The Son of Thunder

Chapter Two

Magpie held the bow steady, aiming the arrow straight for her heart. She had a clear shot. The little yellow creature stood at the edge of the forest, her long neck stretched out and the grass dying out under her feet. The desert abutted the forest, an odd accident from the Old World. She switched her head from left to right, cawing. Thundonia was a dwarf behind her, glowing gold in the afternoon sunlight. The bow grew taut as Magpie drew back the string.

Torin's fingers grazed Magpie's shoulder. He whispered, "Magpie, your sister is calling for you."

Magpie closed her eye and tightened her bow before lowering it. She stared forward at her sister Canary. She could have gotten her.

Magpie stepped out of the forest. Canary's yellow hair was wrapped up on the back of her head and she had her hands on her hips. Her mouth twisted as she saw Magpie emerge from her hiding place, Magpie's wild hair tamed into a braid.

"It's about time."

How Magpie lamented that missed shot. Torin took her arm, drew Magpie to their camp, helped her clean up the arrows and the stake of kills. The trio started walking back toward Thundonia, Magpie's bow hanging from her fingertips.

"You've made us late," Canary chirped.

Magpie checked the sun's position in the sky. By her calculations, they had plenty of time and she said so.

"Mana wants us to put on our best gowns."

Magpie stopped dead in the sand. "No."

"Magpie," Torin whispered in her ear.

"No," she repeated more viciously. "I don't want to meet any more short, ugly, round, old men. I'm not getting married." She threw her bow down and marched back to the forest. Winter had come and gone on her twelfth annum and still she was being thrust at any bachelor who spied her.

Torin grabbed her arm. "Magpie, you're overreacting."

"Magpie, it's the Son of Thunder," Canary said.

Magpie whipped around, opening her eyes as wide as she could.

"The Son of Thunder is a man today."

Magpie's mouth clamped shut. She rolled her eyes and stalked forward, forcing Torin and Canary to hurry their pace to keep up with her. Sand sprayed everywhere as she plowed ahead.

"I knew that when I left this morning. Why do I have to wear a gown?" She only owned one. She hated any occasion that she was forced into it. Magpie would have shredded the garment to pieces if she didn't in her marrow dread the ranting her mana would give her.

Canary clicked her tongue on the roof of her mouth. How she hated explaining to her idiot sister. "He will be choosing a wife."

Magpie laughed outright. "He may be announcing a wife, but I doubt he's choosing one today. If such an announcement follows his presentation, he's had one selected for some time." Not that Magpie believed he did. Rumor was the Son of Thunder helped Camilia escape.

"Oh, Magpie," Canary swore. She stomped off. She was shorter than both Torin and Magpie. It took all her energy to stay ahead of the pair. Canary slammed the door when they got home, which caused their mother to spin to them. Glenada was very cordial to Torin, hugged him, gave him a light kiss. Torin gave Glenada a wry smile and raised his brow. Glenada twisted her mouth downward and instructed Magpie to go to her room, as if Torin's look alone had communicated all that had occurred when the trio were in the wood.

"Mana, really," Magpie said, trying to appeal to her rationale. "The Son of Thunder is not going to select me as a wife. He wouldn't know I existed if I wasn't the first daughter born to Thundonia." Magpie wasn't sure even that was enough to alert him to her existence.