Guardians of Ga'Hoole 07 - The Hatchling

from under his wing. He had wilfed to half his normal size. “Nyroc, when you hatched, word came down that we were never, ever to speak about your father’s death. If anyone violated that rule, they would be killed instantly.”
    “Then it is true and everyone knew—everyone except me.”
    “Yes, the rest of us had heard the stories about what really went on in that last battle with the Guardians of Ga’Hoole.”
    “There was no backdraft that forced my da and his troops into the cave, was there?”
    “No. Just the opposite. The Pure Ones led the Guardians into that cave. It was a trap. They were holding one of theGuardians hostage, one of your uncle’s best friends, a Burrowing Owl named Digger, I think.”
    “Tell me how it really happened.”
    “Soren and your father were engaged in a fierce fight. They were fencing back and forth. Soren held an ice sword. Your father wore fire claws. Some say that Soren hesitated at a crucial moment. It was as if he could not bring himself to kill his own brother. But then there was this silvery blur in the cave. It was the Great Gray…”
    Phillip continued with the story. It was exactly what Nyroc had seen in the flames. When the Sooty Owl had finished speaking, there was a thick silence in the fox’s den. Finally, Nyroc spoke. “I saw other horrible things in the fire, as well. I saw my mother on a killing rampage. She was smeared with blood—and not just from battles. She seemed to be killing lone owls for no reason at all. I saw her trying to kill a very young female Barn Owl who looked a lot like Soren.”
    “That would be Eglantine, his sister.”
    “I have an aunt, then? My mum tried to kill her, as well?”
    “There are rumors. We sometimes hear things from Rogue smiths—and others. Forbidden things. I don’t know if it is true. Some say Eglantine smashed the egg that Nyra had laid before yours. Remember, Nyroc, I was young when I first came to the Pure Ones. Some of thesethings that you saw in the flames might have happened when I was too young to understand, or even before I came to the Pure Ones with my da. There were always rumors.”
    “What were the rumors about Ga’Hoole? Tell me about Ga’Hoole.”
    Phillip shut his eyes for a long time. “I can’t believe I am telling you all this.” He opened his eyes finally and blinked rapidly. “You know, if I tell you all this I shall never be able to return to them.”
    “Do you want to return?”
    “Good question.” Phillip sighed. “Do you?”
    “Not until I know the complete truth.”
    “I can only tell you what I’ve heard. What I cannot tell you is if it is rumor or truth.”
    “Go ahead.”
    “The Great Ga’Hoole Tree is a special place and so are the legends surrounding it. I think that is why Nyra forbade all talk of it. It seems that at the great tree, owls really do think for themselves. They decide things themselves, or so it is rumored. They learn not only how to read and write, but they learn many mysteries.”
    “What kind of mysteries?”
    “Mysteries of science and of stars, how the stars move in the sky, of air and weather currents, of fire and ice. Theynot only make weapons from iron but other things—complicated things. And it is said that there are all kinds of owls living together there. Barn Owls are not considered the finest or the best. There are high-ranking Spotted Owls and Snowies and Burrowing Owls, even important Pygmy and Elf Owls.”
    “Pygmy and Elf!” Nyroc was astounded.
    “It is said that there are few rules. Nothing is really forbidden.”
    “Nothing spronk?”
    “Absolutely not. As a matter of fact, there was once a rumor that an elderly Burrowing Owl had declared a book from their library spronk, and she was disciplined for it.”
    Nyroc’s beak dropped open. He was speechless.
    “But, as I said,” Phillip continued, “I don’t know what is rumor and what is truth. For us, however, it was completely forbidden to talk of the great tree except to say the very worst things imaginable.”
    “Like when I was told that they eat owl eggs to give them courage?”
    “Yes. I never believed that one,” Phillip scoffed.
    “I don’t know what to believe,” Nyroc said miserably. “Maybe I’m just seeing things in the fire that don’t exist at all. Maybe what you’ve heard about what my mother and father did is not true.” He looked up anxiously at Phillip.
    “I can’t answer that for you, Nyroc.”
    Nyroc sighed. “All right, now tell