114 Ashan 716
It was funny how the right person could make you feel like you were burning up; from just a look. By the time the Knight Captain, her lover, had left her behind and shut the door behind him, Elyna had thought she’d lose control if he didn’t return to the bed he’d left behind, or leave. He’d chosen to leave and she’d slumped back, no less confused then she had been in the middle of the night. One bit he was suggesting that their relationship, if it could be called that, was bought to an end, the next he was laughing and reminding her that he warranted an invitation to an imagined wedding. The young woman stared at the ceiling, watching the shadows cast by the moving curtains. What did he want from her? His actions and his desire were clear and simple. Maybe they should never speak, it just made life complicated. It was a break later that she stumbled to her feet, reclaimed her stockings and boots and checked the room to make sure nothing had been left behind. She picked out the freshest fruit, eating the grapes and sliding two apples and an orange into the pouch attached to her belt. First though, she checked that the tiny wooden dragon Malcolm had won for her, was safely buried at the bottom. Hair nearly braided back once more she made her quiet exit from the inn and stepped out into the busy morning streets of Andaris. She had a couple of breaks to return to her rooms, collect her belongings and get to the dock ready to sail. It was another, bright, clear day and the sun was going to be warm again once it had risen into the sky. For now, the morning came with a chill.
Elyna hadn’t gone far though, when she heard shouting from one of the stalls, and a high pitched screaming. Curious she turned her feet and approach, a crowd was gathering and she slid through the wall of shoulders, watching as woman with long dark hair and a sharp profile hissed and waved her fingers at a youth, who could have been her son. They stood at a cart that cages hung from, in most of them, owls, falcons and even a peregrine eagle fluttered and cawed, distressed. A snow owl tried spreading it’s wings, but found that it couldn’t, leaping from its perch with a scream
“Gerent, catch it! Catch it you idiot,” the woman stamped her foot before scuttling back and out the way. The young man, on his hands and knees made a dive, skidding over the cobbles as the crowed peered and craned, trying to see what he was trying to catch. There was a shriek, form a bird, or the boy, Elyna couldn’t tell, but there was also the sound of a snap and the boy shuffled back, gripping the body of young hawk with two rough hands, one wing flapping hard against his face, so he lent back, cursing and offered up the bird to his mother.
“Take it then, put it back in the bloody cage!”
“Gerent, you idiot,” she kicked him in the thigh, reaching down to grab his dark hair and pull him to his feet. Trying to defend himself, the boy lifted the Hawk as a shield, and Elyna’s feet moved before she could stop them, “wring its neck! You’ve broken its wing!”
“NO!” Elyna tripped over the last person in the crowd and straightened. The woman looked down her long hooked nose and raised a brow.
“Excuse us Miss,” the woman was smart enough to recognise the well-made quality of Elyna’s borrowed green dressed, “I’ve got no time, nor food for a broken bird.”
Gerent wrapped his arm around the animal and turned a pair of dark brown eyes on the Noble woman and she sighed.
“I’ll take it,” Elyna opened her pouch and pulled out the nels. She was an idiot, but she had a soft heart. She held out the money.
“You can’t be serious?” The woman moved to stand infront of her son, as though protecting her. It was Elyna’s turn to raise a brow.
“You don’t want the money?”
“It’s a trick, you’re going to hand me to the guards!”
“I’m trying to buy the hawk,” Elyna struggled to keep her voice low and level.
“What’s the catch? What use could you have for a hawk with a broken wing? It needs killing.”
“Just give me the bird!” She was tired because she hadn’t slept and she was achy and dizziness was threatening once again, she had no patience and she was loosing her temper. A few folk in the crowd shuffled back, putting space between her and them.
It was Gerent who reluctantly held out the Hawk and Elyna collected it, holding it by the legs and trying to tuck it under her arm without bending either of its wings. It was lighter than the apples in her pouch and she waved the coin at the horrible woman, “here, take it.”
