Gabriel Finley and the Raven’s Riddle (21 page)

Paladin, we need the druid stone
, Gabriel reminded him.

But I don't want to be an eagle's dinner
, said Paladin.

I have an idea
, said Gabriel.
Land over there.

Paladin alighted as far from the eagle as he could, in the pediment corner. They were sixty feet above the ground, and an icy breeze pressed them against the granite facade. It was exactly like a cliff, which made sense to Gabriel; only an eagle, he thought, would make a nest in such an unpleasant place.

“Okay, what's your idea?” asked Paladin.

The eagle was looking at them with a predatory glint in its eyes.

“Remember Crawfin telling us that ravens are sometimes safer in human form?” said Gabriel. “You should merge with me!”

Paladin jumped and immediately felt his body stretch to a boy's proportions. His toes felt ridiculously short, his arms weak and scrawny, but he liked being able to see directly in front for a change. Best of all, his trembling stopped.

With chilled fingers, Gabriel clambered across the lap of Lady Justice until he arrived just below the eagle's nest. Something crunched sharply beneath his feet. He looked down and saw many bones of small birds that had been eaten and discarded. His knees began to shake.

How does one greet an eagle?
he wondered.

Be very polite!
answered Paladin.

“Hi! I'm Gabriel Finley,” said Gabriel.

The voice that replied was sharp, powerful, and contemptuous.

“I'm Tiberius.” The eagle looked him up and down. “I suppose the geese sent you?”

“Pardon me? What geese?” said Gabriel.

“The Romany Geese. Those cowards. They've been begging for the return of the druid stone for years,” muttered Tiberius.

Interesting
, thought Gabriel.
Is the druid stone supposed to be returned to the Romany Geese? The verse never mentioned them.

Please concentrate, Gabriel
, interrupted Paladin.

“Yes, the Romany Geese,” repeated Gabriel. “Any special reason why you don't want them to have it?”

“No special reason at all,” murmured Tiberius. “Geese have very little to say. Oh, they make a lot of noise, but it's all
for the attention. One could starve for lack of intelligent conversation with a goose. I would have given them the druid stone for a little chat or a joke or two.” The eagle coughed bitterly into his wing.

“Really? You would have traded the stone for a joke?” asked Gabriel.

Tiberius gave a long-suffering nod. “I didn't choose this life. It's lonely at the top. Nobody jokes, nobody laughs, nobody goofs around. I suppose that's why I eat them.”

The great bird tucked away a stray wing feather with his hooked beak.

“What if I offered you a riddle for the stone?” Gabriel suggested.

The eagle looked at him with interest. “It would have to be a good one, and if I guess it, no stone. Understood?”

“Of course,” said Gabriel. “May I see the druid stone first?”

The eagle regarded him with one disdainful eye. “Don't you trust me?”

“It's only fair that you show me you have it.”

“Fair,” repeated the eagle. “Creatures often use that word with me. This isn't fair. That isn't fair. Let me tell you, nothing in life is fair.” He sighed. “Well, I'm eager to hear your riddle, so I'll make an exception.”

Tiberius dipped his head into the nest. When he reappeared, a small amber stone glittered between the points of his beak. It was honey-colored and quite clear, with a curious
sparkle in the center, almost as if a flame was burning deep inside. Gabriel was astonished by its beauty.

The eagle placed the stone on the granite, just between his deadly claws.

“Well, hurry up. Let's hear it,” said the eagle. “And if I guess it, you lose!”

At this point, Paladin asked Gabriel a silent question.
And if we lose … then what?

I don't want to know
, Gabriel replied while attempting to smile at the eagle.

“Okay, it goes like this,” he said:

A grave intensity settled in the eagle's eyes, his black pupils flicking back and forth as he pondered.

“A beak is like a dagger,” he declared. “But a beak doesn't look like a diamond. Perhaps a claw? Hmm. Larger as the cold night comes and shorter in the thaw. What kind of dagger grows or shrinks? That doesn't make sense.” He fell silent for another few seconds, then flexed his talons. “I've got it.”

Gabriel's heart sank. Tiberius looked so sure of himself.

“The answer is
nothing.
”

“Wrong,” said Gabriel, relieved. He reached up and took the druid stone.

Surprised at Gabriel's nerve, Tiberius rose from his nest, flexing his enormous wings. “You don't understand,” he murmured gravely. “If I say the answer is nothing, then that is what it is.
Nothing!
Put the stone back!”

“That's not fair,” said Gabriel, keeping the stone behind his back.

“Didn't I tell you already that nothing is fair!” snapped the eagle.

“Look, I'll tell you the right answer,” Gabriel persisted, as he edged away. “An icicle is shaped like a dagger or a dragon's tooth, it can be clear as a diamond, and it grows longer when it's cold but shorter when it gets warm, because it melts, see? Icicle. That's the answer!”

The eagle blinked unforgivingly at Gabriel. “I am never wrong.”

He leaped nearer the boy.

Paladin, quick, it's time to switch places!
cried Gabriel anxiously.

Before Paladin could reply, the eagle swiped one claw at Gabriel.

