Gabriel Finley and the Raven’s Riddle Read Free Page A

large, dignified bird—her feathers had a stunning blue sheen to them; her beak was dark and polished, with an elegant curve. She checked the skyline for danger before peering deep into her nest. Then, anxiously, she began rocking from one foot to the other.
    â€œPaladin? My darling, where are you?” she said.
    Nothing stirred. The mother raven began to poke about in a panic. “Paladin?” she repeated. “Oh, this can’t be! Paladin!”
    Out of the sticks, twigs, and gray fluff at the very bottom of the nest, a small dark beak poked through. Pinfeathered and very clumsy, a raven chick wobbled out of its burrow and opened its beak with eyes shut. It would still be a few days before he would be able to see.
    â€œI was hiding, Mother. Just as you told me!”
    â€œOh, Paladin,” sighed the raven. “Thank the heavens!” She gently caressed the baby with her enormous beak. “I thought I’d lost you.”
    She began chewing pieces of the apple core and offeredthe pulp to the fledgling, who immediately opened his beak and swallowed in great gulps. When his belly was full he swooned, tipsy with satisfaction, and rested his head against the side of the nest.
    â€œI thought you’d never come,” he said. “I heard wings, so I hid.”
    â€œVery good,” she replied. “You did exactly the right thing.”
    â€œMother? Must I be afraid of all birds?”
    â€œNot all, my love. Just owls and their kind—eagles, hawks.”
    She considered mentioning valravens but decided that her chick was too young to learn about them.
    â€œWhat about people? I hear them walking below the nest,” asked the fledgling.
    The mother raven cast a cautious glance down.
    â€œMost people leave us alone. They fear us, which is a pity, because we were once their best friends.”
    â€œTheir best friends?”
    â€œYes. We even talked to them, but that was a very long time ago. Now only a few humans ever become friends with ravens. Still, when they do, amazing things happen.”
    â€œLike what?” asked Paladin, curious.
    â€œWell, a raven’s human friend is called an
amicus.
Once they meet, the raven and his amicus can share thoughts. They can merge as one, and fly as one, which is called
paravolating.
It is a very special bond, Paladin. Your grandfather Baldasarre had an amicus.”
    The fledgling felt a sudden tremor of excitement. “Is there an amicus for me, Mother?”
    â€œPerhaps, my love.” The mother raven became thoughtful. She watched the two boys she had just encountered make their way into a house across the street. “If you meet the rare kind of human who appreciates riddles.”

Moving
    G abriel often spent the afternoon at the Sandoval house. It had the same brownstone facade, tall windows, and iron gates as his own. Inside, however, the furniture was new and modern.
    When Gabriel went to Addison’s, they often wound up playing computer games, which Addison always won. This afternoon, Gabriel became tired of losing and suggested they tell riddles instead.
    â€œHere’s one,” Gabriel said. “What lies at the end of forever?”
    Addison chewed his lip and stared up at the ceiling. “That’s an impossible question,” he replied. “Forever is infinite. It never stops.”
    â€œYes it does.” Gabriel smiled. “If you give up, I’ll tell you.”
    â€œFine. I give up,” said Addison.
    â€œOkay. The letter ‘r’ lies at the end of forever.”
    Addison slapped his hand against his forehead. “That’s not a fair question.”
    â€œIt’s a riddle!” Gabriel grinned. “You have to stretch your mind!”
    Just then, there was a knock at the door. It was Aunt Jaz with a bag of take-out food from the Chinese restaurant. If his aunt didn’t find Gabriel at home, she knew he would be at Addison’s. After talking to Mrs.