CHAPTER 3
Freedom. Power. Justice for my people…
Birdie sat in the flickering light of a torch, scribbling absently in the dirt outside of the Champion hall, positively fuming.
In the evening light, she watched impatiently as the city went to sleep. The hall sat in the western center of town utop a tall hill, which gave her a great vantage point to see down over the wooden structures below and watch as the tiny lights from hearth fire wink out one by one. In the distance, she saw the beacon at the top of the Hunter’s chapel tower flicker, and a moment later the bell tolled nine times.
They've been back from patrols for almost an hour now! They've got to be done soon!
She thought bitterly.
But still she waited. The last thing she wanted to do right now was run in there and start making demands out of nowhere…
She began picking apart a fist full of grass she pulled from the tuft that grew around the sign post beside her, lost in thought and desperate to be doing something.
She wondered if anyone would bother showing up to welcome her tomorrow. She wouldn't be surprised if everyone stayed home after the fiasco that was this morning. According to Brooke the people were pretty upset at the news that Gabriel failed his Ritual of Sacrifice. Nobody expressed their frustrations to her of course, everyone pretty much avoided or ignored her as always. But the rest of the Champions had been fielding complaints all day.
"They kept complaining about their tax money," Brooke explained as they patrolled the wall, "stuff like, 'we paid for ten years to train and feed that boy, just so he could throw it in our faces!' And, 'he's not welcome in our establishment until he grows a spine and passes the test'… stuff like that..."
Birdie wished she hadn't asked.
What do they know anyway? She thought bitterly.
If they want more Champions so badly, why don't they offer up their own sons and daughters to join the cadets? Or, make the trade themselves? Cowards and hypocrites. Everyone of them.
Birdie threw a rock down the hill, watching it bounce and skitter on the cobblestone path until it cracked against a low wall and into a patch of lilac bushes.
She couldn't wait to get out of here.
Down at the base of the hill, a bit of movement caught her eye. A pair of men walked the street, hands in their pockets as they took their evening stroll. They paused at the turn that led up to the Champion hall. She could hear the low warble of their voices as they talked, shaking their heads and staring at the hall, hands on their hips.
She felt her stomach churn in disgust.
She could imagine what they were saying… Complaints about her and Gabriel for sure. Or perhaps they were discussing the city’s dwindling faith in the Champion institution, as year after year they failed to recruit more cadets.
“Baaaah!”
One of the men huffed loudly while the other barked a cruel laugh and waved his hand dismissively up the hill towards Champion Hall as the two turned to go. Something about the dismissive and rude body language from the two set Bridie into an angry tremble. It wasn’t fair.
That's it. I've had it.
She didn't care what people thought of her and Gabriel. She didn't need their admiration anyway. But the Champions worked too hard to protect this city just to receive their scorn.
She stood and brushed the dirt from her pants, pushing into the hall and leaving the bitter night behind.
Birdie prowled down to the meeting room, uttering soft insults about the towns people to the stone work beneath her feet as she went. She passed the wall of etched stones and doors that lead to their living quarters, and passed the public quary office. Turning the corner, she cut through the drill yard and took a door to the back rooms where they held training and study.
As she went, she instinctively drug her finger along a line of off-colored bricks that interrupted the wall at her elbow. Each carved stone held the name of a former champion, and dates signifying birth and death.
An elf would live up to four hundred years before aging and passing at around 450 to 500 years. Seeing an old elf was rare as their age didn't show on their bodies until towards the very end of their lifespan. Ammi always said that Elves aged slowly until they didn't, unlike the human champions, who grow like ripening bananas.
In addition to seeing in the dark, Elves hardly ever got sick too. They heal quickly from wounds and neglect, and are difficult to poison. These traits were so normal, that most don’t consider them to be advantages until compared directly to the frailty of a human.
Champions give up all of that.
Divine power could only be used by those who willingly choose to become mortal. Elves, so strong and full of health, were not made to use magic. According to Hunter law, when a champion becomes human, the divines remove from an elf all that makes them a being of this world and replace it with the makeup of another, unlocking the ability to wield their power. To them it is a shameful ritual; essentially abandoning your ties to this world for greedy and nefarious purposes. But that's not how the champions, most town people, or Birdie saw it at all.
