by L B Keen
“There is no reason to search, an urchin would be far and away by now.” Bird couldn’t help the amusement she felt.
“Do you find this amusing?!” Talon growled, seeing it clearly in the eyes that met his.
“Yes,” she said brightly. “I’ve been watching you for some time and wondered at how such a great and powerful vampire could allow his purse to be so easily taken from him.”
Glaring at her, Talon realized his lips had started upwards. Catching himself, he straightened and gave her a jerky nod. “Then I will thank you for interceding. I would have offered money for a phony sword and would have realized I had no money to give.”
Taken aback by his sudden seriousness and tone, Bird returned his bow with an awkward curtsy. Having not forgotten her training of the past, she stood, her tone inquisitive. “Do you plan to continue exploring? I could—”
“No, I will be returning to the palace post haste.” With that curt response, he turned on his heel, leaving her standing in surprised silence.
Rude and selfish is what Bird remembered of those she’d once served, and the Prince of England had not disappointed. He had rudely cut her off and marched now away from her as if she had the plague. She inwardly wondered again why she’d bothered to help him. Her own intentions had been to learn more about the traders who came and went. She enjoyed the sounds of different languages in the air.
“He did not hurt you?”
Dua appeared to be coming out of nowhere, though he’d been following all this time. The man was scarily good at not being seen.
Bird didn’t turn to face him when she spoke. “No, I believe him only embarrassed to have been caught unaware.”
Dua merely grunted. “He spoke rudely to you, princess.”
Bird grinned. “I know. Was it not refreshing?”
Dua peered down at the princess and wondered if she were truly fully healed from the fever she had suffered, though her mind’s health wasn’t his concern, only her physical safety.
Bird, unaware of Dua’s thoughts, mind wandered. When she felt pressured and overwhelmed by her new role, she came to the market to roam amongst the people as a stranger seeking to be a normal woman. The inner court meeting with the queen had felt akin to a lynching.
As Bird was the daughter of the king’s favorite concubine, she’d been forced to deal with his wife, who wasn’t very happy that the king had reinstated her mother’s title. Returning her to the role of high priestess and first level concubine. Meaning not only was she not only second to the queen in rank but she essentially now held more power than the queen.
The entire meeting had been a trap laid for her, as her mother was currently absent.
Flashback…
“Is it true you have been avoiding the elder’s lessons?”
Bird tensed and paused on her way to taking her place on one of the lower pillows. The main room of the inner court boasted an indoor pool that reflected light from the sun that could be seen through the high ceiling that had been decorated with small marble pieces until the image of the ancient god R’or, which the capital city was named after, appeared above with his mighty bow. The light bounced off the golden pieces that represented stars.
The inner court had been filled with all the women who were related to the royal house. The queen herself sat on a dais, as was tradition. The second step would have been where her mother would reside and so on until they hit the landing, where female relatives and princesses sat. Thick carpets and large pillows had been arranged to keep one’s bottom from feeling numb. And trays of fruits and nuts had been laid out for the women to eat.
The queen was resplendent in her flowing robe of dark rouge, the golden rings settled in the twisted locks of her hair. A servant had connected the golden circlet with a chain, which pieces of shaped metal hung from. It created a tinkling sound like the gurgle of a pawn when she shifted. “Fadi says you’ve ignored her summons more than once.”
Bird would have sent a hateful glare to the bitter prune if it wasn’t for all the eyes that had turned towards her. She cleared her throat, dawning a doleful expression. “It is not that I wish to miss her meeting, it is just,” she paused, feigning nervousness, “there is so much I’ve yet to learn that once I find understanding in something, I find myself caught up and unable to pull myself away.”
The queen’s shrewd gaze observed her silently. “Is that so?” She turned her gaze to those who also resided in the room. “Is it not that you see the elder’s words are useless and superfluous? Be honest, my dear, you’ve no intention of truly learning our way. It is beneath your English sensibilities to do so.” Her acid tongue stung, and when she met Bird’s gaze once again, Bird could see the hostility that lied there.
No one spoke out in defense of her, so Bird had no choice but to champion for herself. She released a soft sigh and straightened her back fully as she’d remained slightly bowed at the waist in a show of respect. Drawing her hands together in front of her, she lifted them, showing the queen her palm. Letting the back of her hands barely brush her forehead, she lowered herself, performing the formal version of princesses greeting.
She could hear the murmuring of those in the room. After all, Bird had feigned being unable to do any of the formal bows or saying. She’d bought herself time by playing klutz and slow-witted.
Rising, she let the back of her hands touch her forehead once more before lowering them to her lap. As she lowered herself to the ground, the point of the movement was to show the elegance and grace that a woman of court possessed. She met the queen’s gaze head on. “I will allow that my missing of lessons is wrong, but…I cannot be accused of not listening or being above learning the ways of my father’s and mother’s people.”
Slowly, the queen’s eyes narrowed, and she spoke, her eyes still upon Bird and then Fadi. “Did you not say the day she would be able to do the maiden’s bow would be far in the future?”
Fadi, frowning, gave a short nod. “Every time she has performed it before me, she has fallen or failed to complete it fully.”
