Free Guardians of Ga'Hoole: To Be A King by Kathryn Lasky

firths that had trees. Just as the dawn was breaking, Theo spotted the N’yrthfyr birch that had been the tree where his family had its hollow. Theo was unsure exactly how to announce his arrival. His mother was a frail sort and he didn’t want to shock her. He wondered if Shadyk was still there. He thought it might be best to fly around to the back of the tree where there was a tiny hollow that had not been used in years. If it was empty, he would just slip in and listen to what was going on with his own family for a while.
    He could hear voices as he approached the back of the tree: one male and one female. He squashed into the hollow, which was more suitable for an Elf or Pygmy owl than himself. His mother had always had a tiny, meek voice, but now there was an earsplitting din coming from his family’s hollow. And shrill peals of laughter.
    “By my butt feathers, that’s the funniest thing I ever heard,” the female said.
    “But Philma, it’s true!”
    Philma! That was Theo’s mum’s name, but he had never heard her laugh, let alone speak so coarsely. And the other voice was definitely not his father’s, nor was it Shadyk’s. What in Glaux’s name is going on here? Theo wasted no time in wondering. He immediately flew out of the tiny hollow and around the tree, lighting down on a branch. “Mum!” The word was swallowed in gales of raucous laughter. “Mum! Mum!” he shouted out. The laughter stopped. Two bright, sparkling yellow eyes peeped from the hollow. Atop her head were the fluffy ear tufts that his mum was so proud of because they were fuller and lovelier than those of most Great Horned Owls. It was indeed his mum!
    “Theo!” she hooted. “Theo, lovey! I can’t believe it! Theo’s come home! Wyg, get out here. It’s Theo!”
    Wyg? Who’s Wyg? Theo racked his brain. Theo’s father’s name was Hakon. Another Great Horned stepped out onto the branch. “Mum, where’s Da?”
    “Oh, dear. How to break this to you.”
    “Now, now, Philma.” Wyg was preening her ear tufts with what seemed to Theo an overly familiar gesture.
    “Your da, I regret to say”—although there did notseem to be much regret in her voice—“has done passed on, Theo.”
    “You mean died? He’s dead?”
    “Yes, dearie. I know how much he meant to you.”
    She’s got to be kidding! thought Theo.
    “What happened?”
    “Well, when Shadyk went off to fight in the wars…”
    “What? Shadyk went off to fight?”
    “Yes. Can you believe it? He’s made quite a name for himself. But I’ll tell you about that later. Come on in the hollow. We just got some fresh-killed lemmings.” She turned and blinked rapidly at Wyg. “Wyg is such a hunter.” She flew up and tweaked one of his ear tufts. Then they nuzzled a bit. At this point, Theo could have been knocked over by a feather.
    “You were saying about Da?” Theo asked.
    “Oh, yes, dear. I do get distracted.” She giggled.
    Has there ever been a jollier widow? Theo wondered.
    “Well, when Shadyk went off to the glacier battles, your father, you know, never one to be outdone—especially by a son whom he’d always considered the runt—well, he decided to go, too.” She paused and tried to rearrange her merry face into a somewhat more doleful expression.
    “Yes,” Theo said, “and what happened?”
    “So he went off and got himself killed—right off thetwig, practically. Hardly had a chance to raise his ice blade.” She cast her eyes down mournfully, made a sound halfway between a whimper and a sigh. Then she looked up, her eyes beaming as Theo had never seen them. “But now I have a new mate. And he don’t swat me—no, not never—like your da sometimes did.”
    Theo was astonished beyond anything. “Well, I’m so happy for you. And what’s this about Shadyk? You said he’s gone off to the wars?”
    Now Philma’s eyes grew large. “Oh, my goodness, he certainly did. And he’s not so little anymore.” Her voice dropped. “Theo, dear, you’re