The Ark of Dun Ruah, Book 1 by Maria Burke Read Free Book Online Page B

to make money and blue feathers are more valuable than diamonds to the Royal Eagles.’
    â€˜When he’s got enough feathers, will he let Pod go?’ asked Kerry.
    Grinwick laughed.
    â€˜He’ll never have enough feathers! They tell me that Red Beak is developing some formula. He plans to inject it into the owl to make him grow more feathers and then he’ll pluck him alive. After that he’ll wait for your friend Pod to grow another crop so he can keep harvesting them.’
    â€˜This is an outrage. He won’t get away with this,’ exclaimed Simon. ‘We’ve got to get onto the island. And we have to get there now. We need a boat. You must have an inflatable one on board or we could take one of the lifeboats.’
    â€˜It’s not as simple as that,’ said Grinwick.
    â€˜But Pod will have a nervous breakdown if they pluck his feathers.’
    â€˜Red Beak is a dangerous warlord. He is a dictator and capable of terrible cruelty. You don’t know what you’re getting into. My advice to you is to keep out of Red Beak’s way.’
    â€˜But what about poor old Pod? We can’t leave him alone on a deserted island with some crazy eagle warlord.’
    â€˜I could tell you many terrible things about Eyrie Island. But it’s a long story. And I don’t want to waste any more time talking here. I have a duty to report you to the Abbot. You must accompany me to his quarters right now.’

CHAPTER 7
    Grinwick
    Kerry and Simon were escorted by Grinwick, the Giant Eagle, through a series of narrow passageways. They emerged out onto a small, open air deck. A rugged island was clearly visible from where they stood looking out over the sea. It had three peaks and was surrounded by jagged cliffs. It looked grey and desolate. Grinwick knocked on a cabin door with his sharp beak. There was no reply.
    â€˜The Abbot must be at vespers,’ said Grinwick, ‘and he doesn’t like to be disturbed during prayer time so we’ll have to wait.’
    â€˜That must be Eyrie Island,’ said Simon, gazing out across the waves. ‘It looks like a bleak sort of place.’
    â€˜Yes and you can just see the Abbey from here between those two jagged peaks at the eastern end of the island. That’s where Red Beak lives with his Queen.’
    â€˜What was it like when you lived there?’
    â€˜Oh, it was beautiful back when I was young,’ said Grinwick. ‘At that time it was a peaceful island well known for its learning and the writings of the ancient monks. My father was a friend of the chief of the island, Coleman Cooley. He was a good leader and a kind and wise man. He came from a long line of fair and just chieftains. His descendents live on the island to this day. Now, of course, they’ve been banished from their towns and villages and forced into the caves by the Giant Eagles.’
    â€˜But you’re a Giant Eagle too,’ said Simon.
    â€˜Yes, I’m a Giant Eagle and proud of it. Most Giant Eagles are quiet creatures who live in seclusion. We lived for centuries in harmony with the islanders. That is until Red Beak came along.’
    â€˜I thought that Giant Eagles were extinct.’
    â€˜Many people think we’re extinct but we’ve survived, hidden in the huge rock crevices on the island. We have always got on well with the people there. In fact, the people were very good to us and protected us from the outside world.’
    â€˜So what happened to Red Beak?’ asked Simon.
    â€˜When I was a chick, the Giant Eagle population on the island started to grow. Red Beak was a fledgling but even at a young age he was greedy for power. He started creating mischief on the island. He attacked the farming community, raided their fields and destroyed their crops.’
    â€˜But why didn’t anyone stop him?’ said Kerry.
    â€˜Coleman Cooley, the chieftain, was such a peaceful man that he did little to