Lost Tales of Ga'Hoole

her—carefully.
    Just then, young Henryk lifted his nut cup a little higher. “Well, then, allow me to propose a toast.” He winked at Brunwella, none too subtly. “To more little white chicks!”
    Thora burst out churring so hard that she almost fell off her perch. Thankfully, the guests took her to be a tad tipsy, and let out uncomfortable little churrs of their own. Rodmilla was, of course, infuriated, but she would never let that show in front of these guests.
    Brunwella was hyperventilating. “I can’t do it, Thora, I just can’t! I’d rather die!”
    Thora looked down and read the letter that had just dropped from her sister’s talons. He must have had a scribe do this , was her first thought. She was surprised the young marquis could construct a coherent sentence, despite his education.

To my dearest Brunwella,
I have not stopped thinking about you since you sang “Blessed Snow” all those nights ago. I trust that you have not stopped thinking about me, either. After careful consideration , I have decided that you would make a suitable mate for me. Your beauty has truly bewitched me. While it is against tradition for a Snowy Owl of my social status to court a plebeian such as yourself, I believe that can be overlooked in your special case. I propose that we begin our courtship flight as soon as possible.
Yours,
Marquis Henryk, the Sixth of His Name

    “I can’t possibly take this Snow snob as a mate. He makes me physically ill! I can’t become a part of his awful family. And the voice tryouts at the great tree! What about them?”
    Thora had never seen her sister like this. She had wilfed to nearly the size of a chick. But she had to admit she was relieved by Brunwella’s reaction to the young marquis’ proposal.
    Brunwella continued. “Mother had the nerve to keep this letter from me! Can you believe it?”
    Thora took a deep breath. “She has been acting suspiciously, hasn’t she?” Then she added, “This whole thing with me and the voice tryouts is strange, too. I’m not sure where it’s all going, but I know I don’t like it. And frankly, I fear unwanted proposals are the least of it.”
    Thora’s thoughts were growing darker, while her sister’s thoughts ran on to her dreams of singing at the great tree.
    “Well, we have to do something about it!” Brunwella said. “The voice tryouts are tomorrow and I plan to be there, whether she likes it or not. And this business?” Brunwella waved Henryk’s letter. “No way is this going to happen!”
    “You’re right, Brunie. You should be the one to go to the tryouts. I’ll simply refuse to sing, that’s all. What can she do, force me? And let’s see what Da has to say about this proposal. He would never let you marry an Ice Talon! I have a plan.” Thora got serious. “I say we go find Da tomorrow, after the voice trials; he’ll put an end to all this nonsense.”
    “How will we do that? We have no idea where he is,” Brunwella argued.
    “Actually, I do,” Thora admitted sheepishly. “Oh, Brunie, I didn’t want to keep it from you, but these things are always top secret…and I didn’t want to worry you.” Thora looked around to make sure they were completely alone. “Sigfried has just joined the Resistance. I’ve been meeting him in secret. The Resistance hideout is on Dark Fowl Island. He told me that Da has been visiting it almost every day. We are sure to find him there.”
    Brunwella was taken aback. She knew he sympathized with the Resistance, but nothing as serious as this. Da, living a secret life, and everybody knew but me!
    “Does Rodmilla suspect?” she asked.
    “No, I don’t think so,” Thora answered. Then a grim thought clouded Thora’s mind. “For glaumora’s sake,” she whispered, “let’s hope not.”
    “All right,” Brunwella said after she let it all sink in. “After the tryouts then, we’ll go find Da.”
    The night of the voice tryouts would be the perfect time for their expedition. Rodmilla would be forbidden to accompany Thora into the cave where the tryouts were to take place—the singer must stand alone, no coach is allowed to be present. Brunwella would tell her stepmother that she would accompany Thora most of the way there, to help her with a little last-minute rehearsal. Then, unbeknownst to Rodmilla, Brunwella would be the one to sing at the trial. Afterward, she and Thora would fly due south together for Dark Fowl. They would be long gone before Rodmilla figured out