The Inner Circle: The Knowing

by Cael McIntosh

‘Hello, cutie,’ Seeol whispered through the space in the top of Seteal’s bag. He wasn’t certain of what the second word meant, but knew it was a friendly greeting of some sort.

  ‘Be quiet,’ Seteal hissed. The sound was similar to that of a snake.

  ‘Sorry,’ Seeol apologised fearfully. From his cramped position atop a pile of clothing, he could only see half of Seteal’s face and catch occasional glimpses of the scenery beyond. ‘You is so scary sometimes!’

  ‘What was that?’ Far-a-mael called from his position up ahead.

  ‘Nothing. I sneezed,’ Seteal replied, before lowering her face over the bag to reprimand Seeol. ‘Would you shut up? You’ll get us into trouble.’

  Seeol understood enough of what she’d said to deduce that Seteal feared Far-a-mael discovering him. The bearded one was the head of the pack.

  Although Seeol was getting a little tired of being cooped up inside a bag, he did enjoy the luxury of catching up on some well-needed sleep. For reasons to which Seeol remained ignorant, humans chose to sleep at night. Such behaviour was baffling, but it’d turned out for the best, as Seeol was able to hunt at night without fear of losing them. All the same, he’d had enough of hiding from Far-a-mael. He’d learnt many words, but couldn’t practice his steadily expanding vocabulary while stuck in a bag.

  ‘We’re nearly there,’ Far-a-mael’s sharp tone invaded the soft interior of Seteal’s bag.

  It’d been a number of days since their departure from Golmar Crossing. Seeol had never before managed to go so long without transforming into his other self and although he tried not to get too excited, he found himself becoming increasingly hopeful that just being in the presence of these fascinating creatures had cured him.

  He stretched his wings until they pressed against the sides of the bag. He looked forward to reaching the inn, as Seteal had promised to let him out.

  There was a sharp jolt as the woman slid off her horse. A door was opened and the sound of loud voices surrounded Seeol, penetrating the fabric from every direction.

  ‘Good to have you back, Gil Far-a-mael,’ a gruff voice called over the ruckus.

  ‘We’ll take two rooms,’ Far-a-mael replied. ‘Preferably the same two we took on the way down if they’re available.’

  ‘They’re not,’ the innkeeper replied, ‘but we’ve got a similar pair next door to each other.’

  ‘Very well,’ Far-a-mael muttered. A moment later Seeol heard several coins dancing across the countertop.

  ‘Here are the keys,’ the innkeeper said, passing something that jangled over the counter. ‘I’ll send the boy for your horses.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Far-a-mael intoned. ‘This way.’ His voice was redirected toward Seteal. ‘Here’s your key.’ Far-a-mael passed a jangling object to El-i-miir after they’d completed a short journey up a flight of stairs. ‘I’ll see you both later,’ he muttered before firmly closing his door.

  ‘Quickly,’ Seteal urged as El-i-miir struggled with the key. ‘He won’t stop talking.’

  The door swung open and the world turned upside down as Seeol was poured out of the bag along with a sea of soft material. He beat his wings, making several laps around the room before alighting on the back of a chair.

  ‘This is a big room,’ he observed.

  ‘It really isn’t,’ Seteal chuckled. ‘You’re just a very little bird. You could’ve gotten us in trouble today. You need to learn to be quiet.’

  ‘I likes talking.’ Seeol bobbed his head excitedly. ‘I like friends!’

  ‘Shh.’ El-i-miir pressed a finger against her lips.

  ‘That’s scary.’ Seeol pulled his head tightly into his feathers. ‘Don’t biting me.’

  ‘I’m not going to bite you.’ El-i-miir rolled her eyes, a facial gesture Seeol found quite impossible to replicate. ‘You must be quiet. Far-a-mael won’t let you stay with us if he finds out about you.’

  ‘Okay.’ Seeol gazed at the floor. ‘I’m sh-sorry.’

  ‘Thank you, Seeol.’ El-i-miir’s tone softened.

  ‘Seeol,’ he murmured. The humans were the first animals to have given him a name. Most didn’t understand the concept of having a name and even Seeol couldn’t see much sense in having one, but all the same he appreciated the demonstration of friendship. He suspected it was the human way of welcoming him into the pack.

  A glance through a square hole in one of the walls revealed that it was dusk. Seeol clicked his beak, excited by the prospect of finding a nice big cricket to munch on for supper. He flew across the room, but screeched in pain when he hit an invisible barrier and fell to the floor.