Ê Ê Ê Ê Thadius gasped and darted into the room, wincing as he noted the arrow embedded in the woodwork of the door, the arrow that flew a fraction of an inch from his eartips. The fox padded with extreme caution, his eyes after sighting the arrow fixed on his commander in the middle of the room. Nadal glowered darkly, his arms still poised as they were when he released the arrow from his bow, the quiver beside him only half full with shafts.
Ê Ê Ê Ê ÒSir?Ó Thadius queried, withering under NadalÕs gaze as much as he attempted to remain professional, taking note of a distracting number of arrows stuck into other areas of the wall as well.
Ê Ê Ê Ê ÒI need to go out again,Ó Nadal flatly bulleted, not necessarily to Thadius nor to anybeast else. ÒI need to go up again.Ó
Ê Ê Ê Ê ÒSir...Ó Thadius repeated, a faint flicker of uncertainty marring his tone.
Ê Ê Ê Ê ÒYou donÕt know how to manage that, Roth,Ó Nadal continued, eyes still straight as if the fox was not in the room. ÒGo get Kaliban, Roth.Ó
Ê Ê Ê Ê Thadius remained, taking a step forward, even, not so wise for the mood tension permeating the room. ÒPerhaps, sir, I should rather improve the design? I believe it can be done.Ó
Ê Ê Ê Ê Nadal, in a natural flick of his wrist, strung and fired another arrow, which glanced along the windowsill and slipped out an open crack in the pane. ÒNo, Roth. Get Kaliban.Ó
Ê Ê Ê Ê ÒThat is the process of engineering, sir, to base the effective off the erroneous.Ó ThadiusÕ attempt to sound level wasnÕt completely convincing yet.
Ê Ê Ê Ê ÒThat engineering does me no good. I donÕt understand it,Ó Nadal snapped back. ÒI need to go out. I need to be in air to think about air.Ó
Ê Ê Ê Ê Thadius was a smart beast, so in several senses. The intelligent know the value of a mistake, as well as the merit of not testing beyond a clear limit. Nodding once, the fox left.

*****

Ê Ê Ê Ê The room was dark. His vision rendered ineffective, the hawk struggled about, a mass of feathers and talons entangled in restraints, blunted beak klacking wildly. He had no sensation of time or surroundings, only dark and that sleep did not make him feel any better. Plumage clouded about him as if he was molting, but the hawk could not see it. He felt his way, twisting his bruised and strained body, his talons clawing at the peculiar cap on his beak. Being imprisoned by dark is only a phenomenon of rotating planetsÑit lasts only as long as half of the day. Physical restraints are entirely different, and the blind claws kept working...
Ê Ê Ê Ê Suddenly, he blinked, shrieking in surprise as the light of full day flooded his vision. The beak was suddenly forgotten as the hawk righted himself, gaping incredulously at the dark blindfold hooked around one talon.
Ê Ê Ê Ê ÒKchahahacha! Silly bird, silly birdie! YouÕre still trapped, still very trapped! Kchakrakhah!Ó
Ê Ê Ê Ê Again the hawkÕs attention was diverted, his sharp amber eyes focused on the speaker among a group of ravens sharing his space. ÒTroyte Nevinson Sinclair is no silly birdie!Ó he puffed, advancing and skidding on his own shed plumage.
Ê Ê Ê Ê ÒKchahakarrakaah!Ó The ravens chorused in their raucous laughter, and a gaze of pure wounded pride radiated from Troyte to the apparent leader.
Ê Ê Ê Ê Troyte glared as if to wither all of his tormenters, but his narrowing eyes and bushing feathers only succeeded in further promoting laughter. ÒYou wonÕt last long like that, kcharr!Ó
Ê Ê Ê Ê ÒLast long? What do you mean, last long, featherbag?Ó TroyteÕs attempt to sound menacing was canceled out by his worry as to meaning.
Ê Ê Ê Ê The leader raven thumped his apparent sidekick on the back, still cackling. ÒFeatherbag? Krakkachakkakarr! He called us featherbags, eh, Quillfletcher!Ó
Ê Ê Ê Ê Quillfletcher, the sidekick, thumped the leader back. ÒHeÕs wrong, Holdsclaw, wrong! Krakk!Ó
Ê Ê Ê Ê Troyte snorted, semi-derisively. ÒWell then, youÕre a featherbrain if you donÕt explain to me precisely whatÕs going on!Ó
Ê Ê Ê Ê Holdsclaw composed himself, approaching Troyte and staring the hawk down. ÒYou may think youÕre nobility, but here that doesnÕt matter. WeÕre all stuck, and unless you quit mouthing off, thingsÕll get more pleasant for us and less so for you. Krreargh!Ó The raven snapped his beak.
Ê Ê Ê Ê Troyte ruffled his feathers, then deflated. ÒWeÕre really trapped, then, are we?Ó
Ê Ê Ê Ê Quillfletcher knocked his own capped beak against the meshing that barred them from the window. ÒRrak! Entirely trapped.Ó
Ê Ê Ê Ê Flumping down, Troyte emitted a genuine whine. ÒBut why?Ó
Ê Ê Ê Ê Holdsclaw scraped a talon across the floor, highly irritate by the newest prisoner. ÒI know the reason, kaaak, but now the cause,Ó he explained tersely, bracing himself for the next inquiry.
Ê Ê Ê Ê ÒSo then, whatÕs that reason?Ó Troyte turned his head to the side expectantly.
Ê Ê Ê Ê Holdsclaw and Quillfletcher exchanged irritated glances, then the former spoke again. ÒYouÕll learn when itÕs time, rrakka, when itÕs time!Ó
Ê Ê Ê Ê As if all was prearranged, a key clicked in the lock and Kaliban entered the chamber.