Flora

by Kendal M Lyon

  "It was designed so people could not get in or out, once there was the idea to have a separate prison within the castle, other than the one in the city. The upgrades that happened to this place were catastrophic. Entire gardens reformed," she said with bitterness and a flourish of her hand. Flora was then able to see all the scratches along them. "They cursed it. It used to Flora down there."

  Indeed the entire garden was green. It was all so complicated. "Is it like this inside the castle too?" Flora asked, her voice shrill as she took in the confusing layout.

  "The inside of the castle has its own tricks, for those who search for them. The prisoners who get out of the prison are supposed to be stopped before they ever reach the castle, but the castle was also made in a time of war, millennia before that, and its secrets from that time are mostly intact, if not forgotten. More sparkle has been added than substance, which I am sure you saw at the revel."

  Flora gulped, trying to dry out her mouth. "So where is the prison?" She asked. Lady Dells had brought it up first she thought, so it was a harmless question.

  Lady Dells pointed to the left side of the tower, her fingers barely able to stretch out, and downwards into what appeared to be a decorated sinkhole. Again the hedges grew around it, hiding it artfully from the ground, but a bird's eye view now hid little from Flora. The bars and black stone that lined the lower levels of the pit were obvious as a prison now that Lady Dells had pointed it out. She traced a path back to the tower from the hole, but there were so many barriers between it she would have gotten lost before she got far. She even recognized the rough wooden guard barracks and stables along the dusty courtyard that she had been dragged through her first day here with the castle wall running along it.

  "The prison was built under the ground, and sprawls in many directions. That is one entrance in which it branches off towards the prison, a more decorative and forgotten one really, but there are more defences within it, and there are a few more entrances, another through the guards barracks, where they bring in and out the prisoners at their will, you can see them doing that now, beside those tall tree planted at the edge of the garden."

  As Flora looked, she did see a man being dragged through the dirt, his head drooping, the man had blonde hair, and Flora felt a pit grow in her stomach for feeling relieved that his hair was neither the red nor black of her brothers. "It was designed with magic and Folk in mind, and since then not one of them has yet escaped, I don't expect a mere man to, not without help, and not knowing more about the tricks of the castle."

  "Do they have any down there?" Asked Flora.

  "Folk, yes, others, no. They have never found a witch or elemental in this century. A witch has never been silly enough to get caught, or at least, to stay alive long enough to be brought here," Lady Dells said. "At least the old ones have not. Whether there are young ones—" Lady Dells shrugged. "Maybe."

  "It is rather depressing. Those are mighty odds against such an attempt. But come now, the birds are expecting to be fed, and I thought you would find them interesting, maybe you can protect me from their scratches," she said, twiddling her fingers slowly and standing to turn away from the sill. Flora found it hard to turn from planning her possible escape, but she peeled herself away, closing her eyes as she moved, a tight breath escaping from her lips. "Perhaps we can even have a snack ourselves," said Lady Dells.

  She opened them to see Lady Dells carrying a small bucket over the crook of her cane to a large shallow bronze dish near the balcony window. Flora helped her tip the lip of the bucket to spill its contents out. Then Lady Dells sat back on her chair, her arms rested in her laps, peacefully waiting.

  There were no birds there for a second, but as the sound of cracked corn rattling along that bronze disk faded, there was a second flurry of noise. Like a soft windstorm, growing louder as the moments passed. The air left Flora's lungs as she looked at the marvels that seemed to fall from the sky.

  There were red breasts, blue crowns, yellow heads, and orange wings, all the colors coming in hints on a variety of birds, though all with one similar trait. They all mostly had white feathers, the colors only a hint of magnificence hidden by the creatures. She was sure she had only seen one pure white bird a dove of some sort, though she lost sight of it among the many feathers.

  Flora had to dodge some of the massive wings as they tried to find a place to perch around the bowl, and she got hit in the face more than once. Until a sight at the window made her bite a scream and pause, wrangling the bird at her face to hold it tight in her hands. Pinning its small wings as she backed up.

  "Is that an—eagle?" Flora asked Lady Dells. The wonders of the birds batting her in the chest so hard she thought she might pass out, but she kept her eyes open as Lady Dells looked at the sill where large talons were digging into the wood, under a mass of black and brown feathers.

  "Oh shoo," Lady Dells said walking up to the bird, pointing the cane in its direction. "We have no time for you and I have nothing to say."

  The large bird took some more convincing before it left the window sill, only when Lady Dells prodded it with her cane did the bird take off. Without the predator there the other birds started letting off beautiful bird calls filling the room, but Flora could still see it whirling around the castle in the drafts high above. She was sure it's eyes were still on the tower.

  "That silly boy knows he can't be here," Lady Dells said.

  "That's a boy?" Flora asked. "How can you tell?"

  "Well of course it is," Lady Dells said. "You can feel the attitude in the air."

  Flora smiled at that when a nip at her fingers reminded her of the bird she had caught. It was one that was pure white. The bird cocked its head from left to right.

