Sparnas

New Seed

Liath went to the Medici isle again, she could not wait to talk to Gwyn. Still reeling from the high of the summer solstice she was flying in loops. She found Gwyn at the Medici herb house. The Medici also housed the largest greenhouse in Svarga, some wild herbs from Morsterra were grown in every nook and corners of the greenhouse. The smell was overpowering so they went for a walk in the garden instead. The Medici garden was famed with having all kinds of flowers in Svarga.

"You're falling for that BlackWing don't deny it!" Gwyn said. They sat on a bench overlooking one of many ponds in Medici. The Medici garden was built in a fourteen-pointed star shape. There were a lot of benches and ponds with ducks and fishes swimming gaily in them.

"So what if I do? He's an f-"

"Fun guy, is that it? Everyone knows Lord Rooi is arranging for Rosso to wed you. The perfect political match, no one, not even your father, and mother will have an excuse to call it off. Unless you went mental. And at the rate you're going now, I'd say soon you'll be living here in the sanitarium! You couldn't stop talking about him since you came here. You've known him for a day!"

Liath could offer nothing but a faraway smile. Gwyn would not understand. She did not expect her too. Not when she could not understand her feelings herself. She was still buoyed by her blissful feelings she did not mind Gwyn scolding her.

"Anyway, all hell broke loose last night, right before the feast. I couldn't tell you because of the Roois. The Matron was getting ready when she found out the Onyx Necklace is missing. She sent a missive to the Kryloan Brotherhood after the winter solstice rites were done."

"What? How did that happen?"

"It was never properly guarded anyway. It's there on the Igqirha altar, just lying there bare. Anyone could've taken it. How could anyone take it, that's the question. It's not beautiful, not even that valuable, and it was in a shrine! What kind of arrogant thief steals something in a holy shrine."

"I saw Rosso in front of the shrine when I was done with my massage. You can ask my masseuse, she left the parlor the same time I did."

"He's cocky enough. But why would he take it?"

Liath shrugged, she wouldn't put it past Rosso to do something just because he can. "Dimma-"

"Don't you start! Please, Liath. I've seen the way he looks at you, I felt his happiness too. Well, what if it's not happiness, what if it's lust, or worse, greed? As much as I'm happy for you, you know this will not end the way it should be. You can't be with him. Ever. Maybe if you're a RedWing, but you're a GrayWing. NEVER."

"Why not? Maybe I would fuck all like my mother and live my life the way I want it to be. Why should we upheld outdated traditions? We'll never hurt anyone if we end up together. So why does everyone else care?"

Gwyn held both of Liath's hands in hers and sat facing Liath. "Leave him while both of you...are happy. So you'd only have beautiful memories together. Stop that feeling before it turns to hurt."

Liath began to tear up. "You'll never understand, Gwyn. It's okay, I never expect you to. I'm going." She snapped. Liath stood up, glaring at Gwyn, and left.

With her eyes following her best friend's departure, Gwyn sighed. She had become close with Liath because they were both realists. She never thought Liath would flip because of a guy. Liath was right, she would not understand that. Gwyn promised herself it would not be swayed by her feelings. Feelings would and could change, she would not jeopardize her future just for a fling. She always fears what Liath would do next. She wondered if Liath would ever be settled.