“You’re scowling, Freya. Revenge isn’t a good thought to have in one’s mind. Especially someone as readable as you are.” He leaned forward to poke her forehead wrinkled with her scowl.
With a deep breath of morning air, Freya forced her shoulders to relax. As much as she did wish for revenge, Aurik was right. Those feelings only made her feel worse at the end of the day. Like a hot coal was burning inside the hole in her chest.
Aurik furrowed his brow when he finally looked to the sky to judge the time of day. “I’ll be horrendously late if we don’t part ways now. The council is as passive aggressive as an Adaryn elder can get, and I’d loathe to have their eyes on me this entire meeting.” He held his hand out for Freya to stand back up.
“Please go, I’ll want to hear the gossip the next time we meet. War or peace is something that concerns us all.” She took a long drink of the waterskin Aurik offered up.
“It’s not something I’d like to be a part of. I want nothing more than for my people to keep their lives, and never lose someone in a bloodbath. Yet, at the same time I am hungry for revenge. That same look I’ve seen in your eyes for your sister, I feel reflected so often in my own. However, I don’t imagine I can bring myself to sacrifice others…” He began to trail off as he looked to the sky again.
“Aurik, don’t put the entire decision on yourself. You’ll have the entire council and your royal parents there in this discussion. Whatever you help to decide on I will stand behind you and support your decision.” Freya smiled timidly up at him with the thought she could never begin to understand the weight of his responsibilities.
The Prince smiled warmly down at her, seemingly relieved. Maybe her words had helped to comfort him, if only a little. If she could help support him with her friendship it still wouldn’t be enough to pay back what Aurik was trying to do for her putting his title behind him to befriend the colony outcast.
Suddenly, Aurik placed his hands-on Freya’s shoulders and the air around him changed in intensity. He leaned in close to Freya and kept his eyes locked with hers for several long moments. She stilled completely with her eyes wide as she just stared at Aurik, waiting to see what he would do next. There seemed to be something in the air he couldn’t bring himself to say. Finally, he looked down at the ground under his feet and kicked at the dirt with a sigh.
“If I’m not here the day after tomorrow don’t wait for me. I don’t know what will happen with the council.”
“Of course, I will. I wish you luck tomorrow, Aurik” Freya took a step back out of his reach. More to try and calm the sudden pounding of her heart at him being so close face to face.
With a nod, golden wings spread wide and lifted into the air. Freya watched as Aurik got further through the gaps in the trees until the speck of his body disappeared into the distant clouds. For a time, Freya laid in the cool grass wondering at the future of her people. Would the Adaryn go to war or decide to make peace and avoid more dead? She hated to think of more families losing any loved ones. An endless war, lasting for generations didn’t seem like an easy thing to find peace on.
Days seemed to pass without seeing Aurik. Freya felt as if she was just going through the motions. There was a sense of empty despair working its way into her chest as the weight of loneliness once again took up most of her day.
Freya had more dread in the afternoons as she spent time caring for her mother. The once full of joy Gwylan was a shell who stayed in bed and refused to eat. The presence of her only living nestling was the only thing that could remotely rouse her from the darkness that was taking over. Losing her first born seemed to have snuffed out any life within her. Even her father was unable to fully rouse the love of his life.
Freya had feelings building inside her. It wasn’t fair that after Raga’s death her mother got to simply give up and no longer try, as if she didn’t care about her last daughter and husband anymore. Father was still working, and Freya was taking on more to care for their home. Mother wasn’t the only one grieving, but she was the only one refusing to get up.
“You’re not alone, Momma. I’m hurting too, and I need you now. We need you to be with us still,” Freya would plead, and it seemed to fall on deaf ears as Gwylan just looked through her daughter as if she wasn’t there.
After a fortnight of not seeing the prince Freya was beginning to worry. She was so distracted throughout the day her time alone wasn’t as productive as it could have been. The rumors she overheard at the market gave her no respite from the worries. Dreading to go home to her shell of a mother she stayed at the base of her home tree enjoying the shade and chill of the noon winds. Freya was half asleep in the grass when she heard voices overhead.
Recognizing her father’s voice Freya felt a twinge of excitement at him coming home early that day. The sound of a second person made her pause on her way up. The two men speaking moved from the landing inside the home and Freya wasn’t able to make out what they were saying. Who could this stranger be talking to her father?
Once on the landing she tried to be silent and eavesdrop on the conversation happening on the other side of the door. Freya’s foot hit a squeaky plank of wood on the way and the door was near immediately swung open. Lonan looked toward his daughter with regret before motioning her to join him inside.
Freya recognized the finery of a noble born standing in her home. His back was turned to her as he faced the smoldering fire in the hearth. The flitting light of the fire cast eerie shadows on the silky deep greys in his robes.
“Freya, please warmly welcome Sir Allen Grouse,” Lonan gestured to the Council member whose brown and black speckled wings matched his family name.
