I decided to write another chapter even though no one's read this yet. I enjoy writing, so I hope someone enjoys my writing as well. I don't own Hawksong or any of the other books. So here it is, enjoy!
Sive Shardae
A falcon's shriek roused my from my slumber. I found myself alone in the alley with my mystery mamba nowhere in sight. Nicias, one of Oliza's Wyverns of Honor, though I suppose he was now one of mine or Salem's guards, landed before me, looking stern.
"Shardae, you shouldn't disappear like that. Anything could've happened to you." The unspoken "on this side of town" hung in the air around us. I got to my feet, dusting off the soft calf skin pants I wore. I nodded curtly to him.
"My apologies, Nicias. I needed some time to myself. Many things have happened lately." The falcon nodded slowly. Nicias followed as I walked back towards the Rookery, both tall and imposing yet still built into the cliff to make it part of the Earth. I sighed thinking about the mamba I had met. The market was crowded, mostly with serpiente, given that it was later afternoon. A baker assaulted me with her wares, and began making an attempt at gossiping.
"Si- I mean, Shardae, how nice of you to come to the market. So many avians refuse to be here in the afternoons, though many serpents will not be here in the morning either." She began, handing me a cheese bread loaf. "What will happen to Wyvern's Court with our Wyvern gone?" She asked, and I saw several serpiente crowd a bit closer, intrigued by my answer. I leveled my golden eyes on the python, unamused by her attempts at weaseling information from me.
"You will know when every citizen knows what will be the fate of the city. I can assure that Wyvern's Court will not cease to exist." I turned on my heels, bumping into a young man with golden-brown hair and emerald green eyes. I stared at him for a moment, but if this was my mamba, he betrayed nothing. The serpent bowed politely before continuing on his way. I let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding and nodded to his retreating back. The baker looked taken aback, calling out to me.
"I'm sorry, Shardae, I didn't mean to offend ... " She cut herself off at the realization that I wasn't truly paying attention. I was looking about slowly, realizing I could ask any serpiente here if they knew a twenty year old, male mamba. I might have a few that were not my mystery serpent, but eventually I would find him. I shook my head. He obviously had no desire to be found by me as of yet. I would resign myself to being patient. I continued my survey of the market place at a leisurely pace. I smiled as I noticed Salem and his mate, Rosalind. Salem waved and smiled brightly, unperturbed by the daunting task we would share.
"Sive!" The cobra called from across the market. I smiled back at him, wondering if they'd come up with any ideas on how best to rule together. The pair wandered over, and Rosalind greeted me softly. While the woman wasn't cold towards me, she was the kindest at the moment. It had been my alistair who put her mate into the coma he'd just recently come out of. Salem, oblivious to the tense atmosphere between Rosalind and I, continued on. "It's rare to see any avians, much less the hawk princess consorting with serpiente." He grinned. A vendor called from behind them. "I know you birds avoid meat, but I also know it's not because anything forbids you." He took my arm, dragging me gently over to the vendor. "This is Kien. Kien, what were you saying was your specialty today?" The vendor, Kien, looked beyond overjoyed to have members of both royal families at his shop. I sent a weak glare to the cobra before turning my attention to Kien.
"Ah, Diente, Naga, Shardae!" He looked as if he were going to faint with excitement. "Today it's a rosemary and chive roasted venison. I'm sure your Naga and the avian princess would both enjoy it." He handed over some to all three of us, and while Salem and Rosalind popped some of theirs into their mouths, commenting on it's taste. I looked between Kien and the venison and slowly placed the delicious smelling morsel in my mouth. I smiled at the man before turning to Salem.
"It was good, Cobra, Kien. Now I believe we actually have some responsibilities to attend to?" Salem looked at petulant as any child being told when to sleep, but agreed. We made our way leisurely back to the Rookery, talking amiably as we went and chatting with serpiente and avian merchants alike. Finally, we were sitting comfortably in the library. I crossed my ankles and watched Rosalind make a similar motion. Salem, for once, looked serious.
