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Title: The Flight of the Silver Hawks

Inspired by: Chapter 10 of the Manga Akagami ni Shirayukihime

Characters: Izana Wistalia, Zen Wistalia, OCs

Wordcount: 1404

Rating: General

Five Years Ago

"By decree of His Highness, Izana Wistalia, and with the support of Her Majesty, Queen Haruto, the country hereby sentences Lord Omri Ruiz of Rid Province, and Lord Franz Sidonia of Sui Province to fifteen years in prison. Upon completion of their prison sentences, they are to be banished from the country. In addition, they are hereby stripped of their honorable titles for bribing the Royal family of Clarines. The immediate families are respectively required to pay fifty thousand crowns each to the province's treasury as a penalty for their crimes against the people of Rid and Sui."

The town crier repeated the news twice before he instructed his assistants to begin posting the announcements in every civic and public building of the many villages and towns comprising Rid and Sui.

I pulled the hood of my cape snugly around my face to keep people from recognizing me, but I need not have bothered with the effort. All around the plaza where I stood, listening for the town crier's announcement, people from all walks of life gathered and stood transfixed. As soon as the crier finished, there was a stunned silence, followed by a few claps as the crescendo of murmurs and whisper spread like wildfire. Soon, thunderous applause replaced the whispers when the townspeople realize that their nightmarish ordeal is over.

"Finally!"

"Oh, thank the heavens, the Royal family has taken note of our plight!"

"Good news, good news indeed!"

"His highness Izana is a such a fearsome person!"

"Serves them right! I am so glad, our future king is wise and just!"

Satisfied with the reactions, I turned to relieve my brother of holding the reins of my white steed, Zephyr. I surreptitiously observed his reactions even as I hoisted him up on Zephyr's back before I followed suit. In my excitement over closing this chapter, I decided on impulse to travel to the nearest town outside the Castle grounds of my new home. Zen was reluctant to go, but he had no choice when I snatched him in the middle of his practice lessons with the weapons master. I told him we were going on a short trip to town, as I was craving for some of the mince pies from a local bar I spied on our journey.

"What are you thinking, Zen?" I asked, taking the reins and making short work of the distance between the town and my new summer home.

Galloping past the many ancient trees dotting the path towards our destination, I barely heard my brother speak, concentrating more on my retainers who kept up with my pace of travel. They kept themselves within a discreet distance, giving me enough space to hold private conversations with my brother. I was adamant on traveling alone, yet they were reluctant to let me go off on a short trip. I settled on a compromise by letting them trail behind me, just far enough to let me do what I need to do, while they fulfill their duty of protecting me and Zen from any harm. I made a mental note to start looking for Zen's own retainers as soon as I tidied the loose ends here.

"I apologize, dear brother."

Patting Zephyr's lean shoulder, I smiled indulgently above his head. I slowed down our pace.

"Oh? Were you disappointed to learn that you were mistaken?" I teased him, holding back a snort of laughter.

I did not need to look down to know his face was red with embarrassment.

"I thought you took advantage of them while playing around."

"I did. I was having fun." I poked him in the ribs- his weak spot. He instinctively slapped my hand away to prevent me from poking him further. I let out a shout of laughter.

"I wonder though." He twisted around to look up at me in the eye, a young version of our beloved father. I felt my heartstrings tug a little, feeling all the affection I had for him. My precious brother, my beloved Zen. He never knew how much our mother and I valued him. As the youngest prince of the Kingdom, he had enough things on his plate- things would get harder as he grew older, and I wanted him to enjoy his youth as much as he could.

While he might not be able to inherit the throne, he was our greatest treasure and pride. I dared not tell him this for fear that he might grow up a pompous and entitled brat. Besides, it always lifted my mood to tease him mercilessly.

"You wonder?" I prompted him.

He frowned a little, not liking the way I rushed him while he was thinking. I thought he would tell me to forget what he was about to say when he continued.

"I wonder…if they'll hold a grudge against you."

I saw the fear and dread etched on his face and knew he was serious with his conclusion. The possibility did occur to me. The punishment for the erring Lords should be death, but I reckoned that letting them live and suffer the consequences of their actions would be harsher. Their crimes would remain all throughout their lives until the day they died. However, after some decades, who knows what the future would bring? The direct descendants of Lord Ruiz and Lord Sidonia could potentially ally themselves with the enemies of the kingdom capable of raising an army to invade Clarines. This was a possibility that I might have to deal with in the future.

Ruffling his platinum hair, I smiled at my cute brother reassuringly.

"I don't know about now," I admitted, "but someday, they might come back to kill me."

His eyes widened in horror. "Brother-"

I held out a finger to silence him and let me continue.

"When that time comes, if there's no one to support me, that'll be the end of my life."

I took a deep breath, enjoying the breeze, crisp pine scent and wild grass of the forest. If the time came that I died, I would need to make sure my brother survived and was supported by trustworthy people. He would rule in my stead.

"Zen, you must make the people around you recognize you as their Lord. Otherwise, even you yourself won't be aware of your own position."

Reaching out to cup his face and pinch his cheek a little, I smirked. "I deliberately played the simpleton to expose the true colors of these men. Also, as someone who represents our mother, Her Majesty Queen Haruto, I need to be careful of how I use my influence and power if I do not have all the facts with me. And when I found the right time, I pounced, to show them that I am not one to be taken lightly. It is better to be feared than be loved, if you cannot be both," I quoted a favorite anecdote of mine. "Because only in this sense can you fulfill your duties and responsibilities to this country. I want you to remember that."

For a moment, silence lapsed between us. High above us, two silver hawks circled above where we paused slightly off the beaten path; the silver hawks began singing their piercing song as they scoured the grounds for their prey. I shielded my eyes with my free hand, studying their circling patterns, before the majestic falcons flew in the east direction.

"Brother Izana…"

I looked down and saw Zen staring back at me with a determined expression.

"You need not stand alone. When I am old enough, I will be your shield. So until I can surpass you with my own strength, you must stay alive. You will be a good king. And I will follow the path where I can proudly stand by your side." Despite his serious expression, Zen looked more like a schoolboy than a prince. Still, who could ever resist such a declaration of love and loyalty?

My mouth stretched to a slow smile. "I would be grateful to accept your protection and loyalty, dear brother."

I paused, my smile turning wicked.

"Although, if I wait for you to become a better prince than you are now, I might have grey hairs on my head before I can descend upon the throne."

Zen sniffed, irritated. "Hmph!"

I laughed out loud, tugging at the Zephyr's reins and nudging my steed to a gallop.