Darkest Wish
Page 5
Once it had vanished from view, the judge turned his attention back to the benches. “Nobody will claim responsibility for Dylap, so it has come that the judgement is passed.” He cleared his throat before continuing. “Then with the power of the Farro law,” the judge acclaimed, his arms held high, “I sentence The Dylap to be thrown back into the Twine. May the blessed Mother take his soul. Perhaps running him through before, would be a mercy.”
He felt numb. The cold from his manacles seeping into his bones, the chain links shaking with the nerves in his legs. It would have been better for everyone, including himself if he hadn’t woken on the river bank. If the night watch had simply thrown him back instead of taking him to the healers so he could be returned to health, just so he could be left to die all over again. He glanced through the outer doors, speculating that he might have had a chance with the spider. No matter how grisly the beast was.
Sighing, he rested his weary head against the balustrade, resigned to the fact that he would be returned to a watery grave. Maybe there was a reason he had been in it in the first place. Had he been punished before – did he deserve death? Farro seemed to think so as the chatter began to rise, his life already forgotten as the pair of guards which had escorted him here approached, both wearing malevolent grins.
“Wait,” the Prince shouted, rising from his throne to survey the chamber.
“Is there not a fae here who would give this poor fairy a chance? Does he not deserve to live?”
Dylap raised his head, the pure white wings of the Prince opening slightly to reflect some of the daylight that seeped through the windows. His brilliance glowing around him as he descended the steps to take the chamber ground and stride towards the benches.
“Surly the guild of bakers could use an extra pair of hands to kneed your dough, or the builders, another body to lift. Are the numbers not dwindling in the wood knoll squabblers? Could another fairy help fill that gap?”
Hope bled back into Dylap’s veins as his champion stalked in front of the guilds. A Prince of such beauty, of such light would bring him solace. Yet with each house he passed, each bench of guilds, Dylap knew that the outcome would be the same.
“Your Majesty?” The general said after following the Prince across the chamber. “This creature doesn’t belong to Farro.”
“Yet I doubt he belongs to death. Maybe my father could find him a place in the palace. The alabaster tree will always need…”
“Forgive me your Majesty,” the general cut in. “Your father would not permit it. If the King was here now, this…Dylap, would already be dead.”
The Prince considered his words and nodded. “You’re right General. But I am not my father.”
He paced along the benches, pausing at each house to gaze at the masters sat high above. Each appearing ashen-faced as they nodded respectfully, yet still they declined. That was until the Prince reached the final bench. The young girl who sat alone.
“The Aviary Guild,” the Prince said, offering the fae a smile. “But where is the master? Where is Sabesto?”
“Master Sabesto is…taken ill, your Majesty,” the girl replied, her cheeks becoming several different shades of red as she glanced away.
“That is a shame, my father always told me of his bravery in the wars. Please inform him that the King misses the hunts they used to take pleasure in.”
“I will, your majesty.”
“And he has sent you to speak for the guild? A bird trainer no less,” he offered, leaning closer and forcing her to lean away. The shades of red becoming crimson as she bit her lower lip.
“He has your Majesty,” she squeaked, hungry eyes roaming over his face and bright white wings.
“Jambilee, that’s your name,” the Prince continued, his voice becoming deeper and sounding a little seductive.
The fae nodded eagerly, her colourful wings fluttering, her hands wringing together. “It is, your Majesty.”
“Then for today, Jambilee, in the Chamber of Justice, you are the Master of the Aviary. And so, you alone can decide whether to help this poor unfortunate fae who has found himself washed up on our shores. There must be a wealth of work to do at the aviary. Perhaps you could find a place for him,” he almost whispered, his lips so close to Jambilee’s that if she chose to, she could kiss him.
“Yes, your Majesty,” she sighed.
The Prince’s face broke into a wide grin, perfect teeth shining through a smile that was as dazzling as his wings.
“Then its settled then,” he exclaimed, dropping the pouch of silver dust on the bench beside the fairy. “The aviary will take charge of Dylap and find him a place.”
“But…” began Jambilee, lines appearing above the bridge of her nose as she realised what the Prince had said.
“Thank you, Jambilee. Farro owes you a debt of gratitude.” The Prince bowed before departing, leaving her holding the leather pouch in her lap, mouth slightly agape. Confusion creased her face as she watched him leave, yet she said nothing more.
Dylap felt an overwhelming gratefulness to the Prince. He alone had given him hope, had in fact, given him his life back. He watched him stride passed, ready to thank him when his gaze fell on the general. The huge fairy glowered at him, mouth curled into a snarl.
“Your Majesty, Sabesto won’t take kindly to this creature,” he argued.
“Kindly or not, General; Sabesto will take him. It is now written in the Justice Chamber and only awaits my signature,” he said, as he scribbled onto the scroll at the scribe’s desk. “There, all done. Now let us depart. I do tire of this Justice Chamber quite easily.”
Putting his white wings to the general, the Prince paced through the outer doors, his guards nimbly following. The rest of the chamber erupted in excited babbling.
When the judge finally regained control of the room, he ended the proceedings and the fae began to file out through the doors until only the judge, the scribe, Jambilee and the two soldiers who escorted him here remained.
“Sign here,” the scribe instructed the girl as she slowly approached the desk. Her face was a mask of shock as if she was coming to terms with a devastating ordeal. Although she still had a tinge of red to her cheeks. She hastily scribbled on the parchment, then began to amble towards the outer door.
“Jambilee?” the judge bellowed, forcing the young fae to turn. “Are you not forgetting something?” he asked, pointing an accusing finger at Dylap.
She stared at him, bewilderment dropping her mouth open before she snapped it shut. Stepping closer she glanced at Dylap and he heard her whisper curses under her breath.
He offered her an apologetic smile, realising that she had been tricked into taking responsibility for him. Yet he was thankful for her gullibility. If it wasn’t for her his future would have been bleak.
“Would you like us to remove his manacles?” asked one of the guards as he began to unlock him from the balustrade.
Jambilee glanced at the steel cuffs, then at Dylap and then at the judge.
“I think I’ve made a grave mistake,” she pronounced, offering the elder fairy a rueful smile.
“Mistake or not,” the judge explained, “you've signed for him to be placed with the aviary. He is now yours.”
Biting her lip, Jambilee stared desperately towards the outer doors, then up at the ceiling before settling on her feet. “Frog snot,” she exclaimed, shaking her head.
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