Chapter 2
They settled him in a guest room at the palace. It wasn't especially grand, and for some reason, that bothered Nailah. When she would check on the bird, in between visits from the healer, she always felt like he deserved grandeur. Not opulence, but finery—silken sheets, gold and silver decorations, gilded book illustrations and the sweetest perfumes.
Instead, he got linen sheets and bandages, salves for the burns and rashes, steel scissors to cut away the matted hair, and a simple reading lamp on the clay bedside table.
"Healer, do you know what he is?" she asked, after the old man had finished with the bulk of his treatment.
The beorc wiped his balding head free of sweat and frowned. "To be honest, my queen, I'm not sure. He matches description of the heron clan, what little knowledge we have of them, but they vanished from the world after the Flood… supposedly along with the rest of the birds." His old mouth puckered in thought. "He certainly is a little thing, isn't he?"
Nailah frowned. "Do you think he could be a part of another band of survivors we don't know about?"
"That is a question for a scholar, Your Majesty, and I'm only a healer. All I can tell you is that he's weak from exhaustion, dehydration and starvation. Let him sleep, try to get him to drink at least daily, and ask him yourself when he awakens. That's all I can offer you, my queen. Alert me if anything changes."
Nailah assured him that she would, and let the man return to his other duties, namely, overseeing all the healers of the city. Most of them were beorc, but some of the Halflings were involved as well. They made excellent healers, because their lifespans were almost as long as a laguz's, so they could learn more and perform their duties longer.
For some reason, she couldn't leave the bird alone. Though she came in and out, attending to her duties as Queen, her thoughts strayed so often to the white-winged boy that Volug got upset.
"My queen, please, I know you are worried about the bird, but this is your country! Please take your work more seriously. We are three days from the Feasting Days!" His mouth, usually blank, was set in a sharp frown.
"I'm sorry, Volug," she said with a sigh. "He just gives me a strange feeling, like I've been missing something for a long time and now it's come to bite me in the furry ass."
That got him to crack a smile. "Well, we can't do anything until he wakes up. I have Basil attending him as you asked, so he's not alone. You'll know as soon as he comes to."
Basil was a big wolf with a deceivingly soft touch. He had five pups all his own and spent most of his days tutoring young children. Nailah felt he would be gentle enough to reassure the bird should he wake without her there.
Volug's voice cut into her musing about her decision. "Now, can we return to the task at hand, my queen?"
"Yes. Yes, of course, Volug."
Her duties finished, Nailah returned to the bird's room. Basil sat on a chair in the corner, reading quietly.
"Any change?" Nailah asked him.
Basil looked up and set the book aside, standing and stretching. "He woke briefly to drink the water on the table, but fell back asleep without saying anything, so I don't think it was really conscious. He's breathing easier though, so I think he's in less pain."
"Thank you, Basil. You may go."
He bobbed his head and left, happy to return to his pups. Nailah walked to the bird's side, brushing her fingers lightly through his hair. Volug stood in the doorway, his swishing tail the only indication of his interest.
"Where did you come from, little bird?" Nailah murmured. He was so delicate. Even just touching his skin, Nailah felt afraid that he would shatter, like crystal. It was amazing that he had survived his stint in the desert at all.
With a soft groan, the bird's eyes fluttered open. He blinked a few times, trying to focus on Nailah's face. "Where… Where am I…?"
"You're in Oasisi, the capital city of the country of Hatari."
He frowned and sat up, holding his head in one hand. "I've… never heard of Hatari." His frown deepened as he looked more closely at Nailah. "What sort of laguz are you?"
"I am a wolf. What are you?"
He hesitated. "Heron," he said at last.
"My name is Nailah, and I'm the queen of Hatari."
"Rafiel." His eyes fell to the sheet under his hands. "That's all I wish to say for now."
The sadness in his voice was palpable, and Nailah, curious as she was, couldn't find it in herself to push him. "Very well." She sat at the end of the bed, her tail sweeping elegantly out of the way. "Do you have any questions for me, then, stranger to Hatari?"
His stare was suspicious at first, but when Nailah quirked the eyebrow above her visible eye, he seemed to relax. "I suppose I have many questions. I don't know where to even begin."
Volug cleared his throat, drawing both of their attention.
"Oh, sorry, Volug. Rafiel, this is Volug, my vassal."
The heron nodded his head. "Good to meet you."