  Flora's breath calmed. "Well, this boy is so hungry he is going to eat my finger," she said, grabbing some corn with one hand. The bird still pinned against her with the other. Shortly after the bird began pecking at the food in her palm, its beak like small sharp nails.

  Flora watched it, mesmerized and relaxed, as it finished eating. She lurched back when it suddenly opened its wings, and battering her hand again. Catching flight only to land on her shoulder and start running its beak through her hair. Flora then grabbed an apple that Lady Dells had brought up and started to eat it.

  Flora compressed her movement, not wanting to startle the ball of white fluff as Lady Dells looked at her with a soft smile. They sat there quietly until the small bird rested its beak under its wing and went to sleep. The other birds were finishing their meal, most of the corn now gone, then they headed back to wherever they had come from.

  "Do you miss your home Flora?" Lady Dells asked quietly as she lifted a scratched hand to stroke the back of a bird with a black ford on its chest that had landed on the edge of the dish.

  "Yes—I miss my brothers the most," Flora said, swallowing a piece of apple but feeling the empty hole inside her. Trying to find a way to talk without giving away the fact that half of her brothers were trapped below. "It feels like I have been here for—many years."

  What could have only been called a blue jay had come to sit on Lady Dells's shoulder. Flora sat in amazed silence as it pecked Lady Dells's glasses, showing off its hints of colors as it strutted along her back.

  "I wish for you to see my home one day, many a forgotten marvel remains under its trees, I have tried to keep it a wild place," Lady Dells said.

  "The kingdom allowed that?" Flora asked, keeping her eyebrows firmly where they were, even when they wanted to bounce up in surprise at the offer.

  "The rulers is busy elsewhere my dear, and I do not cause any trouble there, many days they may even forget that this castle is not my home," Lady Dells smirked.

  "Could we go visit your home soon?" Flora asked, anticipation sitting in her gut as she took another large bite. If she had a ride out of the castle officially she did not think Lord Reynald could stop her then. If the time came them maybe she could hide the boys in the back of the wagon she thought. Though look
ing down at the complexity of the castle, she was no longer sure of how much hope she had in finding them and getting them out.

  "It has been a long time since I have seen my home unfortunately. It is why I need to leave at the end of the summer. I have people who run it. People who have worked for me for a very, very long time. They keep correspondence, but I can make this biggest effect on the people, by staying right where I am," Lady Dells said, patting the window seat of the castle with care, "at least usually."

  "Then maybe it is time to visit," Flora pushed swallowing the last piece of fruit. "I would love to see it."

  "I have a feeling we will be there sooner than I wish. The royal children need to grow up a little without me," Lady Dells said, twirling her fingers through the trails of seed. Lady Dells lost herself in thought as she stared out the window.

  "Look over there, can you see the weave of hedges crossed like a perfect plait?" Lady Dells said pointing down.

  "Yes," Flora said.

  "It is. You would never know it hides one another of the entrances to the prison below. I do not even know if many residents of this castle know of it. Though there may even be more," she said

  "How many exits are there?" Flora asked.

  "That I do not know," Lady Dells said with a sad shrug. "This castle has many secrets. Some destroyed. Though, some are used for pleasure. The castle, it seems, does not want to be changed, and many mysterious things still happen within."

  As the birds started to fade away, Lady Dells walked to the shut tower door and opened it. "Oswald," she said down the enclosed staircase. Flora could hear the name echoing all the way down before it got lost in the space.

  Flora placed her finger under the white bird's bumpy claws that was still sleeping on her shoulder and gently placed him inside the copper dish with the other birds. To her disappointment the bird woke up and cocked its head at odd angles, looking at her.

  It seemed to put together that Flora was leaving and sent a shudder down its feathers. Spreading out its wings before leaping into the air. It did one circle of the room before it disappeared through the window. Flora yearned to follow, to jump out that window, catch the wind, and head somewhere far away.

  Flora was still looking out the window when Lady Dells greeted Oswald with a smile at the top of the stairs. "Time to take Miss Faodail back to wherever she is needed, as I must continue on with my own work," Lady Dells said and then turned to walk back to Flora. Her eyes cropped over her glasses as she placed her hand on Flora's shoulder.

  "I am sure your family needs you as well," she said.

  Flora gave her a smile, hiding her disappointment, and turned down the staircase. Looking back through the window, only once to see the blue skies before she left the room, traveling into the stairwells darkness with Oswald at her elbow.

  Progress

  Oswald grew visibly pale as they saw Lord Reynald dressed in full regalia at the other end of the palace corridor. Walking towards them with arms swinging, fading in and out of the light that shone through slatted openings above.

  "Do you have anything for me yet?" He asked rather loudly, as he continued walking. His heeled boots clacking against the stone floor. Servants who were dusting in the corridor turned their heads to look at Flora with mystified eyes.

