Book Blitz : Ara by B.R. Eddy

Ara

by B.R. Eddy

Release Date: Fall 2014

339 pages

Ara Vertrees is an advisor to the King in Jimalia, a thriving island nation in the middle of a vast ocean. Her macaws are trained to fly home to the palace to repeat confidential information. When their messages become more and more troubling, she finds herself in the middle of a crisis she never expected. Ara's story is full of adventure, friendship, mystery, love and loss. Join Ara and her companions as they fight pirates, uncover deception, find love and fight for Jimalia.

GOODREADS

Message from the Author

My name is Brit and I was born and raised in Santa Cruz, California. My work with animals brought macaws into my life. They frightened me, moved me, hurt me, loved me and made me grow. I hope that my novel will help people understand these birds better! They are breathtaking and intelligent, but do not make good pets for most families. They require a lot of space and attention, can be very destructive and can easily outlive you. They can be incredible companions to the right people. Please keep all these things in mind when considering a macaw as a pet!"

Excerpt 

A bell tinkled in the distance. Sprigg peeled his gummy eyes open. It was night, he tried to remember what woke him. A bell, the aviary bell. His heart skipped, this would be a breaking point for him. Ara’s system would fail today. There was no one to deliver the message to, so did Sprigg just feed the bird? That could destroy the bird’s behavior. He sighed and rubbed his eyes, then rose to put on his slippers. May as well see who it was. He lit a candle and went to the aviary. A scarlet macaw sat on a low perch, waiting. Faint light from the distant sun grayed the sky. Sprigg held his candle up to the macaw to see who it was. Beautiful bird, long tail, high forehead, sprinkles of green on his nape... It was Seven. He just stared at the bird, who lifted up one foot hopefully. Sprigg mechanically took the bird on his arm as he began to realize that this bird had been with Ara, the Prestige hadn’t landed in Bastal before being hijacked. Seven had either found a way off the ship and flown home, or Ara was alive. Sprigg felt his keel bone, the bird’s weight was perfect, evidence that he’d been carefully maintained. Chills ran up his back. His breathing quickened, he wanted to believe it so badly. Ara could be alive. This bird could hold the answers to his burning questions. He was fully awake. Now if Seven did have a message, how was he to extract it? He left Seven in the aviary and went to prepare a diet. He had to hear the message somehow, he had to know what had happened.  With the diet in hand, he fetched Seven, left Reef in the apartment and headed to the conference room where messages were received. Sprigg stood there alone with Seven. The sun was nearly to the horizon. Seven fluffed up his feathers and looked around. Sprigg wondered if there was some secret prompt that Ara had never told him about. A few moments went by before Seven hunkered down on his arm and shat on the floor. Sprigg frowned and waited until the sun was nearly clear of the eastern sea. Seven remained silent. This wasn’t working at all. He had to do something crazy. Nothing was more important than hearing Seven’s message. As a servant, he was familiar with the secret passages and stairways built for service crew. His heart beat madly as he made his way straight for the dungeon. He took narrow brick passages. Seven seemed uneasy about the unlit path and gripped Sprigg’s arm hard. Sprigg pushed the narrow door open and peeked into the dungeon hall. It was obviously in disuse from Victor’s peaceful reign. Lord Heldey was the only prisoner in the last cell across from Sprigg. The rest were empty. He looked up the hall where torch lights lit up the hall, surely there were guards up the stairs there. Flynn noticed Sprigg with the bird and sat up. Sprigg winced, he was a mess. He’d obviously received a beating at one point. His clothes were bloodied and torn, his hair was a mop on his head. He looked ten years older, but oddly more manly than Sprigg had ever perceived him. Sprigg took a breath and glanced up the hall again before silently crossing to where Seven could see the prisoner. Seven was trembling nervously and Sprigg’s hope for hearing the message was dwindling fast. Lord Heldely remained silent, as expected before hearing a message. They waited, but Seven just clutched Sprigg and kept his secrets. Sprigg felt so desperate, but this wasn’t working. He turned to go. 
“Wait!” Flynn hissed, gripping his cell bars, “I’m innocent! They’re going to hang me for a crime I’d never commit, you have to help me!” Sprigg shushed him sharply, “Be silent! I have to fast this bird. I’ll return tonight, I swear it.”

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