Phoenix Feather
Shrilate sucked cool spring water through pursed lips, his ears flicking back and forth with the action of his swallowing. The noise he was making cutting through the silence of the highland valley, his enjoyment obvious in his relaxed stance.
Alex sat looking down at his mount with a mixture of frustration and guilt. ‘He’s making enough noise to wake the dead,’ he thought running his fingers through his shoulder length blonde hair. The sun was well passed its midpoint and heading fast towards the western horizon. This was a fool’s errand and Alex knew it.
Summer solstice was fast approaching and it was traditional to give presents in celebration of another winter passed. Each summer Alex tried to outdo his brother and give their father the most exciting or unusual present, but Richard being older always came up with something better. The truth was Alex always left it to the last minute and so had to make do with anything he could find in a hurry. Not this summer though, he’d given it a lot of thought, a Phoenix feather quill would be unbeatable in the present stakes.
Phoenixes only nest in the valleys of the highlands. He’d had to do a swap so he could take the Northern patrol, on to which he’d added an extra two days marching and on top of this Shrilate was missing out on his rest day. In theory it had seemed so easy, Phoenixes lined their nests with their feathers, so all he had to do was find a nest and help himself to a choice of feathers. In practise it proved impossible, Phoenixes were rare and difficult to spot.
Shrilate looked up startled as an orangey red flash crossed the valley downstream. Alex gathered his reins and urged his horse to give chase. Shooting forward Shrilate accelerated to a fast gallop. They were gaining on it, Alex could see the bird’s feathers, as it wove between the trees, glowing like flames in the sinking sun.
Shrilate stopped dead and Alex almost fell off as he crashed forward onto his horse’s neck.
“What the…” Alex threw his reins down and crossed his arms over his head trying to contain his frustration. “We were so close Shril, what’s wrong with you?”
The horse just stood shaking his head and refusing to move. ‘Perhaps he’s hurt?’ Placing his hand on the shiny black neck Alex let his mind connect with his horse’s. Shrilate felt there was great danger to the right of where they stood and was compelled to head that way. Alex sighed they had lost the Phoenix now anyway, so they headed right.
As they reached the edge of a clearing, Alex could hear crying. To their left at the foot of a tree, a small boy lay his leg twisted at an unnatural angle. Shrilate started shaking with fear and from somewhere to their right came a deep rumbling growl. The rank smell of hot, damp fur reached Alex’s nostrils just as the undergrowth parted and the most enormous mountain bear he’d ever seen appeared.
There was no time for thinking, Alex kicked Shrilate forward and they shot out into the clearing between the boy and the bear. The horse pirouetted and leaped back the way he’d come flicking mud up into the bear’s face as he went. Ignoring the boy and roaring with anger the bear gave chase.
Considering his size and bulk he was quick and he was gaining fast. His massive shoulders easily broke through bushes and undergrowth that Shrilate had to step around.
Just as the bear got so close he was snapping at Shrilate’s haunches they broke out into a wide open valley. Leaping forward with sweat running down his flanks Shrilate flew along the valley floor and they started to increase their lead.
Half way along the valley the bear gave up the chase and lumbered off to have a drink from a nearby stream. Standing in his stirrups Alex whooped a victory cry back at him before heading back to find the boy.
Still lying at the foot of the tall pine tree, with tear streaks down his cheeks, the boy looked to be less than ten winters old. Alex dismounted and knelt next him, “Did you fall out of the tree?”
The boy nodded, his leg was still twisted at a crazy angle, he was breathing fast and he looked very pale.
“I can fix this for you, but it will hurt to start with because I will have to straighten your leg.” Alex waited for the boy to nod again before placing his hands on the broken leg. Concentrating on the break he summoned the magic from deep inside himself, letting it flow through his hands, pulling it up through the ground and out of the air. Pure magic energy flowing through him and into the boy’s leg. With a quick sharp movement he pulled the leg straight again and concentrated the magic on knitting together the bone and repairing the flesh. The boy half gasped and half screamed as Alex moved his leg, but relaxed as the break healed.
“There you are, good as new, you were lucky I came along.” Alex grinned at the boy, the magic was still buzzing through his body making him feel warm and alive. “I’m Alex, what’s your name?”
“Roy,” the boy said prodding his leg with a look of awe.
“Well Roy let’s get you home and on the way you can tell me what you were doing up a tree in the middle of nowhere.” Alex lifted Roy onto Shrilate and climbed up behind him. Roy didn’t say much other than which village he came from and Alex didn’t notice. He was deep in thought about what he could get his father now his plans had failed.
Reaching Roy’s home, Alex explained to his parents what had happened.
“You better thank Alex for his kindness,” Roy’s father said, but Roy had disappeared.
“I’m sorry, he’s very shy,” Roy’s father looked embarrassed. “He spends all his time roaming around on his own chasing fire birds.”
Just then Roy reappeared carrying a large Phoenix feather and offering it to Alex he said, “thank you.”
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