A Court of Blood and Feathers

20

Siencyn

*** Oh? New person- whaaatttt??!!! ;) You're welcome***

When Thesan had contacted me I had thought it was too good to be true. I had been in a meeting with Miryam and Drakon when word arrived.

"How are the ward reconfiguration around the island coming, Miryam?" Drakon drums his fingers against the oak table, his eyes trained on his mate who sits across from him.

"Alright, I suppose," she sighs. "It would be easier if I had woven the magic so complexly the first time.

"A shame," I drawl, running my finger over the lip of my wine glass casually, "that you're just sooooo powerful. I wish I had your problems."

Miryam snorts and rolls her eyes at my sarcasm before chucking a throw pillow at my head.

I quickly shield my head with one of my white-feathered wings. The pillow bounces harmlessly off of my wing but right into my wine glass, knocking it over and splashing the red contents all over my wings. I snarl in annoyance while Miryam falls out of her chair laughing. I send a glare to her mate, who was clearly holding back his own laughter behind a hand.

Sighing, I look at my now dirtied wing in distaste. Drakon takes pity on me and with a snap of his fingers, the stain disappears.

"Remind me again why I work with you two?"

"Because, if you didn't you would be bored out of your mind."

"Hmm, I guess so," I chuckle. "It was either this or taking up a new hobby."

Miryam snorts, righting herself in her chair once more, "Like what? Arts and Crafts, I can hardly imagine you doing anything of the sorts, Siencyn."

I roll my eyes and am about to pick up the conversation about the wards around Cretea when the message arrived. Out of the air above the oak table, a folded piece of paper forms and floats down to land upon the table in front of me. Drakon flicks an eyebrow up in question but both rulers stay quiet as I flip open the note and read the one line.

She is found. She was here.-Thesan

My mouth goes dry as the message clicks in my head. I stand so quickly that the chair behind me falls over but I do not bother to pick it up.

"May I take a leave of absence?" I blurt out, my heart picking up speed and my face flushing.

"What is this about, Siencyn?" Asks Drakon, a hint of concern in his voice.

"It's Thesan, from Prythian," I clarify. "He's... he has found something, someone, that I have been searching for over half a century for."

It seems to click for Miryam for her back goes ram-rod straight.

"Of course," she breathes, "for how long do you think? We don't want to operate without you for so long with some deligation events nearing."

I pause for a moment, contemplating. "A month or two? I would be back before the Summer Solstice."

They both nod in unison before I winnow to my room in the manor. A modest-sized set of rooms that overlook the outcropping of the sea line. The mist stings my nose as I clutch the paper from Thesan tightly, swiftly moving through the rooms to collect items. I pack only a single bag to sling over my shoulder and a few curved blades of Seraphim steel to the outsides of my quads.

Not a great look for a deligating ambassador to be caught with weapons on him at any time, but some instances require the steel.

Looking out through my window, I know in the back of my mind that Prythian is straight ahead of me. Miles and miles away. Stretching out my somewhat lengthy wingspan, I shake out my back and wings, preparing for the trek ahead of me. It's far too long to winnow, so a combination of that and flying will have to do. It has been a while since I have been required to fly a great distance. Taking a deep breath, I step off the ledge of my balcony and soar off the island of Cretea, still holding to the piece of paper, my lifeline.