!" The Grass Owl exclaimed nervously.
They escorted me to their stronghold and it was from there that I understood what the Pure Ones meant by owl purity. There was not a single owl in there that was not a Tyto. Most of them were Barn Owls like myself while the rest of them were the other sub species. As we flew through the castle, I noticed that some of the owls in there looked at me the same way Maritha had looked at me, as if they had just seen a scroom, When we arrived at a tower that was quite high, Charles told me to wait just a little bit more.
"Just don't her my name, I want to keep this a surprise as much as I can," I told Charles.
He nodded and then waddled towards the entrance. A few minutes later, a rather large Barn Owl came out and the moment I saw her face, I immediately recognized her as the dreadful Nyra. Upon laying her eyes on me, I saw them widen as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
Another large Barn Owl then came out and walked next to Nyra. He wore a metal mask that concealed most of his face. I figured that the masked owl was probably Metal Beak due to his mask. Whatever! He also ended up having the same expression as Nyra once his gaze met mine.
"Hello ... Mother," I said, slowly and coldly.
"No ... you can't be here. It's impossible for you to be here!"
"Surprised to see me? Of course, you are! After all, it has been so many years," I replied sarcastically.
"You two, begone with you! And, as for you, what are you doing here?" Metal Beak demanded.
"Oh, and he even talks! So, I guess this is Metal Beak, or should I just call him my father's replacement. Tell me, Nyra, was it amusing to plan his death and my disappearance the way you did?"
You are well informed for an owl that disappeared for several years...," Metal Beak intervened.
"That ... tends to happen when you meet many slipgizzles on your travels, including your own in Tyto. They were very knowledgeable but poor fighters, if I have to say so myself. What a shame it is to waste two such valiant informers."
"So, it was you! You were the one who killed our two slipgizzles in Tyto. You have certainly changed your methods compared to...," Nyra began before her mate shot her with his menacing glare.
"Shouldn't you be in St. Aegolius right now, instead of being here?"
"Oh, so you know about my stay at St. Aggie's? Then, perhaps you had something to do with it ... Metal Beak," I spoke up.
"And what if I did? What would you do, then?"
"Nothing for I would have successfully made you talk. You see, I forgot about everything before I was brought to St. Aegolius. Because of that, I need to get as much information as I can get from those who knew about my past and you two seem to be the ones that are the closest to it right now."
"You became perceptive over the years, my son. You were right about me planning your father's death but I never planned any of your disappearance. Instead, it was Kludd's idea," Nyra informed me.
"Kludd? I have the strangest feeling about that name ... like I heard it somewhere before. But why? Why want me gone? Was there a reason for your hatred towards me?"
"Why, of course there was! You see, when I was still a recruit, you were already a proud Pure One and so was your father. He was already quite old and as time passed, he began having some kindness towards others. As he was already old and since that kindness could blind his judgement, Nyra and I began plotting against him. Because she saw something special, and evil, in me, we appealed to the duel ritual and I came out victorious," Kludd explained.
As old as that owl was, he was still an extraordinary fighter and during that duel, half of my face was badly wounded and to cover those permanent wounds, I asked a rogue smith to forge me a metal mask," he continued.
"And that is why you are called Metal Beak, I guess?"
"Precisely!"
"But now, I still wonder why you needed me gone," I wondered out loud.
"Let me explain this, now. I might be a better explainer this time around," Nyra told Kludd.
"All right, enlighten me, O' great Nyra," I sarcastically replied.
"Do not begin playing this game with me! One word is all I need to get rid of you!"
"..."
"Good! Now, if Kludd and I wanted you gone, it was because you became weak. When Kludd killed your father, you lost all of your will to fight. You started hating blood and all the other things we Pure Ones loved. We thought that if you were to stay, you would influence the Pure Ones and make them think like you did. As the High Tyto's, you held a great deal of influence here and many of the remaining Pure Ones saw you as their new leader," Nyra related.
"Me, leader of the Pure Ones? You have got to be joking!" I blurted out.
"Back then, you could have made a wonderful leader. However, once your father died, all of you hopes to become a good leader died with him as well. Because of that, we needed you gone but getting rid of you through death was not an option as you were a skilled fighter, surpassing even the skills of your father. That is why we planned something with the owls of St. Aegolius."
It was true, all of it was true. I remembered those things now. It all started to make sense now. My father was the only reason I became one of the Pure Ones. All I wanted was to make him proud, even if it meant killing an innocent owl. And I did, for his praise towards me. When Kludd killed him, however, I began hating battles, blood and hatred. I was about to leave the Pure Ones when Kludd and Nyra's plans came into action.
It was strange, though. The dream I had was so different from the recollection of memories I was having. Why was that? The answer to that question, I did not hold within my grasp. On a single hypothesis, I could say that it was because my mind simply couldn't accept what had happened while my body remembered it clearly. So, based on that hypothesis, my mind had created an alternate reality to accommodate itself to the harsh reality.
But right then, I was at a loss as to what I should do. Should I stay to hear more about myself or should I just leave in order to go find Soren and Gylfie.
