Chapter 14: Zayin's Tupsi
My head is pounding when I wake. Lying on my stomach I am when I open my eyes. I get up and Soren is in the cage with me. I look around. No Coryn? Then the cage starts to move and we watch everything move around us. Maybe they are taking us to Coryn… Or worse, to Elanore. I try to break open the cage and it won't work. As we enter what is the courtyard in… St. Aegolius? Last time I checked we were in the Beaks. When we enter, we are met by evil laughter and we see Coryn chained to a rock.
"Coryn!" We both exclaim
"Finally. I wondered when Nyroc's mother and grand-uncle were going to wake up." Elanore says
"What are you doing with my husband, Elanore Brix?!" I yell
"What am I doing? Ask Zayin. Or should I say, Nyroc." She replies
"Liana! It is a tupsi!" Coryn yells
"Nyroc!" Elanore summons
I see my baby. He is not the same child I have raised. He has been turned older and evil by the demands by this Tyto beldam. He lands in front of her and stares at me with his golden brown eyes. He then turns to Elanore and has a puzzled face when he sees his father.
"Elanore, why have you brung me the devil?" He asks
"For your tupsi, I have chosen your father, Coryn Canner. Seeing as he brings your family shame and deserves to die. Especially for what he and your grand-uncle did to Nyra." She explains
"You can't do this Elanore!" Soren yells
"Yes I can, Soren Canner. You will be dealt with personally by your grand-nephew if you cannot shut up." She warns
"How dare you call yourself a Tyto?" I yell
"I wouldn't speak, Liana Canner. Or she gets it." She warns
"What do you mean?" I ask
"Look up." She instructs
"It's Amethyst!" Soren exclaims
"Amethyst!" I exclaim
We look up and a Pure One is holding my daughter over the edge of the base. I try to break open the cage and Soren whispers to me that she is moonblinked. I just stop what I am doing and burst into tears. Soren takes over as Nyroc prepares himself. We have to get out to save my Coryn and my baby! It is too late for Zayin I am afraid. I see that Coryn is staring at the sight in horror.
With a whim of luck, Soren breaks the cage open and we forward out. Zayin attacks us and we dodge his moves. She trained him good, I do admit. Then I look up and see that they are dropping amethyst. Soren immediately goes up and catches her, as I try not to hurt Zayin. Soren lands and as he puts down Amethyst, Coryn yells "Look out!" Then Elanore comes at Soren and stabs him in the back with… Queen Barran Nyctea's dagger?
Coryn breaks free and goes to attack Elanore. Zayin then locks talons with him and flings him into the wall. Coryn is lying their unconscious and I am so mad at my "son".
"How dare you throw your father into the wall, Zayin!" I yell
"I am not Zayin and i am NOT YOUR SON!" he yells
Zayin knocks Liana out and they are thrown into the cage and are taken away. He and Elanore are standing near the dead body of Soren. Zayin is shocked to see him dead and stands next to Elanore. She puts down the dagger and is pleased with herself.
"You killed Soren…" He utters
"No, you did. If you want to be a Pure One, to be my second in command, you have to do one thing now. Will you claim responsibility?" She asks
"I wanted to kill my father, but it was Soren who assisted in the death of my grandmother and grandfather. Now justice has been half served and I will claim responsibility. I want to be a Pure One, Elanore. I want to be beside you as your general." He replies
"Good. Let us go. Guards, send the body to the Great Tree. They will know how mighty we really are when they see this." She orders
Elanore and Nyroc leave. She leaves the bloody dagger lying there. It starts to rain and the blood is washed off as it rains heavily in St Aegolius. They place the body of Soren into a basket and leave for Ga'Hoole.