by L B Keen
As Bird had yet to learn what that particular creature was, she chose to feel insulted on principle.
Alma wasn’t as adept at handling his eldest aunt as he was at handling his people. The formidable iron-willed woman had changed his cloth diaper and had raised him along with his mother. He turned a chiding gaze to Bird, who seeing this, ducked her head. “Have you not been heeding your aunt?” he asked. But, as he’d spent the last three months doing everything in his power to learn about his re-found eldest daughter, he had learned that instinctually she fought against restraints, a leftover he supposed of being a slave in the northern countries. She still forgot often to wear shoes.
Still, she would soon need to find a suitor and she would not be able to in this country if she did not learn the feminine arts.
Hardening his heart, he crossed his arms. “Your aunt is the eldest woman in the inner court. You cannot disregard her teachings, nor ignore her summons.”
“But, I—”
“There is no excuse,” he said, cutting off her protest. He laid a staying hand on her shoulder, staring into her troubled eyes that were so much like her mother’s. “You mustn’t forget these things are what you would have learned as a child if you had not been taken. I know you are not used to it, but I wish you try and learn some of what Fadi wishes to impart upon you. It would please me greatly.”
Contrite, Bird couldn’t refute her father’s request. She pressed her lips together, avoiding his eyes. Finally, she grudgingly agreed. “Yes, father.”
He patted her shoulder once before removing his hand. “Good. Your mother wishes you to marry well and soon,” he chuckled. “Though I, myself, am not as eager in finding you a suitor. Now off with you, I must speak with Vasir alone.”
With a weary sigh, Bird followed Fadi out. She’d much rather have gone to the kitchen than learn from Fadi. The woman seemed to not have come to the realization that Bird simply did not wish to learn another form of servitude. A wife was nothing more than a chattel and maid to her husband.
She’d seen in her years of servitude in Britain what a wife was capable of, and she was not capable of much. A wife owned nothing, and Bird still felt the remanence of pity for those Damphir who remained in that cold country, and with those thoughts came her suppressed longing for her friend. She’d attempted to write a letter, but her mother had quickly made it clear she wished Bird to abandon everything that was a reminder of the world she’d left behind, beginning with her name. She didn’t wish to, despite the pain that was associated with it. Her name was a part of herself she’d always liked, and quite frankly, she had assumed she’d been given the name by her mother.
“Princess.” She jerked her head up, pulled from her wandering thoughts. Fadi frowned at her from where she stood under the large overhand that led outside to the gardens. Where a raised stage sat in the center, she could see her younger female cousins were still there whispering amongst themselves. “Where is your mind?” she demanded sharply.
Bird gave her a small smile, not saying anything. Fadi sent her a suspicious look before she turned with a humph and continued along the path towards the raised stage. Bird reluctantly followed her, praying the lesson would end swiftly.
***
Chapter Four
“You’ve returned earlier than intended.”
Talon barely glanced at his valet as he alighted from the sedan. “It would seem that this mission has become far more treacherous.”
Dubh followed him through the high gates that gave view to an open courtyard. A single fountain sat in the center gurgling water from the lips of a maiden who held up an urn upright, attempting to pour the water onto the stone flower below.
“Treacherous, sir?”
Talon nodded, his eyes forward as he walked up the short steps that led him to an open room that served as a meeting area for another guest if they wished to visit him. It was comfortable with its lofty ceilings, and large space. The only door was the one Talon had just walked through. Light diaphanous curtains hung still in the large bay windows. It was well appointed, but Talon hadn’t had time to appreciate the furniture or its design.
“The king is not interested in forming a treaty between our country and theirs. In fact, he seems all the more eager to send me back with nothing,” Talon said in a matter-of-fact tone, as he approached a table in the corner of the room that held an expensive bourbon he was now very eager to try.
“Then does this mean we will be returning, sir?”
“No,” Talon said, again sounding amused as he lifted the heavy decanter and peered at the dark liquid inside. “It means, my dear Dubh, that we will be much longer than I had first assumed.”
