Harrier's Choice

Is it time for a deeper look into the culture of one of the Peltedverse's most mysterious characters? It is!

Bryer has won all five banners, indicating he is a harrier worthy of a mate. Nine brides are dispatched to the homeworld of the Eldritch, where they will compete to catch his eye. Who will join the company at Laisrathera as the harrier's choice? Learn in this novella, written as a Kickstarter stretch goal gift for the backers of FireBorn's Legacy!

Includes illustrations and an art section!

This novella is available only as an ebook at this time.

Excerpt from Harrier's Choice

“Is it all right?”

Bryer surveyed the field behind the Rose Point castle wall. A squared area had been cordoned off at his request, and at its end, a firepit and spit made ready. The perch erected on the right was long enough for all nine Brides; the one on the left was usually a single-person loft, but was abutted by bleachers. At the end of the field, behind the firepit, his banners flew from a third pole; and at the near end, the pole for the final test thrust highest, and the sight of it tested even his equilibrium.

Spring on the Eldritch nestworld, in this part of the continent, was full of fresh, bright smells, quick and playful breezes, and sudden squalls that tested wings and heart. This day was no different, with its wind breaking around his beak and ruffling his plumage as if inviting him to take to the air. “Perfect,” he said. Rousing himself to more eloquence, “It is well done. Thank you.”

As he expected, that startled his employer of long years into glancing at him. “Ah… well… you never ask for much. And this is a big event. For all of us!”

“Me especially!” chirped the Harat-Shar, who grinned with all her teeth. “Baby Phoenixes! I can’t wait!”

Bryer chuffed a laugh. “Me also.”

Did it surprise them that he might long for chicks? Perhaps it did. They perceived Phoenix as true aliens, when in truth they were not so different. Simply aligned along another axis. And sometimes poorly, at that. Why else had he sought the Eye training, if not to corral the storms in his spirit?

“The only thing left to decide is where you want them quartered,” Reese said. “We’ve finalized the guest chambers in the walls, if you have more than one coming… which I assume, or you wouldn’t have asked for a firepit that size.”

“And bleachers,” Irine added. “I’m guessing a Phoenix wedding is a big affair? I… just thought of that. This is a Phoenix wedding, isn’t it? Oh, now I really can’t wait! Do we get to see it?”

Bryer gaped his beak. “Yes. You should be there.”

Irine bounced on her heels, clasping her hands together. “Wedding and babies! Best things!”

Reese laughed. “Yes. Best things. So… how many guests?”

“Nine Brides,” Bryer said. “And their maids. One each.”

“Nine… brides?” Reese asked carefully.

Irine beamed. “Do you get to keep them all?”

He chuffed again. “No. Pick one. Rest go home. Sometimes. Sometimes some stay, help start a new lek.” To forestall the question, he added, “Lek is group that trains those like me.”

“Oooh,” Irine murmured.

Reese too had a thoughtful look in her small human eye. “Wouldn’t that be something. Is it likely, you think?”

“Don’t know,” Bryer said. “It is rare. What we do.” He waved a hand toward the field. “Few train. Of those that train, few succeed. Of those who succeed, few gather enough flags to fly the banner for a mate.”

“When you say ‘few’ are we talking… a few thousand? A few hundred?” Reese asked.

He knew because when he’d sent the call, the Tiercel had told him. “Only one right now. First in forty years.”

Both his tethered companions were shocked by this news into silence, and he was not so perfect in his observations that he failed to find it satisfying. Pride was another of those virtues on which the texts were ambivalent, however, so he allowed himself to be satisfied.

“Nine women,” Reese said. “And their maids. Who stay with them in their chambers, I’m guessing?” At his nod, she straightened. “All right. I’ll go handle that now. Irine, you’re with me. These people are arriving within the week, let’s make sure everything’s perfect.”

“Seed bread for everyone!”

Useless to tell the Harat-Shar they were not literal birds, because she would tease him about it. And also because seed bread was good.