Crown of Purple Fire (English)

~XV~

The sound of bells were the first thing Tessa heard. And they irritated her to the fullest.

She awoke, and felt sand touch her face. She found Rhian beside her, lying down on the ground, still unconscious. Breathing, but unconscious. She stood up, and shook the wetness off her feathers, along the cold. "Rhian," she whispered. "Rhian, wake up."

The eagle stirred, but didn't wake. Tessa then sighed, as she tossed him onto her back, and because of his weight, she walked instead of flying.

They made it at least ten meters when they encountered their first herd enchanted horses.

They all had skin with varying shades of blue, and all of their hair was alabaster. The expression on their faces was the same, too. Calm, serene, yet strict and unyielding at the same time. The one in the middle asked, "May we help you, madam?

Tessa panted. "We need to see your Prince."

The stallions on the left and the right laughed. However, the middle one still kept a neutral expression. "And what exactly, is your business with Prince Gael?"

"I am Thessalyne of House Aschere, Queen of the Immortal Birds of Ravanyn." She croaked out. Because of the salt water she must have swallowed by shadowpath travelling, she could not muster a sound louder. "I am here on a diplomatic mission-" she coughed. "-to convince him to-" And again, "join my cause-" and finally burst into a fit of gags. She vomited on the ground.

The horses made a disgruntled sound. "You sound ill, madam," said the middle horse. "Perhaps you need to see a nurse. We'll take you to the infirmiry--"

"NO!" She screamed. After vomiting out the salt water, she got her voice back. "I need to see the prince now."

"You are in no condition to meet with the Prince Gael," he replied.

Tessa felt infuriated. How dare these soldiers disregard her command--

They are not your soldiers, she said to herself. Follow them, and they might just lead you to the prince. Maybe even find Matteo and Efren.

So she agreed to go, reluctantly. After saddling herself and Rhian onto the middle horse, they travelled for a few minutes, then reached a small white house. They entered, and found a unicorn mare was tending to a foal's horseshoe.

"Be careful, Orion," she said gently.

"Thank you, madam Claire," the foal replied.

"Now," Claire smiled. "Of you go, now!"

The foal left. When Claire spotted them, her eyes widened. "General Malcolm! What a surprise!"

"We found these birds on the beach," he gently tossed them off his back. "The female appears to have swallowed sea water, whilst the eagle male is unconscious." And then left the room.

It unnerved Tessa how a highborn horse like him knew how eagles looked like. Most highborn could have mistaken Rhian as a dove, or a phoenix.

Claire looked down at them and grimaced. "Have you vomited already, dear?"

Tessa covered her mouth, and the mare chuckled. "Don't worry, dear. I don't smell it on you." She bowed her horn to a glass of water, and while it glowed, the same glow coated the glass and she hand it to her. "Some fresh water to help you hydrate."

Tessa gave a small smile. "Thank you."

Claire nodded. She inspected Rhian's unscious form. "His vital signs seem all right...hmm...maybe--"

"Will he be okay?" Tessa asked.

"Looks like it, yes." Her horn glowed again, and this time, a wet towel flew and covered Rhian's head. "That should wake him up soon."