Clipped Wings

Chapter 2

Once William finished drying both of my feathers, a servant in an apron knocked and entered with a stack of clothing.

"Many thanks, Claire. The Avian and I are getting along well."

"Here are his clothes and some accessories to dress him up in. There is an hour until supper and your grandmother wishes to speak to you and the Avian."

With that, Claire bowed, placed them on the table, and silently slipped out of the bathroom. William retrieved them and handed me some underpants first.

"Grandma seems quite fond of you... You'll need to make a good impression."

I shivered as he draped a white shirt that seemed to match his, except there were two large holes in the back.

"I'll help you fit your wings through."

He gently slotted each wing through the hole like you would with an arm through a sleeve, buttoned up the shirt and handed me some black slacks.

"This is very formal..."

"And this is just for supper! Wait until we need to meet with the public!"

He slotted a humble blue sweater over my head and poked the collar of the shirt out.

"It even matches your wings!"

Seeing him smile also made me smile. Next, he bought over two white glove-looking things without the fingers.

"Have you seen these before? They're called socks. I've heard its something they don't introduce Avians to."

He was right, I'd never seen them before, my past handler never showed them to me.

"You haven't worn these because it makes landing difficult. But they're fun for slipping across the floors! They want you to wear these, it keeps your feet warm."

I slid them across my freezing feet and wriggled my toes in them. They felt weird.

"It takes a bit of getting used to, but you'll thank me later."

Next, he sifted through the accessories and pulled out what looked like a gold choker. He clipped it around my neck and then took some clip-on chain thread earrings with a cuff and pinned them to both my ears.

"You're being so easy... It's odd! Most Avians struggle about and try to escape or make this process very hard, but you're so placid and comfortable to work with... Thank you."

I remained silent while he finished up with the fancy earrings. He came to the front to fix my short brown fluffy hair into a style like his and then watched him slip his white gloves back on. He slid some matching white gloves on my hands too.

"How do you feel after the pampering?"

"Still nervous. Why? Why all this for me?"

"You're my Avian, I want you to look good and feel comfortable. Now, I'll take you back to my quarters, let you settle, and then we'll be off to supper."

I stretched both of folded wings and watched William's gaze harden. I had seen the wing harness placed with the accessories, but he hadn't gone to grab it.

"As your new keeper, I ask that you don't fly around in the palace, however, when they lock my windows and doors, you may fly around my quarters."

I wanted to ask how, given the bathroom ceiling wasn't very tall, but he took my now gloved hand in his and pulled me out and into the hallway.

His grip on my hand wasn't as suffocating this time, but it was firm. We walked up to another set of stairs and stopped at a barred entrance guarded by another two soldiers with funny hats. They nodded us through, but their expressionless faces gave nothing away. We walked down the long hallway until we reached a series of golden double doors on both sides, each with a guard standing beside them. We stopped at the third one on the left, and the guard opened the door for William and me. I immediately drew my eyes to my new surroundings. The room was HUGE. There was a huge king-sized bed, a red velvet seating area with a gold, glassy table, more humongous, extravagant, diamond chandeliers, long feather-soft lounges, vast red curtains that trailed down all five metres of the window, a glossy, black classical piano and a tall and wide birdcage with gold bars and a perch. My entire life I'd never been inside a birdcage, and I knew the one in his quarters had my name written all over it. I stood awed, and William had to half-drag my stunned body inside.