Chapter 18: Starts and Tested Hearts (Part 2)

(Boron POV, continued)

"…Mum?" I ask

I stare at the beautiful owl before me. She has gold coloured eyes and she is my mother. I take a step forward and place my wing on her face. Lady Monique is alive? Thank Glaux… I thought she would have been killed five years ago in the Coup. She then takes my wing and holds it with her own.

"Boron, I know you haven't seen me in forever, but I have a reason." She says

"What reason do you have? I thought you were dead from what happened. You have been presumed dead for this long and… I was worried for you and…" I ask

"Don't say that accursed name!" She snaps

"What? Father?" I ask

"Boron, he betrayed us. He and the Pure Ones attacked that night and the aristocrats were forced underground. We have been in hiding for this long and I didn't know where you were until now." She replies

"He is a… Turnfeather?!" I exclaim

"He also killed your wife's parents too. That night, June 16, he led a battalion to kill the Lynai couple. He has been responsible for everything, Boron. You know all the battles, he was behind them. He is a Pure One, Boron." She explains

"He… killed Barran's parents?" I ask

"I had to find you and tell the truth, he was going to kill me three nights ago when he told me…" She explains

(Flashback, Alexander the abettor/ Lord Alexander and Lady Monique)

"He had found me when I was trying to hunt in secret. He then brought me to Compound, the Pure One base. He then interrogated me to say where the aristocrats are. Intentionally, he thinks a Schana Royal is still alive and he has been tasked by their leader to kill the Schana. I have been confused as to why then he said some words."

"Refusing answers are we? I knew you would do that when I asked where that pathetic waste of feathers went and you didn't answer." Alexander asks In malice

"He is your son, Alexander! How could you say such a thing?!" Monique snaps

"Boron is a waste of feathers to think he can be with that Lynai girl… not after what I did to her mama and papa." He sneers

"What do you mean…?" She asks

"It was I who killed Lord Andrew and Lady Silva-Moon Lynai that night. I had the Pure Ones follow my under the orders of our lord high and to slaughter them. Sadly, the kid lived as we couldn't find her. I would have killed that little slut if I had the chance." He announces with an insane pride and a satisficed grimace

"It was you who started this! How could you do such a thing?!" She exclaims

"How could i? How could I?" He exclaims with volume

"Yes, how!" She interrupts

"Fourteen elites and a sword to the throat and a slice to the stomach, that's how!" He replies

"When I heard how, I had a shocked glare and felt sick to my gizzard. There was something wrong with him… then he said the worst of worst, my son."

"I ordered the Northern Coup! It was I who told them the legend! It was I who slaughtered the Schana! I wanted to rule the Northern Kingdom and be top aristocrat family. It was all me, Monique Nyctea!" He yells

"I sat there shocked and feeling like I was going to fight him. How could he kill Lady Barran's family and our rulers? How could he do such a thing…? Then things got worse from then on out. I don't want to horrify you, Boron."

(end)

"What did he do to you, mother? If he tried to kill you, I swear to…" I start

"Boron, he didn't try to kill me. I wouldn't worry, ok. If you are married to an idiot for thirty years, you should know a way out of a situation that involves easing out of the lust of you-know-what." She replies

"I don't want to know now…" I say shocked, I just figured it out… ew!

"I am lucky to be alive, my son." She smiles

"Well, you have missed out on things for a bit." I start

"I know all about Josh. I have my ways, Boron Nyctea. Don't think that your mother isn't cut off from the world." She replies

"You know about my son with Barran?" I ask astounded

"You were married five years ago and eight months after marriage, Josh came along, the day after the Northern Coup. Then, it was discovered that he has the gift of intellect about six months ago." She replies

"You know all. Why don't we…" I start

"Boron!" a voice screams

We turn around and Barran is armed with a dagger and is behind me. I think she is furious.

"The middle of the day? Seriously?" She spats

"Hello again, Lady Barran Lynai or…" Mum says before she bows "Queen Barran Nyctea, Queen of the Great Tree of Ga'Hoole."

