“And so are you,” he said with a chuckle.
Already tired, I eased away from him. “It’s time. If we linger any longer…”
He slid off the bed and stood before me, pulling me to my feet. “Get your things. We’ll go through the tunnels again, and you’ll be outside the city before my father knows you’re gone.”
With a silent nod, I went for my pack. Removing Ro’s feather, I called to him, hoping he’d meet me where we parted and I wouldn’t have to wait a full two hours for his arrival. After replacing it in my pack and arranging my lute for travel, Will led me back into the walls again, this time winding our way further and further down. After at least twenty minutes of creeping through the darkness, I started to worry I might never see the sky again. I was about to say something to him, when we stopped.
“On the other side of this door, it’s about fifty feet to the walls of the city. You’ll have to hurry as patrols pass by every ten minutes. There’s a hidden door straight across from here, marked by a triangular stone set amongst squares. Push on that, and you’ll be free of Torell. The river doesn’t run on this side, but if you head to the left, you’ll find the main road in about two miles.”
A hard lump formed in my throat. It was my first goodbye since I was nine years old that I knew I’d cry for later. “Will…”
He set a finger to my lips. “It’s all right. You don’t have to say anything at all.”
Already missing him, I pulled him to me, pouring the things I couldn’t say into a last kiss, my desire for travel quieting for a brief moment. When the sound of soldiers’ armor rattling by caught my attention, I broke away.
“I’ll see you soon,” I whispered.
“Be safe,” he said. “Remember who you are— history, parents, talents aside. Who you are is in your heart, regardless of anything else.”
I smiled and cracked open the door, listening for the sounds of other people. “The same to you,” I winked at him, “Your Highness.”
Quick as a flash, I darted outside, aimed for the stone wall looming before me. I pulled up short, scanning for the triangle shape as directed. A minute passed before I found it, and the hidden door swung outwards with a groan at my touch. Before I closed it, I took one last look behind me, to the place I’d left Willem.
“I swear I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Chapter 20
I’m not certain who was more relieved by our reunion, Ro or me. The bird was uncharacteristically affectionate from the moment he landed, going so far as to nuzzle my cheek with the side of his beak and literally taking me under his wing.
“It’s good to see you, too,” I said, laughing as I batted his feathers from my face. “How are you? Did you have any trouble?”
“No, Lady. I worried too much for your safety,” he replied. “You are well?”
I pushed out from underneath his wing, nodding. “Still in one piece. You may never be rid of me at this rate.”
“I am glad for your company.”
Setting my hand against his neck, I smoothed the soft feathers there. “As am I.” I paused, admiring the blue sheen of his body. “You’ve more color than before, friend. What’ve you been up to?”
“Nothing unusual, Lady.”
“You’ve not gotten yourself spelled or bathed in some sort of magical pool, have you?”
“Not as I know.”
I stepped back and studied him, admiring the change. “Whatever it is, it’s incredibly lovely.”
“Thank you, Lady.”
Climbing up into the saddle, a thrill of anticipation set in.
“Where are we off to?”
I gave his head a scratch as I considered it. “North, I think. There’s something I need to see.”
“North? But that way lies death.”
I settled into position, gripping the handles to trigger the harness. “I’m aware of the war, Ro, but I must see this assumed enemy for myself. There’s evil afoot that I wouldn’t have guessed at before, and if I’m to stop it, I need to know what I’m fighting for.”
He shifted from foot to foot. “I’ll not take you into the heart of danger.”
“I know it sounds bad, and it may be, but if you won’t take me, I’ll be forced to go another way that might be even more hazardous. This is bigger than either of us, Ro, and I’m the only one to do what needs to be done.”
“North, Lady?” he said after another moment of restless shifting.
“North,” I said, “to speak with the giants.”
If birds could sigh, I’m certain he would’ve. “Then north we go.”
