Chapter 10
The Message
Back at the Dark Forest, Brock had just finished announcing his battle strategy.
"Well, Brock," called his lieutenant. "If that don't send those falcons flying back to their mamas, I don't know what will."
The crows cawed in agreement.
"OK, everyone, thank you," said Brock raising his wing for silence. "I know that with every one of us working together we can beat this enemy. Lord Otus may think that he rules the skies, but we're gonna show him different, we're gon- What was that?"
Brock had definitely heard it… the sound of rustling. There was definitely something in the branches above them.
"I'll go check it out," said a young crow who spread his wings and flew up into the trees before Brock could stop him. There was silence. Every crow was tense and on edge.
Then there came the sound of a struggle in the trees, then what sounded like a woodpecker pecking and then a blood curdling scream. The crows could not wait a second longer. But just as they were about to take off, something fell out of the trees onto the forest floor below… it was the body of the crow.
Then somebody landed in front of Brock, pulled a handkerchief out of his chest pocket and wiped his long beak. Beak turned and placed his handkerchief back in his pocket.
"Ah, hello, Brock," he said in a mockingly cheerful voice. He looked down towards the body on the forest floor. "What a shame, he seemed like a brave young chap."
"What do you want?" snarled Brock.
"Now, now I only came on behalf of Lord Otus, to congratulate you on becoming king," said Beak. "You've already inspired a fair few crows to rally behind you and follow you to victory. Oh if only you were so careful when you were younger… when you had a family."
Brocks eyes widened.
"You remember don't you?" sneered Beak. "Life was harsh and unfair, you decided to leave the Dark Forest to make your own way in the world. It's too bad you had to bring your mate with you, really, especially when she was expecting eggs. Of course we couldn't tell the king, what we planned to do once we caught up with you, he just wouldn't have allowed it. I personally would have preferred not to have done it… she was pleasant company to be with."
Something snapped within Brock, he was about to attack, but his lieutenant held him back.
"My master has admitted to me that having your mate killed and allowing you to live to suffer your mistake was the most regrettable thing he ever did in his life, so he sent me with a proposition," drawled Beak. "You know that you'll be obliterated easily. But if you surrender now, Lord Otus promises to find a way of letting you back into society. True, it will mean a few years of hard labour, but when compared to being mercilessly slaughtered, that's not to be sniffed at."
Brock raised his hands and his lieutenant let go of him. He stared Beak in the eye.
"Tell Otus, that we won't bow to his demands. Tell him we'll fight, and once the battle is won, we'll be coming for his head."
Beak simply smiled evilly and chuckled quietly. "Brock you have my guarantee that my master won't lose any sleep over that. But don't say you weren't warned." With one last look at the body of the young crow down below, he flew off without another word.
Brock's lieutenant looked down at the body. "What shall I tell his parents?" he asked.
Brock looked at his lieutenant, his face grim and said "That he was murdered in an act of cowardice and we'll have Otus's blood for his death and many others. The war begins… now!"