“I see,” the queen said with a sniff before she flicked her finger towards Bird. “It seems you’ve completed your etiquette training. I believe now is the time to bring forth a list of suitors. Don’t you agree, Princess Kahlia?”
Bird didn’t react outwardly. Instead, the palms of her hands grew sweaty. Marriage? Her mother had made it clear her wishes for Bird was for her to become the next head priestess. A priestess had more power as well as a choice of who she would marry. She glanced over to Essa whose bowed head and averted gaze proved she was in an inescapable situation.
Inhaling deeply, she leaned forward with her head bowed. “I hear, and am pleased, Queen.”
***
Now as she watched the angry prince’s retreat, she sorely wished he’d stayed. At least then he would have served as the perfect distraction from her inner panic. Her mother would return soon from Egypt, and when she did, she was sure her worries would be laid to rest.
Turning around, Bird walked back towards the market. She would instead spend her time quelling the curiosity that she had about the prince.
Chapter Five
What had she been thinking? Talon wondered to himself as he returned to his lodgings. She’d been alone and disguised. It didn’t make sense that the King of Katari allowed his daughter such freedom. Bird wasn’t a woman a man could ignore.
Standing outside near the fountain, Talon released a heavy sigh. He’d been taken in immediately by her eyes and hadn’t known what else to do other than run. He was a coward, but he was also struggling with keeping to his own vow. He would not destroy the world she lived in because of his own desire.
Still, the urge to pull her close hadn’t abated. Instead, it had grown stronger. He swallowed as if he could taste her on his tongue. His body thrummed with his need for her.
He was a sinner, and here he stood, desiring still to possess her. He lowered his head in an effort to group again the reasons why he sh
ould stay away from her, and again, he hardened his resolve to do so.
Lifting his cup, he drank from it, the bitter taste quelling the hunger for only so long.
***
The next morning, as usual, he awakened to Dubh softly calling his name. As he’d done the days before, he went through his ablutions and hurried immediately to the palace to meet with the king.
His entry was the easy part. The west gate palace guards were getting easier to recognize and he was slowly coming to realize they looked at him as if he were slow-witted. Did they believe him to be foolish to return after having been rejected so many times? Talon did not care. He would succeed in getting the agreement from the king.
He had no other choice if he sought to gain the one thing that’d been his goal since the death of his mother. Moving quickly through the outer hallway, the overhang of stone ceiling shaded him from the sun. He could hear laughter and glanced out to the garden where a roofless gazebo made of stone sat surrounded by flowers and bushes. He hadn’t noticed it before due to him being pre-occupied with thoughts on how to get the king to go along with his offered proposal. But now, as he glanced out, he realized he was seeing the women from the inner court.
The sun bounced off their jeweled necklaces and jewel toned carves and their laughter drifted over to him. He lifted a hand as he felt himself drawn to their laughter and drifting closer towards it. He realized one of the many women was Bird. She, unlike the others, wore only a head scarf, giving view to her lower face. Her hands held the hands of a little girl. The two were dancing as a man with a guitar played, his soft voice echoing out.
Other women who sat among the pillows clapped their hands along with the tune, some of their voices joining the man’s. Talon watched as Bird released the little girl’s hands and spun in a circle, her light skirts lifted, giving view to the loose pants she wore underneath. Her bangles on her ankles jangled as she jumped side to side, her eyes focused on the laughing little girl.
He took another step forward, her swaying movements pulling him closer. Akin to a starving man, he craved more of her laughter, more of her smile. He unknowingly reached towards her, his teeth ached and mouth watered, all his sense desiring the woman beyond his reach.
“Prince?”
Jerked out of the pool of need he’d been experiencing, flustered, he dropped his hand and turned to face the nameless servant. “Y-yes?”
“The king would see you now.”
Pulling back from the light, Talon receded into the shadow, turning to fully face the servant. “Ah, yes.” He didn’t look back. Their laughter and music had drawn him in. He curled his fingers at his side and made his way to meet King Allam once more.
***
“Your hair grown much over these few months, Princess.”
Bird smiled at her reflection. “You are kind, Fi, but it is only because I have you to care for it.”
Fi hid her pleasure at Bird’s comment by lifting another strand of hair to begin the process of winding it all together into a larger braid. Close in age with Bird, Fi was short, but fierce in her post and duty to the newly found princess. Her dark skin and narrowed eyes gave her a hard appearance, but one compliment from Bird caused her to smile easily.
“Princess, your words are too kind.” She reached, dipping the tips of her fingers into the mixture of oils and butters. “If you were not so blessed, my skills would be useless.”
Bird simply smiled, her eyes focused on the approaching servant that brought a tray with her midnight snack. The large bay windows were open and the desert rose scent floated through the shifting white curtains and over the tiled floor, mixing with the scent of oils and steam from the bath she’d left just minutes ago.
Fi continued brushing Bird’s hair. Her eyes glanced at the princess’ reflection, a flicking of worry creasing her brow. She focused on Bird’s hair again when she asked, “Princess, is it possible the queen will try to marry you off before your mother returns?”
