Seven for a Secret

by Clive Woodall

  The robins looked around in alarm, but seeing no corvids in the vicinity looked to Meldra for an explanation. She swiftly repeated her story, and the robins’ shock matched that of their old friend.

  ‘Traska’s behind this, he must be!’ Merion cried.

  Tomar stirred from his mute reflections. ‘Yes, my dear friends. This is all undoubtedly Traska’s doing. Engar is merely his dupe. As vain as a peacock, and as stupid as a pigeon. But this is certainly only the beginning. Traska is trying to outdo his mentor, Slyekin. He will not be satisfied until he perches as supreme ruler on the throne of Birddom!’

  ‘We cannot let that happen!’ Olivia blurted out in anguish.

  ‘I am not sure that there is a great deal that we can do to prevent it,’ Tomar replied.

  Meldra and the robins were aghast at his words, but Tomar held up a wing to silence their protests.

  ‘Let us be realistic. We have absolutely no power base from which to launch a challenge against Traska, who, remember, has the support of the Great Owl. Meldra’s days on the Council are numbered, you can be sure of that. Indeed, my dear, I believe most strongly that your life is in grave danger already. And probably that of Faron, too. Engar may be stupid in some ways, but he is cunning as well. I am sure that he is well aware of your doubts. No, you have served Birddom as a member of the Council for the last time, my friend. But I foresee another road for you to take, in service of our land.’

  ‘But what good would that be if Traska is going to be the ruler of Birddom, as you say? I can scarcely believe it. If anyone other than you had voiced such an opinion, I would have called them a fool.’

  ‘I have been labelled such many, many times, by those who do not know any better,’ Tomar responded proudly. ‘But I stand by what I said. Things have gone too far to be redressed. It is inevitable that Traska’s power will increase. I am sure that it will not be long before more corvids are chosen for the Council. The magpies’ grip will tighten. And Engar will let it happen, not realising where it will lead.’

  Tomar shuddered, then composed himself and surprised the other three with a smile.

  ‘It is all of no consequence, anyway. Birddom as we know it is finished. I have long said as much. That is why I sent the pair of you to Septimus. We are beset by enemies. Indeed, crazy as it sounds, Traska is the least of our worries. Avia is the only hope for any bird, and only then if we are able to find the way in!’

  Engar’s hoot of greeting was answered by Traska’s salutary caw, as the magpie swooped down into the barn owl’s lair. ‘Welcome back, my friend,’ Engar called. ‘What news from the north?’

  Traska landed, and strutted over to the Great Owl’s side. ‘Am I your missive, that I must make my report to you?’ He sketched an ironic bow, before continuing, ‘My name is not Lostri, you know.’

  Engar stammered an apology. ‘Forgive me, Traska. I did not mean to imply anything. I was merely glad to see you, and eager to hear your news.’

  ‘My news is mainly about Lostri, as it happens. He has failed on his mission, and won’t be coming to you with his report. He was unavoidably and permanently detained in Cra Wyd!’

  Engar giggled delightedly. ‘Tell me more,’ he begged.

  So, Traska regaled him with stories of cruelty and brutality, gloating over the gory details of the deaths of the three owls. Engar couldn’t help but admire his friend’s imaginativeness – put, as it was, to such depraved use. But he also felt a twinge of unease when hearing of how the magpie had dealt with Scrant, making a promise to himself never to get on the wrong side of his partner.

  ‘But what about our progress on the Council?’ Traska asked, and this time it was Engar’s turn to report to his superior.

  ‘Everything has gone according to plan. I anticipated Lostri’s shameful neglect of his duty, and banished him from the Council. In his place now sits Smew, just as you requested. Drag and Chak have replaced Calipha and Tomar. The Council is twelve strong once more. But I am worried about the loyalty of at least one, maybe two, of the remaining Council members. Faron was not in the least enthusiastic about our introducing corvids onto the Council. And I caught Meldra watching me with a very strange look on her face.’

