Faerie Faerie

14- Caged Birds

The Kingdom of Pagliarine consisted of sheep and cattle farms on the outskirts, and as one traveled inward, the buildings and houses multiplied and were of sturdier build. A stone gate showed the limits of the living area, and inward were the businesses and guild owned buildings. The roads were paved with cobble stones that were smoothed from the travel of all the years of wear.

Phoenix and Wolfe were shown into the well built city, passed all of that and into the castle gates. There were gardens, fully of fruits and flowers. Time and effort had been spent in making the inner grounds a gorgeous paradise of agriculture. The carriage was stopped and Phoenix and the girl in Rose were let off. An escort of women, dressed in veils and gowns similar to each other, the only difference being the colors, led them in. Wolfe and the other men of the entourage followed until brought into the inner most sanctum of the castle. There, they split paths.

Phoenix frowned at the guards armed with spears that blocked her way out. Wolfe looked at her, and shrugged. "Guess we'll meet up later." he said.

"Do we need any supplies?" Phoenix asked.

"Maybe some clothes. And I'll need to find someone to trade all this armor with." He scratched the back of his head. "But with Grengal's mark all over them that will be pretty difficult."

They talked on either side of the gate, as if it were nothing. To them it was nothing, to the guards and some of the maidens standing nearby, it was like a frog getting up and singing a ballade. It simply wasn't done.

Two women hooked arms with Phoenix and dragged her into the Sanctum. She let them lead her, and chuckled at their disgust.

One remarked she stunk like a wet dog. They put it upon themselves to make sure she was washed, purified, and blessed. They were not seers or psychics, so every chance she got, she lied through her teeth. By the time she was ready, a few hours later, it was night time.She wore a gown and veil, of turquoise and sea foam, rich colors cool colors compared to everyone else. Probably a ploy to make sure who was a visitor, not of the Cloister.

She was escorted into the last room, a garden in the very center of the castle, that was enclosed by a glass domed roof. It showed the sky and hanging from strong iron girders were lanterns. A fountain and stream were constructed with stones, forming a spiraling path from the door to the center of the garden. All manner of flowers that were outside, were inside but growing in much heartier bounties and fuller bloom.

A small pond resided in the center of the garden, and at the edge of the pond was the girl in rose. She now didn't wear a veil and what she had said to Phoenix was true. She was her sister.

"Lilit?" she walked, pulling her skirts along.

"Sheila." she said. "Lilit Tiamet was a criminal just as Phoenix Tiamet is." The young woman had the same dark almond shape eyes, same full lips, and raven hair. Her skin was the color or rich honey and sand. She smiled, and patted the spot next to her for her to sit.

Phoenix yanked up the dresses crossed her legs and fell into a sit in the moss. Sheila laughed, and elbowed her playfully. "You still sit like a man."

"Does that bother you?" Phoenix sneered. She gave her a playful shove, and then they ended up hugging and laughing. Phoenix stared up at the fading sunlight. "....So why are you here, of all places?"

"The city?" she asked, laying, fingers intertwined with her older sister.

"This castle." Phoenix's brow furrowed.

"I could ask the same as you." Sheila played with the ends of their hair.

Phoenix sighed and closed her eyes. "...." She lifted her legs, holding her feet in the air and staring at her toes. "They painted my nails." She broke out laughing. "Your maidens loo. They thought I was atrocious." This sent them both into wild fits of laughter.