Read Online The Feverbird's Claw by Jane Kurtz - Free Book Online Page B

beetles stood near her head. At the tips of its feelers were two orange spots that looked like disapproving eyes. Mother’s eyes. “Moralin, why are you sulking?” That’s what Mother would say if she were here. “You dishonor the Great Ones when you give up.”
    â€œI want to be home,” Moralin whispered. “I want to be home.”
    The orange eyes reproached her. “Do your duty, child.”
    She turned her head away. How many times had she heard those words? Grandmother said every Delagua was responsible for acting honorably. That was why Mother lived obediently in the house of her husband’s family even though her husband did not live there. That was why Old Tamlin had his own house and days full of responsibilities.
    Even shadows patiently labored long, hard hours and slept on mats in underground rooms. They appeared happy to trade their work for food and shelter. She could certainly be as dutiful as a shadow.
    So she was not supposed to die. What, then, must she do?
    â€œThe Great Ones help those who use their own strength,” Grandmother often said.
    â€œWhen you are confused,” Old Tamlin said, “begin by listening.”
    She looked back, but the beetle was gone.
    The next morning Moralin listened. Someone was pounding grain. Someone else was sharpening a knife. Eventually three men began to argue. She heard the word “skulkuk.” One of the men kept repeating something. She recognized one of his words from what Song-maker had told her. Young.
    If the skulkuk they had taken was young, imagine one full-grown. Why would they risk bringing such a thing into the village?
    She shook her head. They were Arkera. Their ways couldn’t be understood. After all, why had they carried Salla when they killed the two other girls? Why bring Moralin herself to be a thorn in the flesh?
    But girls were not as powerful as that creature. It made no sense to bring something here that had the strength to destroy everything.
    Why? she asked again. Why? Why?
    That day she stretched her fingers to the food the young girls brought. She listened longer, but by night she still had no answers.
    In the darkness she startled awake panting with fear. Once again she saw the skulkuk as she had seen it that day: the wings and clawed feet and webbed red skin. Then a thought came, slamming her with such force that her weak hand flew to her chest.
    The Arkera wanted a skulkuk because only something with wings could lift up and over the walls of a city. They wanted a young one because they believed they could train it to do their bidding. They also wanted highborn Delagua who they arrogantly believed might become Arkera: Salla because she was soft and weak, Moralin because they admired her bravery and thought she had Arkera courage.
    Delagua could help them learn the secrets they needed for a successful attack. They were willing to risk everything to have a chance to pull down their old enemies.
    Fear pounded on her as if she were a drum. What was she doing, dying in here? She must save her people.
    The next morning she woke to feel something tugging at her hair. She moved her head very slowly and instantly heard the sounds of skittering feet. A small gray wood animal quivered near the wall of the house, waiting for the slightest motion from her. After the pulsing of her heart stopped, she was amused to see its twitching watchfulness. She inched her fingers toward a yellow seed left in the gourd where her food had been. In a quick motion she tossed the seed toward the animal. The creature flicked away. But when Moralin closed her eyes again, then opened them quickly, the seed was gone.
    After that she saved a bit of whatever food the girls gave her. A little at a time she regained her strength. She coaxed the wood animal closer. As she watched the animal nibble on the bits of food, she thought she must try to be like the wood animal to the Arkera.
    Most of the girls dropped the gourd and