The Blackbird's Song

by Billy Wong

  "How do you know it has gone unused? How do you know it hasn't been given to some healer loyal to the church, who uses it to cure people while passing it off as miracles?"

  "There haven't been many 'miracles' recently, real or otherwise. That's why."

  "What if they passed it off as knowledge of medicine?"

  He bit his lip. "Fine, you're right. We don't know for sure if the church hasn't secretly done good things we're unaware of. But since when have they valued lives? They murdered our friends who were never in direct conflict with them and only wanted to make things better for all. If they're going to act that way, what makes us wrong for treating them the same?"

  "You may not strictly be wrong. I can see why some of their methods could be considered extreme. Have you considered, though, there might be a reason for what they do?"

  "What reason could there possibly be that's good enough?" Kara asked. "They've killed whole families, children included, who never opposed them! With the only rumored 'reason' being to silence them. Silence them over what? If they're not doing something terribly wrong, why not just tell us instead of being so fucking secretive?"

  The envoy's look remained nonchalant. "I do not know what their reasons are. But sometimes, it is justified for a reason to be known but not shared. If your savage friend asked why you use one fork for meat and another for stew at court, would you give her a detailed history of forks or would you tell her it is what it is?"

  Blackbird muttered, "Hey, why use me as an example..."

  "That's not a good comparison at all!" Andrew protested. "One is important because it concerns human lives, the other doesn't matter because it's forks!"

  "Eh, I suppose that might not have been the best example for your level of comprehension. I would then compare it to a parent talking to their young child. If hearing the truth wouldn't allow one to understand it, or would do more harm than good, then why tell it?"

  "You think the church is protecting us, babying us like children? The difference is, parents don't kill their children to protect them!"

  "I think we're getting a little heated," Blackbird said. "Maybe we should talk about what we actually came to discuss instead?"

  The diplomat shrugged. "If you wish, say what you will."

  Henry was a bit reluctant to move on, feeling like they'd be conceding something if that area of debate ended with Andrew's outburst. Still, "We wanted to discuss the situation between our countries. You say overthrowing the church will harm yours. But change isn't always bad. If you don't give it a chance, how do you 'know' it won't be better for both parties?"

  "It could be. But the risk of change is greater than the risk of no change. Because the probability of gaining benefits does not appear to outweigh that risk, we would prefer things stay the same for the time being."

  "It can't be worth a war over though, can it? You're talking about gambling numerous lives of your own people, for cheaper medicine..."

  "The medicine trade is very important to the nobles and influential merchants of my nation. They are the ones who control everything, and will not mind sacrificing many common soldiers to prolong their own lives a few years." Hearing this made Henry mad. "Besides, the church is still strong enough that if we aid it, it may easily be able to retake power—and even perhaps gain full control of your land."

  Kara's voice came out choked. "This is all wrong, why do you have to do this... can't you see we're suffering, the people want to be rid of the church so why would you insist for us to stay oppressed?"

  "Perhaps your visions are all just clouded by the moment. The church has reigned for many generations over your continent, and what has happened that was so terrible? Sure there have been deaths, and unpleasant ones. Such is the burden of any authority. Can you swear if another were in place, or none at all, it would be better?" Henry was at a loss what to say. It didn't seem like the man could be swayed, and what was more, some of his words as much as he hated to admit it seemed to make sense. "Furthermore, do you not only 'suffer' because you sought it out? Henry, the church did not even hurt you, only took away something you didn't understand, before you dedicated yourself to opposing it. Is that not correct? Andrew, your sister died on her own terms and you blindly pursued revenge. Kara, what are you even doing here? You probably just thought to play adventurer only to get caught up in more than you anticipated. None of you gave a second thought to what you were doing and now it's rather late to turn back. Congratulations on destablizing the entire region."

  "Dammit, why do our stories have to be so well known," Andrew groaned. "He's right about us, and I hate it..."

  The envoy turned his gaze to Blackbird, who fidgeted with something under her cloak. "And you—not paying attention, how appropriate. I don't even need to say anything about you."

