by Nancy Yi Fan
Early fall, Day of Remembrance
Ever since Hero’s Day, Swordbird has become world famous.
As I strum my claws across the strings of my harp, I seem to hear the world laughing with me. Would you believe that every day now, weapons are melted down to be formed into flutes, telescopes, pen nibs, and even bells? Ever since Swordbird, our hero, came two seasons ago, more birds have discarded their axes, swords, and spears to hold books instead.
“You know,” Kari the macaw said to me some time ago, “the Avish words on our green gemstone shone brightly the moment Wind-voice held the true hero’s sword. Then the words disappeared!” As I traveled about, other tribes confirmed this phenomenon. She told me that birds, singing the “Song of Swordbird,” could now use the Leasorn gems as a link to call Swordbird to come.
What happened to the remaining archaeopteryx army and their battalions? Leaderless, they fought among themselves and, at last, in a huff, scattered into small bands. The same fate awaited their allies, the pirates and the outlaw crows, ravens, and mynas. Some retreated into remote haunts, some tried more devilry, but a few changed their ways and befriended us.
As for Wind-voice, I only saw him once in my dreams, after Hero’s Day. He said to me, “Winger, my mortal self did die when the pyramid crashed down. I understand now. I sacrificed myself so that I, as a spirit, can forever guard peace and freedom, and I’m glad.”
So am I. Even though my heart clenches when I think of Wind-voice, a calm, earnest joy enfolds me when I think of the brighter era awaiting birdkind.
“You’ve written so much of our quest in your diary,” Wind-voice said. “I hope you will finish writing all of it.”
“I think I shall,” I replied.
As Wind-voice rescues and helps in the sky, we do our best on the earth. Fleydur, accepted back by his family, has many young budding musicians following him. Kari the macaw and her teacher, Rhea the shrike, travel together, teaching the art of healing. As for me—well, following Wind-voice’s suggestion, I have been happily busy organizing the account in my diary of all that happened in the days I traveled with him. The good phoenix king, Pepheroh, printed it in a book called the Old Scripture. It also contains the “Song of Swordbird,” which is used to call Swordbird. We will send out copies to everybird so that all birds may know what we have gone through, learn from our experience, and live peacefully.
Sometimes we companions gather on the islands of the seabirds to pay our respects to Stormac. A clear spring now gushes where he was buried, as if by magic. Even though it is so remote from the Marshes, somehow the water has the sweet taste of the cedar trees that grow in the myna’s homeland. It is here that we recall the past.
We have agreed on one thing: With the powers of pen, song, and healing, we can help make the world a better place.
Swordbird bless us all!
—Winger
A hero’s heart is as vast as the sky.
—FROM THE OLD SCRIPTURE
EPILOGUE
THE FIRST BRIGHT MOON FESTIVAL
It was spring.
Kauria was in bloom. Though it was hidden in mists from the rest of the world, for some reason, on the night of the first anniversary of Hero’s Day, birds found it without difficulty.
Flocks of birds were gathered there—some young, some old, some who had never been there before, some who had, some who were descendants of heroes, some who had met or traveled with Wind-voice. It didn’t matter who they were; they were all there for the same purpose.
All gazed into the sky. The moon was round, like a mirror of dreams, and as they stood, they seemed to see and hear things. Like an echo from a year ago, they heard cheerings: “Swordbird! Swordbird!”
There was the faint strum of a harp, and then Ewingerale walked in among them. He started singing:
On our sword quest we have learned that
Fate is wind, not a river.
The directions of wind can always change
But rivers shall flow the same.
No matter which way the wind shall blow,
Dare to use your wings.
Fleydur the eagle came striding from the other side, singing melodiously:
On our sword quest we have learned
The reason why we come to this world.
Not for fighting, not for taking,
But for living, and for giving.
Not merely for eating and sleeping day after day,
But for flying toward lofty goals.
Ewingerale continued the song:
On our sword quest we have learned that
True happiness is built upon dedication.
A grass nest woven by ourselves
Outshines a palace inherited,
Crabapples foraged from a bush
Taste sweeter than stolen oranges.
Fleydur sang joyously:
On our sword quest we have learned to
Value the world the way we value our family.
If we spread kindness wherever we go,
Then we have thousands of brothers and sisters.