"Lady Monique?" She asks

"Barran, my mother is alive!" I exclaim

"How? I thought that the aristocrats died that night?" She asks

"They have been hiding, my pet." I reply

"Alas, there is some grim news that has been realised too late. I will tell you later." She says

"Where is my aunt? Is she alive?" Barran asks

"Lady Ciara died the night of the coup; it was very grim how she died. It was a crime that would be punished with death in the society. I am sorry, Barran." She sadly replies

"No…" Barran cries "Aunty…"

"I have a thing to tell you, dear… I don't know how to say it…" I try to say

"It can't be worse that finding my aunt was possibly raped and killed by Pure Ones." Barran says with a serious glare

"It is… You know my father… he… um…" I try to say, but that is all I can say

"What? Tell me or I will use this dagger to cut off your motherspinking…" She threatens

"Queen Barran!" Mum exclaims in horror (I know what she meant and so did my mum)

"He killed your parents with the Pure Ones on the night you were born…!" I announce before looking away from her face "…He is a turnfeather against the North…"

Barran then screams and throws the dagger into one of the tree roots. She begins kicking and screaming and crying. At this rate, she will wake the whole tree up in a matter of moments. I then come over and hold her and she is still going off in her anger fit before she starts crying loudly. My mother watches on with a sad and uneasy look. Ashe wants to help, but she doesn't know how.

"Barran, it is ok. I know it is bad, but please stop crying, please. I know you lost your parents and you were a baby and you know that you aunt was you-know-what'd and then slaughtered, but don't cry, my pet." I comfort and panic at the same time

"I don't know what to do!" She exclaims "all the people who cared for me are dead."

"Ezylryb isn't dead and he is your godfather. Come on, stop crying, ok." I comfort

"I guess so... but Alexander is still alive and I will do something that means revenge." She says while breaking away from my hold

She then storms off and we just decide to leave her be. She would be able to kill an owl protected by the PO, she wouldn't… unless… I rush to the palace and our room is locked and barricaded off. I try to unblock the door and it doesn't work, but it wakes up Josh.

"Dad…?" Josh asks

"Go to bed." I order the owlet

"Why are you crashing into the door?" he asks

"Go to bed, Josh." I order

Mum comes inside and asks "Why are you yelling at him?"

"I have to get this Glaux-damn door open and I dint need the kid seeing or hearing anywhere around here." I reply

"Who is she?" Josh asks

"Josh that is your grandmother, Monique. Now, go to bed!" I say to the kid as I shoulder barge against the door again

Mum then leads josh back to his room as I barge in and find Barran with her assortment of swords etc. she is pacing on her helm and battle claws and then it stop her before she places the second one on. I yank them off and she starts slapping me with her wings before I pin her to the wall.

"I have to avenge my parents. I know who their killer is now." She says with malice

"Barran, what the sprink are you thinking? Have you been… aw curds… Japer brainwashed you to kill whoever killed your parents. I can tell." I then reply

"My family honour had been besmirched and your father, that sprinking mothersprinker, is the one who killed my mama and papa!" She yells

"I never heard you swear this much before." I say shocked

"I have to avenge them and that Is final!" She seethes

"It will be the end of you if you're not careful. You are the Queen of Ga'Hoole and if you don't be careful, there will be no more Queen and Josh will be without his mother!" I exclaim

"You don't understand!" She screams

"How do I understand, Barran? How do i?" I scream back at her

"Let go of me!" She yells as she then hits me in the head

I stumble back before I cop a slap from her. I then hold her back and in this little battle of force, her helm falls off and then I end up flipping her and pinning her to the floor.

"I hate to do that, but you are mad with power, Jasper Lynai!" I yell

"I am not my uncle, Boron!" She screams "I am going to kill Alexander for what he did to my parents or I swear to Glaux I will kill you."

"Barran please, this is testing your heart. I know you want what your heart wants, but please think. Follow your mind, Barran, please." I exclaim, still trying to talk her out of it

She then stops and she looks at me with widened eyes. I think she had heeded what I said. I let her go and she clings to me and starts to cry again, but with her ladylike sobs, not angry Glaux-knows what sobs.

"I don't know what to do…" She whimpers

"I know, I know. Just let it go, ok." I soothe

"Heavy is the head that wears the crown… Heavy is the crown of vengeance… I just… I don't know what happened." She cries

"I know… Why don't we go back to sleep, ok. I should have never have told you." I regret

"I can hear the flames, but I chose not to follow them." She smiles with tears in her eyes

Josh then yells "That lady just disappeared and is gone!"

"I think she just realised something, ok. Just dint worry, Josh. Go to bed." I order

"Ok!" He replies

As I take Barran under my wing once more… she whispers to me in Naya'va that she is sorry. She said it in both languages. I guess she understands the barrier.

Mum disappeared again… Bummer… but at least we know some things that were hidden away. Barran may have went bonkers and would have flown into PO infested area just to kill my father, whom is a tritor, just as he killed her mother and father.

Wait… Since When was Josh in the Palace?!