  Flora gathered her thoughts and quieted her raging mind. Stopping her hand from drifting to her throat as he got closer, stepping slowly back. "There are many rusty items up in your tower, I think if the Royal family went and cleaned up all their missing and forgotten things they would find themselves to be much richer. Of course, as your favorite slave, I could probably do it for you," she said with a flashing of her teeth. Digging her heels in to brace herself for any ideas Reynald may have. Flora could see out of the corner of her eye the servants exchanging looks and stifling nervous smiles and they quickly gathered themselves up and left.

  "I will tell them you said so," Lord Reynald retorted with a grin, coming so close to her she flinched. Which only made his grin grow wider.

  "Why are you in such a good mood?" Flora asked back, having to turn her body around as Lord Reynald moved passed her in the hallway.

  The smile she received was bone chilling. Even in the heat, she could feel goosebumps puckering along her arms. "Progress in the war," he said.

  "On the good or evil side?" Flora asked.

  "It would be so much easier if it were that simple no?" Lord Reynald replied stopping still to turn back to her. "If you get me any info from Lady Dells, this may go a lot faster though."

  "What do you want me to find out and then maybe I can just ask her outright," Flora said, but she knew it was about the magic.

  "I want to know why she is so interested in someone like you. Lets start there," he said.

  Flora flashed her brows. That was a great question. "All I know so far is what her favorite bird is. Good enough?" Flora said.

  Nothing Flora could say seemed to make a dent in the Lord Reynald's smile. "Make sure all your brothers aren't already dead and broken before you start to work with me," said Lord Reynald raising his hands out in a shrug. "You are lucky I am too busy right now to deal with your nonsense." He looked over at Oswald "Good day Sir Oswald," he said to her guard before storming off. As the man's footsteps faded and silence enveloped them, Oswald looked at her with a shock.

  "Why does he scare you so much?" Flora said as they continued on to her cell, Oswald now walking right beside her. "You work for him."

  She got a shrug in response. "I suppose I shouldn't be scared with Lord Reynald barely even noticing me the moment he sights you, and you have more to be afraid of then I do," Oswald said with a shallow laugh. "Good night Flora, leave the dress by the door and I will grab it in a few minutes." As Oswald turned the cell door and snapped the lock Flora looked at the ceiling of her room and was glad for Oswald's friendly presence outside the door. Her fingers struggled to undo the red dress, and she was glad when Oswald finally took it from her. With in not in the room, even her cell felt more comfortable.

  Like a Magpie

  The rumble of the carriage underneath them along the many switch backs around the terraces her made her palms sweat. Though this drive was smooth compared to the one in which she had come to the castle, but it carried the same feelings as Flora stared out into the city with eyes that were finally not ringed with bruises. The breeze on her face distracted her from the passing landscape as the carriage wall stood between her freedom. The pin in her hair was the only thing that held her focus in the present. Buildings and people slowly passed her by, going about their business like they did every day. Though today she enjoyed it, as it had been at least a week since she had left her cell with no company other than cockroaches.

  Her hands were bound in front of her in long blue strands of silks that seemed to blend into her dress. Flora flexed them, they were stiff from scratching at the stone wall in her room. Lord Reynald sat across from her, staring at her, as if he were in a trance. While Oswald, dressed in regular clothes with high boots instead of his guards uniform, sat beside her.

  "I always thought carriage travel was quick," Flora said. "The people walking on the streets are passing us."

  Her comment broke Lord Reynald's trance and he shifted, bringing his head close to the window to see more clearly. He gritted his teeth at what he saw. "We will never get to the fifth terrace at this rate," he said as the carriage moved to a full stop.

  "We could always walk," said Flora, biting her lips to keep from smiling.

  "No. We can not," Lord Reynald said.

  Oswald looked like he was going to say something but before he could Lord Reynald was moving out of the carriage door. "Make sure she is still here when I get back," Lord Reynald said jumping out the door.

  Oswald followed him out and closed the door behind him, turning the lock and putting the full form of his body in front of it. Flora looked back at the window, resting her hand on its thin ledge. The window was too small to squeeze through, and she cou
ld see Lord Reynald's head bouncing along to whatever was slowing them down.

  "Lady, may I just say—" came a drawling voice from below. Changing her angle Flora could see a balding man, with a gold front tooth below. He held his hat politely to his chest while in the best clothes the man must own, and it set her heart into a panic.

  "Satana, who are you here to torture today?" Flora said, causing a look of confusion to cover the man below. Not enough to scare him away, in fact, he came closer, his eyes squeezing as he focused on her.

  "Well, it ain't no Lady at all," Satana said, his grin moving into a full wide smile. "Harriet's fine establishment wasn't enough for ya hey?"

  "Something like that," Flora said smoothly back, taking her hand from the ledge as his head came right to the window. He was a tall man and had no trouble looking up through the bottom of the empty frame.

  Flora looked over to Oswald, who was unaware that Flora had a visitor, looking for Lord Reynald out the other side with his head out the window.

  "Looks rather shiny in there hey? You ain't interested in sharing are ya?" Satana said eyeing the elaborate decor around the carriage. "These earthquakes are making everyone squeeze their goods tighter than a ladies bottom."

  Flora laughed. "You are welcome to come to visit. Just try the door on the other side."