  "There won't be any war," she said.

  "Hmm, what was that?"

  She looked up. "I call your bluff!" What? Henry had no idea what was going on. Their opponent too seemed confused... or was it surprise? Blackbird grinned. "Before coming in here, I played with your guard for a little bit. I disarmed him and put it back without him ever noticing me, and he got positively terrified when I crept around and made him think there might be an assassin about. I mean, most people are way below me physically so that first thing is understandable, but the second indicates a lack of experience. And, there's only one of him. I'm thinking if your leaders were really so invested in this issue they'd start a war, they would guard you better—or send someone who warrants better protection. I've also looked up your country in a book. It's pretty small compared to ours, and borders two larger not so friendly nations. You don't have much spare army to commit. Plus, your incredibly condescending demeanor reeked of someone trying to overcompensate for being in a known position of weakness.

  "All that war talk is just hot air."

  "Wow," Kara said, blinking. "Did Blackbird just say all that?"

  Henry stared in equal shock, but replied, "Well, it has been almost a year, and people can have flashes of brilliance..."

  "Even in a non-physical fight," Andrew grumbled, "it's always her. We really are the three sidekicks... damn her..."

  The envoy laughed. "Well done. You're smarter than I thought, savage. Yet, don't you think Prince Michael and his much savvier advisors have considered all you said? It's common in diplomacy to posture to get some concessions. No, there won't be any war. But as long as they're not certain of that, they'll play it safe. And what I just admitted to you children doesn't matter, because you have no way to prove it."

  Blackbird's grin widened. "Oh yeah?" She pulled out something that resembled a metal egg from beneath her cloak. Henry recalled her playing with it after grabbing it out of the pile of minor artifacts at Walsh's cabin. "Take this, fancy word man!" She pressed something on the object. Voices played from it.

  I call your bluff! Before coming in here, I played with your guard for a little bit. I disarmed him and put it back without him ever noticing me, and he got positively terrified when I crept around and made him think there might be an assassin about. I mean, most people are way below me physically so that first thing is understandable, but the second indicates a lack of experience. And, there's only one of him. I'm thinking if your leaders were really so invested in this issue they'd start a war, they would guard you better—or send someone who warrants better protection. I've also looked your country up in a book. It's pretty small compared to ours, and borders two larger not so friendly nations. You don't have much spare army to commit. Plus, your incredibly condescending demeanor reeked of someone trying to overcompensate for being in a known position of weakness. All that war talk is just hot air.

  Wow. Did Blackbird just say all that?

  Well, it has been almost a year, and people can have flashes of brilliance...

  Even in a non-physical fight, it's always her. We really are the three sidekicks... curse her...

  The conversation progressed onward through the envoy's confession, ending w
ith Blackbird's line of, Oh yeah? Take this, fancy word man!

  Blackbird regarded the device. "I guess some of that wasn't needed. But you see? This captures the sound and your confession! When Uncle Pete talked about how the artifacts could better the world, I guess this turns out to be one of the ways—by catching bad men like you admitting to your lies!"

  "Bad man? I'm just doing my job... and that's cheating..."

  "It takes a cheat to beat a cheat! When Prince Michael hears this kiss your bonus goodbye. Serves you right for calling me a savage!" She zoomed out of the room, knocking the guard unconscious completely by accident as she ran into him from behind and he fell headfirst into the wall.

  Left alone with the others, the diplomat sighed. "I understand better now how the artifacts could change the world. If such a small one can do something so amazing, they may really be the key to progress. Fair play to you all, I suppose.

  "But, is she always like that?"

  Henry's ears picked up her nonstop talking as she headed back, no doubt with Prince Michael in tow. "Sometimes. But I suspect the brown beans from that jar she stuffed in her mouth might have contributed..."

  Chapter 11

  The envoy didn't seem to hold too much of a grudge as he left Septapolis in defeat, and Prince Michael promised to try and find a way to keep medicine prices down. "I'd guess that trick won't work again," Michael said while they stood at the castle entrance watching him ride away. "Good for a one time deal, though."