  Traska was decisive. ‘They must both be replaced, and the sooner the better. I will find two suitable candidates from within our brotherhood.’

  Engar’s manner was at its most ingratiating. ‘What about you,’ he simpered. ‘Won’t you honour us by taking a place on the Council?’

  Tomar, Meldra and the two robins were deep in conversation. The food, for which Merion and Olivia had so patiently foraged, lay discarded and ignored. There was an air of excitement around the crooked fir, generated by the urgency of Tomar’s words.

  ‘My friends, do not despair. When I spoke of the end for Birddom, I meant only the loss of our physical home. We carry Birddom in our hearts, and its truths and philosophies will endure while any bird still lives who is faithful to its cause. Remember the rhyme, Merion? “But peril lies at Avia’s doors, if you’re not true to Birddom’s cause.” Doesn’t that also mean that no harm will come to any who are true?’

  His three companions nodded eagerly, as Tomar went on. ‘Each one of us has work to do. Work that is vital for our future survival. I know that I place a heavy burden upon your backs and wings, but I am too old and too weak for such a task myself. I need each of you to undertake a journey, and I do not underestimate the peril that each of you may face. Birddom is a dark and ominous place once more, with the corvids wielding ever greater power. Indeed, it seems that my sole role, as Great Owl and now, has been sending others into danger. But there it is. I will not shirk it. Nor, I know, will any of you. But you will all need to take the greatest care. For Birddom’s sake, you cannot fail.

  ‘Meldra, I need you to fly far to the west, to the mountain home of Darreal, leader of the falcons. You recognise the name, no doubt. He has long been our ally, and a great force for good in Birddom. Olivia, you will return to Storne. Having visited him so recently, you will know the way.’

  A shadow of misery passed over the female robin’s face, and Tomar said, sympathetically, ‘You grieve still for your mother. I am sorry to cause you pain by bringing out memories. But your journey then was not an ill one, even though nothing came of your efforts. And do not be angry with Storne. There must have been reasons for his choice not to help us. Indeed, looking back now, I cannot say what he could have done, if he had flown to our aid. But, this time I need him. And, this time, I am sure he will come.’

  ‘What about me?’ Merion blurted out, impatiently.

  ‘You have already been given your mission, though your task was set with other, darker purposes in mind. You must carry out the very journey that Engar asked of you. I want you to visit Kraken.’

  Merion’s eyes lit up with understanding. But then, as he gave it a little more thought, doubt clouded his mind. ‘I am not sure that I understand, Tomar. Are we preparing for another Great Battle against the corvidae? Like the one that you orchestrated with the help of my father? It seems that way, when you send us all to ask for aid from your allies in that triumphal time. But why should we do battle if Birddom is finished, as you say? And how will a war with the corvidae help us to find Avia?’

  The old owl’s eyes brightened with sudden revelatory understanding, and he clapped his wing to his forehead, as if admonishing himself for his erstwhile stupidity. Then he smiled at his bemused friend. ‘I will always seek to do battle against evil, Merion,’ he replied. ‘But this will be a battle of the mind – the only one that I am likely to win at my age. I need the help of Darreal, Storne and Kraken for two reasons. Firstly, they must help me to solve the riddle that Septimus has set us. They are each, in their own right, great leaders with years of wisdom and experience between them. But that will only be a part of their efforts. With them, and each of you, I want to create a Council
fit to lead Birddom, and one which can organise our journey into Avia. We will have to persuade every bird of the justice of our cause, and the voices of those mighty birds will carry great weight when the time comes.’

  ‘But we do not know when that time will be!’ Olivia cheeped, in her frustration.

  ‘Oh yes, my dear. Thanks to your brother here, we know exactly when that time will be! Reconsider the second part of Septimus’ rhyme: “Think back to former battles won.” Yes, Olivia. We may still not know how to get into Avia. But we do know when!’

