My eyes flutter open as the morning sun peeks through the darkened curtain. Such wonderful rest… As I sit up and stretch.
“How was your rest, my lady?”
Poet peeps his head through the folded opening before hopping over. I scoop him up in the palm of my hand, giving him a few gentle scratches on his tiny feathery head.
“It was wonderful! How about some breakfast?”
At my silent command, the air itself bent to my desire, and pomegranate juice along with Asphodel honey cakes materialized upon the table.
“How was your night? I hope I didn't tire you while you kept watch,”
“The night was silent, my lady… just me and the stars,” Poet replies, his eyes glimmering in the light.
After taking a bite of cake and sipping sweet juice from her teacup.
“I guess today we continue our journey.”
As I rose to depart the tent, my hat answered my will, settling upon my brow as if guided by unseen hands. My staff stirred from where it rested, gliding to my palm. The shelter stirred collapse into something smaller and vanished into the fold of space.
My body takes in the morning dew-filled air; it feels exhilarating. I close my eyes, just as I thought, magick begins to fill my core, intertwining with my divinity and essence like three rivers converging into a sacred river.
As we take our steps to continue our escapade, I feel a sense of purpose rising within me.
“What was the melody you were singing again?” I asked Poet, eager to keep the joyful spirit alive.
“Aww yes!” ruffling his feathers, tilting his head and begin to whistle a cheerful and uplifting tune.
I join him, humming a few notes, and soon we are harmonizing in a delightful rhythm.
“How long do you think it will take us to reach the settlement?” Poet inquires.
“I don’t know; I actually haven’t kept up with the time,” I admit,
“I guess I finally understand; why count the seconds, minutes, and hours, or even days, when you do not know if tomorrow will come? It’s best to enjoy the present.”
“What a grandiose fact, Lady Veil.”
“Clang! Swoosh!
Protect the Archoness!!”
“Did you hear something, Poet?” I asked, suddenly alert, as the joyous atmosphere shifts.
“Going now, my lady! I will report what I see.”
Poet darts into the air, soaring swiftly with a flap of his wings.
“It seems to be a carriage, armed men trying their best to protect it. At least fifteen attackers have them surrounded, brandishing crude weapons, hammers, swords, and a few bows.”
“DON'T LET THEM NEAR THE CARRIAGE!
FOR THE ARCHONESS!
FOR HOUSE ASTREIA!
Do not let them reach Her Grace!” the armored men shouted as they form a defensive circle around the carriage.
“My lady, should I help?” Poet asks, determination in his tone.
“Why not? I have yet to be in real battle.”
The thrill of action sparks into life within me.
His feathers ignited with a ghostly sheen, twinkling beneath the daylight before springing free from his wings. In an instant, they hardened into razor-sharp daggers, dozens of spectral blades hurtling toward their targets.
“Fwah! Fwah!” The sounds of his assault fill the air.
A loud scream pierces the chaos as four of the attackers drop to the ground, dead, daggers buried deep into their necks, blood gushing forth and staining the earth.
I tapped my staff against the ground, feeling power pulse through, black feathers erupted around my body, wrapping me in shadows.
And then
vanished.
In the next instant, I reappeared amidst the chaos.
Planting my feet, I drew back my hand as though grasping an invisible bowstring. The air before me shimmered. Moisture condensed and froze, weaving itself into the form of a crystalline bow. Frost spilled from it like the breath of winter.
Six arrows materialized upon the drawstring, each one imbued with my will and spaced evenly across the icy arc.
Lowering my body, I anchored myself, shoulders taut and toes digging into the earth. A smirk tugged at my lips. There was something strangely exhilarating about this.
“Twang!”
The arrows exploded forward with a shrill whistle.
“Fwwssh!”
They tore through the battlefield like streaks of moonlight, weaving between friend and foe before abruptly changing course. Spinning with deadly precision, seeking their prey with merciless intent.
They strike true.
The attack begins to slow as the enemy realize they are being picked off one by one.
“RETREAT! RETREAT!” one of them shouts, fear overriding their will to fight.
“Where did those arrows come from?” A man wielding an axe turns on his heels, dashing away, but is struck down from behind by a sword.
“DON'T LET THEM RUN!”
Encouraging the others to remain steadfast.
“We fight for GLORY!”
Just then, Poet returns to my side. “I think we’ve helped enough,” he puffs, his feathers still glowing from the magic.
One of the men in armor approaches me, bowing deeply. “Thank you for your help, my lady.”
I walk past, my heart heavy with an overwhelming sadness.
“What’s wrong, my lady?” Poet asks, sensing the shift in my mood.
As I walk past the soldiers, I notice some of them staring at me with awe.
“By the gods, she is beautiful,” I overhear one whisper.
There, upon the bloodied earth, lay a steed felled by violence, an arrow protruding from his throat. I knelt beside him, my fingers tracing the velvet of his brow with reverence, my heart heavy as stone.
"Be still, noble one," I murmured, my voice low as temple incense. "I am here. You do not journey alone."
His breath came in ragged shudders, and in his darkening eyes I saw the terror of the fading light, the struggle against the inevitable dark. My own vision blurred, and from my eyes came not the salt water of mortal grief, but the black ichor of the void, trailing down my cheeks like liquid shadow.