  Beside him Blackbird played the recorded conversation over and over, laughing at her friends' reactions. "Diplomats will be more careful I imagine. But I'm sure it can be adapted to other situations, like if you made bad guys think you're helping them. Now time to eat!" She ran inside.

  Henry looked bemusedly after her. "I suppose it isn't that strange. Blackbird had to adapt more than anybody to survive, so now she can adapt to any challenge. We should be like her too, flexible and able to adapt to anything."

  "Ugh." Andrew smacked his head.

  "Come on, you have to admit she's grown a lot. Even though she still does some weird things like eat bugs she catches and sleep holding her sword, you can see the difference just in the way she speaks." He paused. "We should give ourselves some credit too. If we hadn't brought her out of the wilderness, none of this would have happened and the church would be as oppressive as ever."

  The prince went back inside too. "Was he right about us, though?" Kara mused. "That we're silly kids who didn't think about what we were doing? His descriptions rang a bit true."

  "Maybe they were true," Andrew said, "but it isn't that way anymore. I've accepted that Eileen might have done what she did of her own free will, and my arm is hardly worth continued bloodshed over. Even without looking at us though, the church has harmed many people for no justifiable reason. So what if we don't know that the alternative would be better? It doesn't mean we shouldn't strive to correct a problem. We may have set out on this road for the wrong reasons, but if we stick to it for the right ones, that's all that matters."

  Henry nodded. "Well put, friend. And after we free the world from the tyranny of the church, I have faith we'll be able to make a better one."

  "Church or world?"

  "Uh, world. Don't think we're equipped to take up the role of theological leaders."

  "But shouldn't we be able to adapt to anything?" Kara asked sarcastically.

  He supposed his gushing over Blackbird when she wasn't around could be a bit much. "Even then, there are those who are already more adapted and qualified. Unless you'd like to see a church run by Blackbird?"

  Both Kara and Andrew replied at once, "No thanks!"

  The king gave the go ahead, and they prepared to raid the Sky Chapel. "You sure you should be coming?" Blackbird asked at Prince Michael's side as he led the column of royal soldiers down the streets. "Do you even train?"

  "I've trained before. Relax, I have you guys to protect me." All four of the friends frowned.

  When they got to the chapel and soldiers rammed down the door, however, they found the place empty. The church had abandoned their headquarters at some point, likely escaping through tunnels or something similar. They probably shouldn't have expected Archcardinal Demetrious and his followers to just wait for them to attack and resign themselves to a last stand here. "I wonder if they're still in the city?" Henry mused.

  Blackbird studied the dust on the floor and chairs. "Looks like they've been gone a few days at least. We should have come sooner."

  "If we had," Michael said, "they would've seen us coming and left earlier too. We'll probably hear from them soon enough."

  "So what do we do now?"

  "We await word of what they're up to, whether from our allies or the enemy themselves."

  They waited uneasily and soon learned most of the remaining church forces had taken refuge in the old northern city of Batrecar where they had first risen to power. Before enough troops could be mustered to attack, they got word that a high-ranking church warrior had arrived at a monastery near Methidge. The friends might not have acted on it now, except the proximity to Nicole and Georgie made them fear the church might be looking for them again.

  When they got to the monastery atop a grassy hill, Henry had scarcely reached for the doorring before a figure jumped out a side window and sped downslope. It moved so fast, Blackbird immediately concluded, "That must be him!" and ran after it. They quickly vanished from view among the trees below.

  Henry sighed. "Hopefully they slow down soon so we can catch up." But as they started down, the door flew open behind them and they turned to regard a gold-and-silver robed man holding a scythe. "Who are you?"

  The warrior, gap toothed and dirty looking aside from his shiny garment, announced himself. "I am Dos Angeles, the Angel of Two."

  "Angel of Two?" Kara blinked. "How does that make sense at all?"

