This is the final chapter of Child of the Air. On Thursday, the Pockets will discuss the next book, Friends in Time, of which the readings will begin next Monday, June 10. Happy listening!

… Mylanfyndra, everything is ready. You shall go to bed early in the guest chambers. We leave before sunup.” “But Brevan,” Mylanfyndra began, then nodded. “He can meet her here,” she said, and knew that it would be well.

… “Until we pinpoint your zone within the greater region, it’s useless to discuss whether you may go or no.” …”But when we do, sir—could we—would you let us go then?” Wurthen smiled. “You are most persistent, young lady. Let us say this: find the way to your mesa, and we’ll talk again.”

Note: While hearing the books read should should prove an enrichment, the absence of text can prove confusing at times, especially in the case of homonyms. In this chapter, for instance, both law and lore are mentioned together. I cite this passage to make the distinction clear: “… if you choose to be a Courier-Diplomat, there are the rules of law and protocol. Or, if you would be Loremaster, you must know by heart the Annals of the Realms, together with the Pyran Chronicles of Myth and Mystery….”

“To you, the first athlynder-skyrr to be born of sky folk, I hereby decree that when you have finished your schooling, your parents’ fremmas shall be handed down to you for use in the field—they would have wished it.”

… Mylanfyndra laid the horm on the table, profile up. “Who was she?” Althya eyed her keenly. “I think you know.” “It was our mother.” Mylanfyndra shivered. “Mother!” “Indeed, Brevan.” Eothelwyn spoke up. “Breialynda, she was called. Athlynder-skyrr of the sixth and highest order.”

“The athlynder-skyrr: who—what are they?” “They are sky-messengers, my dear. And keepers of the lore.” Apology: Chapter 20 is lacking the final page. I have rectified the error and posted the amendment.

“May I—the pouch, please?” Yoleyna held out her hand. Mylanfyndra folded her arms over her apron protectively. Yoleyna smiled. “It is quite safe, child. Here, see.” She pulled down her shawl, revealing a golden collar just like Mylanfyndra’s, its amber throat clasp alight with inner flame. “My thruyl,” she said. Bonus item: image of Yoleyna’s thruyl.

“Up now—and remember what I taught you—go up, or I box your ears!” “That you’ll not!” Mylanfyndra yelled, and, snatching up the mace, she brought it down on Calen’s knuckles with full force.

(Mylanfyndra) tried to steady herself, felt her knees give under her. As she sank down, Calen bent, said something in her ear, but she never heard a word. Bonus items: illustrations from Chapter 18:

Mylanfyndra scrambled to her feet. “Haven’t you thought? They fly, like us. What if—what if somehow we and they belong?” Excitedly, Mylanfyndra stowed the medallion, and restored the pouch to her belt. :Let’s go,” she said. Bonus item: 2 illustrations from chapter

Mylanfyndra braced herself, while remembering how last time the wind had looped back on itself at the very brink. Turn about, she urged, Turn now! But this time it swept her past the Warren, off the cliff, and out into the mist. Bonus item: fire pillar image

As they gazed up, a puff of hot wind blew through the cage. Mylanfyndra shivered. “It’s coming from over our way. It’s the firestorm, isn’t it?” “I’m afaid so,” Brevan said.

She touched her bare throat. “I’ll just fetch the collar, Brevan.” “I’ll come with you.” They descended briskly, but as they made for the treasure trove, a voice rang out and shadows sprang. “In the name of the law, seize them!” Toova.

Brevan’s quiet voice cut across her dreamy state. “Myl.” Mylanfyndra opened her eyes. Brevan, pointing down. “Brevan?” Face-to-face they were, indeed—and floating light as stoneflower seed thirty feet above the doft! 3 Bonus items: firebird before and after, Fos’s stake

All night, (Mylanfyndra) had turned and turned about, mulling over Toova’s threats, until by dawn she was really frightened. But now? She thought of Gven curled up peaceably among the podliths. “I don’t care; it was worth it,” she murmured.

“Grandpa.” Nothing—nothing could have prepared Mylanfyndra for this! The old man laid out, arms folded across his chest, his face, his whole body swathed from head to toe, ready for the Sending. Bonus item: The Grandpa Knoll note: all bonuses are items from the printed book.

“An hour before dawn,” Mylanfyndra murmured. She thought of the podlithra, empty, silent. Gven lying alone in the hut. Bonus item: Ebbwe

The babble grew louder, the voices, more numerous, until suddenly there came crack, thud, then total quiet. . . . The children found each other’s hand and held on. The geth were coming home.

They came upon a derelict freight shed, with cracked walls and a sagging roof where the beams had buckled. This—their new home? Bonus items: Two images from the book