"I agree with your sister and my uncle." Salem begun. He paced near a window. If each royal family returns to it's respective lands, Wyvern's Court will cease to exist." He looked at us. "That being said, would it be such a terrible thing to return to being two separate people living in separate lands? There would be no war, but no strife in trying to bend two cultures that are unwilling to bend." Rosalind and I looked at each other in shock.
"Salem!" I cried out as I stood. "This was built with Danica and Zane's dreams in mind, and to protect the love they've found. To go back to how it was would never fix anything. There would still be hatred burning in their hearts. That's better than war, perhaps, but not by much." I retorted hotly, losing my temper. Rosalind nodded at my side, and I was surprised to receive support from that side. "Salem, Wyvern's Court is our home. We cannot abandon it simply because it is the path of least resistance." Salem sighed, collapsing into a chair.
"I'm sorry Sive, Rosalind. You're right. I just don't understand how to make our two cultures one." He put his head in his hands. "Damn Oliza for leaving this to us." He growled. I did not echo his sentiments, but could not help but agree silently. I found my thought returning, not to the issue at hand, but to my mystery serpent in the alley. I stared out the window, seeing that the sun was low in the sky. I got to my feet.
"Salem, I believe we will be better able to think on this after a good night's rest." I murmured. "See you both tomorrow." I shifted forms, sailing easily out the window. I came to reside in my alley once more, and did not have to wait long for the mamba. "Hello." I whispered. He repeated my greeting.
"More troubles, Hawk? I saw you in the market today. You did not seem so troubled as you sampled Kien's venison." He said brightly. I smiled at the memory.
"It was the first time I'd tried such a delicacy. It was quite delicious." I longed to turn to him and look upon his face. "When might I be able to see your face, Mamba?"
He chuckled behind me. "Sive, I would love for you to see my face." I began to turn around, but he held me firmly in place. "I have had many years to look at you. Admire you. You don't know me. I'd like you to come to know me without any preconceived notions. If I could I would've come to you without you being aware of what I was, but that was impossible. So, in answer, you will look upon me when you know me." He answered evasively. I felt a sigh escape my lips.
"Then perhaps you have an idea of how to handle things. Danica and Zane feel that to keep Wyvern's Court alive, Salem and I must rule here side by side, but not as mates." I explained. "Salem is on the verge of abandoning the whole thing and returning to the serpent palace." The mamba moved behind me.
"I see." Was all he had to say. He made a noise of thought. "It is not unheard of for more than one family to rule. The humans actually do it." I made a noise of surprise. "I have studied human culture." I nodded slowly. "Both of you having equal power, and deciding together on laws and problems. I think it will be good for the court. That being said, Salem has to agree." The mamba behind me reasoned. "Your people must also agree." Yet another sigh passed from my mouth.
"That is the problem."
"I do not believe it is a much of a problem as you see. You were raised in serpiente society just as much avian, as was Salem. You can help where he would fail, just as he could be an asset to you."
"Perhaps you are correct." I said, boosted slightly by his words. I found it hard not to look at him. Then, I wondered if I would like what I saw when I turned. "Tell me more of yourself, mamba. How can I know you otherwise?" He chuckled and I felt him shaking against my back.
"Sly Hawklet. What do you wish to know?"
"Do you have a profession, Mamba?" I tried to imagine this unknown man as a jeweler or a craftsman. The image of him in my head just did not sit well.
"I am a dancer. Born and raised in the nest. You do not dance on the ground, I know Hawk. You dance among the air. I wonder if you could dance as well as your sister and neice." I felt myself flush at his words. The thought of me learning the serpiente's dance had me picturing my mother's face.
"No, no!" I cried out, half laughing. "My mother would faint if I ever begun to dance." I explained. He just chuckled.
"Hawk. You care to much for what your mother thinks. I challenge you, learn to dance. Dance, Hawklet." My mystery serpent disappeared from my side once more and I was left thinking on his words. Could I take his challenge? Should I take it?