Elves turned mortal, who gave up their long life and sure health in the service of their people, were not greedy or ashamed of their lineage. They were champions of the Elvish race. The greatest examples of love for their world.
Every one of the names carved into the bricks on this wall died young in order to protect and serve the people. They were people like Levi and Leif, determined to make something of a short life instead of wasting away for centuries. Someday sooner than she would like, Shields and Ammi would join the wall too, immortalized in stone the way they never could be in time.
They don't deserve the people's apathy when they should be getting praise. She thought in spite, clenching her fists.
Birdie made it to the meeting room door and paused, hearing voices inside. The hesitation lingered as she listened, guilt swirling with stubborn curiosity as she stood there in the flickering lantern light and didn't knock.
She really should just go in, she knew better than to lurk around… But she didn’t want to interrupt… And, she thought, how else was she going to get unfiltered answers? The second she walked in there, they would all clam up and tell her what they wanted her to hear, a filtered version of events and opinions…
Shields’s voice drifted through the door, and in that moment Birdie decided to give up the moral struggle and commit to eavesdropping. She stepped to the side so her shadow wouldn't appear below the door and listened.
“I’d really hoped this would have helped.” Shields sounded even more gravely and tired than usual.
“Even if we get additional Cadets, there is no guarantee the divine will accept them. He’s always been pretty exclusive, but it’s getting worse.”
Brooke spoke this time, her airy voice was laced with an unusual serious tone.
“So, after all this, what do we do?”
“I’m not sure… Our Championship is only going to get smaller and smaller, and now that Gabriel is off the table we need to seriously consider upping our campaign.”
“Are we sure Gabriel cannot try again in a few years?”
Ammi Asked.
Shields sighed as if the weight of the world was pressing the air out of him.
“It wasn’t good Ammi. Whatever we saw back there… we could be facing a crisis if it gets out of hand…”
“Was he truly that mad?”
“Welllll…” Brooke spoke up,
“He wasn’t really in a rage. That’s not what concerned us… He did yell, but we have no idea what he actulll said in response to what we saw in Gabriel. It’s what he told us after he sent Gabriel away that’s got us worried.”
“I see.”
What does that mean? Birdie pondered, had Gabriel really done more than simply failing the ritual?
Whatever the meaning behind Brooke’s words was, the Champions must have previously discussed, because Ammi made an agreeing sound and went silent once more, not asking for further clarification.
“With how precarious things are right now, I vote that we don’t take Birdie up tonight.”
Cedar’s voice was short and brutal, and Birdie scowled at his words, waiting for someone to come to her aid.
“Now hold on, let’s not rush into this-”
“Why not? It makes perfect sense to me!”
“But that’s not fair to Birdie, the poor girl has worked so hard-”
“So have we! It’s taken us generations to curate such a good relationship with our divine and the people, and in one night Gabriel shifted our entire dynamic. It would be irresponsible to risk damaging things more just because ‘it doesn’t seem fair.’”
“We told the divine we had two new champions to give, he is expecting another.”
“But is it safe? After what we saw from Gabriel, how can we be sure she doesn’t have the same… thing inside her?”
Birdie pressed her ear closer to the door. Did she hear that right? Thing?
Shields sighed, his low voice troubled but calm as he fulfilled his roll of collected leader and made Cedar stop talking, a feat nobody else could seem to manage.
“Though we never could have guessed the scope of Gabriel’s treachery, we were not completely blindsided by the darkness he displayed at the shrine. We’ve always known he was haunted by demons from his past… we just didn’t know how deep the root ran.”
“Can the root be pruned?” Brooke asked, true concern in her voice as she pleaded with the others, and Birdie felt her appreciation for the girl soar to newer heights.
“Now that we know it’s there, we might be able to pluck it out of him…”
"I don't know about you guys, but Gabriel doesn't seem malleable enough to fundamentally change just because we work on him. And don’t you think that if he could be cured by magic that the divine would have done that?”
