Chapter 12
The two female Othra landed and stood beside the larger male bird. Nirral spoke again, the words reverberating in the space between the travelers as well as inside of them. "You know the answer to her question, young Jabari," he said. "You must sing her the song."
As Nirral spoke, calm descended on Isika and she heard a strain of haunting music. She looked up, but nothing was there. The sky was empty and blue.
"I can't sing it," Jabari said, shifting his feet and looking uncomfortable.
"You can," Gavi said, reaching out to punch Jabari lightly. They all stood in a messy semicircle around the Othra. "Sing, choir boy."
Jabari glared at him. He rubbed at the short, tight curls on the back of his head. Efir clattered and growled, spreading her wings to their full span, and Jaba
