Turnatt, crouching in the cave, almost fainted from fear. This was the second time in his life he had seen Swordbird. He tried to back away, but his legs didn’t work. So he leaned against the mouth of the cave, peering at the sky. Aha! He saw a blue jay on one of the camp trees, with a shining thing in her beak. It must be that thing that made Swordbird appear! If I wrest it away, Swordbird will vanish, Turnatt thought. He was just about to rush out to Aska but hesitated. Swordbird will probably kill me if I go out. I’d better remain hidden here.
In the darkness Turnatt couldn’t see the other birds in the cave, but they could see him, silhouetted against the light from the entrance. They held their breath. Some of the birds who were able to walk carefully picked up some spears, waiting for an opportune moment to throw them at Turnatt.
Swordbird spread his wings even wider and headed for the cave. Turnatt shrank back. Just at that moment he heard a whistling noise behind him, the sound of something being thrown. The next thing he knew, a sharp spear struck his rear end, and several others brushed by. Without thinking, he leaped forward, almost flying into Swordbird.
Swordbird waved his sword and pointed it at Turnatt. Turnatt dipped his head to avoid its shiny beams. He heard Swordbird talking to him in his mind.
You, hawk! The last time I saw you, you were enslaving birds at the Waterthorn. I blinded your left eye and gave you a chance to give up vice. But you threw it away. You came to Stone-Run, built Fortress Glooming, stole more eggs, and caught more woodbirds. Now your day of doom has come!
“No! No! Mercy, Swordbird!” Turnatt begged, bowing down before the terrifying white bird. But his single yellow eye darted cunningly about. Swordbird frowned and shook his head but lowered his sword a little. Turnatt seized his chance. He leaped up from the ground and, flapping his wings furiously, rushed at Aska.
Aska wasn’t afraid. She held the Leasorn higher as she took out her saber and pointed it at Turnatt. Cody leaped forward, ready to defend her.
But before Turnatt got close, the sword of Swordbird sparkled with brilliance. Turnatt instantly burst into flame. A screech of horror came from the ball of fire as it dropped to the ground.
“Turnatt’s dead! Turnatt’s dead!” the woodbirds cheered.
Swordbird came low, hovering above their heads. He smiled and spoke to them in their minds.
Turnatt is no more. Enjoy freedom and peace again. Peace is wonderful; freedom is sacred. As long as there is peace and freedom, there is tomorrow. Farewell, friends.
I will always watch over you.
Swordbird beat his immense wings, flying higher and higher until he was no more than a white spot in the gray sky. The woodbirds and theater birds flew after him for a while, waving and calling good-bye.
Gradually the sky turned blue, and a rainbow hung in the air, a rainbow that promised peace.
No joy can be compared to that of being free.
– FROM THE OLD SCRIPTURE
22 FREEING THE SLAVEBIRDS
When evening came, a party of birds-robins, blue jays, cardinals, and theater members-appeared in the sky above Fortress Glooming.
“Free the slavebirds! Free the slavebirds!” they chanted, waving their weapons in rhythm.
Hearing this, the soldiers who had been left in Fortress Glooming became frightened and uncertain. Turnatt must’ve lost the battle, they reasoned, or else how can the woodbirds come here?
“If Lord Turnatt is dead, then what’s the purpose of staying here? Waiting for death? I’d rather flee!” one of the soldiers cried.
Still uncertain of Turnatt’s fate, the remaining crows and ravens flew over the fortress walls and toward the mountains.
When the woodbirds landed on the fortress’s ground, they heard voices. “Over here! Over here!” the slavebirds yelled from the compound.
The woodbirds pried open the compound door and rushed inside. There was much hugging and crying. When Reymarsh saw the slavebirds he called to his tribesbirds, “Quick, remove their chains!”
While their bonds were being cut off, the slavebirds couldn’t help wincing and crying out in pain. The pieces of metal had worn into their flesh, almost embedded in their skin. But they were so glad.
The slavebirds were free; they were slavebirds no longer. During their celebration they seemed to remember something. “Come with us!” they said, and led the woodbirds to a hut outside. The woodbirds broke into the hut and went inside to inspect. The food before their eyes shocked them.
“Aren’t these apples, pine seeds, raisins, and roots ours?” Fleet-tail gasped.
“These walnuts, honey, mushrooms, and raspberries are from my tribe!” said Brontë in anger.
“These are the eggs stolen from the blue jays!” Cody exclaimed.
“Look, those are our cardinals’ eggs! We should carry them back. Maybe they’ll still hatch,” said a cardinal.
All the birds moved the food to the fortress meeting hall, preparing for a feast.
The crystal chandelier in the hall was beautiful when they lit the candles on it. When the birds of the Willowleaf Theater began to play music, everybird started to dance and sway. Their hearts fluttered with the notes. In the air and on the ground the birds danced gracefully, finally at peace.
On one side of the dance floor, Skylion, Flame-back, Glenagh, Reymarsh, Dilby, and Tilosses stood together, talking.
“My tribesbirds and I are leaving tomorrow,” Reymarsh said.
“So soon?” Flame-back was surprised. “Why, you can rest a day or two in Stone-Run.”
“No, when I left, I was in a hurry. There are still many things that need to be settled,” Reymarsh replied firmly.
“We are traveling south too,” Dilby cut in. “Our theater balloon has just been fixed, so we can journey together.”
Glenagh looked worried. “What about the freed slavebirds? They can’t fly so soon.”
Dilby smiled. “Don’t worry,” he said. “Some of them can travel in our hot-air balloon.”
“Besides, the slavebirds who are unable to fly can stay in Stone-Run to rest and heal their wounds,” Flame-back offered. “They can leave whenever they want to, or they can settle here.”
Skylion nodded in agreement. “Right. Stone-Run’s a big place; there’s room for everybird.”
“Thank you all for your help and generosity. Our debt for your saving our lives can never be paid,” Tilosses exclaimed.
The other five smiled at him. “Let’s thank Swordbird,” Glenagh said, gesturing with both wings to the sky.
Early the next dawn, when the morning glow dyed Stone-Run Forest red, the theater balloon had already started to rise up into the air. In the basket there were also freed slavebirds beside the theater members. Reymarsh and his robins flew on either side of the balloon.
There were calls of good-bye both from above and below.
A new day began in Stone-Run.
23 EXCERPT FROM THE STONE-RUN CHRONICLES
– EXCERPT FROM PAGE 312, VOLUME XVIII, OF THE STONE-RUN CHRONICLES
It has been about eight seasons since Swordbird came and removed Turnatt from Stone-Run. Whenever our youngsters see a rainbow, they run up to me and take me outside to see it. They ask me whether it is the same as the Swordbird Rainbow and beg me to tell them the stories about Swordbird. Of course the Swordbird Rainbow is different from any others: You can see it move from one end of the sky to the other, like a shooting star.