“The divine acted quickly to stop Gabriel from spiraling, and he said himself that he wasn’t sure about the nature of his corruption…”
If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.
“The ‘nature’ doesn’t matter. What I find disturbing is that he was able to conceal his intentions for ten years without any of us catching it. If he could do that, who's to say Birdie isn't the same way?” Cedar asked.
"Whether or not we can save Gabriel is up to him and the divine, and we will just have to wait until the latter is ready to move forward with him. What I want to know is where Gabriel got it. That power was unlike anything I've ever seen… I don't even know if it's safe to keep him in the city," Shields countered.
Birdie’s stomach lurched. Treachery? Power? What was going on? Had Gabriel done something so horrendous that it made them think he couldn’t stay?
"We can't just send them away. We took them on as our responsibility, and to abandon them wouldn’t be right!" Brooke countered.
"What do you think Ammi?"
Birdie listened intently to the beat of silence, her heart pounding as she listened to them discuss her fate.
A chair creaked, and Birdie heard Ammi sigh before giving her thoughtful answer.
“Even as a child, and before we lost our home, Gabriel held a great deal of worry about the world. I do not know where he came across the darkness you described… I did my best in the Wilds but there were moments of danger that brought us very close to destruction… perhaps… I dont know. It is possible he picked up whatever power you saw somewhere between our territories. He didn’t display any symptoms of it before we left… and towards the end of our journey I wasn't completely lucid in my faculties… so it's possible.''
Ammi's last words were choked with a faint ghost of emotion, and Birdie felt her eyes prickle as she listened. She wished she could burst through the door and tell the poor woman not to blame herself, that she did the best she could, and whatever Gabriel was going through right now was not a result of failure on her part.
After she cleared her voice, she continued in a strong tone.
“I suppose it doesn’t matter now that it’s done. My responsibility right now is Birdie, and I am confident that the girl is not a danger. The feelings nurtured in Gabriels heart would have withered in hers.”
“Maybe she doesn’t have that darkness in her, but do you think she will stand by our side when we are forced to sever ties with Gabriel? Will she obey the oath?”
“Not a chance,” Cedar chimed in, “The second we have to send Gabriel away she is gone. And then we have a rogue champion and who knows what will come to give us our reckoning.”
Birdie scowled. Yes she'd spent the last ten years with the people, but wat did they truly know about her? About Gabriel? Why were they talking as if they were already giving up on them?
It was nine o’clock- three hours until she was due to depart for her Ritual. Gabriel still wasn’t back, and the Champions still hadn’t told her what was going on. She was sick of waiting and listening to them talk in circles.
Time to take the reins.
She took a deep breath and knocked.
“That’s probably Birdie now. Poor thing has been waiting all day..”
“Hush then. We will discuss this further another time.”
Ammi’s voice cut the others off, “Come in.”
Birdie pushed the council room doors wide, stepping through and standing in the entry expectantly. She purposefully changed into her ceremonial robes hours ago, hoping to send a statement that even though she would vouch for Gabriel until the day she died, she was still her own person, and she was ready to make the sacrafice.
Even still, her hands shook like pine boughs in the breeze as she stood there facing them. Birdie noticed their eyes were all fixed on her in varying degrees of worry, not one of them looked pleased at her arrival.
“Are there any more preparations I need to finish before we leave tonight?” she asked, squaring her shoulders in challenge.
Cedar leaned back against the large wooden table in the center of the room, arms and legs crossed as he looked out the window. Brooke wore a look of pity, but she too remained silent.
“Everything is in order,” Ammi said coolly, giving Birdie a knowing look.
I bet she knows I was listening. Can’t fool her.
“But we were just discussing how best to move forward, seeing as we had a failed Ritual just this morning. It’s a sensitive time. Of the four of us, no one besides myself has had to deal with a failed sacrifice, so it is taking a little more time to plan than usual. Would you like to be included in the discussion?”
Birdie nodded, taking Ammi’s outstretched hand in gratitude.
“Yes please!”
“Good. Shields, I find that our Birdie’s insight in regards to Gabriel will help in deciding how to move forward with him.”
“Please Shields, let me talk to him?” She begged, turning to the lead champion.