Loving and caring brightens our world.
They bring us closer to the Great Spirit.
The two friends stood side by side, faces to the moon, and sang the last words together:
To live is to treasure everything.
To live is to strive
For tomorrow
And for a bright future.
And then, in a soft chorus, the crowd of birds sang a song written by Ewingerale, who is now the scribe, and Fleydur, now the bard of the eagles.
O joy be on the day of the Bright Moon Festival
Holy day of Swordbird’s birth,
A day when birds sing and dance,
And when a round, bright moon shines on the earth…
Somewhere among them, somebird whispered, “Happy birthday, Swordbird.”
It was indeed a magical night, and perhaps it was the excitement, perhaps it was a trick of the light, or perhaps it was real…
For Swordbird’s figure seemed to glide across the moon, his graceful wings saluting a peaceful world.
MAJOR CHARACTERS
AQUAL—tern, the chief of the Qua, the seabirds’ alliance.
AREDREM—great blue heron, wife of Fisher.
DUBTO—archaeopteryx, soldier of the Marshes Battalion of the archaeopteryx army.
EWINGERALE (WINGER)—red-bellied woodpecker, companion of Wind-voice, harpist, and primary author of the Old Scripture.
FISHER—great blue heron, leader of the rebel group of the Marshes territory.
FLEYDUR—golden eagle; son of Morgan, king of Skythunder; brother of Forlath; companion of Wind-voice; wandering bard.
FORLATH—golden eagle; son of Morgan, king of Skythunder; brother of Fleydur.
GREAT SPIRIT—creator of the earth and birdkind.
GWENDELEINE—emperor penguin, lady of the Illagoo tribe.
HUNGRIAS—archaeopteryx, the Ancient Wing, and emperor of archaeopteryxes; killed by Maldeor.
IRENE—dove, mother of Wind-voice.
KARI—scarlet macaw, friend of Wind-voice, healer, member of the Half-moon tribe.
KAWAKA—archaeopteryx, leader of the Marshes Battalion of the archaeopteryx army, later head knight of the Royal Court, brother of Rattle-bones.
MALDEOR—archaeopteryx, former head knight of the Royal Court, succeeded Hungrias as the Ancient Wing and emperor of archaeopteryxes, author of the Book of Heresy.
MORGAN—golden eagle, king of Skythunder, father of Fleydur and Forlath.
PEPHEROH—phoenix, king of Kauria, the magical Island of Paradise.
PHAËTHON—archaeopteryx, prince of the archaeopteryx empire, son of Hungrias.
RAG-FOOT—brown skua, captain of the pirates of the Pearls Archipelago.
RATTLE-BONES—archaeopteryx, knight of the Royal Court, brother of Kawaka.
RHEA—shrike, healer who hosted a rebel meeting.
STORMAC—hill myna, companion of Wind-voice.
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SWORDBIRD (WIND-VOICE)—white bird, guardian of peace, son of the Great Spirit.
WIND-VOICE—the same as Swordbird.
WINGER—the same as Ewingerale.
YAMA—supreme evil spirit who is the opposite of the Great Spirit.
YIN SOUL—half-ghost of a four-winged dinosaur who wanted to be reincarnated.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Many writers believe that to write a novel, especially a fantasy novel, is to go on a quest. At fourteen, I feel lucky to have experienced two quests. During them, many people helped and encouraged me. I am deeply grateful to them.
First, I would like to thank Ms. Phoebe Yeh, editorial director of HarperCollins Children’s Books. Through my frequent contact with her, I feel that she has become my dear teacher and lifelong friend. She sets her whole mind and heart on her work, which makes me realize that once you have found something you love to do, you are always energetic. Without her meticulous guidance and help, none of my quests could have been completed.
Profound thanks to Ms. Jane Friedman, president and CEO of HarperCollins, Worldwide, one of the most powerful and broadminded people I’ve ever met. It is she who gave me wings to fly in the sky of the literature world. She has not only encouraged me, but she also encourages kids all over the world to read and write. Thousands of emails to me from young writers reflect this.
