and here's chapter 4 of Glass Wings.
dis: again, i don't own BK or BK2.
The moment Arietta was through the Crack, it vanished. She took a moment to orient herself to her surroundings. Nekton was just as she remembered. She didn't have time to ask herself what to do when she felt the familiar tug that signaled her being too far from her bonded. She let herself be pulled by the feeling.
'Why am I not going towards Balancoire?' she asked herself.
'Ari? Is that you?' The voice echoed along the thread that bound her to her Guarded.
'Kalas? Where are you? Where is everyone?' Arietta asked, moving as fast as she could.
'I don't know, in some sort of holding cell, I think. I was so stupid! They kidnapped us from Cursa, and knocked us out, and we couldn't defend ourselves because I was stupid and thought we were safe!' Kalas' voice raged in her mind. 'I don't even know which Island we're on.'
'We're on Mira,' Xelha's voice broke in. 'One of the servants let it slip. But I have no idea where on Mira we are.' Arietta almost melted in relief. Giving experimental plucks on the four other bonds, she felt answering resonance, confirming the fact that she was still bonded to everyone.
On the edge of her consciousness, she felt a new presence, as well as a darker, twisted presence far closer. The new presence was completely contradictory. Cold masked warmth, joy covered sorrow, and courage protected fear. The dark, twisted presence was much like Malpercio was like, but not as evil. It felt like need warped into desperation tainted with envy. It made her shudder to feel it.
'Well,' she said, 'One of you reel me in. Maybe we can help each other one more time.'
---
"Well, it's getting dark, I don't think we'll make it home tonight, maybe we should stop in Alfard?" Brennan suggested. Mizuti nodded, eyes still turned to the Capital of Illusion. Brennan brought the craft down into the Mintaka Port.
Once the boat was secured, they were met by a group of Imperial Guards.
"Prince Brennan, we weren't expecting you," one said. He shifted nervously, obviously not sure what to do.
"That's alright," Brennan said, his lazily arrogant demeanor replaced by a proper, polite mask. "I wasn't expecting to be here. Maybe we could talk to the Emperor?"
"Yes, of course!" the guard said, relieved. "Please, follow me!"
Brennan and Mizuti nodded and followed the group of guards. As they walked, Willow was looking around in awe. She had never seen so much technology in one place before, and everything was bright and new. She stared up at the Fortress when they approached, and didn't break her stupor until she felt a tug as Brennan kept going.
They were led into the main hall, where the guard bowed to them and gestured to the elevators.
"His Excellency, Emperor Lyude, is currently in his personal chambers. He has been informed of your arrival. I hope your stay is pleasant, Prince Brennan." With that, the soldier turned and went back to his post. Mizuti looked at Brennan, who shrugged.
"Let's go, then," he said.
Two elevators and three doors later, they were at the large, ordinate door that Willow couldn't possibly imagine as any door but a ruler's personal chambers. From the other side of the door, she could hear music, though she couldn't identify what instrument. Brennan gave three raps on the door, and the music abruptly stopped.
A young boy of about thirteen opened the door. His skin was tanned, and his black hair was different than the light-skinned, brown-haired Mintakan people. His dark eyes took in Brennan and Mizuti with awe.
"Geiyl, who is it?" a melodious voice asked. A redhead came to the door behind the boy, holding a violin. "Ah, Brennan, Great Mizuti, I was told you'd be coming. Please, come in."
"Hey, Your Excellence," Brennan said, giving a lazy grin.
"The Great Mizuti be very glad to see you again, Lyude! How be you?" Mizuti exclaimed as she walked in. Willow was awed by the room, and kept silent.
Even though everything metallic looked like it was solid gold, the room still had a casual, lived-in feeling to it. It was mostly gold and red, and the atmosphere felt warm and inviting.
"I thought I asked you not to do that, Brennan," the Emperor said, sitting on the expansive bed. "Or would you rather have me call you by your title as well?"
"No, no, I remember, Lyude." Brennan sat as well.
"Sir Lyude, would you like me to bring refreshments for your guests?" the boy asked. Lyude nodded.
"Thank you, Geiyl."
Mizuti sat down as well, and flopped backwards so that her legs were hanging off the bed.
"Lyude never answered the Great Mizuti's question," she reminded.
"I'm just fine, Great Mizuti," Lyude answered. "How is everyone in Duhr?"
