To Us and Beyond the Stars

He Didn't Want This

     I cleaned up the mess, Azin was leaning on his coiled white bed frame - eyes trained on the bookshelf. His face drained and white from the shock, as well as fear.

       "They weren't supposed to be back for another five Shanra* Moons." Azin whispered, as I finally sat down in the armchair by the bookshelves. I could feel his mind working, calculating what could possibly have brought them  home early. 

     "Let's not dwell on that right now, Azin, we need to move." I instructed, laying a hand on his shoulder. The contact made him shiver and he turned his too dark gaze to me. Sighing, I wrapped my arms around his head, pulling him into my sternum. He wasn't visibly crying, but he was crying all the same. Azin stiffened, contact right now set him on edge, but he relaxed and wrapped his arms around my waist. He was shaking, so terribly that I thought he would shatter into a thousand pieces. 

   "I don't want to go." He gasped out, his voice strained like words and breathing hurt him. 

   "You know that isn't an option Azin." I scolded as he turned away to lay down. He just gave me a cynical look and laid down on his bed. I growled, reaching for his shoulder to roll him to the ground.

      "Kress," his voice was so soft I almost didn't catch the plea that made me pause, "please, Kress." 

     "I can give you five minutes, Azin, that is all." I promised and left the room to let him collect himself. 

   "Where is my son General?"  The king asked, not even looking up at me as I entered the court room. 

   "Something about freshening up, My Great One." I blandly said, bowing low at the hips. Shivering as I felt lustful eyes fall on me. Of course he would be here, that perverted prince wouldn't let a chance like this go to waste. The king snorted, but otherwise said nothing else. 

   "If I know my little brother, he'll take all he time he can to make us wait for him." The First Prince Yandris says, looking over to his father without  any further interest in his vain youngest brother. 

   "He's not going to show up is he, little Kress?" The Second Prince Kilgrin, smirked as he continued to watch me with hooded eyes. A shudder of disgust  went through me, Kilgrin saw females as playthings and property. *Skybirds knew what he would do with me if he got me alone. I stared back into his unforgiving dark eyes, black as pitch like his fathers, without a hint of submission. 

     "My younger brother will be joining us, won't he little Kress?" Kilgrin asked, poking at my name. Saying it as though we were lovers for years. I swallowed, restraining my anger and turned back to the king. 

    "Your Majesty, King of the Great Empire, Nikodem, Azin will be here shortly." I vow, lowering myself to one knee. Failing not to look at the sneer disrupting Kilgrin's wicked face. 

    "Your word has never been wrong Captain Kresshtna, rise." The king commanded, and the doors flew open behind me. 

    "What dreadful thing have my brothers done to make you kneel, my War Bird?" Azin coyly asked, a hint of anger lacing in with the laid back tone. I caught it, but prayed the rest of the royal family had not. 

   "Brother, so glad you could join us!" Kilgrin's false cheeriness made me want to vomit on the cold metal floor. Azin tsked, but made no other response as his near-silent strides came to me. 

  "Rise, War Bird." He ordered, placing a finger under my chin to guide me up. He pulled me close, leaning into whisper something cruel and treasonous, "Never bow before these bastards." 

      And the meeting began. 

*Skybirds are beings that the people of Uria, the world that Kress lives in, believe in. Much like gods or dragons of ancient mythologies. The Skybirds disappeared some two thousand years ago, but the inhabitants still pray to them for miracles and knowledge.