I would also like to thank many other HarperCollins people: Ms. Susan Katz, president and publisher of HarperCollins Children’s Books, for sending me a delightful bird book that, to me, is much more than a book; Ms. Kate Jackson, senior vice president of HarperCollins Children’s Books, for her great expectations of me; Ms. Joan Rosen, vice president and director of subsidiary rights; Ms. Audra Boltion, associate director of publicity; Ms. Mary Albi, director of marketing; Mr. Greg Ferguson, assistant editor; and Ms. Amy Ryan, art supervisor, for their enthusiastic support and constant help; Ms. Colleen Delany, for performing the story so vividly in the audio book of Swordbird; and Mr. Mark Zug and Ms. Jo-Anne Rioux for their wonderful artwork that made Sword Quest come alive.
My heartfelt thanks also go to Ms. Stella Chou, managing director for HarperCollins Chinese Business Development, and Ms. Michelle Wu, Marketing and Communications Manager, for shepherding the Chinese bilingual edition of Sword Quest.
During my own quest of writing and traveling, teachers and friends either read my manuscript or supported me with kindness. I would like to thank Dr. Linda Lamme, professor of children’s literature—I was overjoyed to hear her sensible advice on what makes a children’s book good; Ms. Jennifer Wise, my sunny middle-school principal, for encouraging all the students in my school to write by sharing my story with them; and Ms. Diane Anding, Ms. Jennifer Diley, Ms. Stephanie Leander, Ms. Maria Olsen, and Ms. Elizabeth Freeman, my amazing eighth-grade teachers.
As I wrote Sword Quest, I had the good fortune to visit my alma mater. It was like a homecoming! I want to thank Mr. Barry Guinn and Ms. Debbie Geiss, two of the most warmhearted principals I’ve ever known; my phenomenal former teachers Ms. Melissa Barnello and Ms. Judy Allen, for their wonderful teaching and cordial support; Mr. Timothy Simmons and Mr. Ben Farstad, my cool third-grade teachers; Ms. Diane Goodwin, my earliest teacher of literature, whose appearance at a bookstore signing made me so happy that I was moved to tears; Ms. Betty Barr, MBE, for her precious comments and advice; Professor Nancy Hodes, who inspired me a lot; Professor Robert Loach, for his intercultural insights; Dr. John Cech, for offering me the opportunity to talk with a professor of children’s literature on his radio program; Professor Hank Conner, for inviting me to be a guest speaker on his special program, “Conner Calling,” and for his wit; the Audubon Society of Florida, for making me an honorary member and adopting a bald eagle in my name; Ms. Patricia Brigati, for turning on the lights of the first Christmas tree in my life;
Ms. Debbie O’Donnell and Ms. Jen Obermaier, librarians; and Ms. Catherine Tarbox and Ms. Joy Merrill, bookstore managers (there are many others; I cannot name them all), for inviting me to do presentations at my second home, libraries and bookstores.
Support from celebrities energized me while writing Sword Quest. I want to thank Mr. Jackie Chan, the martial arts movie star, for his encouragement; Ms. Martha Stewart, also a bird lover, for her unforgettable conversation with me; and Mr. Al Roker, who wrote to me: “Sunny skies always.”
Family support is priceless. I remember when I was small, my grandparents bought lots of books for me and read them to me night after night. I would like to thank them, as well as my parents, who listened to my story of Wind-voice and gave me invaluable suggestions.
Of course, a chirp of thanks to my pet lovebirds, Pandora, Ever-sky, and Dyppler, the great blue heron in the pond across the street, and the resident red-shouldered hawk who often perches sagely on the bar of a swing just beyond my window.
It’s good to meet people (and birds) and learn from them.
About the Author
NANCY YI FAN is the New York Times bestselling author of SWORDBIRD. Her Chinese translation of SWORDBIRD was published in a bilingual edition. Nancy spent the first part of her childhood in China, where she was born in 1993. Birds, a lifelong passion of the author’s, provided the inspiration for her novels. When she isn’t talking and writing to readers worldwide, Nancy gets straight A’s in school, practices martial arts, and takes very good care of her pet lovebirds, Ever-sky, Pandora, and Dippler. She lives in Florida with her parents.
You can visit her online at www.swordbird.googlepages.com/index.htm.
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Credits
Jacket art © 2008 by Mark Zug
Jacket design by Amy Ryan
Copyright
SWORD QUEST. Copyright © 2008 by Nancy Yi Fan. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
ePub Edition December 2007 ISBN 9780061757259
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