Tiger Wings

Chapter 13

Jravic walked among the crowds of people as if in a dream. All the colors and masked faces were fantastical and at times disturbing. The lights strung on both sides of the street reflected off of the sparkles and glitter on women's dresses and masks. People smiled at him and asked to see his token and many greeted him by name. Even among the crowd it wasn't difficult to distinguish the crown prince, especially since the men didn't wear masks.

Among the shimmering and shining crowd something caught his eye. They were wings and he followed them through the people to a quiet corner. There the wearer of the wings turned to watch the people. Her face, like all the other women, was masked in a remarkable resemblance to a butterfly. She was intriguing staying apart from the people, and beautiful. He approached her.

"May I see your token?" he questioned, holding out his own.

She fumbled in her pocket a moment before she held it out. He took it with special care and tried to piece them together. They slipped together easily. "Look at that." He smiled, holding it up between his thumb and forefinger.

Her lips parted in surprise before she muttered almost inaudibly, "Of course. Well," she added politely, "they had to match with somebody. I'm honored."

"It's even a butterfly." Jravic turned it over in his palm. "But did you expect to find the match by standing here, away from everyone?"

"I expect nothing, life's easier that way," she replied without thinking.

"That seems like a sad way to live."

"A broken heart is no happier."

"But if you expect nothing, why do you expect to have your heart broken by expecting something?"

She shifted her feet and swished her skirt. "Expectations only lead to disappointments. Nothing is ever as anyone says it is. A heart can only be disappointed so many times."

The action didn't go unnoticed. "True. I can understand that way of thinking, but I still think it is a sad way to live."

"If it was meant for you, you wouldn't. As it is, it's meant for me, and I don't."

There was silence as they both watched groups of people passing by. "Was this a person that broke your heart one too many times?"

"My heart wasn't broken," she said with surprise.

"Then did a person disappoint you too many times?" he amended.

She shook her head as her lips pursed. There was an annoyance or frustration in her eyes. "My life is perfect."

Jravic tilted his head, but didn't want to push her further, so he held his tongue. She stood as if she was impatiently waiting for something. He looked down at the full token in his hand. "Have we met?" he questioned, fingering one of the wings on it.

"We may have." She glanced uneasily at him. "I've met most of the princes."

"Then what's your name?" There was a familiarity to her, but he couldn't be sure if it was real or imagined.

She laughed, releasing a lot of the tension about her. "You must be Tain. Never ask a girl wearing a mask what her name is," she said teasingly.

"You could take off the mask," he suggested, relieved into smiling that he hadn't offended her.

"I don't believe that should be done until much, much later."

"Much, much later," Jravic repeated. "I might as well try to learn some things about you until that time comes, then." He leaned against the building they were standing next to, watching her. "Do you live here?"

She looked a little flustered. "No, I, I travel."

"Around Pastopia? Or numerous countries?"

"The world."

"Really?" he asked interestedly, rubbing his chin in thought. "I haven't met many people who've been around the world."

"You don't travel the world?"

"I've been to some places, but no, I don't travel the world."

"You study your kingdom," she decided.

"Yes," Jravic agreed. "I know Tain very well, but I'm trying to learn about you right now. Hmm. Do you have many family members?"

She was glad for her mask then so he wouldn't see how she was blushing. "There are many others I think of as family," she answered.

"In Pastopia?"

"And other places."

"How fascinating." He continued to stare at her, interest in his eyes. "How did you like Tain?"

"No flowers. It almost killed me."

"True, there are very few flowers," Jravic said, smiling. "I think I might add to the garden in Sylver when I return. Maybe I'll take some seeds from Pastopia. I'm afraid the royal garden is very lacking in beauty."

"That would be a lovely idea. I'm sure I and your bride would appreciate it."

"My bride?" The prince looked surprised.

A smile came over her face. "The country has been abuzz with the news for some time now. Of course you'll have a bride."

"Is the country also abuzz with who that bride will be?" Now he was curious.

"People have their opinions."

"And yours would be?"

"A princess."

"Any specific one in mind?"

"It's not my choice."

"True," Jravic sighed and looked away.

"Have you made your choice?" she wondered.

"I thought I had," he admitted. "But she turned me down and now I'm left wondering what to do."

The blue eyes grew wide, then blinked in confusion. "Oh my."

Jravic smiled. "It's alright, though. That obviously means it couldn't have turned out very well."

"Well, I'm sure you can't go wrong twice. It's their duty to accept, after all." Twice she was thankful for her mask. Her expression was in suspense as she wasn't sure of his reaction.

An eyebrow rose. "What are you suggesting?"

She stuttered as she thought. "Well, they, they are princesses. They have... duties. But I mean this isn't like that, this isn't a duty, I mean of course anyone would want to marry you..."

He laughed, but the eyebrow only went up more. "You would marry me?" There was a twinkling in his eye as he asked the question.

"I... Well of course I'm not a, I'm not the princess... you would..." She felt herself coming back to her. Her heart was beating like a rabbit's. And she didn't know why tears were welling in her eyes.

The smile faded. He had only meant it as a joke. "I didn't... I didn't mean anything by it," he apologized quickly. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize." His forehead furrowed in confusion. "You're one of the princesses?"

Finally that was enough. She pushed into the crowd, very different from herself, forcing her way around and through people. "Wait!" he shouted, shoving people out of his way in an attempt to follow. She was one of the princesses? But it was too late, the butterfly wings had disappeared.