We rose into the air with a great flapping of feathers and took to the sky. What a wonder it was to know the feel of wings. Truthfully, I envied him the freedom of flying whenever he wished for it. While music is a journey for the ears, flight brought every sense within me alive at full capacity. Seeing the land speeding by below us, the larger picture painted by hills and valleys, the sharp points of treetops reaching up to us, there was no greater sight in all of creation. The beauty of the world at a distance is unimaginable from the ground. It wasn’t dirt and pebbles and leaves and bugs and animals, but vast, sweeping canvases of landscapes, each living thing a mere drop of color placed by a great artist. All things moved in a dance that could only be seen from high above and far away. The very planet itself sung within my soul.
After several hours in the air, my aching fingers finally demanded I let go of the saddle grips. With his keen eyes, Ro spotted a rabbit and swooped in on it, his claws bringing a swift, painless death after a brief moment of terror for the creature. We set down on the edge of a small forest, a good distance from the clutch of houses we’d passed minutes before, and I made a fire to roast the rabbit.
As I cleaned and skinned my lunch, Ro went in search of his own meal, intending to scoop fish from a nearby lake. In the quiet of my own thoughts, my spirit once again light for being on the road, I turned my mind to planning as much as I could of our next stop.
Per Willem, the giant’s defense encampment was a mere five miles from Litania’s forces, near the mountains they called home. Giant settlements dotted the rocky range from Litania, across the border with Bern, creeping over the eastern edge of Litania, and into the Audemane region of Viya. The giants mostly kept to themselves, operating as a kingdom of their own. They were generally farmers, with a few known scholars and historians amongst them. On the whole, giants were peaceful, given the exception of a few rogues such as gave birth to the fantastical tales and legends I’d heard. If not for the business with Prince Aaron, they typically traded farming methods and produce with their human neighbors, in Willem’s experience, and primarily only ate the large fruits and vegetables they grew, as few animals would be big enough to make so much as a snack for their bellies.
Ro returned as I was removing the rabbit from the spit over the fire. “I’ve had a thought,” I said. “You probably won’t like it.”
“What is it, Lady?”
I picked at the meat, considering my options. “I think I’ll need you to drop me on the Viya side of the giant settlements, and I’ll have to go in on foot. They don’t eat meat out of practicality, and I won’t risk your safety should they think you a potential appetizer.”
“What is Viya?”
“The next kingdom over,” I explained. “The Viyanese aren’t at war with the giants, and if I approach from that side, it’s more likely I won’t be killed on sight.”
“You speak of the grape fields, Lady?”
Of course I should’ve realized a bird would have little understanding of humanity’s obsession with borders and boundaries. “I believe so, yes. They produce a lot of wine there, so I imagine there are quite a lot of vineyards. Have you been before?”
“There’s an abandoned castle there with a high tower,” Ro said. “I’ve used it before. I could see the large homes of giants from that perch. I think it will be safe for us.”
Taking a bite of roasted rabbit, I chewed though
tfully. “I think that sounds like a good plan. How long will it take us to get there?”
He tilted his head up and studied the sky. “If good weather prevails, we will arrive before your evening meal tomorrow.”
I tossed a few bits of meat his way. “Then we’ll hope our good fortune holds, friend.”
Soaked and shivering, I hunkered down in the corner of the decrepit tower, breaking apart the remains of a busted chair for kindling. My teeth chattered as I struck the flint again, the sparks landing on the dried leaves I’d scrounged from the nooks and crannies of the crumbling castle.
“So much for our good fortune,” I muttered.
We’d flown for half a day in miserable weather, continuously stopping for me to regain feeling in my hands and feet after the rain and wind pelted us with adversity. It was the middle of the night before we reached our destination, and I was too exhausted, cold, and hungry to consider approaching the giants immediately. There, amidst the drafty stone walls of the empty tower, I huddled under a blanket, praying to the spirits that Ro could find something in the way of food for me.
He returned about an hour after leaving me, dropping a strawberry the size of my head on the floor.