When the woman still stood, speechless and unmoving, Elyna forced the money into the youths clutches and spun, marching away from the stall and the people surrounding it. What was she going to do with a bloody Hawk?
The animals heart was beating so hard that she could feel it through her bodice. But slowly it calmed down. She smuggled it into her rooms and set it down on the bed, only for it to try and fly away. With a sigh, Elyna grabbed her bag, and filled it with her toiletries, sewing equipment and spare clothes. She fastened her sword and belt around her waist and turned back to the Hawk who had given up trying to fly and stood, swaying on the bed. It had left her a mess of presents all over the sheets and she groaned, without time to clean them before her departure.
Tipping out all her spare fabric, from the fabric case she kept it in, she dropped the dark material over it’s head and it stilled instantly in the make-shift hood. She wrapped a strip of leather around it’s feet and collected it up, with jesses held in her bare hand. Hands that were already scratched form her journey back to her rooms. Bird on her wrist, leather securely gripped and bag thrown over her shoulder, the Skyrider turned to leave. It was then she noticed the letter under her door. She swore and set the bag and bird down collecting the parchment and breaking the seal of Burhan. If her Mother had something to tell, she rather return home armed and prepared.
Elyna, my dearest daughter
You’re only daughter Ma, Elyna rolled her eyes. Then her heart slowed in her chest and she sank back, leaning against the table before her legs gave away beneath her.
I am delighted to hear of your imminent return home and have good news for you. You have long been aware that I have sought an appropriate match for you and I believe that an arrangement will soon come to fruition. A date has been agreed for the 5th Trial of Sa’un for your happy union. I love you dearly Elyna, and know that you hold reservations against marriage, but you are too young to waste your life alone. I’m unsure what wedge has driven between you and your brother, or the nature of your disagreement, but you have been hurt. This I know for certain. Trust in me to have found a husband of appropriate temperament to match your own. You might think I’m distant, or foolish and fussy here back in Burhan. But this is your home, and I know your heart better than you know yourself.
I hope that you will have an opportunity to meet your Husband during your return to us. It is my sincerest wish, that your concerns and fears are allayed by this unusual opportunity.
There is much to discuss, and I wish you a safe and speedy return.
Your loving mother,
Ps. Please don’t bring that red dress, it makes you look ill .
Elyna folded the letter and slid it into her bag. She collected the bird again and turned, stepping out into the day once more. She made her way towards the docks, reeling. The sun was too bright and too hot on her face. Her eyes itched, her bodice was too tight. How was this happening? She’d known it was coming and still, it was like a bolt of thunder from the blue sky. Some point in the future. She’d imagined her marriage to be some distant point….but no, the 5th trial of Sa’un. What was she going to do? Intent on making it to the ship, she didn’t notice the shouts in her direction as Katheryn called after her. She concentrated on the spray coated stones of the docks and trying to spy the right ship. Which one was it again? How was she getting to Burhan?
Katheryn tapped her on the arm and Elyna turned, blinking and without recognition.
“Elyna? You look like you’ve seen a ghost? Are you alright? Is it the poison, Ben said you were recovering well?”
Katheryn was on the docks? Elyna felt her heart sink through her boots, what was left of it anyway. Sure enough, behind the dark-haired knight she could pick out more familiar faces. Malcolm wouldn’t be far away.
“Why are you bleeding?” Katheryn reached out to touch her hand and the scratches from the Hawk claws and Elyna swallowed.
“Busy morning,” she forced a faint smile and glanced at the bird, covered in what was an unfinished pillowcase.
“Do you need to sit down?”
“No…I need to…I’m getting a ship back home, I’ll get a glove for the monster when I’m on the ship” she turned to survey the shining waters and scowled as the light danced in her eyes.
“You look awful,” there was only concern in her voice and Ely could see that the rest of the usual crew were gathering, curious. It was clear that the Knight didn’t believe her and the woman turned, scanning the docks for her Captain, surely he would know what to do?
