by Ava D. Dohn
*
Terey was in such a huff when she hurried from Mihai’s council chambers, she gave little heed to those around her. Bursting through an outside door, she plowed into Sirion, knocking the woman off her feet, sending her sprawling onto the walkway. Offering embarrassed apologies, she hurried to assist the girl, anxiously asking, “Are you hurt? I’m sorry…I didn’t see…”
“I’m alright. I’m alright.” Sirion reassured as she struggled to regain her footing, wincing, letting out an involuntary groan as she placed her hand over ribs that Terey had slammed with her elbow. Terey attempted to help once more. “Here, let me help you! Come, we can relax and get some refreshment and sit a spell. You’ll feel better then.”
“Thank you, no.” Sirion hurriedly replied. “I must be off. I’ll be fine. Thank you.”
Terey’s face furrowed into a frown as she sarcastically asked, “So where is the rabbit off to in such a fuss? One of the eighty busy with more secret business, I suppose?”
Sirion stopped in her tracks, staring into Terey’s face, her own filled with puzzlement and disquiet as she asked, “In what way have I assaulted my sister? Have I ever taken one crumb of bread from her plate to satisfy my hunger?”
It was Terey’s turn to stop up short, recognizing her uncalled act of rudeness. She stammered, “Please forgive me, my little one. I have poured out my frustrations on you. You are innocent in all you speak. I have been the one acting ruinously. Please, forgive me.”
“There is nothing to forgive, my dear one.” Sirion attempted to cover the hurt in her voice. “Please, it’s alright… But I must be off, or I will miss my appointment.” She quickly hobbled away.
Terey sighed in relief, and then shouted to her, “What’s the rush?” With that, she hurried after Sirion, who was several paces away. “Where are you going?”
When Terey caught up with Sirion, she again asked where the woman was off to. Still holding her ribs, Sirion attempted an answer. In short, painful gasps she explained, “Must see…the admiral…Sophia’s back from…shakedown cruise. Said I could go…as a pilot…maybe.”
A smile grew on Terey’s face as a wicked thought entered her mind. “You want to be in my flight wing?”
Sirion eyed Terey with suspicion. “I didn’t know…you were on…the Sophia.”
“I’m not!” Terey’s Cheshire cat smile grew. “At least not yet... Do you want help in convincing Gabrielle of our value? I could say I need you to serve as my flight officer? If it works out right, just maybe we can both gain a berth aboard the ship. After all, I’m not needed here, and I have a good fighter just off-loaded from the Chisamore. I’m sure our admiral could use another ‘17’ on board.”
“As long…as I get…my own…fighter.” Sirion panted.
“That I promise you.” Terey assured. “But first we must convince the boss to let us aboard. You follow my lead and we’ll see where it goes. Alright?”
A wide grin shot across Sirion’s face. “I’m your servant!”
The two hurried to see the admiral. In a short time, both would be riding the winds of a fickle destiny like that found in a story penned by a poet, who once wrote, ‘all for the loss of a nail…’