First Bonding

It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad."- C.S. Lewis

Julie winced slightly as she lowered herself into the hot pool that she and Mother Acko used for bathing. The water was warm enough to sting the scratches she had sustained in the fight, and her bruises, she saw with a grimace, were already changing color.

Icarus perched on a thick branch that protruded directly from the stone wall that surrounded the bathing pool. Most houses had such perches scattered all around, so that a bird bond could follow its human wherever they happened to be. The gyrfalcon was preening his ruffled feathers back into place, smoothing them over to cover the patches where several shafts had been torn out by the attacking birds. Watching her fierce and beautiful companion, Julie felt calm sweep over her. She sank back into the soothing water, closing her eyes and remembering the day she had first laid eyes on Icarus…

The Hatchery had been warm, very warm. The attendant, a kindly looking woman with long chestnut hair, had explained that it was to keep the eggs safe and alive. Julie had held tight to Mother Acko's wrinkled hand with one of hers; the other had clutched the sleeve of Luke's tunic. She had been nervous, and at the same time incredibly excited. Questions and worries swarmed through her head: What if none of them want me? What will it look like? Will it be a boy or a girl? Will I like it? She had pushed this last question out of her mind. Of course she would like it. She looked up at Athena, seated serenely on Luke's shoulder. Her friend had already told her how incredible it felt to be bonded, the amazing connection…Julie's insides leaped with anticipation.

She dimly remembered the attendant's voice as the woman instructed her to touch each egg carefully in turn. She remembered the many smooth, warm surfaces she had touched that day. There had been eggs as large as her head, all the way down to eggs smaller than her fingernail. Some were different colors, others had speckles or swirls. But the single egg that stuck forever in her mind was the size of an orange, slightly oblong, and delicately speckled with gray. That was the egg that had shuddered as her fingers slid over the shell. That was the egg that had twitched, the one that had erupted in a spider web of cracks.

And Julie knew she would never forget that tiny black beak chipping off a tiny piece of shell, that first tiny squeak, and that first halting, joyous burst of consciousness in her mind. Juuuuliiieee. Her own name, spoken by a voice that was certainly not her own. And she suddenly knew why Luke had spoken of this moment with such awe in his voice and rapture in his eyes. Without thinking, she had reached out and scooped the fuzzy white ball of wet fluff into her cupped hands, looking into the squinty dark eyes and scissoring beak. And she had cradled him close, knowing instinctively that he was a male, not even knowing his name, which he would choose for himself several months later.

She remembered Mother Acko's delighted congratulations, the attendant proudly saying something about "one of the only gyrfalcon eggs we have", and Luke's warm, firm hand on her shoulder as he looked down at her, grinning from ear to ear, knowing exactly how she felt. And Athena had bent down to chur reassuringly at the little chick, who was looking around and shivering as though he had no idea what was going on.

Julie found she was holding her hands cupped to her chest, lost in the memory. On his perch, Icarus chirruped scornfully. I was tiny. I looked very silly as a ball of fluff. Then he relented and said more gently, But I knew you. I felt your hand and your mind, and I liked them from the beginning. And I liked your name. It sounds very nice in falcon language. Icarus demonstrated by making a long shrill call that seemed to incorporate "oooolllleeeeee", which sounded dimly like her name. Julie smiled. She lifted her hands out of the water and realized they were getting wrinkly. She must have been sitting here longer than she'd thought.

She pulled herself out of the bath, flinching at her stiff muscles and throbbing bruises. She pulled on her clean tunic and leather pants, liking the feel of the material against her washed skin. Most girls in the town, and for that matter on all Rathya, wore long skirts rather than pants, but Julie disdained that kind of clothing. It was very difficult to fight or do anything active in a skirt, and Mother Acko had long since given up trying to make Julie wear them. Next, Julie slipped on her soft flat shoes and tossed her sleek brown hair behind her. As a final measure, she unhooked her set of bond pads from the wall. They were leather squares several inches thick, full of tiny indentations pricked by Icarus's claws over the years. One of them was tied to her forearm, the other strapped over her left shoulder. These were the two places where a bird bond normally sat, and the thick leather protected a human's skin from the gripping claws of their bond.

Without her having to call him, Icarus flew to her shoulder, his preening finished. Julie strode to the door and pulled it open, feeling slightly apprehensive. Mother Acko had looked troubled all that afternoon, and the old woman usually discussed whatever was bothering her at the dinner table. Prepared to hear the worst, Julie walked into the dining room, drawn by the savory aromas of whatever Mother Acko was cooking.

Julie's instinct proved correct. Fifteen minutes later, she found herself spooning her favorite dish into her mouth; a thick warm stew laced with vegetables, beef, and spices. She was so intent on swallowing as many burning, delicious mouthfuls as possible that only when Icarus rapped her smartly on the head with his beak did she feel a twinge of guilt. Mother Acko looked pointedly across the table at her, increasing the feeling. Mumbling a mental apology to the gyrfalcon, she crossed the room and opened a small store cupboard set into the wall. From inside she drew a large plastic bag containing a number of dead mice.

Julie had been doing this far too long to feel any revulsion whatsoever as she withdrew two of the mice and set them on top the cupboard. Icarus launched himself to the meal and, pinning the mice to the wood with his curved claws, he began ripping off pieces and swallowing them jerkily. Leaving the falcon to his own supper, Julie returned to the table to finish her stew.

But as she had also guessed, Mother Acko had some news to impart. The older woman cleared her throat croakily and looked straight at Julie. As always with the unpleasant or troubling information, she got straight to the point, her piercing eyes sharp.

