Lady of The Choice:
The First Step
Dawn. Warm light began to seep over a windowsill in the great palace of Corus. A figure lay in an exquisite bed, in a genteel room. In the early glow of the morning, one could tell that the lovely girl was Kalasin, the oldest daughter of King Jonathon III. The young woman's eyes flittered open, and I could see the smile that crossed her full lips, and the gleam in her Conte blue eyes. She looked at me then, and crossed the room to lift me from my perch.
"Jany, I wonder if they will let me hunt with you, the family of this man I must choose." She stroked my feathers with slow rhythmic movements, as I thought.
Let her? No one, barring the king as ever presumed to tell Kally that she could not hunt with me, her very own Kestrel!
She set me down after awhile, and I felt a swell of pride at my hoodless and Jess less state. I am the only hunting Kestrel allowed to roam free in the Palace, and I take pride in this fact. When I was first Hatched, a hatchling, Kally picked me. Wing-Sister Daine told Kally that if I was trained by her, that I would love her like a nest-sister, even as a mere chick, whose stage I am scarcely out of now. But anyway, back to Kally's story. My eyes follow my Mistress as she dresses, and she talks to me as she does, as always. First, however, she sheds her night-feathers, and steps out of the pooled mass. As she does this, I nuzzle my own feathers, wishing I could molt so easily, even if I would have to do it so often. Now, she speaks to me.
"Jany, I am going to tell you this because I can tell no one else." She pauses, momentarily lifting her thin featherless wings. "I cannot marry for Love, for the man I love is out of reach. Father would be displeased if I married a Commoner when I could marry for peace. Scanra, I will avoid if I can. There, they would kill me. Oh, Jany, what is a Princess to do when faced with a choice!" Although Kally did not see the creature in the corner, I did. I knew it was Midsummer's Eve, and was expecting the Kestrel Goddess to visit, but the deity in the corner I had not expected. Ryn, goddess of Choices and Promises, grinned at me, before fading away. At that opportune moment, Sadi entered to help Kalasin dress. Together, they went to the closet, as Daine calls it, where Kally keeps her Day-Feathers. They chose her nicest one, or so Kally says it is her best; I think they are useless, for they offer no protection. Anyway, once she had dressed, they began to fuss with her head feathers. When finally Kally was done, Sadi left and a new Kalasin turned to look at me, one whose face was hard, determined, one whose eyes were cold.
"I made my Choice. I still want you present though, darling." She tugged on her finest leather Glove, and I alighted to her fist. After I had settled myself down well, She pushed back a Tapestry, and we entered her private sitting room. Seated there were four young men, with Kally's personal herald hovering over them all. One of the men was a tall creature, one with blonde hair and icy gray eyes. He was dressed in what Daine would call a 'Civilized Manner' but I smelled Death on him. The next man I noticed was pudgy, and his head feathers, though a bright copper, were fading atop his head, and his brown eyes were worn and tired. The third was a man with curling brown hair and smoky green eyes, tanned and medium build. Finally, my gaze alighted on the fourth man, he was dark skinned and eyed, with black shadows along his eyes that made him look like his eyes titled back. His dark hair was neatly held where it ought to be. But it was the jewels that adorned him that caught most of my attention, rings on every finger! I pumped my wings and lifted from Her gloved fist, settling myself on the room's perch. I watched Fallon now, the man that Kally 'Loved'.
"Your Royal Highness, may I present the Lord Rathausak, from Scanra." Kalasin presented her hand to him and he took it, but turned it over, looking at it. Next, he reached out and grabbed her chin, his fingers extended along her jaw. I smelled the pain on her, and my eyes told me that she would be bruised tommorow morning. Angrily, I look to Fallon, who is clenching his fists. He can do nothing. I look to her Guards, but they face her door. As I look to the guards, I note that the ringed man looks as offended as I feel.
Why do they do nothing! I cry do they not care?! Then it hits me. Thanks to Daine, I learned that when dealing with high-ranking foreigners, certain protocol must be followed. That was what restrained everyone. But I am an Animal; I am not bound by Protocol. I launch myself at the man, sinking talons deep into the man's face, before returning to my perch. He has let Kally go, and I am happy. Fallon now continues the introductions. Duke Blaryn, the Bald, is from Tusaine, and while courteous, he is horribly old. Then Tyric from Tyra is introduced. He is only the third son of a Duke. Finally, Fallon looks at the ringed man.
"And finally, Your Highness, his excellency the Emperor Kaddar." The Ring man stands, and Kally drops a curtsy, not even offering this man her hand. He ranks her. Kaddar reached down and took her hand, an enchanted look on his face.
"Princess." He lifted her hand to his lips. Kally smiled at him and shot Fallon an angry look. Protocol demanded that the highest-ranking man be announced first, not last. Soon, Kalasin tells them they must go. She walks them all to the door, but Kaddar stops her.
"Princess." He took her hand again. "I-"
"I have made my choice, Excellency." In the Background, I feel like Ryn, child of Mithros and the Goddess, smiles at Kally. Kaddar nodded and took her other hand.
"Of course, but I have a gift." He slid a gorgeous ring upon her finger, and turned to walk away.
"Aye." Kalasin whispered firmly. "I have made my Choice."