"If I could make a suggestion," Volug said dryly.
Nailah waved her hand. "Go ahead."
"Since the Feasting Days are almost upon us, why don't we let the performances then answer his first questions? After all, there's the story of the Flood on the first day, then your ascension on the second. The third is, of course, the Veneration of the Shield."
Nailah considered this, then turned back to Rafiel. "Do you might waiting a day or two for some of your answers?"
He shook his head lightly. "No, not at all." Slowly, he reached up and touched his head. "…where is my hair?"
Nailah had the grace to look a bit guilty. "We had to cut it. Much of it was matted beyond saving," she explained. "I apologize, I should have asked first. I could call the court barber to make it more to your liking if you wish."
He sighed and lowered his hands. "No, it's quite alright. You needn't trouble yourself, Queen Nailah. It suits me, I don't wonder."
She raised her eyebrow again. "I don't think it suits you at all. It's quite choppy and uneven and you're much too lovely to let that stand. I'll send for the barber tomorrow. Volug, remind me."
He nodded.
"And while I'm thinking about it, Volug, fetch him something to wear. Preferably something with a shirt." The gray wolf smirked and gave an exaggerated stretch, which threw the muscles of his bare chest into sharp relief.
And as if in spite of himself, a smile ghosted across Rafiel's lips. It was only a moment, but Nailah decided that she thought it quite pretty. After a moment of silence, Rafiel's stomach gave a mighty groan.
Nailah laughed. "I've been a terrible host, not feeding my guest! What do you eat, heron?"
He hesitated. "Erm, vegetables, fruits and nuts, if you have any…"
"No meat?"
Rafiel tilted his head. "I've never eaten it before, but I suspect it wouldn't sit well."
"Alright. Volug!" The wolf, having just left, poked his head back into the room. "Go down to the kitchens and see what you can find. There should be some cactus fruit from the rooftop garden at any rate."
"Yes, Your Majesty." With a quick bow, he was gone.
Rafiel fidgeted on the bed. "I'm sorry to impose upon your hospitality like this."
"Nonsense. I suspect when you're up for talking about it, we'll have much to discuss about where you're from. Somehow I suspect you have as little knowledge of me as I have of you."
He nodded. "Wolves… exist only in ancient books where I hail from."
"And herons here. Ashuna has mysterious ways. Perhaps matched only by Nyr."
"'Ashuna'? 'Nyr'?" Rafiel repeated the names slowly, as if they were strange cuisine. "I've never heard of these deities."
"Do you have a god?" Nailah asked.
"Only a goddess, Ashera."
"Hm…" Nailah wagged her tail. "An interesting thing. Ashera and Ashuna sound rather similar. Perhaps they are similar goddesses. Ashuna is a goddess of punishment and reward. Just as she rains destruction upon mankind for their sins, she raises them up for their virtues. Your Ashera?"
"Oh no. Ashera is a life-bringer, a goddess of light and birth. A goddess of peace."
"A curious thing."
Before they could continue, Volug returned with a loose night shirt and a tray. Several yellow-red fruits, covered in gossamer spines lay upon it.
"Ah, thank you, Volug."
Nailah took the tray and shirt and lay them on the bed. She picked one of the fruits up carefully, positioning her fingers between the spidery pins. "Hold it carefully. The spines hurt, and take your claw…" She stopped, her other hand suspended over the prickly skin. "You don't have claws, do you, Rafiel?"
He held up his hands in answer. Delicate, boney fingers and nails worn down by harsh conditions. No claws.
"Hm, I'll cut these for you then, and arrange for… something."
"Perhaps beorc cutlery?" Volug suggested.
"That's a solid idea. Remind me to arrange that tomorrow as well, Volug." She returned to the fruit in her hand. "Right, well, you slice the top and push it open." She put it back on the tray and pushed it down, exposing the pulpy red center. "Then, just scoop out the fruit. It's very sweet." She used two fingers to hook the pulp free from the rind and brought them directly to her mouth.
Sucking her fingers clean, she prepared another two fruits and pushed the tray toward Rafiel. He tackled them uncertainly, but after a few attempts, managed to start getting the sweet, watery pulp into his mouth. Nailah felt sort of proud watching him, glad that he enjoyed the fruit of her city, even if he refused its meat.
A/N: Derp, I'm bad at schedules. Next two chapters will be up Saturday and Sunday respectively.
