Knightingale [THE FIRST DRAFT.]

CHAPTER FOUR

"In which paths separate before they merge."

[ THIS BOOK is available illustrated on my KOFI @/2ndstarart ]

Whilst at this point in the story, it would be rather much fun to follow Adric on his path through the southern forest, there are 2 more paths we must begin down first.

Arden flew north towards the village, streets bustling with its citizens going about their everyday chores. Young women with posies of uniquely coloured flowers in equally uniquely weaved baskets sauntered the streets selling their bushels to brighten up the almost dreary-looking windows of houses and businesses alike. Street shovelers dug up mud and other much nastier substances to make way for wagons to traverse the paths, their horse-drawn companions creating more work for the shovelers.

The eagle, whose wings cast shadows on all those below causing few to stop and stare at the great beast, flew atop the village, her head darting to find the little bakery. Arden found the building in no time, its window shutters closed but a loud laughter came from within.

By candlelight, Edie and Mallory were stationed at the kitchen island, picking apart a loaf of bread - the same bread that Adric's breakfast was cut from that very morning. A normal scene by all accounts, yet there was one peculiarity; the sun shone outside, yet Mallory was seemingly human.

"...you know, this bread is almost worth missing the knights on their lunch break," Edie spoke, a mouthful of bread, something she certainly wouldn't be doing if surrounded by knights. "You make up the rest of it." She beamed widely at the older girl, who returned the smile, chuckles following not long after as Edie continued to stuff her face and Mallory made jokes about 'if Cassius Cavalier could see you now' to which Edie almost pounced across the table proclaiming that he was so perfect he wouldn't care as they were truly made for one another.

The sound of the girls' giggles was cut short as a rather loud pecking penetrated the room, seemingly coming from the window at the back of the bakery. Startled by the noise, the two girls jumped, Edie almost choking on her bread and letting out a harsh cough.

"Who could that be?" Mallory whispered, stepping away from the window. Everyone in the village knew that the bakery was not open during the day, due to Mallory's affliction and furthermore no one ever knocked on the back window. Truth be told that window was hardly opened either, backing onto an alleyway of sorts where people would store all sorts of things such as old wagons and baskets that feral animals would make their homes.

The ginger girl, who had finally swallowed the lump of bread brushed down her skirt, smiling brilliantly before heading towards the window. Her smile, however, fell once the older girl tugged her back by the arm, whispering a sharp "Edie!"

"It won't stop Lory. I'll tell them you're not open." She replied, rolling her eyes. 'and Adric calls me dramatic.' She thought to herself as she watched Mallory grab a dark woven blanket from the counter – neither was quite short how or why it had gotten there – and wrapped it around herself. Now shrouded head to toe, she hid beside the window, of course wanting to hear what was about to happen but also, hoping that the inwards shutters would conceal her greater. The pecking had gotten unbelievably loud now.

The creature settled on the floor, a great golden eagle, Mallory recognised it as her screech halted, Edie's still going strong. The girl clamped a hand to her friend's mouth as she slowly came to a muffled stop.

"Arden? What are you doing here?" She asked, Edie's hazel eyes widened as she looked back and forth between the two, once again rolling them and crossing her arms once she realised, they knew one another.