Flutter

Chapter One: Shine Bright

I paced back and forth in front of the arched window in my chambers, waiting for the familiar "tap tap" of Kakor's beak on the ledge. Kakor, my one true companion in this stone cage, was lucky, able to spread his wings and fly wherever he wanted. I sighed as I stretched jet black wings to their full span, flapping them a bit before settling them back in place. I continued my pacing, pausing to stand in front of the stone fireplace. I stared into the feeble flames, crossing my arms and absent-mindedly drumming my fingers against the silver and gold bands wrapped around my upper arms, the rings on my fingers, glinting in the firelight. The perfect picture of a pretty, bored noblewoman.

The gentle cawing of Kakor caused me to turn quickly, the bangles around my ankles tinkling slightly. "What did you find out?" I asked the raven. "Visitors" he croaked out, "shiny". "Great" I sighed, "more people coming to gawk at the Avalyre. At least that explains the new gown" I muttered to myself looking down. It barely classified as a gown, the dark burgundy silk clung to my every curve. It was gathered at the back of my neck, the neckline plunging to my navel while the two waist-high slits not only showed off my legs but guaranteed that if I moved too quickly or in the wrong way, my treasure would be on display for everyone. All this was done to show off the binding marks winding up my legs and arms, across my collar bone and between my breasts that marked me as belonging to the King. Meanwhile, my back was left bare to the top of my ass, most likely done more to show off my wings than to accommodate them.

His Highness was always showing me off at every chance he could get, and me not only being a winged avalyre but a female makes me very rare and special indeed. We avalyre are a very rare species to begin with. Most of the children don't live long enough to reach their first summer, female children are incredibly rare to begin with and the men often end up murdering each other over the few women there are. And those are just the lucky ones, the others almost always have their wings removed at birth, to save them from my exact situation.

I am the first of my kind that has been known to not only survive birth and live more than one summer but also to have not had my wings removed in almost 300 years. All because my mother couldn't bear to cut them out of me when I was born. I often wonder if things would have been different had she done it. But as it was she did her best to keep me hidden, but of course, word eventually got out about the woman and the female avalyre child living deep in the forest and during my sixth summer we were finally found. Mother did put up a good fight trying to defend me, but well, here we are. My mother left to rot in the cottage we used to call home and me now the King's prized treasure, bound to him to prevent any chance of leaving unless he or the next heir release me and I have a better chance of becoming queen than that ever happening.

To be fair, it's not a bad life here. I have read stories about the Avalyre from long ago that had it way worse. I am safe, I get all the jewels, gowns and shiny baubles I could want, I'm allowed to exercise my wings daily by flying around the castle grounds, as long as I don't go any high than the tallest tower, or try to go over the walls. I learned that the hard way the first time I was allowed to fly unsupervised, apparently the binding marks also burn when you try to pass the boundaries that are set. The courtiers here treat me with reverence (at least outwardly) and anyone that dares to touch me without my consent welcomes a fate worse than death. One slimy courtier found out that out the year I came of age. I kept my maidenhood and gained a scar running from the top of my left eyebrow down my cheek, barely missing my eye but he is rotting in a ditch somewhere after having been picked apart by the rats and ravens. He was not a well-liked man to begin with and no one mourned over his corpse, not even his wife who called it a blessing.  I had never seen King Trystan so angry and hope never to see that side of him again.

I shake my head and pull myself from my thoughts as a knock sounds at the door. "Lady Ravenna? Lady Ravenna his Highness asks that you come to the Great Hall." I let out a small sigh, "One moment!" I quickly adjust the gown, make sure my dark red braid is in place, and check that I haven't smeared the emerald-flecked cream used to line my eyes. The damn cream costs more than most people make in a year, only the best for the Kings personal Avalyre. "Lady Ravenna he is waiting!" "Alright, Ninella! I'm ready. Stop with your wailing" I smile radiantly as I fling the door open and greet the small, blonde-haired woman waiting on the other side. Ninella has been my minder, friend and maid since I arrived at the palace even though she was only a few years older than myself. I'm greeted with a snort as she fusses with the delicate silver chain around my waist. "He would have my head if you weren't down there in time". I roll my eyes at her dramatics, "We both know he wouldn't dare do anything to upset me." She looks up at me and a slight grin emerges from her lips. "You look beautiful as always." "Of course I do," I reply, "Trystan wouldn't have it any other way". A slight frown crosses Ninella's face. She always hates it when I call the King by his first name and not his honorific. "Kakor, come" I call to the raven. He clacks his beak a few times and flaps over settling himself on my shoulder. "Shiny, shiny!" I rub his head as we head out into the corridor, my so-called gown gently swishing with my every step, my bare feet (I can't stand the thought of wearing shoes. To me, wearing shoes feels like I'm being imprisoned more than I already am. I need to feel the cool stone and warm grass beneath my feet.) barely making a sound.