"Lord Maeron is paying us a visit tomorrow."

Julie choked on the mouthful of stew. Spluttering, she managed to gasp out, "T-T-Tomorrow?"

Mother Acko nodded gravely. "I am not any more pleased about it than you are. But he is the governor, Julie, and we must show him respect while he is here."

Julie's heart was pounding. "Does Luke know?" she asked without thinking.

Mother Acko gave her an even sharper look than usual. "He will find out along with the rest of the village, tomorrow. As I am the town elder, the news reached me first. Is there any particular reason Master Luke needs to be informed?"

Julie dithered, though her brain was working furiously. "Um…I just though maybe he should…know ahead of time…" She knew it sounded feeble, and Mother Acko raised her eyebrows.

Julie mentally cursed herself as she muttered, "Nothing. Forget I mentioned it." She paused and then said, "May I take Icarus outside for night flight?"

For a moment, it looked as Mother Acko would refuse, but she said finally, "Just to the end of the lane, then."

Julie was up so fast she nearly knocked over her chair. Passing the cupboard she fairly scooped up Icarus, who squawked at being interrupted in the middle of his second mouse, and then went out into the chilly night.

Once out, she released Icarus to swoop freely above the roofs of the surrounding houses. He spoke to her mentally as he flew. You were upset. What did she say that has upset you, Julie?

It's about Lord Maeron, Ic. I have to talk to Luke. Could you mind-carry?

When Julie had been seven and Luke nine, they had discovered a very interesting aspect of their bird bonds. When they wanted to talk to each other far away, their bonds had the ability to "sweep" their thoughts along, allowing a kind of telepathic link between them. Luke had dubbed this power "mind-carrying". Even more unusual, Julie was almost positive that she and Luke were the only people whose bonds had this ability, in the town anyway. Links between humans were extremely rare.

I will mind-carry for you. But I must be quick, or Mother Acko will pluck our feathers for sure. The falcon made a loop in midair and shot off like a bullet across the town. Send me your thoughts.

Julie closed her eyes, concentrating very hard on Icarus' speckled form flying through the darkening sky, speeding toward Luke's house on the edge of town. She imagined the gyrfalcon sweeping low, landing on Luke's windowsill, tapping the pane with his beak…

Julie?

Luke's voice sounded in her head, bemused. Julie seized the connection and held it with all her concentration.

Thank goodness you answered! I have to be quick. Luke, listen, Lord Maeron's visiting tomorrow…

She felt a backlash of emotion strike the connection, rippling down it like a taut wire. Icarus squawked in alarm as he felt Luke's churning thoughts surge through the link.

Maeron?! Tomorrow? Julie heard Luke cursing under his breath through the link. In the background, dimly, she could also hear Athena rasping in agitation.

I know it's sudden, Luke, I had to sneak out to tell you. Mother Acko just mentioned it. Don't worry, I didn't tell her a thing, but I just had to let you know…

Luke's cursing had subsided into heavy breathing. She could hear it though the mental link, like static through a radio. Finally, he said softly, Thanks for telling me. You'd better go back before you get in even more trouble.

You sure you'll be all right…? Julie began hesitantly.

I'll be fine, just go. Luke's thoughts broke abruptly, and Icarus gave a soft cry. In her mind's eye, she saw the gyrfalcon take wing to return to her. Julie bit her lip. She hated leaving Luke like this, but when he didn't want her, there was nothing she could do. He had always been stubborn that way. She rubbed her arms to drive away the goosebumps, and waited, her breath frosting the chilly air, for Icarus to land safely on her shoulder once again.

As she stood there, she remembered the day she had met Luke. She had become separated from Mother Acko on a trip into the heart of town to buy supplies. She had been so small then, wandering aimlessly down the cobbled streets, looking up in terror at the menacing buildings that seemed to loom over her. No one had stopped to see why she was alone and on the brink of tears. And then, to compound her bad luck, a tall, thick boy had banged into her with such force that she was thrown to the ground. It had not been Pete, but someone with a similar temperament. The boy had sneered down at her, carelessly kicking some loose earth from the street in her general direction. Julie had felt fury overcome her fear and shame, and had stood up ready to fight, small fists clenched in determination. But as she had straightened up to swing, someone had caught her wrist. She still remembered spinning on the spot, ready to whack whoever had kept her from getting back at the nasty boy.

Luke had stood there, grinning. Even at six, his irrepressible smile had been exactly the same. So was his unruly wheat-colored hair. He had released her, and then said mildly, "Let that one go, he's definitely not worth the fight. Not that I didn't think you could do it. My name's Luke." He had said it all smoothly and easily, unafraid of what she would think of him.

She had been ready to whack him, but something about his completely innocent and alert demeanor had stopped her. Before she even knew what she was doing, she had spilled the entire story of her being lost to him in broken four-year-old talk. He had listened quietly, without interrupting, something she had never seen any other six-year-old do. Then he had taken her wrist again and said simply, "I just saw Mother Acko over here. Come on."

He had led her faultlessly among the crowds, ducking in and out of people's legs. And then Mother Acko had been there, hugging and scolding her at the same time. Julie remembered the old woman thanking Luke profusely, but he had just grinned at her and given that roguish sideways salute, and walked off before she could say anything more.

The next time they met, they were friends. Julie didn't know how it had happened, but she had never questioned it. From that day forward, Luke had been by her side through almost everything. Then she thought of his anguished mindspeech and Lord Maeron's impending visit, and felt a cold sliver in her chest. The governor did not come often, and Julie never failed to dread it when he did.