Kelsen Seedgather's Arc

Chapter 3 of 4

Kelsen needed to know more about the winds above Mirthwood Meadows. Fast sparrows had to understand air currents, not just fight against them. She flew to the Weather Observatory, a tall tower that rose above the trees at the meadow's edge. Inside, charts covered every wall, showing how wind moved across the region during different seasons. An old pixie worked at a desk, recording measurements in a thick ledger. Kelsen studied the maps, tracing paths with her finger. The morning winds flowed south, perfect for practice runs. Afternoon gusts came from the west, stronger and harder to navigate. She copied the patterns onto her own paper. Her sparrows would train with the easy winds first, then learn to handle the difficult ones. Back at the meadow, she repositioned her ribbon markers to match the wind paths. Now her training course followed the natural flow of air. Her sparrows would fly faster because they understood the world around them. Kelsen knew she couldn't train champion sparrows alone. She needed advice from handlers who had worked with birds for years. She flew across the meadow until she spotted a building with bird coops attached to one side and a workshop on the other. Voices drifted through the open windows. She landed at the doorway and walked inside. Three handlers sat around a workbench, carving perches and mending wire cages. One looked up and waved her over. Kelsen asked about breeding faster birds. The handlers shared stories about wing strength and stamina training. One explained how to pick sparrows with the best chest muscles. Another showed her how to check a bird's breathing after long flights. Kelsen listened and took notes on her paper. By the time she left, she had a list of new exercises and feeding schedules. Her sparrows would benefit from every lesson these handlers had learned. She flew back to her coop, ready to put their advice to work. The fastest flock in the region was closer than ever. But having fast birds meant nothing if no one knew about them. Kelsen needed customers, people who would trust her sparrows with important messages. She set up a small market stall along the main road where travelers passed through daily. A wooden perch stood at one end, and she placed one of her sparrows on it. The bird hopped and chirped, drawing attention from people walking by. On a small table, Kelsen laid out paper and ink for writing messages. She called out to passing pixies and merchants, explaining how her sparrows could deliver messages faster than anyone else. One traveler stopped and asked how long a delivery would take. Kelsen calculated the distance and gave her estimate. The traveler nodded and wrote a short note. Kelsen tied it to her sparrow's leg and sent the bird flying. The crowd watched it disappear over the trees in seconds. Word spread quickly after that first delivery. More travelers stopped at her stall throughout the day, asking questions and testing her service. Kelsen showed them her training course, explained the special seeds, demonstrated the breathing checks she'd learned from the handlers. By evening, she had six new contracts waiting. She stood beside her market stall and looked at the wooden trophy displayed at the edge of the meadow. It showed a large sparrow on a perch with the words "Fastest Messenger" carved beneath it. That award went to the best messenger service each year. Kelsen touched the paper in her pocket, the one with all her notes and wind patterns. She had the knowledge. She had the training. She had customers who believed in her work. The trophy would be hers soon enough.