The man turned around to face the family. He had dark hair that was starting to grey at his temples and in patches of his facial hair with pointed features and beady black eyes. Freya felt a chill through the down at her nape as the noble man looked her up and down, leaving his eyes to linger on the empty space behind her back where wings should have been. Instinctively she crossed her arms as if to shield herself from his gaze.
“Apologies for the interruption,” Freya gave a slight curtsy trying not to look the Grouse in the eye.
“Daughter, please go put on a kettle for tea. Sir Allen, would you care to join me for a seat?” Lonan motioned for the Council member to take a seat. After a second of hesitation Freya moved around the corner of the hearth and find the kettle and tea leaves, moving silently to listen to the conversation as best she could. Her curiosity at why any noble would be at her house was brimming over. Freya could just make out some of the quietly spoken conversation.
“With this promotion of title comes a responsibility to our people, Lonan. Your eldest knew the responsibilities to her people and gave her life bravely fighting to protect the ones she loved. As a member of the council your family would be expected to move into a manse in the mountain, and naturally fulfill any duties asked of you by the royal family."
“Of course, Sir. I served unquestioningly with the Guard in my younger days. My loyalty is to the Adaryn people. Just like I taught Raga,” her father’s voice trailed off.
“And Freya, I hope?” Allen asked with a sound in his voice that gave Freya chills.
“Without a doubt. Freya would do anything for her people, just like her sister. Within her abilities of course.”
“Of course.” Freya got a glimpse of Sir Grouse’s eyes through the hearth that split the kitchen and family space. The glint and fire reflected in his small black eyes made her shiver despite the fire. His next sentence made her slightly afraid of him.
“Lonan, I hate to bring it up, but you know how people talk. I’d like to ask about Freya. I’d hate to have anything come up that shouldn’t be spoken of, you understand?”
“No, completely. Most of the rumors and talk died down when she was young, but she can’t fly. The muscles in her wings just never developed correctly. She was born too soon and fell sick often. The physician didn’t expect her to survive into molting age,
but her wings were small and deformed. They had to be removed. Yet she was fierce and survived despite the odds.”
“Ah, lovely to hear it’s nothing serious. Such a beauty as herself will likely thrive among the noble families, I have no doubt.”
Freya took this moment to bring out two cups of tea and set them on the low table before the men. Allen placed a cold hand over hers as she was removing them from the porcelain handles.
“Thank you, dear. And congratulations to your family,” the noble looked at Lonan questioningly. As if he’d received the permission, he needed the man kept a grip on Freya’s hand. “In honor of your sister’s service to the Valkyrie your family is being promoted into the line of nobles. Your father has been offered a position amongst the council after word of Raga’s sacrifice reached us and your father’s prior Captains spoke to us of him. We’d be fools not to have the wise words of such a loyal man helping our people into the future.”
Allen released Freya’s hand after what she expected was supposed to come across as a reassuring squeeze. However, her heart sank into her stomach. The feeling that something was amiss followed her throughout the night.
Lonan was in a bright mood and spent the afternoon beginning to pack the family belongings in preparations for the move to the mountain. Allen Grouse had told her father that Gwylan would get better care from the noble’s personal physician starting immediately. Soldiers would come in the morning to help them migrate to their new home if Lonan accepted the position. And he did, without a moment’s hesitation.
To Freya this was sudden and almost unheard of. Most nobles and council members were from long lines of families passing down their roles from one generation to the next. It was rare for a newcomer to join their ranks, especially a family one could almost consider bottom rung. Would the other high society Adaryn really be so accepting of one who couldn’t fly? As broken as she was, she couldn’t imagine how her life was going to look stuck in the mountain.
Freya packed her sparse belongings trying to imagine an open friendship with Aurik. The thought brought her some joy, a slight hope that perhaps she’d be welcomed if the others in the presence of the royal court saw the prince look at her as fondly as he did during their time together. Although, she did fear that he might be ashamed of their friendship and pretend not to know her. Part of her would expect it as Freya was the outcast of her people already.
There was a weight in Freya’s chest the seemed to be weighing her down. She turned to Raga’s empty bed. It would be left behind in the move as it was no longer needed. Freya felt tears well up in her eyes of their own accord. Sobs began to wrack through her body uncontrollably as memories of her and Raga playing as children and gossiping as the grey older came back to her. A small part of Freya felt as though she were leaving the last bits of Raga behind with this move.
This would be a great opportunity for the family, but Freya didn’t want to leave. This had always been her home, and her greatest sanctuary. She couldn’t imagine living the same normal Adaryn life as everyone else. She would never be like anyone else.
The morning came all too soon after a night of poor sleep. Lonan was up with a cheery look on his face as he helped Gwylan to get comfortable in the family room to await the arrival of the Guard members. Gwylan on the other hand, appeared more out of sorts in the midst of a near empty home as she slumped half asleep in her seat.
Six soldiers of the Guard arrived shortly after sunrise. Being tasked with moving the new Council member appeared to be a great honor for them. They took care with everything they handled, and Freya noticed the honorifics with which they used when speaking to her father.
“Councilman Lonan.” Or “Lord Mourning.” Was thrown in her father’s direction but all Freya could do was scowl as she sat at her mother’s side.