Opening the decanter, he poured some of the dark liquid into a glass. His hand shook and Talon grimaced at that.
“I see, then I will immediately send a letter informing the king that our return date will be changed.”
Talon nodded, not bothering to turn and watch Dubhs retreat. When he was sure his valet had left the room, he slowly lifted the decanter and placed it back on the table. Laying both the flats of his hands against it, he lowered his head. He could feel the grinding pain in his chest return and could now finally give into the weakness of curling inwards.
She was alive.
Her burnished skin had darkened. He assumed it was due to the bright sun that always shown in Katari. Her eyes had seemed brighter with the flecks of purple that flashed as she smiled. His fingers curled into the wood, his knuckles pressing hard against it.
In that palatial building surrounded by ivory walls and golden tipped domes, his Bird rested in sleep. Her smiles had become unshadowed, and her steps had been light. His jaw clenched. Was this to be his punishment? Had his father known that she was here?
Talon shook his head at that possibility. If his father had known, he would never have allowed him to come here. The man had made it obvious that he held no sympathy for Talon’s forlorn love. Presently, Talon wished to go to her now. To pull her towards his chest and press his lips against the sweet pulse he knew lied right under her ear.
Yet, he knew as well as any stranger, such an action would destroy them both. She had no fond memories of him. He had been her tormentor and had pushed and prodded her till she’d sought death over anything else.
Her desire to escape him and his brother’s cowardice had been stronger than her desire to live. Talon could not allow himself to be swept up by fancies that wouldn’t serve any purpose other than to damn him to an eternity of being hated by her.
He could not allow himself to forget for one moment that Bird had loved his brother, had desired his brother.
Grabbing the cup of bourbon he’d poured earlier for himself, roughly, he quaffed it, allowing the burn to ease his trepidation and desire that warred within him. He would keep his distance and focus on convincing the stubborn Katari king to give him the rights to the rich metal that was this country’s blood.
***
“He has come again!” her cousin Faiza yelled excitedly, jumping up from Bird’s lap. She was a rambunctious eleven-year-old, who was more pixy then princess. Her curling hair escaped her scarf as she ran over to the railing, her ankle bracelet tinkling. Bird lifted her eyes following where Faiza pointed. “It’s the cold one from the northern kingdom!”
Bird squinting, watched as the guard escorted the blonde male through the outside hallway towards the entrance hall. Rising to her feet, she walked up behind the young girl who jumped up and down excitedly. “He is paler than Essa’s bunny.” Essa was closer to Bird’s age and was currently preparing for her wedding to a Dutch prince. “Is it true the cold ones drink blood?” Faiza asked in a quiet voice, peering up at Bird with clear curiosity.
Watching the male disappear through the doors, the guards following him, Bird did not answer the question. Instead, she found herself remembering a similar pair of red eyes, only she felt they were not the same ones. “Kahlia?”
She blinked, meeting Faiza’s worried ga
ze. Smiling to reassure the young girl, she laid a comforting hand on her head. “You have no need to worry. Most cold ones of such rank bring with them a damphir to feed on when they grow hungry.”
Faiza’s eyes widened, their pure brown color sparking with flames of boysenberry that caused Bird to blink for a moment. It had taken her a few days to get used to the differing shades of purple that resided in her people’s eyes. Remnants of their past ancestors, sirens who’d mated with the magic users of this ancient land, had left behind a diverse and deep culture.
“Truly!” She turned back stretching, it seemed, to get a glimpse of the cold one, or vampire as Bird knew of them. She felt curiosity in the vampire, but something warned her to stay away from him. She assumed it stemmed from her past dealings with the Wellings family and their cruelty, yet in the same feeling of warning, she was drawn to the familiarity of a British person and had to quell her desire to speak with him.
Behind them, someone cleared their throat. Both woman and child turned to find Fadi and Essa standing behind them. Fadi clicked her tongue, her eyes narrowed on Faiza. “It is rude for a princess to stare.”
