Court of Feathers

Nine

Word Count: 2,182

The word 'tour' on this planet must've been code named something else entirely in their language, because the word 'tour' didn't even begin to describe what Lance led them through. Not even close.

To Shiro, a tour was a quick little sweep through of a moderately-sized building that would take an hour or two at the most, Shiro would imagine the guide would point out the relatively important things and move on to the next. And that's exactly what Lance did; he tried making the experience fun, by pointing out things that he thought was ironic or funny, like the decoration choice for a certain room, or what he had noticed hidden in one of the multiple paintings that dotted the walls. But despite the boy's obvious attempt at at least some enthusiasm, Shiro didn't think it should be called a tour.

No, the castle was freaking huge, Shiro was sure his legs were going to fall off any second by the time they reached what Shiro could guess was the four hour mark of climbing up and down massive flights of stairs, and he still didn't feel any more confident in being able to wander around this place on his own. Heck, he couldn't even remember where the bathrooms were, much less how to get back to his own room.

But Lance was doing his best in being helpful and pointing out what he deemed were the more important spots of the castle, and places that Shiro would hopefully find an easier time in recognizing, like the ballroom (which seemed more like an open courtyard with a bare dirt floor than an actual room. The walls surrounding it though had decorated stained glass that stole Shiro's breath away with just one look), the throne room (a massive room with a glass ceiling. The thrones looked imperial and towering without anyone sitting in them and when Lance sat down in his, it seemed to swallow him whole), the massive double doors leading to the village (Shiro was pretty sure that his height times three wasn't tall enough compared to those doors which looked to be as thick as both his hands put together), and, "most importantly of all"-

"The kitchen!" Lance said sweeping down in a playful bow as Keith and Shiro stood openmouthed at the massive space in front of them.

Although Shiro could confirm Keith's earlier statement of the castle lacking any form of electricity, Shiro could see the lack of it being made up through hints of what Shiro could only describe as magic lighting dark corners, and rooms with no windows almost as bright as day, and this room was no exception.

Lighted by an unseen source, Shiro gazed upon rows upon rows of countertops, all of them looking to be a sleek form of some kind of granite polished and cleaned to perfection. There was a far wall lined with a long strip of windows, showcasing a breathtaking view of the rooftops and fields of the avian village far below, the sun barely giving off light as it sunk below the horizon, the sky alight with pinks and oranges slowly fading to a night sky, giving the cooks and servants the best view in the castle while they worked in preparing the next meal of the day.

Being the afternoon, and, guessing by Shiro's mental clock as he tried guessing the time, far past dinnertime, the kitchen was empty now, all of the utensils and strange looking equipment put away in its proper place, awaiting the next time a meal had to be prepared.

"Hunk! Buddy, you here?" The prince called, venturing further into the room as Keith and Shiro followed a little more slowly, both still trying to take in the pure... massiveness of it all, it was amazing to Shiro that these people were able to accomplish such a breathtaking piece of architecture, showcasing all of their pride and culture without the help of any machinery. He couldn't fathom building all of this by hand.

"Hunk, are you here? I have some people I'd like you to meet!" Lance shouted, his voice echoing through the empty room.

"Lance?" A voice echoed back, and Shiro caught some movement on the far side of the kitchen at the sound of pots and pans clanking together. A somewhat plump form, bent over inside a cabinet, where Shiro could only guess, where the pantry was located, it almost swallowed the form whole and Shiro wouldn't have noticed if it hadn't been for the yellow shirt they were wearing.