Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 3)

"Are you ready, Lyra?" Tomhas asked. Lyra took a deep breath and nodded, then began to speak.

"Between the first dawn and the last dusk," she began, voice soft, "there lived a family of ravens. The head of the family was a very old female raven named Snow That Falls From Leaves. One day, Snow That Falls From Leaves awoke and knew that it would be her last day alive. She gathered her sons and daughters and grandchildren together and told them this, and she said, 'Tonight I will choose a new leader of our family. All of you must bring me something you have acquired using your skills, and then I will tell you who will take my place.'"

Tomhas had a vague recollection of his wetnurse telling this story to him and Gaius, many years ago. It had come from the Far North, passed around the tribes as so many stories were, and eventually it was written down by the scholars of the Realm. He wondered what made Lyra choose this one in particular.

Ky cocked her head to the side, suddenly distracted from trying to come up with a story of her own -- now fixated on listening to Lyra's.

"There were three in the family of ravens who were certain they would be chosen. The first was River That Shapes Rocks, the eldest son of Snow That Falls From Leaves. He was a strong flier and a quick scavenger. He boasted to his siblings and to his spouse that he would bring back an entire squirrel using these skills.
The second was Seething Fish On Shore, the niece of Snow That Falls From Leaves. She was often said to be the best nest-builder in the family and constructed many intricate homes each season. She claimed she would create a masterpiece of twigs and leaves for her aunt to spend her final night in.
The third was the brother of Snow That Falls From Leaves, and his name was Wolf's Claws In Flesh. He was very wise and very proud, and he announced that he would bring nothing but himself."

(sounds like a man xD)

Ky smiled a bit at that. Something told her that that was going to end poorly for Wolf's Claws in Flesh.

(Don't it just)

"Even with these three the most sure of themselves, all of the other ravens were clamoring for the spot as well. That same morning, all twelve of them set out to prove themselves worthy of being the family head.
The last to set out was the youngest of the grandchildren, whose name was Pebble Plucked From Frozen Lake. She was the least sure of herself, for she believed she had no skills to offer. She did not believe she should even be the head--she had been alive the least amount of time and had the least experience of all the ravens. Even so, she set out into the wide forest."

Well, Ky knew who she was rooting for in this tale. She took another bite of the wheat cake, wiping a bit of honey off her lip with the back of her hand, as she intently listened to Lyra's tale.

"Pebble Plucked From Frozen Lake flew for many hours, circling the forest in search of something worth bringing to her grandmother. She saw her uncle snatch a squirrel right out from under a hawk's beak, and she saw Seething Fish On Shore gathering the loveliest pine needles she could find. She saw Wolf's Claws In Flesh watching the other family members with scorn on his face, wings folded neatly at his side.
"The moon was just beginning to chase the sun under the horizon when Pebble Plucked From Frozen Lake came to rest on an ancient spruce tree, disheartened. She had found nothing that would endear her to her grandmother and was beginning to think she shouldn't return at all. Then she heard the sounds of a struggle through the trees.
When Pebble Plucked From Frozen Lake investigated the sound she discovered a Man wounded and caught firmly in a bramble bush. An elk's blood trailed off in another direction, and his spear lay broken on the ground nearby."

Ky nodded encouragingly, eager to hear what came of the man and the elk.

"The Man saw Pebble Plucked From Frozen Lake watching him, and he called out to her.
'Humble raven,' he cried, 'free me from these thorns and I will owe you a debt!'
"Pebble Plucked From Frozen Lake considered this. Was this the answer to her problem?"
"Yes!" Peter blurted, and Lyra smiled patiently.
"'If I free you,' the raven said, 'you must promise that your tribe will never hunt ravens.'
'Done!' cried the Man.
'And you must leave us a portion of your tribe's kills beneath the twin spruces every full moon.'
'You have my word as the chieftain of my tribe!' Satisfied by this, Pebble Plucked From Frozen Lake hopped down and began to cut through the brambles with her sharp beak. Once freed, the Man fell to his knees and bowed.
'I will carry out my word, humble raven,' he said, 'and that elk will be your first tribute!'
'Will you speak to my family of what I have done for you?' Pebble Plucked From Frozen Lake asked, and the man agreed. Together they ventured back to where the family of ravens was gathering.
One by one, each raven presented their items to Snow That Falls From Leaves. One by one, Snow That Falls From Leaves accepted the gifts until only Pebble Plucked From Frozen Lake was left.
'What have you brought me, youngest of my grandchildren?' Snow That Falls From Leaves asked, and the Man stepped out from the bushes. There was a gasp of horror from the ravens, and Pebble Plucked From Frozen Lake spread her wings to quiet them.
'I have brought us insurance of full bellies for the rest of our lives and for the rest of our children's children's lives!' she proclaimed. 'I have made a deal with this Man that his tribe may never bring us harm and must bring us food every full moon, so long as his tribe lives!'
There was silence from the Ravens, and then Snow That Falls From Leaves bowed her head.
'You have brought us the gift of security and longevity,' she said. 'You have thought not only of yourself but of the entire family. It is you who will lead the family after I am gone.'
And so it was, after Snow That Falls From Leaves passed away that very night, that Pebble Plucked From Frozen Lake led the family of ravens wisely and justly until her own death, and that the Man's tribe renamed itself Raven's Beak and always leaves out food for the ravens beneath a pair of spruces to this very day." Lyra sat back.

Ky smiled, contented with the conclusion of that story. She felt foolish, but she timidly asked, 'Did the Raven's Beak Tribe ever actually exist?'

She figured the whole bit about the ravens was an old wives' tale, but, sometimes there was a hint of truth wrapped up in fairytales.

Lyra nodded. "There's an extensive history on the tribes of the Far North in the Ash library. House Barraster draws its roots from the Raven's Beak tribe."
"They're fascinating people," Tomhas added. "I've spoken with one or two of them; I believe Gaius has someone from that tribe employed in his Keep somewhere. Excellent story, Lyra! You pulled up old memories for me."

Ky smiled, nodding, making a mental note to look for the book, should she ever visit Serpent's Keep for long enough to do a bit of reading. She looked at Lyra. "It was quite a nice story, Lyra. Thank you for sharing."

Lyra was blushing slightly, and she gave a small smile. "Thank you. It's one of my favorites."
"Who's next?" Tomhas asked. "Ky, perhaps?"

"Oh, um, sure!" Ky smiled and nodded, flushing a bit. She should have been thinking about her own story, rather than be so focused on Lyra's. But it still, somehow, reminded her of her favorite story from childhood. She was sure she probably would have to make up some of the details as she went along, but she decided to at least give it a shot.

"Long ago, when the mountains were still young and the gods were too, there lived a small broonie named Lich. These were the days before our ancestors, when broonies roamed free, and Lich lived under a large mushroom growing off the side of a log, providing him shade from the sun and refuge from the rain and winds."

She looked up hesitantly, trying to gauge whether the others thought her story was stupid or not.

Oscar and Peter were still eating but their eyes were fixed intently on Ky. Anneke and Tomhas were both watching her quietly. Lyra looked curious, as did Anneliese.