That’s because they’re the least intelligent of us, Drilli had said when he voiced this observation.

He smiled at the memory, then leapt into the air. Cold wind rushed over his face and chilled the membrane of his wings. Winter was drawing ever closer. Snow already dusted the highest peaks. Many of the forest trees had lost their leaves, revealing herds of the animals he intended to hunt.

My family won’t go hungry this year, he told himself.

It took him an hour to get to the cave where he now stored his new harness. He came to it by a roundabout route which would hopefully confuse anyone who might try to follow. His cousins were still gloating over their act of spite, but neither had harassed him since. His father had said something about the pair being busy with a task Speaker Sirri had set them.

Landing before the cave, Tryss hurried inside. Every time he entered and found all as it had been when he left it, he felt a surge of relief.

Not this time. A figure stood beside the harness. He froze in alarm, then felt a mix of relief and anxiety as he saw that it was Speaker Sirri.

The leader of his tribe smiled at him.

“Is it finished?”

Tryss glanced at the harness. “Almost.”

The smile faded. “So you haven’t tested it yet.”

“No.”

She looked at him thoughtfully, then beckoned.

“Sit with me, Tryss. I want to talk to you.”

As she dropped into a squat, Tryss moved to the other side of the harness and folded himself down. He watched her closely. She looked into the distance, then turned back to regard him.

“Do you think you could have this finished and working by tomorrow night?”

Tomorrow night was the night of the Gathering. The White priestess would address them. Tryss felt his pulse quicken.

“Maybe.”

“I need a definite ‘yes’ or ‘no.’”

He took a deep breath. “Yes.”

She nodded. “Are you willing to risk demonstrating it at a Gathering this important?”

His heart was racing now. “Yes.”

She nodded again. “Then I will arrange for it to be part of the meeting. It should be timed well, if you are to impress everyone.”

“I’d be happy just to convince a few people,” he muttered.

She laughed. “Ah, but we have to convince everyone.”

“Some will never believe in it.”

She tilted her head to one side. “Do you realize that part of the reason they will not open their minds is because they fear you are right?”

He frowned. “Why? If I’m right, they can hunt. And fight.”

“And go to war. If we go to war, many of us will never return, even if the fight is won. We are not as numerous as landwalkers and do not produce as many healthy children. A victory for the White may be the final defeat for the Siyee.”