Disclaimer: I own not any character you have seen before "Wings of Steel", only Zircah Bladewing and her tale. ^^
This chapter is merely a celebratory effort, seeing's I've no more exams this term. Do enjoy the pointless, mostly plotless fluff. ^^ Hee!
Chapter Twelve: Dreams of Flight
The air of Carthak was hot and thick. It required no flapping of wings to stay aloft, only the barest angling of Zircah's feathers was sufficient to change her direction. It was almost a struggle to descend toward the gilded mortal who waited for them on an otherwise abandoned terrace in the poorer sections of the imperial palace. Or at least, to speak to the image of a mortal who was truly at the other end of the palace. Ozorne would not come here personally; he would not deign to pass through the corridors his slaves' quarters ran out from like spider webs. Like sewerage pipes. Zircah sneered at the image of the mortal. No life pulsed from it. Ozorne seemed to think they would be fooled. Perhaps Jokhun was, but the wool had certainly not been pulled across her own eyes. She landed gently behind Jokhun and glanced at Rikash, wondering if her supposed helper had realised that the thing before them was but an image.
Jokhun nodded to Ozorne. "Greetings, Emperor."
The image stirred to life, amber eyes taking on a semblance of humanity as they turned toward the Stormwing king. "King Jokhun." He acknowledged the male. "The Tortallan delegation is currently within the palace, discussing the terms of our treaty. You will not be required, nor indeed introduced to the Tortallans until tonight. We have no doubts that you will wish to sit in on the proceedings to make sure your own interests are not overlooked."
"You are most kind." Jokhun replied. "We shall certainly attend on the morrow if you deem it necessary that our services are required."
"Fear is certainly a tool worth utilising when dealing with the weak northerners, Emperor Ozorne. They will make far more concessions with our presence than they would were we not there." Rikash pointed out.
"Quite so." Ozorne agreed, a faint light of amusement coming into his eyes. "Attend the banquet tonight, just after dark. We will introduce you formally. Until then, try to stay unnoticed. You may wander the palace if you so choose, but try not to disturb our birds."
"Birds?" Zircah queried. Ozorne frowned at her.
"Our birds have been ill of late. A wild mage from the northern lands came with the delegation to heal them for us."
Zircah's mind raced. She shrugged and looked to Rikash. "Well, what an interesting mortal. I can't say I've ever heard of any mortal with that skill." Her voice was smooth and innocent. Rikash, who had opened his mouth, shut it again. He had no wish to provoke Zircah's temper.
"She was most helpful to us." Ozorne said with a slight smile. His expression hardened. "Even though she is a student of a traitor. You are dismissed."
They took to the sky again, hovering above the palace. Jokhun turned to the two. "Meet me here this evening. Stir no trouble here – provoke no one. We are in no danger, but immortals are not kindly looked upon anywhere in the mortal realms. Stay out of sight, if you can." He advised them. Zircah raised her eyebrows as the crowned immortal flew off.
"Was it only me, or did he seem very nervous?" She asked Rikash. He shrugged.
"Is he not always so?" He returned. Zircah made a noncommittal sound. He had a point. She circled aimlessly for a few moments.
"Well. Veralidaine is here." She commented. "I believe I shall go and see her work on the birds." She reached out with her mind to locate any large collection of birds and found their location at once. She banked in that direction and frowned when she heard Rikash follow her. When she turned to give him a curious look, he shrugged.
"It will be cooler inside the palace, and I've nothing better to do." He excused his trailing lightly. Not to mention the fact that you seem to have some idea of what is going on around here, prophet. I have no such messenger in Shakith. He followed Zircah to where a large open entrance was surrounded by slaves washing mortal garments. They glided in, scattering mortals everywhere. Zircah beckoned to a slave.
"Y-yes mistress?" The dark-skinned mortal stammered in an effort to be brave. Zircah smiled encouragingly, and the slave shrank from her silver fangs.
"We require directions to your emperor's bird rooms." She said, reaching out with her mind to soften the instruction's feel in the slave's mind. The slave glanced about her, obviously not willing to leave her duties to show two immortals the palace.
"You will find them inside, the first left and at the very end of the hall, left again, nobility." She said, bowing slightly.
"Many thanks." Zircah replied, and walked away with as graceful a step as she could manage. Rikash hop-skipped after her, grumbling under his breath. She heard him sigh in relief as they stepped into the shade of the palace, but it didn't stop him from poking her viciously in the back. She turned to scowl at him dangerously.
"You couldn't have made life easier and asked for a trolley, could you? I look stupid when I walk!" He muttered indignantly. Zircah gave him a look of cool appraisal.
"Yes." She agreed haughtily. "You do." She left Rikash sputtering in annoyance and indignation and glided smoothly away, using her mind to better guide her to the bird rooms. When she got there, she spent several moments admiring a beautiful likeness of a bird crafted of mosaic tiles, gilt and jewels. She pressed on it expectantly, but it was locked. Letting out an annoyed growl, she opened a claw and made a speaking spell to link her to Ozorne.