"The Children of the Earth be just fine," Mizuti answered. Lyude nodded and then looked at Brennan.
"There's someone else in here, isn't there, Brennan?" he asked with startling accuracy. Willow shifted so that she was behind Brennan, even though she was fairly sure that the red-haired ruler couldn't see her. Brennan nodded.
"Not sure how you did that, Highness, but yeah. We just came from Mira." Brennan turned his head so he was facing Willow. "Willow, this is Lyude, Emperor of Alfard and long-time friend of my parents." He turned back to Lyude. "Lyude, this is my new Guardian Spirit, Willow."
"Pleased to make your acquaintance," Lyude said. Then he looked at the door. "I know you're there, Geiyl," he called, "you may as well come in."
The door opened slowly and the young dark-skinned boy crept in with a tray of cups.
"How d'you DO that, Sir Lyude?" he asked.
'That's a really good question,' Willow murmured. Brennan nodded.
"I just do, Geiyl," Lyude answered, lifting the try from the boy's arms. He stiffened for a moment, and then looked out the window longingly for a moment and then set the tray down on a table. Geiyl was about to sit on a chair near the door when Brennan's next question stopped him.
"Are you Azhani, Geiyl?"
Startled, the boy nodded.
Willow 'nudged' Brennan. 'What's 'Azhani'?' she asked.
"It means he's from Azha," Brennan responded. Geiyl looked awestruck.
"Were you talking to your Guardian Spirit?" he asked reverently. Brennan nodded. "That was so neat, your Highness! I've never met anyone who had a Guardian before!"
"It be getting late," Mizuti cut in. "We be needing a place to stay for the night, Lyude."
"Ah, that's right. Geiyl," Lyude turned to the Azhani, "would you show them to the guest wing please?"
Geiyl nodded enthusiastically. "Follow me!" he said.
"Sleep well," Lyude said as they left his chambers.
All the way to the guest quarters, Geiyl was talking to Brennan and Willow.
"My family isn't very rich, so I came here with the last servant train to try to find work. I really lucked out getting picked to be Sir Lyude's personal servant. He's really nice, not at all the way I heard the last Emperor was. Though what I really want to do is travel and see the other Nations. Alfard is great and all, but I want to meet people who have Wings of Heart, and I want to see other cultures." He stopped at an elegantly carved door. "These are your quarters for the night."
"The Great Mizuti thanks you, Geiyl, and wishes you a good night," Mizuti said, going into the room.
"I'll come and wake you up for breakfast," Geiyl said. He turned to leave.
'Tell him I said thank you and good night?' Willow requested. She was sure she remembered her grandmother saying something about talking and acting through her Guarded, but she couldn't figure out how.
"Geiyl," Brennan said, stopping the boy in his tracks, "Willow asked me to tell you thanks and good night."
Geiyl's face lit up faster than an alcohol-soaked tissue. He bowed quickly and then literally took off. Giving the boy an odd look, Brennan went into the room and stripped off his shoes and shirt. He stretched out on the bed and was asleep before his head hit the pillow.
The next morning, Mizuti, Brennan, and Willow were woken up by knocking on the door.
"Prince Brennan? Great Mizuti? Miss Willow? Please wake up, Sir Lyude would like to have a word with you!" Geiyl's voice called.
"The Great Mizuti be up, the Great Mizuti be up!" Mizuti said, jumping awake. She looked around dazedly, blinking the sleep from her eyes. Brennan sat up blearily, his blue hair even more tousled than it was the day before.
"You can come in, Geiyl," he called, yawning and stretching. The door opened slightly and the boy crept in. Willow watched as the room went from blurry to clear as she came back to awareness.
'Morning, everyone,' she said. Brennan nodded in her direction as he looked around for his shirt.
"Good morning, Willow," Mizuti answered cheerfully, now more awake. Geiyl jumped so badly that he looked like he'd been touched by a branding iron.
"I… heard her. I heard Willow, I think," he whispered, awestruck. "She just said 'good morning'."
'You… heard me?' Willow asked. 'But… Grandma Gabby told me that only a Guarded could hear a Spirit's voice…'
"But my parents told me that certain people could hear it even if they weren't Guarded," Brennan interjected as he pulled on his shoes.
"The Great Mizuti hates to break this up, but Lyude be wanting to talk to us," Mizuti cut in. Brennan nodded.
