Remy's POV:

For the rest of the day I concentrated on the good things about my personality, although there were very few. To my surprise Peter hadn't stormed off again, but taken my response to his questions coolly and calmly. Although I wasn't convinced that was really the case. I left the waterfall first after endless apologies, which he brushed off with ease. Too much ease, if you ask me. I didn't expect him to return to camp but he showed up a little while after I did, unfortunately for him too smiley and too happy to fool me for a second. I didn't tell anyone about what happened, so when Sean carefully asked me what was said I told him we just had an ordinary spat and made up. I wasn't sure I fooled him either, but didn't have time to worry about it. I kept Aaya in the dark about everything, and gladly helped her arrange the flowers she had picked around the tent, or the camp. I listened as she reviewed her day's events, and when she asked me I told her the same things. We hadn't found the sword, but tomorrow could be a better day.

The next day she was trying to cheer me up, and I was good at hiding that she was unsuccessful at every attempt. Soon she left me be, and I let my mind be endorsed with memories and thoughts that were really meaningless in my situation, but I just wanted a place filled with happiness to escape to, even if it was cramped into my head.

I thought about the tricks Martina and me used to play on neighbours, our parents, and each other. Whenever we had a fight it was always her that would creep into my room at night when ma and Joseph were fast asleep and whisper that she was sorry. Pretty soon I expected it after every fight. I sighed. I had unfortunately taken her for granted all my life.

Then I let myself wonder into the memories of when I had first met Sean. I had to admit that when we got close I did have a small crush on him, but that was clouded over by our friendship. It was easier being friends with him than going out with him. I never told him this because of my fear of being mortifyingly humiliated for past feelings.

Boys seemed such a mystery. When you got close to one and you started to wonder if they might like you, they suddenly cut off all contact and hardly look at you. The next week they treated you like you were so important to them, and then they'd simply abandon you again.

I wasn't sure of all that though. I remembered Lucy Hutchinson saying it to her friends in the school toilet, while I was listening in one of the stalls. I didn't know if that was really the case when it came to teenage boys. I had never gone out with anyone, or kissed anyone. Not even Peter.

Did I like him? What about A?

Oh God. I was turning into a clear Lucy Hutchinson wannabe. I always looked down on how her and her crew always rated the guys in our class on looks, and how they each had a crush on more than two. I thought it disrespectful towards the guy's feelings, because even though I hardly ever talked to them they were nice to me.

"Remy? You okay?"

I looked up from my lap. Eddie was standing hesitantly at the entrance to the tent. I smiled.

"I'm okay. Are you?"

"Yeah, I'm good. Can I come in?"

"Sure." I shifted over to the side on my bed to make space for him, and he carefully perched on the edge of it.

"Is everything okay?" I asked him.

He sighed. "I think so. It's so tense out there. Do you know what's wrong with Peter?"

I swallowed. "What do you mean?"

"He's not really talking to anyone. Sword hunting is on soon and he says he wants to go on his own. And he's cold when he speaks."

I shrugged. "Maybe he's just having a bad day."

My cover up was unconvincing but he didn't question it. "So…did you go to Raybha?"

I frowned. "Raybha?"

"The birds."

I gasped. "Oh, Eddie, I'm sorry. I totally forgot! I'll go right now, and catch up with you guys later...unless you want to come?"

He shook his head. "Nah, I'll go with the others. Come find me if anything comes up!"

"Of course," I said. "I'll leave in a minute."

There was a lot of farewells sounding off outside.

"It sounds like they're leaving, Eddie."

"Oh, yeah. Well, see you later!" He stood up and walked away, giving me a small wave before ducking out of the tent. I sighed with relief. I didn't want to see anybody right then. I wanted to curl up into a ball so small that I could disappear, and forget all the complications that were happening. Yet I found myself rising as soon as I knew the lads were gone. I walked out into a quiet airy camp and silently made my way to Raybha's tent, trying to think of the best apology I could for my previous conversation with her. My mind came up blank and I decided to say whatever I had to when the time came.