  "My power is to create a copy of myself which runs rather quick. Since it's busy distracting your friend, I won't be able to use it against you. But my skills alone are more than enough to kill you and take back the spear."

  "Take back the spear?" Andrew asked. "Are you that behind the tim-" He was interrupted by a wide, fast swing of the scythe which forced the trio to all block or jump away.

  Dos Angeles grinned. "It's a little late. Yet I can still strike a blow to your side's morale and impress my peers by doing what no one else could."

  Kara rushed, lightening the axe to increase the speed of her attacks. He easily parried them all, and kept doing so even when Henry and Andrew joined in. Henry tried to fire electricity at him, which he avoided by leaning back. He retaliated, and they were hard pressed to ward off his erratic slices seemingly from all angles. Cuts appeared in their clothes and flesh. "When Blackbird gets back, she'll kill you!" Kara spat desperately.

  "She would. But what if you're all dead and I'm long gone before then?" Driving Henry and Andrew back with a backhanded swipe of his scythe, he stepped towards Kara. He gripped her by the hair, yanked her violently down into a knee. Blood exploded from her nose and she crumpled.

  "Kara! You asshole!" Andrew pulled the tube weapon off his back and aimed it at Dos Angeles, but reducing his ability to defend in melee was a mistake. The angel kicked the weapon from his grasp, then landed another kick to the solar plexus that knocked the wind out of him. He fell to his knees coughing.

  Dos Angeles regarded Henry. "Now for the finish."

  Knowing he wouldn't last long in a duel being so outclassed, Henry threw his shield to buy precious seconds to think of a plan. His adversary's scythe sheared the wooden board in half. He spotted Andrew crawling for his tube and got an idea. "Kara, throw your axe!"

  She looked up from cradling her nose. "Huh?"

  "Throw it and think big!"

  Her slight wink in response let him know she got it. She hurled the axe. Dos Angeles easily intercepted it with his blade, but since she turned it heavy just before making contact, the impact knocked the scythe downward an
d left it stuck in the ground. "Interesting trick," he said, "but it won't-"

  Henry unleashed his lightning. Dos Angeles would have dodged effortlessly if it was directed at him, but since it streaked towards his scythe, his reluctance to let go of it got the better of him. Though he managed to pull it free of the earth, he just failed to move the large blade out of the way in time. He shook from the current as it coursed through the handle into him, and Henry shouted, "Andrew, shoot!"

  The tube swung around. Andrew's projectile blew clear through Dos Angeles' head, and he flopped down dead. They gathered around the body.

  Despite the blood continuing to drip from her nose, Kara took on a big smile. "We can finally fight like Blackbird!"

  "I'm not sure a three-on-one lucky underdog victory over an angel not using their power qualifies as fighting like Blackbird," Henry said.

  Andrew shrugged. "Maybe not. But I've realized something. Even if we aren't physically strong, we shouldn't look down on ourselves. We brought Blackbird, Prince Michael, and our countrymen together against the church. Sometimes the best thing a person can do is to get the right help."

  "I said something like that before."

  "Uh, I agree then."

  Blackbird came back and stared at Dos Angeles. "What the..? This looks exactly like the guy I killed, except mine turned into dust. Were they twins?" After some brief discussion, they deduced the artifact had itself turned into a copy of its owner and been destroyed by her. At least they wouldn't have to dissect another angel.

  Since the occupants of the monastery hadn't helped Dos Angeles, they decided to head back without bothering them. As they began away, an aged monk appeared from the opposite direction of the building, followed by two younger assistants. He gazed sadly at the corpse. "So I came back too late... however, I can still do something." He ran—well, more like walked hurriedly—in front of Blackbird, his companions guarding his sides with readied staffs. "Almighty Lord, I beseech you to lend me your power!" He pointed an index finger at Blackbird and drew circles in the air before her. "God hear my plea and cast from our plane this foul fiend!" He opened his hand and dramatically thrust his palm a tad further forward. "Exorcise this unholy demon!" Nothing happened. "No, it can't be... she's too powerful!"