The Best Bride

4. MISSION

However I did my best to act cool. I stayed calm and smiling at the guards. 

"You're requested to fly to the highest tower by yourself," said the guard, who was taller of two, straightening up. "To the one with the light on." 

"You'll find King Mackaral up there," said the other.  

Both the guards bowed again, and left us alone.  

I looked up to see the palace's top, but all I could see was the outer wall going up and up until the darkness swallowed it entirely. I heard the flapping of wings beside me. Turning sideway, I realized that Jewel had taken off.  

I inhaled a deep breathe, and launched myself in the air. The air felt colder as I gained height. Soon the highest tower came into view; Jewel entering the tower through the window. I sped up, beating my wings fast, as if, if I didn't hurry, Jewel would lock the window and keep me out.  

As I neared, the width of the window grew wider and through it I saw three fairy-girls pacing about the room. Their eyes fell on me as I landed in. I grinned at them, but they wore no sign of friendly expression. They quickly looked away from me. I stopped grinning, feeling stupid, and walked to the first thing that I saw in the room. It happened to be a chair.  

I sat gratefully, smoothed my windblown hair and looked about the room for any sight of King Mackaral. But he was nowhere to be seen. Instead I found the room big as expected, but not fancy - like one where the kings would never set a foot. The floor was uncarpeted and the stone-walls and the high ceiling weren't painted. A few chairs and the desk were the only properties the room had. 

I caught sight of Jewel settling on the chair at the other corner of the room. She didn't seem to be eyeing anyone in particular. I shifted my eyes off her and started counting the occupants. There were five fairy-girls including me and Jewel, and one fairy-boy. 

If this meeting was supposed to be for those who were in Prince Felix-bride-to-be-list, I didn't know what he was doing here. Or perhaps the king had kept him to keep an eye on us. But he didn't come close to any of the king's men I'd seen. He was skinny and tall, dressed in loose pants and long pointed shoes, not exactly the king's men outfit.  

And those three girls - they looked like as if they had come from three different worlds. One was too short to be even considered to put name on Prince Felix-bride-to-be-list. If I stood by her, probably she would come slightly to my waist, that too only if she wore high heels, which she was wearing.  

Next one was huge. She had a body of wrestler, and just like the wrestling women, she was wearing nothing but undergarments. The last one had short hair like a boys and had tattoos of dragons on her arms and a tiny loop pierced around her left temple.  

If King Mackaral chose us according to our looks, I was sure he would choose Jewel. She was the beautiful one among us. Even if he chooses her to be his son's bride, I won't have problem with her. I would be just happy for her.  

There was a knock on the door, and then King Mackaral walked in carrying a leather bag. I stood up from the chair, and those three bizarre ladies stopped pacing. Jewel and the fairy-boy got up too.  

King Mackaral strode straight behind the desk, his golden crown glinting in the light in the room, and turned to us. He wore a very serious expression, like he was about to give us the bad news. He motioned his hand that signaled us to come forward.  

We walked to the desk and stood attentively, our hands clasping behind our back and facing the king. But my eyes were on the leather bag on the desk. I couldn't look at King Mackaral directly in his face. So I didn't know what expression he was giving while he was speaking.