Chapter 21

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by PhoenixCaleon

by PhoenixCaleon

Kaida was completely at ease as we stood in the rain. My staff, much to my surprise, were very receptive about her news and even took the time to ask about the best ways to accommodate the princess. I requested that Ayama go ahead and inform Youta at the very least, to which she reluctantly agreed. Even she wouldn't deny him an official meeting with his cousin.

I glanced at the sky uncertain. "Are you sure about this?" She peeked up at me curious. "Birds don't like rain and neither do princesses."

She smiled softly. "You know many I'm sure, but not Taka and not my princess."

Her eyes turned to the sky as a piercing screech split the air. She held her arm out as though it was automatic and I was greeted with the very bird that attacked me. I gaped as she didn't even seem fazed as his talons sunk into her flesh and she fed him fish. She stroked his chest and spoke soothingly. "Now Taka bird... lead the way."

He didn't hesitate and took to the trees and she smirked at me as I watched in amazement. How in the actual hell? She abandoned her umbrella as we broke through the tree line. "You'll catch cold."

Her head tilted as she looked at me. "I've already taken tonic to prevent cold."

I chuckled as I remembered her request and her insistence that I take mine. "You were already planning this."

She nodded. "Since I found out, the night you attacked me. The original was no longer on the table, but I'm flexible."

She couldn't know that her nonchalantly saying she would have left that night had things hadn't changed hurt me. I warily glanced at the hawk, gliding from one brach to the next until we neared a cave and he swooped in. "It could be a trap."

She removed the hand I didn't realize caught her as my heart pounded. She might have to leave... She gave me a reassuring smile. "Not Taka, not my princess."

As soon as she entered she was nearly knocked over by a very emotional, crying version of herself. As the girl tried to speak she, would cut her ownself off as she began to sob again. The princess...

I saw Kaida let out a small sigh and begin to rub the girl's back. "Asami, it's okay..." It had no effect and she looked expectantly in the cave. I didn't even notice nor could clearly see another girl standing silently inside, save for the bird on her arm and her brown eyes. Whatever she did, it made Kaida sigh again, glance back at me and give her a long look.

I frowned. How did they even know what they are saying? I hesitated as Kaida half guided, half carried the hysterical princess in deeper towards the fire. Okay... Kaida literally almost died and wasn't this pitiful...

I glanced at the girl who, seemed to emerge from the darkness. She did that too, when she came back... I recognized her as the one who caught my arm a year ago. So, my thoughts on her where now confirmed, which was a little comforting.

She gave me a long, indifferent look and then turned to Kaida. To which she nodded and she took a seat across the fire from me, stroking the bird. "That creature attacked me."

She slowly looked at me. "Gives me even less reason trust you."

Kaida made a noise. "Yeah... about that... can you not."

She gave me a pointed look and I frowned. "Beaks and talons to the face and neck are hard to forget."

She gave the girl a wary look. "Okay, I'm going to say this once. She will kill you, Taka is the least of your worries right now, shut the fuck up." I blinked rapidly and took stock of the girl. "You can't, don't ask, say a word and I will kill you myself."

There seemed to be no end to the princess's tears as she embraced her and spoke softly, trying to calm her. Then she said something that caught my attention, clearly getting annoyed. "And if you don't kill the water works I'll have to knock you out so we can get this fucked up show on the road." She said it so sweetly I had to replay it in my head as the other girl smirked. Okay, this is really weird...