  Engar hooted for silence, and then called the Council meeting to order. ‘We seem to be very busy just at the moment,’ he began. ‘But is it not right and proper? Birddom is in a state of change. Things move at a pace unheard of to the more sedate of our predecessors. I am not sure that they would have been able to cope. But we are a strong Council, reinvigorated by new members and new ideas. If it is not too strong a word to use, I will say that there is a revolution in this land of ours. But it is a revolution that we are leading, not fighting against. And that is because it is a revolution for good.

  ‘Change for the better should never be feared but, rather, embraced by all right-minded and progressive birds. Our Council has changed, and changes even more today. For Meldra has deserted the cause. She has disappeared, and so failed to answer the summons to duty. Such an owl has no place on the Council, and I have asked Traska here to take her place.’

  The sound of his name, spoken of as an ally at Council, and his very presence among them, caused a sense of shock to resonate through the six owls who stared, open-beaked, at their leader. But only one owl dared to raise his voice in protest.

  ‘Engar!’ Faron cried out, in dismay. ‘Have you taken leave of your senses?’ Ignoring the murderous look from the Great Owl, he continued, without pause, ‘All of Birddom knows Traska to be the most evil magpie ever to hop his way out of hell. Now I’ve kept silent while good friends of mine were ousted from our Council. I’ve supported your vision for the future of Birddom, and still do. But your original plans for leading us into that future never included alliance with our enemies. You have gone too far.’

  Faron cast his eyes around the Council ring, appealing to every owl there. ‘Ask yourselves a question, my friends. Before it is too late. Ask yourselves what has become of Calipha. Of Lostri. And now Meldra. Each of them was an honourable owl. I say was because I fear that none of them are still alive. Tomar, our Great Owl, was banished, and I am ashamed of my part in that act of treachery. Now, three more of our Council have vanished without trace. And in their places perch four magpies! Think for a moment about the gravity of those words. Four magpies sit on the Council of the Owls!’

  While Faron had been talking, Engar had sat speechless and impotent. But Traska had not. On his signal, Smew, Drag and Chak had begun to edge closer, inch by inch, towards the brave owl. Faron realised his predicament too late. His attempt to launch himself from his perch was thwarted when the group of magpies fell upon him in a savage attack. It was an unequal contest, and would have been over in only a few moments. But, even as the first blows were struck, Traska rebuked his cohorts in authoritative tones.

  ‘Magpies! I am ashamed of you! Stop this at once!’

  The three attackers were bemused by their leader’s sudden apparent change of heart. Hadn’t he given them the signal in the first place? Each magpie had known exactly what he had wanted them to do. Or had thought that they had. Unsure of what to do next, they backed off shame-faced, as Traska continued to reproach them.

  ‘That type of act is the very reason why we have been Birddom’s enemies for so long. I have worked so hard to make the peace, and to build a future for our own kind – a future of integration and harmony with the rest of the birds in this beloved land.

  ‘Now, apologise to Faron. He has every right to express his views at Council, even if they are contrary to our own. We may not like what we hear, but we must resist against such a violent response. For that is not the way of the Council, and it will not be our way either. Please accept my own apologies, Faron. Are you hurt, my friend?’

  Faron was as bemused as his attackers. He had been certain for a moment that he was going to die, and he had gloried in the knowledge that the magpies had gone too far. His own death would not be in vain. For surely Engar and the rest would indeed come to their senses, and abandon this absurd and dangerous alliance, now that the corvids had shown their true colours. But, astonishingly, Traska had defended him. Had saved his life! The owl was amazed and confused. He had been so sure that Traska was up to no good. But now, that belief was undermined by the generous actions of one he had called evil.

  ‘It is I who should apologise to you, and to my fellow Council members. I am no longer worthy of that name. I ask your permission to relinquish my place on the Council. For I am out of touch with its needs, and, because of this, saw malice where there was none. I was so sure, and yet I was wrong, and so can no longer serve Birddom in honour.’

