Little Bird's Book of Lies

The Second Person

1302 AI

Neran had taken her into a hidden courtyard; The Hive. After years of living just a few streets away from this place, Little Bird had never found it. It was hidden around many a corner down many a long narrow alley. Creating a maze at the heart of Cavisle City. The way the Hive worked, Neran had explained, was similar to the workings of the Castle, whose turrets could just be seen above the buildings that surrounded the Hive.

In the Hive Neran was King. His advisers, his second in commands where those who had been under his employ since they were children and were now well into their teens. The youngest of whom went by the name Angeli

"Angeli, come here." Neran called to her. She immediately broke away from the sword fight she was previously engaged in. "Little Bird, this is Angeli. Angeli, you shall be responsible for this one."

"This one looks Hirati, Neran." She said, taking a hold of Little Bird's chin, twisting it this way and that.

"The Hirati migrated from Kohle, did they not? I know how you like to train those of similar heritage to your own." Neran said. Angeli was evidently from Kohle. Though Little Bird could hardly recall ever seeing someone from the distant country of the Southern continent, she knew what they were said to look like. Dark skin, eyes black as pitch and ebony hair that was so curly it acted like a halo around their heads. Those from Hirat had a toned-down version of this.

"Are you Hirati, Birdie?" Angeli asked, taking a step back.

"Don't answer" Her brother whispered in her ear, the words were invisible to those around her. "Don't say yes, don't say no, don't incriminate yourself."

Little Bird shrugged in reply to Angeli, hoping not to upset the disembodied voice of her long-deceased brother.

She nodded, "Come, Birdie, let's see what you know." Together Little Bird and Angeli walked into the center of the courtyard. Angeli threw her a long wooden staff. The staff itself was of little weight and was easy enough for someone as small as she to maneuver.

With no warning Angeli came running at Little Bird, swinging her staff ready to knock the smaller child off of her feet. Little Bird immediately ducked under the flying wood and used her own staff to whack the back of her attacker's knees. Angeli's knees buckled, though she gained control and summersaulted back to her feet, turning to face her small opponent.

"You picked out a fast one, Neran." Angeli called, not taking her eyes off of Little Bird.

"Ask and you shall receive." Came Neran's reply.

Angeli grinned and charged once more at Little Bird. This time Little Bird blocked the strike, though this only slowed the press of staff on staff, due to Angeli's advantage in size and strength. Angeli released her pressure on the staff and Little Bird stumbled forwards, enabling Angeli to hit her with her staff. Little Bird fell to the ground, Angeli straddling her and pressing across her collar bone and shoulders with the staff.

"Not bad, Birdie, but you have much to learn." Angeli stood up. "Get up, I'll show you how we do things here."

Little Bird stood and followed her guide as they began to circumnavigate the Hive.

"Here at the Hive it is our job to take care of the city without them knowing that it's us. The nobles don't like the idea of us having our own little thriving community, so we have to stay secret. You mustn't ever mention the Hive to anyone. Once you enter the Hive you can never leave."

"Why not?" She asked.

"Don't ask questions."

"It's too dangerous. There are evil men looking for the Hive. They'll torture it out of you." Angeli spoke as they rounded a bend and came across a boy of an age with Little Bird. He held a large bundle of something. He froze and looked at the two girls, who in turn stared back. He then proceeded to produce a series of clicking and whistling sounds. After a moment Angeli made similar sounds in return. The boy nodded then continued on his way.

"What was that? Who was he?"

"Eridon," Angeli began. Little Bird added the name to her collection. "He's from the Hive. Did you see how we spoke? That's Hive language, you'll pick it up soon enough. It's how we communicate with each other without anyone knowing what we're saying."

The girl nodded.

"To be allowed in the Hive, you must contribute. You must get food and relay all information you learn on the streets to a leader, like myself, or to Neran himself. That's how we repay him, for he teaches us how to fight, read, write and stay hidden from unwanted eyes. Without him, we are nothing. You are most privileged to be a part of the Hive, and if you're lucky he shall allow you to take part on special missions."

"What sort of mission?"

"Don't ask questions. Curiosity will get you killed."

"You'll soon see."

They continued to walk in silence until suddenly Angeli shoved Little Bird into a rough stone wall. She cried out as Angeli pinned her down and withdrew a blade from nowhere.

"Who are you?" She questioned, holding the knife to Little Bird's throat.

"Little Bird."

"Who are you really?"

"Curiosity gets you killed. What comes around goes around, sister. You brought this upon yourself."

She shrunk back. She couldn't possibly say who she really was. She must lie. She must always lie. No one can know who she is.

"Little Bird, I am Little Bird."

"You're lying." Angeli pressed the blade harder against the soft brown skin of Little Bird's throat. She had to think fast.

"Say your name and you're dead."

The ever-present voice of her long-gone brother continued to play in her mind. She couldn't tell Angeli the truth, but maybe she could go around. With a sudden burst of energy, she pushed against Angeli's arm, surprising her. Little Bird took the knife and backed Angeli against the opposite wall to the alley.

"I have no name, but Little Bird is what I'm called. If you continue to disbelieve this you may speak to the knife." Litle bird dropped the knife and proceeded to walk away, though stopping when she heard clapping. She turned to find Angeli and Neran, who had come out of nowhere, applauding her.

"Very good, Little Bird, you shall make an excellent contribution to the Hive." Neran said, walking over to her. He clasped her chin in his hand, tilting it upwards. "Now, it is time you get some rest. I have big plans for you."

"Be careful, sister."

The voice of her brother spoke something new. She had no recollection of him saying these words before, though he must have done if they were playing in her head. It was strange having his voice saying something different, for years he had only ever said the once phrase.

"You don't know this man. You don't know these people."

She knew to be wary of strangers. She knew not to give them any sort of information about herself.

"Trust no one."

She would remain cautious for as long as she remained with these people, however long or short that may be, she would never let her guard down. She could never allow her guard to lower. She must sleep with one eye open.

"Trust no one but yourself. Cofi na un syv zessyti"

"I want you to know, Little Bird, that you are safe in the Hive, no one here shall harm you. You can trust us. Do you understand?" Neran asked.

"I understand." She did understand. She understood that no matter what Neran says, she could never fully trust him. She could trust no one but herself.