"I know," I whispered, the words barely more than breath. "I know the weight of it..."
With each faltering beat of his heart, I felt the tether between spirit and flesh growing thin, the great passage opening before him. I held him through it, witness to his crossing.
His eyes closed at last. The silence that followed was not empty, but full, as if the world itself held its breath in honor of his passing.
I turn, hearing footsteps approaching.
My lady, please forgive me for this intrusion," a shield-warden said, lowering his gaze in deference, his voice rough with barely restrained grief.
His eyes drifted to the steed's still form.
"It is a bitter loss," he murmured. Other blade-bearers gathered round us then, some murmuring prayers, their voices low and trembling, while others stood apart, faces like stone, their eyes empty of feeling.
I walk over, placing my staff into the ground. The steed corpse slowly seeps into the earth, the land embracing him as he becomes one with nature. I reach down to clasp the dirt, whispering, "May your soul find peace, young one." In response, a black flower springs forth from the ground, a symbol of honor.
"There… now we can speak."
"Oh, yes. Thank you, my lady. I am Captain Lux. Without your assistance, I believe our men would have fallen… only a few got hurt."
"That’s good. So, no casualties?"
"Um, yes… no casualties," he confirms, relief easing his features for a moment.
I smile gently and turn to walk away, but before I get far, a carriage door swings open.
"PLEASE WAIT!!” A small voice calls.
I turned at the sound of hurried footsteps. A young woman approached, small in stature yet. Her gown flowed behind her like water, beautiful but impractical, tangling about her legs as she rushed to close the distance between us.
"Yes… how may I help you?"
"I… I just wanted to thank you personally. I am Archoness Caelith, of House Astreia."
"May I have your name?"
"Veil."
"Just Veil?"
“Yes.”
"So you are not part of a house? With abilities like yours, I thought you would be one of the few Royal Arcanist."
I shake my head. "I am sorry to disappoint, but I represent no banner."
Her small hands fidget slightly, revealing her nervousness.
"If it’s okay, could you possibly accompany us? We are headed to my estate. I’d be grateful if you would join me."
"That would be lovely, but are you sure it’s okay? Some of your men have questionable looks."
"May I cut in, my lady?" Captain Lux adds. "My men just witnessed you and your companion take out over half of the marauders effortlessly after appearing out of thin air. It’s not that they are questioning you; it’s more that they do not know whether to be afraid or to trust. It’s a thin line between the two."
"Oh, and you are not afraid?" I inquire, arching an eyebrow.
"To be honest, I am frightened, but my duty comes first before my feelings."
I walk over and place a hand on his shoulder. "Breathe, warden. I promise I don’t bite."
He nods, and I make my way over to the carriage, which he opens its door to let us inside.
“Alright men, line up! Make sure the carriage is secure two in the front, two in the back. Five minutes before we start moving.”
"Lady Veil."
"Veil is fine," I offer generously.
"Veil… are you sure you’re not a Royal Arcanist of some kind?"
I hide my smile behind my hand.
"No, Archoness. I just had a very good teacher."
"Oh really? Then your teacher must be very powerful."
I glance out the window, reminiscing about Mother.
“Yes… yes she is.”
Her eyes widen in surprise. "She? A woman? Really?"
I nod enthusiastically.
"Is there any chance I can meet her? I have read so many books about female mages capable of ending wars with a single spell. Ever since I was a child, my dream has been to become one. Unfortunately, I didn’t inherit magical talent." A flicker of sadness crosses her face.
"But I was still able to find my place. I started studying alchemy at a young age, keeping my head in books. It became my favorite hobby."
I feel excitement bubbling within me at her shared passion.
"Yours too?" I asked.
"I wish I could lock myself in a room with a gallery of books and snacks. I would never leave."
She beams at me, her enthusiasm infectious. “It’s nice to meet someone with the same hobby as me.”
“Sadly, nobility calls, and I am not able to lock myself in my room, taken care of my people is quite the handful, but I enjoy it.”
I gestured, and the air itself bent to my will. Two teacups coalesced from shadow and a plate of honeyed tarts appeared beside them, summoned from the hidden folds of space. "Will you take tea with me, Archoness?"
“Yes! I would love some.” She takes the teacup, and as she sips, her eyes go wide. “This is so delicious!” she exclaims before snatching a tart from the plate. Her eyes roll back in delight. “This is to die for!”
I giggle. “I hope not!”
Just then, Poet swoops through the window and lands on my lap, causing her to jump slightly.
“Oh gosh, is that your summon?”
I nod, scratching his feathers under his beak affectionately.
His name is Poet.
She gasps softly. “He is so adorable! May I?”
“I don’t know; you’ll have to ask him.”
Reaching out with her hand, Poet tilts his head and nods, hopping over to her.
She begins to stroke his head, and he leans into her touch, eyes closing in bliss.
"Such a spoiled bird..." I murmur quietly.
After stroking him a few times, Poet cuddles into her lap, closing his eyes as he settles in for a nap.
“Aww, look at him! Night night, Poet!”
He opens one eye one last time and winks at me before drifting into blissful slumber.
“Very spoiled bird,” I chuckle, delighted by the moment.