"Your imperial majesty," she said sweetly into the globe. "It's Zircah. I wish to see your birds, if you do not mind. I've a gift with creatures of all sorts – I swear to you I will not wake them. Could you please unlock the door?"
"Granted, Zircah Bladewing." Ozorne's voice was terse. The doors swung open.
"Rikash as well, Lord Ozorne." Zircah nearly lost the speaking spell in surprise when his voice sounded behind her. She did lose her balance, saved only by the flat of Rikash's wing coming to rest in the small of her back.
"Yes, granted." Ozorne sounded distracted and annoyed. "Make sure you do not hurt my birds."
"We will." Zircah closed the globe and turned to glare at Rikash. "Don't sneak up on me ever again." She reprimanded him. Rikash smirked at her, but bowed his head slightly in acquiescence. A faint blush of anger remained on her normally pale cheeks as she entered the bird house. She opened her mind to the sleeping occupants of the bird house, pulling back suddenly when she remembered something.
"Rikash…?" She murmured as softly as she could. The blond male, who had been looking around for any signs of life, snapped his head toward her with a rattle of bones that made her scowl. Seeing this, he slunk apologetically closer until she could hiss, "You fool, be quiet. They have been ill recently, and we're not supposed to wake them."
"Right." Rikash muttered in response, moving away again as quietly as he could. He had expected this to be interesting enough to stave off boredom, but since all the birds were sleeping… he resisted the urge to snort, knowing it would end up with him bleeding. Zircah had closed her eyes and was crouching slightly in the leaf litter on the ground. He felt a faint tickling sensation in the back of his head and cringed slightly at the thought she might be able to read his mind.
Zircah quested out toward the birds that surrounded her, gently melding her minds with theirs. Not all of them had been ill, and were brimming with energy from their long sleep. She didn't even have to call them – they found their way to her even in the quasi-darkness of the aviary, bright spots of colour set in the silver of her wings like jewels in a darkened room. With her mind spread among the birds, Zircah saw dimly through their eyes the shape of Rikash watching them curiously. The birds were nervous of him – he was not People like she was. Zircah quelled their fears, sending them her heartfelt trust of the blond male. She was astonished to discover it there herself – had not she once loathed him? She hid herself in the minds of the birds, not wanting to contemplate that any longer.
Rikash blinked in surprise as a tiny scarlet wren cheeped plaintively at him. He raised his eyebrow querulously. "I don't have any food. What do you want?" He vaguely recognised that if Zircah could hear him, he was sounding like an absolute prat. He snorted. He didn't care what her opinion of him was. The wren cheeped again and fluttered up to land on his shoulder. He made a soft sound of annoyance and shook his head to make it go away.
The bird came back and landed atop his wing this time. Rikash glared at it. "If you weren't Ozorne's, I would mince you." He threatened it. It chirped innocently, and let off a soft run of whistles that called a dozen other birds to it. Rikash groaned as his wings were abruptly weighed down with other birds, all eyeing him curiously as they chirped quietly to themselves. Rikash flapped his wings, sending the birds flying, but as soon as his taloned feet were back on the ground, they landed on his wings again.
Rikash soon tired of trying in vain to shake off the irritating creatures. Try as he might, he could not get them to leave him alone, nor be quiet while he waited for Zircah to stop communing with the rest of them and make them leave him alone. He winced as a particularly loud and high-pitched warble sounded right next to his ear.
There was a sudden silence that seemed to deafen in its intensity. The birds were all completely still, heads toward Zircah. Rikash sidled towards her and made a soft sound of annoyance and surprise to discover that she was Seeing. "Fantastic! Now I'll have to wait forever…" he muttered in annoyance, wondering why her visions came so frequently now.
Best to listen. Shakith may have another message for you.
Rikash nodded absently at the thought and shuffled closer so that he could see Zircah's face. Then he blinked. That thought had not been his own. He glanced around suspiciously. "Who's there?"
Wheezy laughter was the only reply, but Rikash recognised it. "Graveyard Hag."
"That's right, Stormwing." She stepped out from a wall, black hair several inches long and sticking out all over the place. A simple white linen shift hung to her knees, revealing stick-like calves and leather sandals. "You've got a part to play in all this, same as she does." She jerked a hand at Zircah, who was muttering softly under her breath.
"I… what must I do?" Rikash asked, confused. This was for prophets, not for him. The Graveyard Hag chuckled, black eyes sparkling with wicked humour.
"You don't know what's going on here because she doesn't think she's allowed to tell you – so I will instead. She was called here because the gods are angry with Ozorne. He has scorned the Divine Realms for too long. Even I am not willing to defend him now, though these are my lands. He is like a mad dog, biting the hand that feeds him. I will tolerate it no more."
"And what do you want me to do about it?" Rikash asked, putting just enough reverence into his tone that the goddess would not start smiting. The Hag grinned toothlessly.
"Well now. Isn't that an interesting question? You'll soon find you might have to make allies with those you'd rather leave alone, Stormwing. And help those you'd rather leave to rot. Keep in mind it's your heart that has to do the thinking here, and not your memories."