“I don’t know what all happened up there- and I know you're not allowed to tell me- but you know Gabriel! He just needs time to figure it out- blow off some steam! Whatever happened, I am sure we can all talk through it once he has had a chance to think it through!”
“It’s more than that Birdie,” Shields shot Ammie a sideway’s glance, not as grateful for this opportunity as Birdie was.
“The events that led to Gabriel’s failure at the shrine are not just an issue of behavior or character… it may be a danger to us all.”
“May be?" Cedar cut in.
"It's not a question at all- Gabriel is definitely a threat to the settlement. I don’t know if anyone else picked up on this, but the d-divine didn’t just-st ss-seem annoyed about what we saw, he was ff-furious! Gabriel interrupted-ed th- the, Rit-t-” Cedar began to sputter as he spoke too closely to the oath. His pale face turned red as he coughed, stopping before he choked entirely.
“Watch your tongue Cedar!” Shields barked, “Remember your vow!”
Brooke stood and walked to the brass pitcher of water in the corner, bringing Cedar back a cup which he took and gulped greedily, droplets of sweat falling from the cropped hair at his temples.
“I think what Cedar is trying to say,” Brooke proceeded gingerly, “Is that we are just worried Birdie. The divine trusts us to be reliable protectors, and he is an excellent judge of character. He seemed very disturbed by what he saw in Gabriel, and we need to keep that in mind as we move forward.”
“Gabriel has always had a hard time being level headed,” she admitted, and Cedar made a rude sound.
“But that doesn’t mean he can’t change! Ammi, you said that you all knew he was haunted by his past, what if I helped him get closure?"
“She said that in confidence,” Cedar finally said in annoyance, his voice scratchy from his slip up.
“I can take him home!” she proposed, ignoring Cedar and looking to Shields and Ammi.
“Let me make the sacrifice! I will fulfill all of my obligations, and when I'm done I can petition for leave to guide Gabriel back to our village… Maybe if I can help him find peace…”
She felt her eyes burn, but blinked the tears away in defiance.
All these years… I didn’t know he was hurting so badly…
Ammi stood and placed a hand on her back, turning expectantly to Shields.
“I will not pretend to be unbiased. I have been, and always will be, the loudest advocate for the wellbeing of my two little castaways. But I also owe you my life Shields. Above all I am a champion. As such I will accept your decision. What is your verdict?"
Birdie looked at Shields in worry as he closed his eyes in rumination, stroking his well cut salt and pepper beard.
Ammi was right.
When the three of them first arrived in the City of Trees ten years ago, it was Shields who welcomed them as refugees, stood up to the Hunters and spoke against turning them away. To the Champions and the people, his word was law. If he chose to abandon them, Ammi would have to follow. And though she wouldn't like it, Birdie would accept her fate…
"Ammi says you pose no threat, and I believe her. If you still wish to take the Sacrifice I will allow it."
"Yes!"
She couldn't help herself. Birdie strode forward and wrapped the bulky man in a hug.
"Thank you! Thank you so much- I swear you won't regret this!"
Shields gave her an awkward pat and then held her at arm's length.
"I will hold you to that. As far as Gabriel goes, I still do not know. We will discuss his situation as a championship tomorrow after you are under oath and we can speak freely."
"Seriously?" They all turned to Cedar, who stood with his fists balled in anger.
"What is there to discuss? He can't be a champion, the divine won't allow it. He's none of our business anymore!"
"He's my business," Birdie retorted, "and we can't just abandon him. He has nowhere to go!"
"Not our problem," Cedar maintained, “And you can’t keep standing up for him. He’s only going to drag you down. Once you are a champion he isn’t the one who calls the shots anymore, and you’re going to have to wake up and see he is an issue.”
"He is our problem! Our job is to protect any innocent elf who lives under divine dominion. To abandon him would be to abandon the way of the Champions!"
"And what do you know of our way?" He snarled, stepping close and eyeing her down.
"You're not a Champion yet Birdie! The only reason you've gotten this far is because time and again people refuse to put you two in your place."
"Cedar! Enough," Shields warned.
