The Keys of Kraal

Chapter Five

The Kingdom of Kraal had a moat. Now, you may wonder about the purpose of a moat in a kingdom of clouds - and you'll realise that a moat is completely unnecessary. The large and opaque blue moat wound around and through the Glass Veins and towers, purely there for Spaery's whims.
It was at his moat that the prince awaited Griff's return with Daisy. Spaery was a capricious, eternally bored young man, and he had decided that Daisy was the cure to his boredom. So he sat, his bare feet teasing the feral mermaids of the moat. He sighed loudly at regular intervals to make his impatience known as he flicked his black locks from his eyes.
He circled his foot in small circles and a smarmy grin consumed his face when a mermaid began to thrash hungrily below. With a splash, he withdrew his foot and lay back on the soft cloud, sighing loudly for the millionth time.
And then came Griff. Hearing the flap of his wings, Spaery sat bolt upright as the griffin swooped over his head, Daisy hanging unconscious in his claws. Spaery watched Griff drop the girl onto the soft clouds at his talons. Spaery closed the distance quickly, and he came to a stop beside Griff and asked, "Is she alive?"
"Of course, Master Spaery." With a rustle of feathers, Griff bent to pick up Daisy. Then, he began to walk away - Spaery was quick to stop him.
"I'd..." Spaery said, "I want to meet the girl."
Griff clicked his beak disapprovingly. "I apologise, Master Spaery - er, your Father has asked that you keep away from her."
Spaery crossed his arms and frowned petulantly. "But, I'm bored."
Griff began to move away again, and this time Spaery did not persist to stop him. The servant turned back to the prince, as he felt slightly sorry for the boy.
"Her name is Daisy." Griff said.
Spaery nodded.