By noon the nest Freya had known all her life was empty. She was alone in her room waiting for a soldier to come back to take her to the mountain. The window was open, and she fought back more tears thinking of her last night looking out at the stars with her sister. That night now seemed like it had been years ago.
In the silence, Freya heard something in the distance. A low keening howl echoed in the far-off forest. An animalist sound like nothing she’d heard before. Panic began to swell in her chest instinctively.
A knock on her bedroom door made Freya leap to her feet in a startled hurry. She hadn’t heard anyone enter or walk up the stairs. When her shaking hand opened the door, she saw it was just one of the soldiers to take her to her new home.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you.” He drawled in a polite tone.
“I suppose I’m just lost in thought today,” Freya assured trying to make the smile on her face genuine.
“Moving into the mountain is a bit of a life changing ordeal. No one would blame you for being distracted.” The young soldier stated with a grin.
He was a young soldier with a broad stature and kind enough face. On the landing he spread massive white and black wings. It made sense to Freya they’d have a member of the Albatross family assigned to her. Sons of the Albatross line were specially trained soldiers for carrying large loads and wielding massive weapons in battle due their impressive wingspans.
He carried Freya with ease, soaring over the treetops. In the distance Freya could see the wide, smooth surface of the mountain reaching into the clouds ahead. Down below Freya knew that tree nests would be larger and closer together as you got the location of the market and passed over where the wealthier families lived. She got more uneasy the closer they got to the mountain.
Freya could just make out the outline of the gargantuan stone castle built atop the plateau as they neared, and the clouds began to clear. Built into the smooth and vertical surface of the grey stones were tall columns marking the entrances to the mansions of the most noble of families. One of those now being her own. She would admit the view took her breath away. The craftmanship in the carved mountain was more beautiful than anything she’d seen in the nests carved of their home trees.
Each manse had a balcony carved in the stone with little gardens filled to the brim with a myriad of flowers. Long vines curved up along the columns reaching towards the sunlight shining down with the heat of the day. It was apparent in Freya’s eyes she was feeling a new sense of excitement. This might be a change for the better in life.
The soldier lowered from the air to one of the homes set lower in the mountain face closer to the forest floor than the others. They landed on the expanse of solid stone and Freya began taking in the view. Her family now lived further up than the home they just left, and the forest floor loomed far below. The small garden at the base of the columns needed tending to and Freya wondered if her mother would ever be up for the task.
At her back was the massively tall door to the mansion. It was a dark, almost black wood with simple yet elegant designs. Freya was trying to push off the moment where she’d have to go inside. A mix of nerves and excitement were overwhelming her senses. Before she could decide to go in her father opened the doors.
“Freya! Your belongings have already been moved into your new room. I’ll task you with unpacking and settling in before dinner.” Lonan wrapped his daughter in his arms with a warm hug.
“Oh, I haven’t thought about what to make for dinner yet,” Freya started to say.
“You won’t have to, dear. Our house will be assigned a few servants from now on. A few to assist with cleaning, cooking, and helping to care for your mother. There will be a physician coming daily to check on her now, and you as well every so often.”
“Me? Why do I need a physician?” Freya chirped in surprise.
“Just to make sure your condition isn’t affecting you in any adverse way. There’s no other Adaryn like you, and it’s been brought to my attention to keep an eye on your health, especially with how your mother has turned out.” He gently pat one of Freya’s shoulders reassuringly. She didn’t like the thought of new attention to her unfortunate stat
e of being.
Lonan motioned for Freya to enter their new home with an eager grin on his face. He’d already been here most of the day helping to get their belongings situated in their new places. The furniture they brought along was nearly swallowed up in the massive space they now resided. Freya ran her hands along the smooth and cool stone of the walls already missing the comfort and familiarity of warm wooden walls.
Towards the back of the lofty main living space was a curved staircase leading to an extensive second floor. The hall of the second floor was as large as the family room in their prior home and lined with doors made of more dark wood. She followed her father’s directions to the room picked for her and gingerly pushed it open.
This new room had to be several times larger than the one she grew up in with her sister. Her old bed had been replaced with a new slightly larger one with a higher platform. The small chest with her meager belongings had been set next to a new dresser Freya found filled with new clothing made of the silks and fine fabrics commonly worn by the wealthy. There was a standing mirror in the back corner of the room that brought a smile to Freya’s face. They’d only had a small handheld mirror growing up that was old and smudged across the glass.
In this clean and clear reflection Freya was able to see herself in a way she never had before. Head to heel her clothing was worn and stained with years of wear and climbing the forests ancient trees. Plain cottons made up her usual attire. Freya looked like a peasant from the edge of the colony, and she wasn’t sure fancy new clothes would change that.
After her worn day clothes were removed Freya turned to look at her back in the mirror. Pale greyish-blue down ran from the nape of her neck to the base of her spine, connecting the entire span of her back. The same color was spread across her shoulders as well. Her feathers she inherited from her mother’s family, nothing like the reddish-brown her father had.
The Bird and The Wolf Page 4