Bird paused in picking fruit from the tray offered to her. “No.” She grabbed a piece of the orange and popped the unpeeled piece into her mouth and hummed. “She would need Father’s approval.”
“The king isn’t likely to disagree with her,” Fi said, worry entering her voice. “You are twenty soon. It would be odd if you were not offered a selection ball.”
Bird sighed and leaned back. She met Fi’s worried gaze in the mirror. “And what would happen if I demanded to be excluded? Father needs no more stress and Mother…” Bird lowered her eyes, her fingers playing with the edge of the towel that laid across her lap. “Mother is not here to fight for me.”
Fi’s expression had grown darker as Bird continued speaking. Seeing this, Bird turned around to face her directly. Giving Fi a humorless smile, she said grimly, “But I won’t let them be rid of me so easily.”
Hearing this, Fi’s eyes brightened. “Princess?”
Bird gave a short nod. “I’ve lived a life catering to others and was used for little more than housework. I desire to remain free for a longer while.” She extended her hand, taking Fi’s, this time truly smiling. “I’ve been assured by Fadia that I have atrocious manners and will not likely be chosen by a groom.”
Hearing this, Fi laughed, her dark eyes flickering with humor. “I feel sorry for your suitors, Princess.”
Bird released her hand. Turning around, she smirked at her reflection, her eyes shining with a mischievous light. “As you should. It will not be easy for them to wed this princess.”
***
Walking along the long hall, Bird made her way past palace guards and servant women towards her father’s main chambers. Dua and Fi followed closely behind. She wished to be given permission to go to the desert once more. She waved a hello to the guards who stood watch outside of the doors. She pushed the doors open, only to pause when she saw her father had invited dignitaries to his solar.
She mentally cursed. She hadn’t worn the traditional headdress as she’d been impatient that morning. She’d missed the time to sneak from the palace. Meeting her father’s surprised gaze, she immediately curtsied and brought her hands before her in a maidenly manner. “Princess Kahlia greets Father morning,” she quickly said, in hopes to reduce the shock of her sudden appearance. She glanced at the table and could see the men had been enjoying port, and probably a deep political conversation.
She only recognized three of them. There was Sir Wilhelm, with his heavy moustache and rotund body. He’d been sent from Germany ten months ago. Her father could barely stand the man. She’d heard about more than one occasion when her father had kicked him out for being pompous and rude. He looked over disapprovingly now.
Her father cleared his throat from where he sat at the head of the table. He motioned to another male who sat to his right. “Signor Gutierrez was just telling me of the accomplishments of his kingdom’s economics.”
A handsome man with curly brown hair nodded to her. Bird nodded back, and though she avoided eye contact, something about the Spaniard had bothered her since she’d formally been introduced to him. There was a certain slimy quality to his personality.
She curtsied for him. Straightening, she laid a hand over her heart and bowed her head slightly. “I apologize, Father, for interrupting your meeting. I shall excuse myself. I’m—”
“Wait!”
Confused, Bird paused in her attempt to leave. She wasn’t sure why her father would stop her from leaving, as he didn’t like the inner court being involved in the outer court’s politics. “Yes, father?”
“Prince Talon has been talking of exploring the outer border of our large city.” King Alam’s eyes turned to Talon, who’d successfully feigned interest in the fireplace upon her entrance. “My daughter spends much of her time along the outer border. Despite my warnings of Gahiji kidnapping her, she continues to explore the lands. She would do best in showing you it.”
Bird felt a thrum of excitement of being alone with the prince from her country. Despite her kno
wledge of his arrogance, she desired to speak with him.
“That will be alright. I have a guide who will come after this meeting is over to show me the borderlands.”
Her anticipation evaporated, as the cold-eyed prince turned from the flames. Setting his cup upon the ledge, he gave a short bow at the waist. “If you would excuse me, I’ve another appointment scheduled.”
He gave another short bow to the men in the room before he turned on his heel, leaving the room, his red eyes barely glancing at Bird. She half turned, watching him leave as he passed her. She couldn’t help but feel as if he avoided her. He didn’t know she was the one he met in the market. There was no reason for him to avoid her. Turning back to her father, she said her bye and quickly left, chasing after the prince.
It took her a moment as his longer legs took up more space, as he headed towards the main gate.
“Prince Talon! Prince!”
Talon feigned deafness as Bird called after him. He couldn’t, wouldn’t turn around. Why was she chasing him? He’d done nothing to gain her interest. As she neared the gates, she called out to him once more. “Prince!”
He’d just reached the gate opening when a hand grabbed his arms, immediately slowing him. She walked around confronting him and blocking his path in one movement.
“Have I offended you?” were the first words she spoke to him. Her eyes flashed with temper at him. “Why do you feign ignorance? I called to you. Did you not hear me?”
Swallowing, Talon avoided her gaze. He looked over her head, over the courtyard. “Princess, you have not offended me. I merely am in a rush for my next appointment.” He went to walk around her, but Bird stepped into his path once more.
“What appointment could the Prince of Britain have when your goal is known by all here in my kingdom?”
“My goal?” Talon asked, curious as to what the gossips were saying about his arrival. “And what is that exactly?”