"But now that you are back, this time without your memories, we will have to get rid of you once more. This time will be permanent, however," Kludd threatened before I could decide what to do next.
Before I knew it, Nyra began advancing towards me with a menacing look in her dark eyes. I stepped back as she continued advancing until my forth toes were hanging over a leap, which was probably the castle wall's end. How could she do this? And to her own son, by all means! I had nowhere else to go and somehow, I had to think of something, and fast! Unfortunately, I didn't have have any time left to think. Nyra was in front of me, her right foot raised high.
"Let him be!" An owlet let out, shoving Nyra.
While she did lose her balance, she continued her movement and brought down her talons. They were supposed to be lethal at first but thanks to that owlet, it only wounded a part of my face.
I was going yeep and in a matter of moments, I felt myself fall down from the castle's wall. As I fell, everything began to blur and just before I hit the ground, my vision went black.
—
"So, what are you going to do now?" I asked, a cup of coffee in my hand.
"What do you mean by that? And why do you look like an Other? Weren't we supposed to be one?" Kurth asked.
"Are you going to lay there and die or pull yourself together in order to survive?"
"W ... well, I want to live," Kurth answered. "In any case, are you going to answer my second question?"
"Don't be hasty, my friend. I was about to answer it. Anyway, we were supposed to be one after the blood pact was signed in blood but since you are the dominant being, you unconsciously rejected my presence and while I could still influence you thoughts and your speech, I could not influence your actions. So, we ended going back at the start, as two different minds for a single body. But if your wish is to stay alive, then I have a suggestion for you," I explained.
"And what might that be?"
"Let me be in control until we find Soren and the Great Tree. Until then, just watch and learn how one that was rejected behaves," I said
"Huh? What do you mean by that?"
"In my world, we are awfully disorganized, selfish and bent on our own petty desires. If you are different from what the others want you to be, you get rejected by the whole society and become an outcast. Due to the environment I lived in, I grew into a cold and insensitive being. I don't like fighting but I know very well how to kill and that was more than enough to keep those I loathed away from me," I told him.
"Yes, but even if you suffered greatly from this, I'm sure that Glaux helped you get through," Kurth said.
"Glaux, help me? Ah! That's a good one!" I burst out in a long laughter.
"What? Is something wrong? Did I say something inappropriate?"
"No, don't worry. It's not exactly what you said, it is rather the whole concept that you introduced," I answered.
"Don't you believe in Glaux?"
"Well, from where I'm from, Glaux is known by several names such as God or Allah. But, due to my experiences, I became some sort of an atheist, one that doesn't believe in higher beings such as your Glaux," I explained.
"But why?"
"Because they are useless! What's the point of believing in something if it can't help anyone. To be honest, my kind caused many wars, claiming it was in the name of those higher beings. That was one of the reasons I began to lose faith in them. Because of my loathing for war."
"If you hate war, why do you fight in the first place?"
"You know, war is a pretty complicated thing ...," I answered, almost in a whisper.
"How so?"
"Sometimes, wars can be easily avoided but when those who always want more get mixed in, war occurs because of the gain it offers, may it be economical, territorial or even a religious gain. War for true justice isn't that bad but a war for a personal gain is something I do not want to be a part of."
"How is it that you hold so much knowledge?"
"My world was ravaged with wars, some that lasted for more than ten years. Also, I am some sort of scholar so I know many things about anything I can learn from books and personal experience," I answered.
"Oh ... so, this is why you are so knowledgeable," Kurth thought out loud.
"Yes, back in my world, I lived in a society where knowledge and money were all that mattered, so while I did not possess that much money, I did possess a very large knowledge," I explained.
"Excuse me, but could you please tell me what money is?"
"Oh, right. Hoolian Owls don't have half of what my civilization had. Well, money is a currency used to trade. Once, they were just pieces of gold and other precious stones but in my time, they were mostly replaced by pieces of paper," I answered. "the more you have, the better. At least, that's the thought that goes through the mind of many of the Others, or humans as we were called."
"So, if I understand correctly, this money is just a means to trade and if you have lots of it, you are more well placed than those that have less."
"Yes, exactly! And now, returning to our original discussion subject, does my offer still stand or have you refused it by asking me those countless questions," I asked Kurth.
"I'm sorry but I think I forgot about it. Would you mind telling it to me again?"
"Ugh! Please try to pay attention. Anyway, what I wanted was for you to give me control over your body until we find the Great Ga'Hoole Tree."
"If it can help us overcome death, then I guess there is no harm in letting you have your way for the time being," Kurth said.
"Good. Now, just follow what I will tell you..."
—
And that's it for chapter 6! I hope you liked it as much as I liked writing it. Chapter 7 should be coming over the next week, depending on how much homework my college teachers are gonna give me. And not to break everyone's bubble, but in chapter 7, an important character will die. Send me reviews on who you think it will be and the one who guesses right will receive a cookie.
So don't forget now, send me your reviews as I am intrigued to see what you guys will have to say. On this word, I shall part with you temporarily
—LordChronicler46