"You sound like a riddle-making dragon." Rikash replied. "I know better than to ask for a straight answer from you, though."
"Clever boy." The Graveyard Hag commented with another gap-toothed grin. "Talk to her when she wakes. You might learn something." She vanished. Rikash glared at the spot she had been, and went back to glaring at Zircah, willing Shakith to hurry up.
[A/N: Have you ever had to wait for someone to get off a pay phone?]
Zircah came back to herself and blinked slowly. Rikash was standing in front of her, staring dazedly off into nothingness. She raised an eyebrow at the birds that lined his wings and shook her head in amusement.
The movement must have startled Rikash, for he blinked and stood up straighter, wings moving in front of him in automatic defence. It wasn't a particularly threatening sight, given the cheerfully piping animals on his wings. She couldn't help herself – she burst into ringing peals of laughter.
Rikash looked at the hysterical Zircah and slowly turned red. "It's not my f-fault, they won-n't go away!" He blinked at the garbled sounds coming from his mouth and silently cursed his tongue for betraying him at the worst possible time. Zircah laughed even harder, tears streaming down her face, as he pouted and proceeded to look even more pathetic by holding out his wings and demanding she tell the birds on them to leave him alone.
Finally regaining some modicum of self-control, Zircah asked that the birds cease using Rikash as a perch. They returned immediately to their trees, though they were reluctant to leave such an amusing Eater. Zircah giggled again as they pictured his antics for her, earning herself a half-curious scowl from Rikash. She leaned forward and dotted his nose with the tip of a wing feather, grinning as she healed it so he wouldn't complain even more. "Ah," she commented with a grin. "My stuttering birdtamer."
Rikash growled. "Shut up, Bladewing."
Zircah stifled another chuckle, deciding he had seen enough humiliation for one day. So, "Come on, Moonsword… it's getting late, and we mustn't keep out lord Jokhun waiting." She rolled her eyes as she said this and turned to walk from the aviary.
"…before we go." Rikash said, calling her attention back to him. "You're Seeing often lately… apparently this has something to do with me, as well. Whatever it is you're getting from Shakith. So… would it be too much to ask that I actually knew what in the name of Mithros was going on?"
Zircah turned back to him, abruptly completely serious. Her ice blue eyes regarded him carefully, a trace of fear seeping through as she reflected on the vision she had just received. Too much pain to be remembered fearlessly. And yet, perhaps this would prevent it. She frowned as she pondered what there was to tell – it was not as though she knew much more than he, after all.
"Moonsword, if I tell you this, you cleave to me and me only." She warned him. "Not Jokhun, not Ozorne."
"What makes you think I cleave to either of them?" He asked, indirectly pledging allegiance. Zircah hid a smile.
"Very well. Rikash, Ozorne has ignored the gods. Even the Graveyard Hag is vexed with him now. Something is due to happen here soon and we are to witness, but do not think that we alone will be able to defeat the emperor for the gods. Shakith's words convince me that we must join with past enemies… and as Veralidaine is here, she must be connected to this."
"That girl, the so-called Stormwing killer? What could she have to do with this? She is a child!" Rikash protested quietly. Zircah shot him a pained look.
"So was Maura, Rikash." She said softly. Rikash fell silent and she continued, "There is something different about this girl, though. She has had so much to do with events since we were summoned through the barrier between the realms… I believe she must be the one, though what purpose she must serve I do not know."
"That mage… think you he is here? He may be a part of this, as well." Rikash suggested. "Tristan mentioned that Salmalín was interested in wild magic, which he claimed not to exist."
"Staghorn was a simpleton with delusions of grandeur." Zircah sneered. "But you are correct – the mage goes nowhere without his student. Ozorne may use this against him while he is here. Perhaps that is our purpose – to protect her."
"Perhaps." Rikash did not sound pleased by the thought. He stared hard at the darkened glass. "We must go to meet Jokhun."
Zircah nodded her assent. "Not a word of this must be breathed to anyone but the gods, Moonsword."
"I hadn't guessed." Rikash returned snidely. "I'm a dumb blond who spurts out the secrets of the gods even when he's been specifically warned by a psychotic warrior Stormwing not to!" Zircah tossed him a warning look.
"I am not psychotic."
"Not at all."
"I'm not." A snort. "Shut up, Moonsword."
"I said nothing."
"You were thinking it…"
Somewhere a goddess sighed in exasperation. It truly bespoke the waning of their powers to chaos that these were their best hope to obliterate Ozorne.
***
A/N: Bwa ha ha ha ha. I did it, Wyrren! You're not home yet! =] Happy end of exams!
…I spoke too soon. Now just to spite me, FF.Net won't let me log in. - -;; Okay… I can still get this uploaded… dammit… - -;;;;
Next chapter: The Stormwings are introduced to the Tortallan delegation and Daine makes an amusing mistake, earning herself the wrath of Rikash and the honour of seeing Zircah dying of laughter. ^^ Unfortunately, Ozorne is a bastard and it's time for a plot twist… doncha hate that? ^^