Sword Quest by Nancy Yi Fan Read Free Book Online Page A

treacherous.” He stared into the sky. “But there is a hero who will succeed. He is coming…he is coming, and when he comes, he will release us from the claw of tyranny.”
    “Who is he?” Wind-voice’s words were shaky.
    “I don’t know his name, and his face is unclear. But heis coming, I know. When he comes, he will rescue the thousands of birds who are forced to live in hiding in barren lands. He will find good land for those birds to plant and harvest, and fill shriveled bellies. All birds will live side by side in peace.”
    Ewingerale looked up and listened as well, his eyes hungering.
    “If we had our gemstone, I would know more.” Fisher sighed. “That was a great loss. They say that gems like our Leasorn are supposed to hold clues to where a sword can be found, a sword that the hero will need.”
    “A sword? How can a weapon bring about peace?” asked Winger.
    “It seems like a paradox,” agreed the heron. “But it is not a war sword. Its hidden power will shake the evil. In the claws of the hero, it will bring happiness to us.”
    Wind-voice looked up wistfully and asked, “When is this hero coming?”
    The silence was cruel. “Soon, Wind-voice,” the heron said. “Soon.”
     
    Maldeor perched in the midst of Kawaka’ s soldiers, gazing quietly at the gate of the archaeopteryx emperor’s winter castle. A hood was pulled low over his eyes and a cloak hid everything but his scrawnyclaws. Snow fell, but he was still.
    Kawaka called out. Inside the gatehouse, an archer guard opened a small peephole. “What do you want in the middle of the night?” he demanded. “If you have a message to leave, be quick.”
    “I have a special message,” Kawaka said. “It is only for the Ancient Wing’s ears.” The guard surveyed the group. He was about to let them in when he saw Maldeor. Who is he? he wondered. Before he could ask, Maldeor raised his left wing slightly. The cloak he was wearing rippled away and left the wing bare.
    The guard swallowed. By the light of the moon, he saw moist gray skin. Beneath it, masses of blood vessels throbbed in and out of sight, as if challenging him. Though the rest of the creature’s body was still, the shiny black claws on the foot coming off the arc of his wing twitched.
    Whoever he is, he’s with Kawaka, so it must be safe to let him in, thought the guard with a shiver. After a series of clicks, slowly the door opened a crack.
    Maldeor walked briskly in with Kawaka by his side and headed down the long green tunnel, past the lighted torches and trophies, past the soldiers on night duty and the servant birds. The scrawny head scholar he had bribed gave him a slight nod. Nobird attempted to stophim or question him. Maldeor turned before he came to the audience hall hung with jasmine, where Hungrias had received his tribute not long before. Down the left hall, up three branches, left again in the corridor, then right. There was no doubt or hesitation as he came to the final grand door, opened it, and slipped in.
    The emperor of Archaeopteryxes stood alone by his window, yawning, moonlight catching on the ring that hung from his beak. His body was swathed in a robe of red velvet, silk, and gold trim, and he still held a slice of crab pinched between two talons.
    “I’m back, Ancient Wing,” Maldeor said.
    The olive green feathers on the emperor’s neck stood on end. Beak ring jangling, he spun around and met a sight that made the crab tumble from his claw.
    “You—” Emperor Hungrias gasped, eyes bulging.
    “Yes, me.”
    “You’re still alive…” the emperor stammered. “Your w-w-wi—”
    Maldeor unclasped his damp cloak, the faintest of smiles flickering across his face. The cloth, maroon with a silver lining, fell in a glossy heap at his feet. He shook off the remaining snow. Maldeor raised his left wing. The Ancient Wing stared.
    “By my teeth, how could—” Again the emperor brokeoff his sentence, and again Maldeor smiled.

    “Why are you