Free *Editing*

Chapter 13

Birdy is outside her childhood home. In her hands, is a long stick. She swings it back and forth through the hot summer air. Barn runs past her. He is a red blur and dances along the grass field. Beyond, the looming forest casts harsh shadows across her vision. She tries to play with Barn. She catches up to his blurred figure, only for him to dance around her in a dizzying circle. She swings her stick like a sword. Laughing. His blur moves in a straight line, towards the wooden home. It disappears into a fog. The fog rolls over the front porch and the grass. The shadows, cast down from the sun cover the area in cold darkness.

Foolishly she runs into the fog. She swings her sword again. "Barn? Where did you go? Think you're gunna lose again?"

She lifts her weapon. Swings. Snap!"

Her stick breaks and falls out of her hands onto the porch. She looks down at the wood. Back up. Standing erect at the door is a tall looming figure. His long brown hair shields his eyes. Her stomach twists in fear.

"I d_d wh__ I _a_ _o"

The man's hands are covered in blood. They lunge to grab her and he screams out her name. She raises her hands to defend herself-

"Augh..." she becomes aware of is the pressure around her wrists and the sensations of reality slipping in. She pulls up and groans in pain. Her chest feels tight as if somebody is sitting on it. She blinks and white lights slam her into consciousness...

She is lying on a bed inside the Celedora Prison Infirmary. On her left Markus is also lying on his back unconscious. He is tied down. Closest to the door is Barn. His face is pale and his injured arm is wrapped in white linen, it looks like the wrapping needs to be changed, because blood is appearing against the stitched fabric in spots and pools.

Birdy raises her own head to glance at her injury. She chokes on her own breath. Three large scars drag from the dark skin around her neck to her right breast. The wound is expertly stitched together, cleaned, and treated, but the skin is bulging up from the surface and pink in color. She scoffs, knowing these wounds will never fade.

"Markus?" She leans over. "Barn?" She careens her head. Both men are out cold. She turns over in her bed. "Hello? Athey?! I'm awake. Let me out of these." She jostels her wrists to and fro but the tight leather straps remain immovable.

"Birdy, is it?" A voice slithers from the other side of the room. She has been too panicked to notice the figure sitting in the chair next to Athey's desk...

"I must admit. I am impressed. Not only did you manage to survive against my prized Dragon, but you also killed my Mutt." he steps out of the shadows and a dark air fills the room. She avoids eye contact with him.

"Go thank Huld. He's the one who dealt the final blow..."

King Adamant is soundless. Like a ghost, he makes his way to Birdy's bed side. She jerks at her restraints and glares at him. He stares down at her, that same smile ever permanent on his smug face. "You don't seem impressed little bird. You should be honored that I would meet with one such as yourself. Afterall, I am your king." he raises his hand and places his wrist on her forehead checking her temperature. Birdy's lip twitches and her body tenses up.

"You're not my king."

"Oh? This is my city. My prison. My people." His wrist drags down to her left cheek. He rubs his thumb across her skin.

"You sent your men to slaughter that homeless shelter, you wrongfully imprisoned us!" She raises her voice and continues to tug on her straps. She swears under her breath and refuses to break eye contact with his majesty.