Sword Quest

Sword Quest
Nancy Yi Fan

The Prequel to Swordbird – another epic fantasy from fourteen-year-old child prodigy Nancy Yi Fan, with beautiful illustrations by Mark Zug. Sworquest will be published globally by HarperCollins. An exciting and action-packed tale of birds at war, this novel shows how friendship and courage can overcome tyranny.Sworquest follows the life of Wind-Voice, the heroic dove of peace, and how he wins his magical sword. Wind-Voice and his companions, a woodpecker and a mynah bird, join the rebel bird forces to fight against their oppressors, the archaeopteryxes.Once again Nancy creates a richly imagined bird world full of fanciful characters, adventure and intrigue.

Sword Quest

Nancy Yi Fan

Ilustrations

by

Jo-Anne Rioux

TO ALL WHO WANT TO BE MASTERS OF FATE

Table of Contents

Cover Page (#u004b2988-5f85-51df-a1b6-104e16fd5760)

Title Page (#u3ef5a3b5-4190-5faa-b84a-f25a1a98538d)

Dedication (#u293d9fc7-7a03-5688-920c-ed86091e64f4)

Maps (#ue7f5a7cb-cd40-5569-b83e-f44b6e05cb58)

PROLOGUE A SWORD IS MADE (#uf5ce9834-c10c-5f63-ae22-91cc87117559)

1 LOSS (#u43a4f5b7-29ed-579d-a142-013512200d79)

2 THE DEFIANCE (#u60071901-8749-58b1-8cda-5f695ce8f21a)

3 CHOICE (#u5a7a2c22-8378-52c6-bcfe-27ce7300acdd)

4 BEGINNING (#u7072912e-9567-5f1b-9108-cef2da19bde5)

5 SOON, SOON (#litres_trial_promo)

6 BEWILDERED (#litres_trial_promo)

7 SECRETS REVEALED (#litres_trial_promo)

8 SCATTERED TO THE WINDS (#litres_trial_promo)

9 A BRIGHT TALE OF DARKNESS (#litres_trial_promo)

10 A NEW TURN (#litres_trial_promo)

11 THE GREEN GEM AND THE PUPLE GEM (#litres_trial_promo)

12 THE LAST DEAL (#litres_trial_promo)

13 TREASURE CAVE (#litres_trial_promo)

14 BROTHER FOREVER (#litres_trial_promo)

15 THE BATTLE OF THE ICE PALACE (#litres_trial_promo)

16 CROSSING SWORDS (#litres_trial_promo)

17 HEROK (#litres_trial_promo)

18 EXCERPT FROM EWINGERALE’S DIARY (#litres_trial_promo)

Epilogue THE FIRST BRIGHT MOON FESTIVAL (#litres_trial_promo)

MAJOR CHARACTERS (#litres_trial_promo)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (#litres_trial_promo)

Also by Nancy Yi Fan: (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)

Maps (#ulink_72d495b3-4624-565e-a7b2-2e39aac2747a)

This is a special sword, a sword that can change the world.

FROM THE OLD SCRIPTURE

PROLOGUE A SWORD IS MADE (#ulink_997bfdd2-b37d-5ce3-bd23-7d1ad177ea77)

Rosy clouds of dawn floated over the Island of Paradise. King Pepheroh of Kauria crouched among the fronds of the tallest palm tree, his linen robe and tail feathers whipping in the breeze. The old phoenix meditated on the Great Spirit with his eyes half open, hoping to hear his will, but his mind was distracted by the troubling news his messengers had been bringing him for many months.

Between the earth and the sky, birds were struggling. Once they had freely shared trees and nest space, seeds, roots and berries, but, somehow, arguments had arisen. That led to cheating, then to stealing, and then to pecking and scratching. As time rolled steadily on, the most powerful winged creatures, feuding with one another, had turned to weapons. Four-winged dinosaurs and archaeopteryxes swooped down, killing and destroying. War spread across the ptero-world like a hurricane so that now nearly all lived in fear, distrust and uncertainty. Pepheroh’s magical kingdom was one of the last peaceful lands remaining.

“Help us, Great Spirit,” Pepheroh cried. “Send us a sign.”

A sound came drifting on the wind, so faint that Pepheroh at first thought it was only his own hope whispering in his ear. But then he heard it again.

Make a sword, the Great Spirit told him. Somebird has to guide the world into order again. Make a sword, and he will come to wield it.

Can a sword truly be used to bring peace to the world? Pepheroh wondered as he clutched his garments around him. “How can I forge such a powerful sword?”

When the sword is nearly finished, I shall make it magical. But beware, the Great Spirit warned. Guard the sword until a worthy bird comes to claim it on the day of the fifth full moon three years from now. If an evil bird wields it, it will bring more disaster to the world.

“Yes, Great Spirit,” Pepheroh promised.