Faiza inched closer to Bird, lowering her eyes to the floor. “Yes, elder.” Her voice wasn’t above a whisper.
Bird hated when Fadi forced the excitable Faiza to retreat into silence. It was unnatural to see the younger girl so quiet.
“Fadi, she is only interested in him because he from so far away.” Essa’s soft voice calmed the growing tension. She gave Faiza an easy smile. “It’s fun to watch them, yes?”
Faiza hesitantly lifted her gaze to Essa and nodded. “He is so… I just wanted to know if he was sick or…or…hungry!” Once again, Faiza’s eyes were sparkling with curiosity.
Fadi gave Essa a disgruntled look, before speaking. “You are all to appear in the main room of the inner court within an hour.” With that, she gave a short bow and turned, leaving them alone in the garden.
Once she was far away enough, Bird let out a sigh, placing her hand on her hip. “I don’t think she likes me.”
Essa chuckled, her white teeth flashing against her mahogany colored skin. Her thick braids clicked together from the shells that decorated her hair. She walked up the steps and moved over to Bird’s side. “It’s because you flaunt your intentions of being less than maidenly.”
Bird scoffed at that. “Maidenly? Fadi’s intention isn’t to turn us all into maidens, but servants. I know this because I was worse than a servant; I was a slave.”
“Truly?” Essa gushed.
“You tease,” Bird groused, sending her cousin an annoyed look. “Still, I don’t believe a woman should lay still and wait till it ends.”
“Kahlia!” Essa exclaimed, reaching to cover Faiza’s ears. “Not in front of the child,” she chided.
Contrite, she apologized, before sighing. “I apologize for my words, but I grow more impatient with her lessons as each day passes. I feel like I am being trained once again to bow and scrape, only this would be a husband and not a vampire.”
“The princess seems to be agitated,” Essa idly remarked to Faiza, taking her hand as she started to walk away. “She requires time alone to think. We two shall get some treats from the kitchen.”
Hearing this, Bird chased after them. “I’ll…I’ll stop my complaints.” She joined Essa and Faiza.
“Good. As my wedding grows closer, I wish to spend these last few weeks with my dearest cousin.” She punctuated this statement by brushing a hand along Faiza’s cheek before meeting Bird’s eyes. “And my harridan cousin, before I’m shipped off to a foreign country.”
Seeing the darkness in Essa’s eyes, Bird’s own temper wilted. She realized she had erred in her rant about Fadi and her “maidenly” lessons. “I am sorry. I shouldn’t have said what I did when you are being forced to marry a complete stranger.”
“It isn’t your fault,” Essa stated bluntly. She gave Bird a small smile. “Kahlia, you will soon understand this world and our ways. The court life can be cruel and treacherous like the adder who hides amongst stone and sand. In truth, it has been hard living without the knowledge of how or where my future will lead me.”
Bird felt she knew more than anyone else how Essa felt. Though she hadn’t been a princess, she’d been unsure of her future at the Wellings’. Would she live past the next day? Would they someday beat her too hard? Or drink too deeply?
She’d lived her life unsure of what would come. Her only peace had been the work, the monotony of routine. Her soul had been healed several times simply scrubbing the hall floors. In those moments, she could drift into a peaceful silence that would wrap her and hold her. Other than those moments, she’d spent her life in a forced daze, away from feeling anything that threatened her existence.
Instead of sharing her long story, she instead reached out, laying her hand gently upon Essa’s, her eyes solemn. “I believe I understand far more than you realize, cousin.”
The two had exchanged a long, quiet stare before the impatient Faiza pulled their attention. “Essa, are we not getting treats from the cook?”
Essa blinked, breaking their connection, and smiled down at Faiza. “I must have lost myself in thought. Dear me, let us hurry. We cannot be late for the meeting.”
