Beauty And The Beast: The Classic Fantasy Fairy Tale With A Twist
Page 6
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The next sun’s cycle twilight broke over the forest of Naught. Black Feathered Yaws greeted the morning with their high pitched shrills. Inside the Temple, Pluck’s cat ears twitched, hearing two horses approach. “It must be Han,” she spoke to herself, grinning mischievously and scurried for a hiding place.
Han entered the large room, cautiously searching every shadow as she softly growled at him ready to pounce on him.
He told her, “There’s no time for your game this morning, Pluck. We must leave. The prince’s ship shall not wait for us.”
“Leave? Ship?” Pluck questioned a she emerged from behind the statue of the Woolly Tiger. “What do you mean?”
Her abilities had greatly improved since he started training her. He didn't know she was hiding there. Han answered her, “Empress Candiss has died. The time of the new Amalgamation has come. Edward sets sail to collect his betrothed. Together, they shall sail for the Isle of Kismet to claim the crowns of Emperor and Empress. All of the High Guards shall escort him. Great danger awaits all who attempt the crown.”
“All High Guards?” Pluck uttered as she pointed to herself. “You mean even me? Go where I’ll be seen?” His statement confused her and she questioned “But how? Will your men accept me?” She looked to her hands. Her fingers and palms were bare but the rest of her hands were covered in short beige fur like her body.
Han told her, “Pluck, I didn’t train you so you could stay in this Temple forever. You are a High Guard, and one of the finest I’ve ever schooled. Here...” He lifted a long cloak, a pair of boots, and gloves he’d been carrying in one hand as he said, “These shall keep you disguised till the others and yourself become accustomed to your condition.”
She took the brown leather cloak, boots, and gloves.
“Put them on,” he ordered.
Pluck hooked the cloak’s clasp around her neck, pulled on the gloves, and slipped into the calf high boots. She asked, “When will we return?”
Han paused and then answered, “The journey shall take over a season.” He lifted a long object wrapped in a red cloth as he said, “There are two other things.” He showed her a pin.
“A Charging Black Elk, the Fletching insignia,” Pluck exclaimed as she beamed with pride as he fastened the gold and black pin to her cloak just above her heart.
He unwrapped a rapier, a matching main gauche, and a belt with a sword frog and handed them to her.
She took the sword and matching dagger as she uttered, “An Accolade Sword!”
“Yes, the weapon of honor. It’s official, Pluck.” He smiled as pride beamed from his face as he stated, “You’re a High Guard.”
She grabbed the hilt of the rapier, and its silvery brass hand guard twisted over her hand like a vine. Pluck unsheathed the sword, studying its long slender blade.
“The finest weapon in the land,” he said and then Han folded his arms. “Now...” He noticed her tail twitching under her cloak and then questioned, “What are we to do about that?”
Pluck looked back and said, “Watch.” She parted her cloak, revealing her waist, wrapped her tail around herself like a belt, and tucked the tip inside the tail opposite her sword.
Her actions amused him as he commented, “Interesting trick. Your tail is like a third arm.” The sun rose high enough to peer into the Temple’s Eastern windows as he said, “Time we go, come.”
“I will,” she told him as she turned and looked at the room and pool which had been her home for fourteen seasons. “I only have to say farewell.”
Farewell? To whom or what? Had the Protector kept in contact with Pluck? Han shivered at the thought. That place always unsettled him. He told her, “I shall ready the horses.” He left the great room, heading down the hall.
Pluck waited till she heard him leave the Temple and then she yelled, “Fairah! Fairah, I’m leaving.”
“Yes, I heard child,” the Protector spoke as she appeared above the pool and floated down to her. “The commander is correct. Many dangers await all who take this journey. The prince shall many times depend on ye for his safety.”
“I understand that, but did you hear him? I won’t be back for more than a season.”
“What is this face for?” Fairah questioned as she lifted her ghostly hand to Pluck’s chin. “Shall ye miss this old witch?”
“You’ve been like a...” She couldn’t finish with the word mother and said instead, “You’ve been here when no one else was.” She sniffed, fighting back tears as she replied, “So yes, I’ll miss you, witch or not.”
Fairah told her, “Then let me give ye a parting gift. One I have been wishing to give ye these many seasons, but had not the power.” She lifted her hands and green energy swirled around herself, and then the power ceased as she landed on the ground. Fairah smiled again and placed her arms around Pluck, embracing her.
The Protector’s touch startled her, but then she returned the hug. Pluck couldn’t remember a time when she felt more happy or sad. It had been seasons since she felt the touch of another, to feel their love, now she had to depart.
“I don’t want to leave you, but I have my duty,” Pluck told her as she sniffed again, rubbing her panther nose. “Hopefully, I’ll return as I was when I first entered this Temple.”
Fairah stroked her mane as she said, “There... there... child.” The Protector leaned back to look into her face and told her, “I shall be here when ye return. Know that.” She grabbed her furry chin, pulling Pluck’s gaze to hers. “Whether woman or beast, I shall be waiting.”
Pluck nodded, unable to say anything and started for the exit.
Fairah grabbed her left gloved hand, lifted it so Pluck could see, and then told her, “One last thing before ye leave. The marks on ye's finger, they are more than tattoos. They are ye’s connection to the Mystic Rose. It chose ye, remember that. Now ye should be on ye’s way. Han shall be waiting.”
Pluck hugged her again and then ran out.
A tear streamed down Fairah’s face as she spoke, “Look at me.” She wiped the wetness away, before losing her corporeal form. “I am the one who ended up crying.”