I reached the tent, and nervously, called for her.

"Raybha? Can I come in?"

"Yes," she replied, without a moment's hesitation.

I went straight through the unbuttoned flap, holding my breath. I was unsurprised to see Raybha sitting cross – legged in the middle of the floor in front of a small fire that never seemed to burn the floor of the tent.

What I was surprised to see was another figure sitting across from her.

"Peter? What are you doing here? I thought you were – "

I stopped when Raybha put a finger to her lips. Peter didn't even look at me. I didn't blame him.

"Remy, sit," Raybha ordered. I did, as far away from Peter as I could be, but still between them.

"I knew you would come," she said. "I asked Peter to come in before he left. I know you have information for me, or rather questions."

I nodded, not caring how she knew. "Yeah, I do."

"Well. Out with it, child."

I felt Peter look at me and kept myself from glancing at him. I focused on the wrinkles in Raybha's face.

"Yesterday Eddie told me something that I found interesting. He told me to listen to the birds, and I did. They were singing a song, over and over again. It seemed…I don't know…strange…familiar…I don't know. I know it sounds like absolute crap, but –"

"No! Not! Not that!" Raybha interrupted immediately, having clearly heard enough. I blinked.

"Not…not crap?" I asked.

"No! Absolute not! I must admit, I thought it might take you longer to figure it out –"

I pressed my lips tight together, their hatred of those three forbidden words desperate to escape through words.

"– but I'm glad you did. Now, Peter, what do you make of this?"

I saw him shrug out of the corner of my eye.

"I don't know."

She rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine. I will tell you. Now, you remember those friends of Chief Udayan who were slaughtered?"

I nodded quickly.

"They had companions, or pets. Birds. Only two different species they kept, the Vinebirds and Senébirds. Vine was big, Sené was small. Their birds were their pride and joy, and they taught them songs of absolute importance. Songs of legends, maps, directions –"

"They sing the directions that lead to the sword?!" I interrupted.

She narrowed her eyes at me. "The friends knew that one day the pirates would try and force information out of them for the sword's whereabouts, and that they might be killed in the process. So, to preserve the directions Chief Udayan had trusted them with, they turned them into a rhyme and whistled it to their birds. The birds learned the song and have been singing it without fail ever since the day their owners were killed. I think they hope if they sing it for long enough, their owners might come to them again."

"You mean those birds I heard yesterday are the very same birds that Chief Udayan's friends had owned?" I asked, enthusiasm making my voice high pitched.

"Yes. They hadn't passed. They are frozen, like the rest of us."

For the first time in almost two days I looked at Peter directly in the eyes, not surprised when they had been staring at mine already.

"Peter, if we find out the words to the birdsong then we find the sword. Simple as!" I said in a rush. I mentally slapped myself. Of course it wasn't simple. Damn you Remy.

"Raybha," I said, a little sheepish. "How do we find out the words to the song? Do you know them?"

My heart deflated a little as she shook her head.

"Do you know anyone who does?"

She seemed to be thinking. "No, but I know the friends had written the words to the song in order to put it to rhyme. If you find the words, you find the sword."

I could feel my face losing colour. "Where can we find the words?"

She shrugged. "I do not know. Although, on the last day I spoke to one of the friends, he told me something. He said, 'Keep them hidden until the right one comes along. Keep their whereabouts in your mind, for I am telling you now. We know who will come one day, who will need them. We trust them. Tell them the words will be in their favourite place, in their place where their story began.'"

A chill slowly made its way down my spine. "And…they were talking about me?"

She nodded. "I believe so. Remy, the key to unlocking the words is in your mind, and you don't even know. You don't know that you know. Delve deep into your mind, Remy. Find where your story began, and there you will find the words. I trust you will find them, Remy. I do."