"Yeah, I've just about had enough. You can do what you want about that little freak, but you can count me out."
"Birdie is right Cedar," Brooke offered gently, "we can't just drop him. He's basically family at this point-"
"Maybe to you but not to me," he said in cold apathy.
A flurry of knocks sounded on the double doors, cutting the tension clean off as Cedar and Birdie eyed each other.
"Cedar. The door," Shields snarled.
The furious champion shot Birdie one last resentful look before storming to the door and pulling it open.
Denny, the final member of their team stood timidly in the doorway, his little eyes wide with concern as he looked from Cedar's seething face to the glowering Shields.
"I-is everything alright?" The cadet asked.
"Of course Denny," Brooke stood, giving everyone a reprimanded look.
"We're just talking. What do you need?"
"A few Hunters are out in the front asking for a Champion's help."
"Hunters?" Shields asked, "Here? Are you sure?"
Denny nodded, "I guess one of theirs has gone missing. They are pretty mad…"
Cedar turned to look at Shields, his face dark and knowing.
"Cedar will report to help." Shields said firmly.
"Okay! Follow me."
Denny took Cedar's arm and pulled him from the room, which he left with a scowl.
Shields plopped down into a chair by the window, massaging his temples with a sigh.
"Don't ever get old you two," he grumbled to Brooke and Birdie.
"The alternative is pretty bleak for a champion. In the end the trouble is worth it, otherwise we wouldn’t be here." Ammi said, going to shut the door.
“Between the divine and the Grand Hunter, I think it’s going to be a while before it feels worth it again.”
Fast as a whip, Ammi turned to Shields, who already looked like he regretted opening his mouth. He sighed in exasperation, holding up a hand of waiting to Ammi who didn’t bother heeding it.
“What did the Grand Hunter say?”
“It was just a stupid comment. No big deal-”
“No, Shields it is. When the Hunters undermine our authority it puts everyone at risk.”
“He was just looking to discuss our trade route timeline. It's been a while since we've had enough champions to lead expeditions. He was upset that we were once again short staffed."
"It wasn't Gabriel’s fault," Birdie began, but Shields silenced her kindly.
"We know, Birdie. Nevertheless, the Hunters are right. These are dangerous times, and having the support of our neighbors can help. We can't fix our broken territorial relationships when we are operating with such a small team."
"Are the Hunters willing to help us recruit?" Birdie asked, feeling her cheeks burn.
"That's not their job, and I doubt they would if we asked."
"Maybe I'd better go help Cedar then. If that hunter was in the woods after the ritual, and doesn't turn up then we're really going to hear about it…" Ammi offered, looking annoyed above all else.
Shields shook his head, "I see what you're saying, but our divine hasn't proved to be vengeful or overly cruel. I doubt it's retaliation."
Ammi turned, a strange look on her face as she considered the man.
"He may not be as viscous as many other divines, but he is still one of them Shields. Do not forget. How and why they operate is a mystery, It would be wise to keep that in mind..."
"Mmmm. You're right of course, but we will see."
He stood, giving Birdie a tired look.
"Seeing as Cedar is busy, it looks like the three of us are going to be your procession tonight. Is that alright?"
"Of course."
"Don't hold a grudge against him Birdie. He's just scared. These are uncertain times, and Cedar may be stubborn, but he is smart to be cautious towards anything that might pose a threat to our community. Don't forget that as of tomorrow you two will be official team mates."
Birdie nodded. He was right, she would have to get along with Cedar, but Gabriel was supposed to be her third tonight, part of the team too. Now everyone was talking about him like he could bring the whole city down.
"Yes sir."
"Exceptional. In that case, I am going to go help Cedar, and then I might try to get some shut eye before midnight."
"I can go," Ammi offered, "go get some rest. You too Brooke. I will wake you if we need anything."
"Alright then. But be nice, they might be Hunters but they are not the ones who hurt you, and we still owe them just as much success as they do us."
"Of course."
"Oh, and one more thing," Shields paused at the door.
"Any idea where Gabriel might be lurking? I get it, he needs some alone time but he shouldn't wander outside the walls at night, especially not after the day he's had."