“It was the best I could do in the dark, Lady,” he said. “The rain has driven all the game into shelter for the night.”
I picked up the berry, my mouth watering. “You took this from the giants?”
“Yes,” he said. “I saw no harm in it.”
“Perhaps not, but I’ll do what I can to repay them tomorrow.” I shivered and pulled the blanket tighter around me. “Thank you for your help.”
“Flying in the rain was not a good choice, Lady. I worry you may take ill.”
I waved off the concern. “Nonsense. A bit of water never hurt any…” My nose tickled, and I sneezed. “Never hurt anyone.”
He cocked his head and looked at me in what I was sure was exasperation. “Eat and rest. Let the fire warm you. I will keep watch.”
I pouted, but did as he said. Despite my insistence otherwise, I was mildly concerned I might have a fever. Even with the blanket and fire, I’d not stopped shivering.
The strawberry was delicious and sweet, but I could only eat half before my body was too exhausted to stay awake any longer. My muscles spasming, I set the uneaten fruit aside and laid down, curling up near the heat of the flames. Too cold to sleep, I watched Ro settle in, his gaze drifting, but always coming back to me. The vision of him swam before my eyes, and before long there were two and three of him. His blue-black feathers burst into white hot flames. Terrified, I choked back my screams, skittering away from the gruesome sight. The creature screamed and clawed at me, even as I begged it to stop. Wherever it touched me, it burned, spreading over my body like a wildfire sweeps across the plains. Unable to bear a moment more, my mind took pity on me and plunged me into unconsciousness.
The scent of flowers. Something cool against my forehead. The twittering of little birds. These were my first sensations as I crept back to wakefulness.
Every inch of my body protested when I tried to move, even to lift my arm to push aside whatever lay over my eyes.
“Fetch Morgana.” A deep, booming voice made whatever I laid upon tremble. “She’s waking.”
Lifting a hand to my face, I met with wet cloth and pushed it aside. I winced when daylight penetrated my eyelids.
“Be still,” the voice said again, rattling my brain, “the healer is coming.”
“Where am I?” I croaked, my words shaky and broken.
“Where you’ve been the last two days since that bird brought you to my breakfast table.”
Gradually, I adjusted to the light, squinting to see my surroundings. “Two days?”
“You were sick,” he answered. “Morgana says you’ll pull through, though.”
Turning my head towards the voice, my eyes popped when I saw him. In a panic, I sat up, clutching the blankets around me. “You’re a… A…”
“A giant, aye.” As Lady Oria had looked, he too had skin the color of over-baked bread, though his thinning hair had a redder color than hers. His clothes were far plainer than Oria’s grand gowns, but he was clean, his beard smartly trimmed. “I’m Amos. This is my home. Who are you, little thing, and why were you delivered by a bird I’ve never seen the likes of before?”
Why my tongue was so twisted, I couldn’t say. It wasn’t as though I hadn’t seen a giant before, after all. Aware of how dim-witted and rude I was being, I swallowed back my nerves as best I could. “I’m Jack. Ro, the bird, he’s my friend. Is he all right? He’s not been hurt, has he?”
Amos chuckled. “Ro, is it? Aye, he’s fine. He’s popped in to check on you off and on, but we’ve left him alone. How did you befriend such a creature?” His face darkened and he drew back. “Are you a witch?”
I pressed my fingers to my eyes, shaking my head gingerly. “Kindness is far better than any magic I possess. I’m no witch.” I took a moment to take in my surroundings. I’d been laid on a pallet of fabric scraps on a table beside a very large bed. The room itself was fairly small for a giant, and little more than an alcove off of a larger space that might’ve been a kitchen. Amos sat in a wooden chair near the window, studying me with intense curiosity.
“I don’t suppose Ro left my pack here as well, did he?” I asked.
Amos stood and left the room, returning a moment later to dump my bag on the pallet beside me. “I’m guessing you mean this?”