“Oh, yes, the meeting,” Bird said in a mock frightened tone as she followed after the two. She rolled her eyes. “One wouldn’t wish to be late for the lecture.”
***
Talon couldn’t withhold the curse as he was once again escorted out of the entrance hall. King Alma seemed just as determined as he to not give away his mines. Talon knew his expression was black with anger. He couldn’t remain here forever.
Impatient to leave the country where she resided, he’d pushed his point trying to convince the king to bend, but he’d been rebutted with a simple sentence.
“The metal you seek, vampire, belongs to my people, and I would not sell it for a mere handshake.”
His dark-magenta eyes hadn’t wavered, his grim expression had said it all. Talon wasn’t sure what he would have to do in order to convince the man he was worthy of his trust.
Releasing another curse, he turned sharply on his heel and made his way towards the west gate where his sedan awaited. Only when he arrived at it, he changed his mind and decided he would explore the crowded streets of the city R’or. He ignored the gate guard urging that he take with him a few soldiers, as he wished to lose himself amongst the noise and ambiance of the city.
His boots worked well enough. He handed his heavy coat over to a servant to be returned to his abode whilst he walked towards the main road. The city R’or lied sprawled out beneath the palace. Its red roofs and yellow sand colored buildings from a distance melded easily with the surrounding desert, but when one drew closer, one noticed the sprinkle of high towers and could smell the salt from the sea that the city curved along.
The white sails of ships appeared like clouds as they neared the bustling port. Merchants used Katari as refueling ground before they continued further south. Walking further away from the palace and closer towards the main road, he stared to people themselves. Men with heavy beards and orange colored turbans walked along discussing serious matters in their native tongue.
Talon paused as some woman opened the window above and chucked out dirty water. The water barely missed his shoulder, and she muttered something before quickly shutting the shutters. Children ran back and forth wearing short versions of the older male’s outfit, a pair of loose cotton trousers and loose shirts. Though the color wasn’t white, but a dingy pale yellow.
The air was filled with salt and spices as he drew closer to where vendors had set up tents and stalls. The market was packed, as people of different ethnicities wandered, shopping or searching for particular items.
A man called out to a Spaniard with a bright grin, offering curved swords and other precious stones and metal that laid on his table.
Drawn in by his fast talking, Talon moved his way over to the man.
“I have here the purest of Katari metal sharpened into a Saudi sword.” His voice was smooth and filled with a seller’s luring quality. He lifted the curved blade. The sunlight bounced off it. Intrigued by what Talon thought of as a sample of the metal his father sought, he drew closer. A hand landed on his arm, staying him. He turned to see who had the audacity to touch him and felt the air seize in his chest.
“He lies,” Bird said. Her face was covered, but he would recognize her voice anywhere. She turned her eyes from the seller to his unreadable expression. “He is a Gahiji who travels.” She motioned with her chin to the metals spread along the table. “He takes from the Indo people and resells it to gullible travelers here. They are as desperate as you are for Katari metal.”
She tightened her hold on his arm. “Come, I will take you to a real seller.”
Bemused, and still searching for a way to react to Bird appearing before him, Talon allowed her to pull him away from the crowd that had started to form around the lying vendor’s table. “For an English prince to come alone to the main square of R’or is not good. You could easily be tricked by a smooth-talking Gahiji.”
Hearing this snapped Talon out of his bemusement. He pulled on his arm, forcing them to come to a halt near the outer streets of the market. “I am not a naïve boy,” he snapped.
Bird wasn’t surprised at the English prince’s attitude. He was a royal vampire. It was to be expected that he would talk down to her. Only she was no longer a servant, and she no longer had reason to take such tone from anyone. “But you are an outsider who knows little about this country, let alone the city.” She frowned as she turned fully to face him, and pointed at his hip. “You wear a purse of coins there, no?”
Talon blinked, glancing down, and cursed when he found it gone. Straightening, he whipped his gaze around the market, but the crowded area was thick with people. He couldn’t even begin to guess as to who had stolen his money.