"Oh, that's right!" Geiyl exclaimed, regaining his composure. He bowed to them. "If you would follow me?"
Brennan and Mizuti followed Geiyl down the halls to the elevators.
'Fourth floor?' Willow asked softly.
"Yeah," Brennan replied just as quietly. He ignored the look of pure joy that Geiyl had on his face. "That's where the throne room is."
The poor servant boy was nearly bouncing off the walls of the elevator by the time it reached the fourth floor. They ran into Lyude just as he was about to go into the throne room.
"It seems you beat me here," he said warmly, grinning.
"Not by much, Highness," Brennan said.
"Well, then, I guess there isn't any reason to go in. We can talk here, it won't take long," Lyude said. "You're leaving for another nation today, right?"
"Yeah, back to Wazn, why?"
"I got word this morning that odd things are happening in Anuenue, and with the Queen taking a constitutional, Savyna has to stay and look after things in Komo Mai. She can't go and check on the Celestial Tree," Lyude said. Mizuti brightened.
"Then we be going to Anuenue instead!" she said cheerfully. Brennan nodded.
"That brings me to another matter," Lyude said. "I'm giving Geiyl permission to go with you."
The young Azhani looked like he was going to pass out from sheer joy.
"I know he's always wanted to see other places, and this way he can, with your agreement, of course."
"Of course he can," Brennan said, slightly startled, "but Mizuti's boat can only hold two people."
"That's not a problem," Lyude said, "You can use one of the ships we have in our port. I trust you remember what Gibari taught you about piloting one?"
"After he drilled it into my head I'm not about to forget," Brennan muttered. He turned to Geiyl. "I guess you're coming with us, kid."
'Then we're heading to Anuenue?' Willow asked, trying her hardest to remember what her grandmother told her. It suddenly seemed like her grandmother hadn't told her nearly enough.
"Yep," Brennan said. Geiyl's smile looked like it would break his face. "We're off to Anuenue."
---
Kalas woke up feeling strangely content; the best he'd felt for a while. He spent a few seconds trying to figure out why. Good sleep? No, that couldn't be it; he'd been sleeping on what amounted to a wooden plank for the past three days. Special event? No, that wasn't it either; the 'Mistress' hadn't said or done anything to indicate it. Did he get his Winglet back? A quick check told him no, his custom-made Winglet was still MIA, probably in the Mistress' clutches.
'Morning, blue-head,' came a voice he hadn't heard in so long it sounded like angels.
'Ah,' he told himself, keeping his thoughts private, 'that's why.'
'So, what's up for today? I poked around a little, something about a 'Mistress'?' Arietta asked.
'Yeah, the person keeping us here calls herself the Mistress, and so far she's asked to see me every day,' Kalas replied silently. As if on cue, one of the servants of the Mistress appeared.
"The Mistress will see you now," he said mechanically. He unlocked the doors with jerky yet practiced motions and Kalas stood up and walked out. The servant led him through the halls and up two flights of stairs to the ground floor.
Arietta knew what was coming before it happened. Without warning, Kalas whipped around and punched the servant in the gut, sending him to the floor in pain.
Kalas sprinted for all he was worth towards the front doors, praying to all things sacred and holy that he made it. Arietta could hear the pounding of footsteps above the frantic mantra Kalas was too preoccupied to keep private. They got closer and closer and Arietta was sure they would catch up when Kalas dove out the doors and into the first bush he saw.
The footsteps thundered by, and for a few panicked moments, Arietta was sure they'd be caught. After a few tense moments, Kalas shakily exited the bush. A quick scan of their surroundings told Arietta everything she needed to know.
'Deltourne,' she said. 'We're in Deltourne.'
"Yeah, but why are we here?" Kalas asked.
'At this point, your guess is as good as mine.'
"Well, we should try to escape and get to Balancoire. Maybe Melodia can help us."
'Good idea. It'll be faster by air. Let's go.' Kalas looked at her as if she were crazy.
"Good plan, but one problem," he said. "One-Wing, remember? They took my Winglet, so I can't fly!" This time, Arietta gave him the crazy-look.
'So use my left Wing in place of yours,' she said, as if talking to a child. After cursing both himself and her, Kalas called on his Wing. There was the blue lightning that signaled his, and the violet flash that signaled hers, and soon he was being held aloft in the air above the Mystical Garden by a pair of mismatched Wings.
there. review, please?