Relieved, I pulled it to me, more concerned with my lute than anything else. In as much as I could tell, the instrument seemed to be no worse for the wear.
“Oh dearie,” Amos said, leaning in to get a closer look, “where in the world did you get that?”
It wasn’t precisely the way I’d intended to introduce myself, and I wasn’t sure what the giant would do to me when he learned of my mission. “I, um…”
“Amos?” a female voice called from the other room.
“We’re here,” he said back. “She’s awake now.”
A giantess with hair redder than flame strode in, heading straight for me. Wearing neither smile nor frown, she was all business. “Feeling better then?” she asked, hands on her hips.
“I suppose so,” I said. Her gaze was intimidating. “Have I really been here two days?”
“Aye, and lucky for you I was still here.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “They’ve asked for me out on the front, you know. I’ve wounded kinsmen to see to.”
“I’m so sorry I’ve caused you trouble,” I said, guilty for keeping her away from her work. “I’m very grateful for your help, and if there’s anything I can do—”
Morgana snorted. “Something one tiny human girl could do? I think not. Unless you know how to stop that mad king from—”
“Morgana, calm yourself,” Amos said, setting a hand on her shoulder. “She’s nothing to do with that business.”
“Actually, I…” I trailed off, instantly regretting opening my mouth.
“Actually what?” Morgana said with a grimace. “Have you a whole flock of those giant birds to take away the Litanian army?”
“No, but—”
“Or maybe you could just send the one to fly off with that wretched king?”
“I’d never ask Ro to do such a thing, but—”
“Then I’ve no use for you,” she said, fishing a bottle from her skirt pocket and plunking it on the table beside me. “A drop of that three times a day and you’ll be good as new within the—”
Frustrated that she’d not let me speak, I scrambled to my feet and glared at her. “But I am here to help. If you’d just listen, I could tell you. I’ve come to stop this horrible war for good, but if you won’t even let me talk, how do you expect me to tell you how?”
Morgana stared down at me, her mouth hanging open a little. “You’ve come to… You can’t be serious. You? What could you possibly—”
“I’m a Bard. A very good one, by all accounts,” I said. “I
can stop the war without hurting anyone.” I paused, unsure of that last part. “At least, I hope to do it without hurting anyone.” Shaking off my doubts, I fixed her with a firm gaze. “I intend to try, but I’ve lost a lot of time.”
“One Bard against two armies bent on killing each other?” Morgana said with a sniff. “I hope for your sake you’ve got more than a lute for a weapon.”
I frowned. “I do. Kindness.”
She barked a laugh. “Are you certain her fever’s gone down, Amos? This one’s delusional.”
I stuffed my hand in my pocket, clutching the Resonant Stone still with me. Closing my eyes, I focused, taking deep, calming breaths to ease my irritation at being so discounted. Though my body was weak, I couldn’t afford to waste any more time arguing. My concentration set, I opened my mouth and sang.
Though the sun may set
And the darkness fall
Though the shadows may close in
Let one thing be true
And always shine through
Keep your hope burning bright in your heart.
The ground shuddered beneath us, groaning as light released from the very rocks and soil under the house. Warmth seeped into my bones as welcome as sunshine after a storm, and I gasped, sinking to my knees in exhaustion after even that brief demonstration. My heart pounded with the feelings left behind by the melody, and I thought I might cry for all the wonder and joy I knew life to be. I released the Resonant Stone from my grasp and laid on my side, desperately trying to catch my breath.
I could do this. I knew I could. I would sing, I would dance, I would play, and this war would end. There might be scars on those touched by the violence and hate, and they would always have their memories of dark times, but I could make them a thing of the past. The people could heal. I only needed my strength back, and anything would be possible.
As my eyes closed, I caught sight of Morgana’s face peeking at me over the edge of the table.
The Stillness of the Sky: A Flipped Fairy Tale (Flipped Fairy Tales) Page 20