  The remaining owls sat stunned by what they had witnessed. Not a single owl had moved as much as a wing-tip to help their friend, and, but for Traska, Faron’s body would now be laying, discarded and bloody, at the foot of the great oak which had been his Council perch for so long. That thought alone was sobering to one and all. But they were dumb-struck by the whole scene that had played out before them, and had no response to their colleague’s announcement. Looking around the circle with regret, Faron knew that there was no more to be said, and simply turned, and flapped painfully away over the trees.

  It was Traska himself who broke the silence. ‘That was regrettable, and the actions of my friends were inexcusable. But Faron did speak treason. Treason against your chosen leader, Engar, and treason against Birddom. For Birddom is all of us, including the corvidae. Things that we have done in the past are just that – in the past. I was deeply moved when the Great Owl did me the honour of inviting me to join the Council. For I felt that I had at last been forgiven for ancient crimes, carried out, remember, under a tyrannical leadership. Faron called me evil, but is it evil to obey your leader? Perhaps I should have stood up against Slyekin, but it would surely have cost me my life. Maybe the bird who stands before you today would have done so. For I believe that I am a changed bird. I am stronger and wiser, and I propose to use that strength and wisdom for the good of Birddom.

  ‘Yes, I was proud when Engar chose me to join the Council. Note that I do not call it the Council of the Owls. For the current leaders of Birddom are much more representative than the Council of old, and I believe that, because of this, we can serve Birddom better than in the past. I know that I am new to the Council, but I would like to make two proposals. Following the unpleasantness in our midst today, these may be difficult words to hear. But our Council needs to be strong. Engar spoke wisely when he said that things move at a rapid pace, and that change for the better should never be feared.

  ‘We need to choose a replacement for Faron, for I fear that he will not return. His is a great loss, but the fact is that he was lost to us before he left here today. You all heard him speak. Who can deny that his words were treasonous? He even realised it himself, in the end. I propose that another corvid be chosen to take his place and, before you over-react, I will give you my reasons. It seems to me that Birddom is like a single huge bird, and any bird has its left and its right wings. If they are of equal size and strength they give the bird balance, and allow it to fly true. I believe that five corvids and six owls will provide a greater balance for the body of the Council who rule Birddom. The Great Owl, of course, is the head, and his huge eyes see clearly the way ahead for our land.

  ‘But I spoke earlier of a representative Council, and I believe as passionately as Engar does in equality for all. So I do not want to foist another magpie upon you. Cronyism has no place in democracy. I will consult with my own community, and place five names before the Great Owl. The new Co
uncil member will be a jay or a rook. A jackdaw or a crow. But he will not be a magpie. This is the best proof that I can offer that we do not wish to control the Council but to serve it.’

  It was a long speech, and even Engar was surprised to see how spell-bound Traska’s audience were. The magpie had managed to dissipate their shock at seeing what had happened to Faron. He had even managed to slip his second proposal, unnoticed, into his rhetoric. And now it was time for the barn owl to provide his support.

  ‘Thank you, Traska. You have shown great courage in speaking so openly to us here today. Courage befitting one chosen for our Council. I feel also that ‘Council of the Owls’ is too insular a title, and, now that you have joined us, its continued use is a slight on your worth, and that of your – nay, our – colleagues. So, my friends, I propose that, hence-forth, we call ourselves merely ‘The Council’. It is a simple title, but sufficient for our needs. We need no aggrandisement, no trappings of power. We are servants of Birddom. We are its Council, and as such we shall be known!’

  The three magpies could scarcely wait until the Council had disbanded before they fell upon Traska with questions. But he silenced them with a vicious hiss.

  ‘Don’t make me regret that I chose you, and don’t be such bloody fools. Everything went perfectly, and according to plan. You couldn’t have done better if you had tried. I’ve got them eating out of my primaries now, thanks to the three of you. You did just enough to scare Faron into shutting up, and I promise you that we will make that very permanent in the next couple of days. You scared the rest of the Council, too, and allowed me to play the hero. They think that I can control you, which I can, of course, but not in the way that they mean. You do my bidding, and, by reigning in your desire for blood this time, you have opened the door to something that will be much more fun, when I deem that the time is right!’