Three bloody slashes appeared across his frozen wrist. Gabriel couldn't feel the wound, but the blood flew against his shirt in bright red streaks.

Hopping toward the boy, Tiberius uttered a menacing
shriek. Gabriel sprang backward, but there was nothing beneath his feet. Now air was rushing past him. He was falling swiftly. Below, he saw the granite steps waiting like a death-bed. And above? Tiberius swooped, no kindness in his eyes, just the murderous stare of a raptor preparing to rip out the heart of his victim.

Jump!
cried a voice.

But how do you jump when you're falling?

Jump, Gabriel!
repeated Paladin.

The eagle's savage scream was an inch away.

Suddenly, a bright amber light flashed from the palm of his hand.

Gabriel blacked out.

The Romany Geese

G
abriel? Wake up!

Opening his eyes, Gabriel found himself high above a barren salt marsh extending for miles along a shore. His first assumption was that the eagle was carrying him, but then he realized that he was actually flapping his own wings. Apparently he and Paladin had succeeded in exchanging bodies in midair—a pretty extraordinary feat in itself—as well as escaping the vicious bird.

Now he became aware of a brightly glowing object in his right claw that seemed to be pulling him downward.

Paladin? Where are we?
he asked.

I'm not sure
, replied Paladin.
But I think we've arrived.

They spiraled toward a cove where gentle waves lapped the sand into soft ridges. On the ground, Gabriel separated from Paladin and stretched his arms and legs. A curlew cried a faint welcome. Gabriel examined the spot where Tiberius had slashed him, and the wound vanished before his eyes. The druid stone in his hand dimmed, retaining just a tiny trace of fire in its center.

What about the eagle, Paladin? Why didn't he catch us?
Gabriel asked as they walked along the shoreline.

I've been wondering that myself. I think it might be because of the druid stone. Do you remember me saying
jump?

Yes
, said Gabriel,
but that's all I remember.

Then you missed the best part! I flew down between the pillars and the eagle followed, and each time he caught up with me I dodged my way around another pillar. It was the strangest thing, Gabriel. I knew my way even though I had never been there before. The stone led me!

But how did you get rid of Tiberius?

Aha!
said Paladin gleefully.
An eagle may be bigger and stronger, but he can't change direction like a raven. So finally, I did a high dive toward a pillar and turned at the last moment. Ha! You should have seen him fly into the granite. What a colossal thump! Old Tiberius flopped to the ground like a sack of potatoes.

Paladin, that was incredibly brave
, said Gabriel.

The raven puffed out his neck feathers proudly.
Well, yes, I suppose it was. Anyway, I was wondering how to find these Romany Geese and the stone began to glow again, and suddenly, I knew which way to fly. No wonder they want it back.

Across the stark beach they noticed figures dotting the landscape. Thousands of geese, but not like any Gabriel had seen before, watched the boy and his raven approach. Their heads were black; their long, graceful necks were striped; their bodies had a white circle upon the chest; and their wing feathers were speckled. Mute and elegant, the Romany Geese turned to observe their visitors.

At that instant, they noticed one Romany Goose step forward and approach them. She had a graceful walk quite unlike a normal goose's waddle.

“You must be Gabriel and Paladin,” she said. “I am Ulyssa.”

The goose's voice was warm and very soothing. She blinked at them with large brown eyes.

“You know our—”

“Names? Yes, we've been expecting you!” She sounded like a motherly librarian, so accustomed to answering questions that she never needed to hear the whole sentence.

“But I was almost eaten by—” began Paladin.

“Tiberius? Oh, he would never be a match for Baldasarre's grandson!”

“Then you also knew
I
would—” began Gabriel.

“Solve Baldasarre's riddle? Of course we knew you'd find the druid stone! You're Adam Finley's son.”

Gabriel enjoyed the compliment but felt frustrated that the goose kept guessing his questions, so he replied with the shortest question he could think of. “How?”

“A boy raised on riddles and a smart raven: you're a perfect pair. Naturally, it's different from being
knowledgeable
, as we geese are.” Ulyssa betrayed a very smug little dimple in the corner of her beak.

“Why is it diff—”

“Because our wisdom comes from roaming. The stone has always led us. We know where the best saffron blooms grow, where the wolves nurse their young, where elephants
go to grieve. I could tell you where to find the most beautiful orchids on five continents.”

“Do you know where to find the torc?” asked Paladin.

The goose's amused dimple reappeared. “Oh, yes,” she said.

“And my father?” said Gabriel anxiously.

Ulyssa sighed. “I wish I could tell you, but you must follow the course you have begun. You have both proved yourselves uncommonly brave, which is Baldasarre's first test,” she said. “May I have the druid stone?”

“Here it is,” said Gabriel.

The goose took the stone in her beak and promptly swallowed it. She smiled pleasantly. “A reward comes with the return of the druid stone. You must be very cold and hungry. Perhaps this would be the item you most desire?”

A silver tureen appeared beside the goose. Steam curled from beneath the lid, promising something warm to eat. Gabriel's stomach growled.

Remember why we're here!
Paladin reminded him.

“No thank you,” Gabriel said to the goose. “We're trying to rescue my father, so the torc is what we're looking for.”