The Festival of Birds
by Diane, Jeff, Joe, and Sean

Once a year, in the season of Tend, the town of Taunton celebrates the Festival of the Birds, a lunar holiday dedicated to Elihu. The townspeople write wishes or requests on small slips of paper, which are tied to the legs of birds. At noon, the town bells ring, and all the birds are released, to take the town's wishes to Elihu. Everyone, especially the children, makes as much noise as possible so that the birds will not land again. No one eats any poultry that day.

All types of birds are sold, or rather rented, by scribes. As most of the townspeople are illiterate, they dictate their wishes, and the scribes write them down and attach them to the birds.

Sir Alain was sick and could not participate, but here are the wishes made by the rest of the party:

Mariam/Marion (bluebird):

I wish that my father would come home safe from the war.

Llwyd/Gwen (bluebird):

I wish for Olivia to have a happy life.

Ash (thrush):

(Hope)

Moreau (ring-necked pheasant):

Dear Mithras

Thank you for the grace that enables me to be here this day. May our efforts on your behalf lead to the downfall of PYTHON and his minions. May we help in our own fashion to restore your strength and powers in this land. And while I personally don't expect it it would be very nice if we could all survive this.

Thank you. Moreau