Daughter of Ice and Fire

Fourteen

Averit raised his arm before dropping it suddenly, setting the falcon free. He watched as it shot skyward and opened its wings. Circling, it gazed back towards the Earth. With a screech, it folded its wings again and dove straight down, reversing course suddenly when it hit the second falcon. He continued watching silently, hiding his disgust as his bird savaged the other falcon, screaming in triumph once it was dead. Holding up his arm, he waited patiently for his bird to return, hooding it and murmuring softly once it landed.

"Well done," his father said, smiling. "Sir Hadrim, my clerk will draw up the papers once we return to the castle."

Averit handed his bird off to the squire, remaining silent. His heart was screaming out in protest. But he had argued once and only once about this. After the girl he had been courting had disappeared and her family was found floating off the docks, he had shut his mouth and done what his father ordered. He loved his birds but was horrified at what his father forced them to do. What all the Nobles were forced to do. The way his father not only insisted every Noble have falcons that were trained to fight, but that the loser be forced to give up a substantial amount of their wealth to the winner made him positively ill.

Sir Hadrim's complexion had gone an interesting shade of gray. Averit could see he was slightly green around the edges and hoped the man wouldn't be sick. His father would see it as a sign of weakness and heap more indignities on the man. Sir Hadrim had two unmarried daughters and Averit shuddered to think who his father would marry them off to if Sir Hadrim showed anything other than stoic acceptance. Hoping to help the man save face, he approached him, sweeping his hat off his head and bowing slightly.

"A noble bird, Sir Hadrim. I look forward to seeing more like it." He knew better than to mention the townhouse he, or rather his father, had just come into possession of.

"Thank you, Prince Averit. I do hope that one day, I may have the pleasure of competing against you again. Maybe I'll even prevail."

Polite laughter could be heard, and Averit bit his cheek to keep from saying something he would regret. None of the Nobles would dare beat him. Or his father. Just as they had no choice in competing, they had no choice in whether they won or lost. And they all knew it. He just hoped none of them believed he supported what his father was doing. Any of it.

"For being such a good sport, I would like to send over one of my males to breed with some of your females. I hope you'll do me the honor of accepting the offer." He knew Sir Hadrim would accept. Refusing the Prince was as bad as refusing the King, especially with so many watching. Besides, he would send more than just one of his males for breeding. The guilt he felt for seizing this man's property in an unfair way wouldn't let him do any less. He just needed to figure out what he could send without his father finding out or without Sir Hadrim talking about it to anyone else.

"With pleasure, sir. I look forward to presenting one of the hatchlings to you. As repayment for your generous offer."

Averit nodded but mouthed the words "not necessary" before turning away. Sir Hadrim looked startled for a moment but quickly schooled his face, turning away as well.

"Come, friends," the King announced. "I have a feast laid out for your enjoyment. There's plenty to eat, even more to drink, and willing girls to serve you all." The King winked broadly and mounted his horse. A chorus of cheers issued forth as they all mounted as well, following the King back to the castle.

Averit hung back, using the excuse of talking to the squires tasked with bringing the birds home. Once his father was out of earshot, he sighed and relaxed. He couldn't miss the feast, but he could get away with being late. Giving the squires final instructions, he watched them leave, then turned to look at the changing colors in the sky. Pinks and oranges were giving way to soft purples and reds, and he knew dusk wasn't far off. Unwilling to return until he absolutely had to, he continued watching as the birds returned to their roosts for the night. When he knew he could delay no longer, he mounted his mare and walked slowly down the trail, thinking about Gauthier. And the girl.