Candlelit Shadows

Chapter 13

“Bravo, darling, bravo! Encore, encore! Why, you’ll win that contest hands-down, no competition! You, my daughter, have truly been blessed with a voice worthy of a nightingale.

      “What is this now? Even the most talented of singers need to practice, little one, nothing comes for free! It’s a lesson many have learnt before you, but for those who don’t have a mother like me to tell them –yes, yes, but I have a right to be self-indulgent once in a while—anyway, those unfortunate ones have had to learn for themselves.

      “The nightingale had a voice so sweet she could charm leaves off their branches and entice insects out into the darkest night. But mostly she sang because she liked to, and because she knew it would make her little ones happy. Rather like how I tell you these stories, sweetheart, even though you’ll probably grow up and dismiss them one day as an old woman’s fantasies. She never meant for it to mean anything else.

      “When she was required to choose a gift from Solis, the nightingale turned to the only thing she could truly relate to—her song. She wanted to be able to protect her family, but she had no intention to harm others. So she chose for herself magic to enhance her voice, allowing her to express her feelings through her songs more than she ever could herself. Those who approached her nest with malicious intent could always be found wandering away with a silly grin, vulnerable to other predators. And after those predators are finished with that victim and try to move on to the next, they would find themselves in exactly the same situation.

      “She sang and sang, day and night until her voice turned hoarse. Her will to protect her family was strong, but her voice could only hold out so long. The eagle lay in wait, and struck when she was at her weakest. I think I mentioned it before, but she used her wit and cunning, which led to the eagle’s undoing. By then, however, she had proven herself to be quite the competitor, and the eagle wasn’t the only one waiting to ambush her.

      “When she returned to her nest, battered and weary but fresh from the adrenaline of a battle won, it was to the broken bodies of all her young ones. The wolf too had been observing her, and had long since deduced that the way to her was through her fledglings. He was right. Upon seeing the scene of carnage, the nightingale went out of her mind altogether, and sang a song of mourning that could shatter anyone’s heart.

      “And it did. When she died a few days later, she had brought down many another with her. They felt her pain, to the point where it became unbearable and they ailed away, just like her. Amongst them, of course, was the killer of her children. After listening to the nightingale’s song, the wolf began to lose his way. It was on these grounds that Solis thought to disqualify him so close to the finish. And the wolf fought, even though he knew there wasn’t a point. Because the nightingale’s song lingered, and she had fought. Fought with everything she had before sinking away into the darkness.”

 

***

At lunchtime, Avian and the others were discussing other matters as Cera was trapped in her own thoughts.

      “So he isn’t back yet? That’s strange… shouldn’t someone look for him?”

      “Don’t get your robes in a knot, that big brute is more than capable of taking care of himself.”

      “Now don’t be mean, crow, you know he always means you well…”

      “Well, I don’t need his concern. He was the one who brought me here, knowing full well what it was like.”