Three hundred years ago, the Alfar conquered the city of Westlocke. Whole generations are born, live, and die in Westlocke without having ever left the city. No one ever leaves the city. The details of how the Alfar came to rule with a velvet fist are lost to its human inhabitants, who are now ruled over as serfs - or worse.

Lost, except to a very select few who have remained hidden away from the city's immortal rulers and their half-blood kin. In a centuries-long game of cat-and-mouse, the hal'far hunt the few humans who are keeping the old knowledge alive, while the humans recruit allies so they may eventually, one day, see Westlock free.

Street urchin Flint knows none of this - until a chance encounter with the Garda's Dog Squad goes horribly awry. Rescued by Nero and wanted for murder, Flint is pressed into service to save the very man he betrayed. Will Nero and the rebels save him from certain death? Or will the Garda make him dance his last on Hangman's Row? Either way, nothing in Westlocke will ever be the same again.

Songbird is a short story of approximately 10 000 words that was first published in the Songs of Valor anthology.

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