Phoenix Rising: From Heartache to Heroism novel Chapter 133

"This is beautiful! Thank you, Mom and Dad!" Violeta exclaimed.

Niall chimed in, "Where's mine?"

Irene was putting the gift box away. She replied, "Why do you need a gift for at your age? When you bring home a wife, I'll let her pick a few of my jewellery pieces."

Anton laughed heartily and asked, "Vio, did you have fun on the prairie?"

"Of course! I even trained an eagle. Niall, hold my phone. I'll fetch Hera here to show Mom and Dad," Violeta said.

She shoved her phone at Niall, then ran to the camp to get the birdcage.

Niall sat on the grass, watching his parents on the phone screen.

"Mom, you're just using the daughter-in-law as an excuse because you don't want to buy me anything."

Irene retorted, "Exactly! You have your own money. In the future, you can buy your wife something on your own."

Anton interjected, "Niall, have you met anyone special there?"

Niall looked up at the sky and said, "It's not that easy to meet someone I like. Would you be okay if I brought someone random home?"

"Of course not," Irene said, "but you need to hurry up."

Violeta returned with the birdcage. Hera climbed out of the cage and stepped on her back as soon as she put her hand inside.

"Mom, Dad, look! This is Hera, my little eagle."

Irene and Anton leaned closer to the screen.

"Oh, it's a young golden eagle," Anton remarked.

"Vio, how long did you train it?"

"Seven days!" Violeta replied.

Irene's heart ached instantly. She exclaimed, "Seven days? Really, Niall! How could you let her do that? Aren't you supposed to stop her? What if something happened to your sister?"

"Mom, I couldn't stop her," Niall defended himself.

"It's okay, Mom. I insisted on training the eagle," Violeta assured.

Anton was less worried. He believed young people needed challenges.

He smiled proudly and said, "Well done, Vio. I'm proud of you."

"Thanks, Dad," Violeta beamed.

"Where are you now?" Irene asked.

"We're in Willowbrook. We're attending the Falconry Festival in a few days," Violeta said.

Irene nodded and probed, "Are you comfortable where you're staying? Eating well? Is it cold there?"

They chatted for half an hour.

The Reids crafted it specially, adorning it with totems symbolising good luck and blessings.

The whistle's value lay in its commemorative significance and honour.

Violeta and Sophia, as novices, could only watch the event because their eagles didn't fully respond to their whistles.

Only Hayden, with Zeus, qualified to participate in the rabbit hunt.

During the hunt, the falconers rode alongside their birds, tracking them across the grasslands.

From afar, Violeta and the others watched the spectacle of dozens of eagles soaring in the sky.

Zeus, with its distinctive fur, stood out among its peers.

As the whistles echoed through the air, the eagles locked onto their targets and dived towards the ground.

The Reids purchased and released most of the rabbits to protect the environment. They would serve the captured rabbits at the evening feast, ensuring nothing went to waste.

Upon their release, the rabbits scattered wildly, with some diving into their burrows.

The winner would be the eagle that caught the most rabbits within the set time.

In no time, the eagles spread out across the sky.

"Look, there's Hade!" Zoren pointed.

Everyone looked towards where Zoren pointed. They saw Hayden on horseback atop a hill. The light obscured his face, but his silhouette remained clear. The horse grazed, and the silver chain in his hand glinted in the sunlight, making him particularly striking.