On Gilded Wings

For the past seventeen years, the people of Arhus have eked out a living from the dusty, rock infested soil of the mountains where they find themselves. The waters have receded to record lows, the shallowest they’ve been in generations. Crops are failing, storms increasing, and tempers are rising. In their time of need, the people are turning to the sentient fliers, demanding a solution. But is there anyone who can come up with answers?

Izuri stretched his already tired legs a little farther as he worked to keep up with Zakius. His older brother was currently striding through the compound at a ground-blurring pace, his wings twitching testily behind him.

“It would only be for a week,” Izuri tried to muster up a persuasive voice. It was rather difficult while he was doing his best not to gasp for air like a floundered fish. It wasn’t that Izuri was out of shape, quite the contrary. Due to his frequent explorative excursions, he was in excellent physical condition. It was just that Zakius was an entire foot taller than he, and every inch of that added height seemed to be in his legs. And Izuri was too proud to embarrass himself by asking Zakius to slow down.

Izuri was all too aware of his short stature and the fact that this, among his other shortcomings, meant he didn’t quite measure up to the standards of a flier.

“The upper farmers have been banging down my doors all morning asking for more workers, and you want to go exploring.” Zakius stated it flatly, unsurprised.

Izuri winced at Zakius’ tone and nearly slammed into his rigid back when he came to an abrupt halt, glaring over his shoulder.

“What am I to do with you?” Zakius exploded, throwing out his hands in exasperation.

Izuri bit his tongue to prevent himself from making a smart-alecky comment. Instead he took inspiration from his white marble surroundings and waited patiently for Zakius to come to a decision.

Zakius sighed, moving the few feet to the opening that overlooked the courtyard below. Sunlight streamed in, highlighting the red in his auburn hair and picking out the slight gold tint to his feathers that gave them an iridescent shine.

“If I let you go, will you promise to help with the farmers upon your return?”

Izuri grinned. “No problem.”

Zakius turned, a frown puckering his forehead as he considered his options. If he kept Izuri, he would pout like a little child and be of no use to anyone the entire day. He supposed it was better to let him have his fun so he would be willing to work.

“You may go-” Izuri punched the air in triumph behind Zakius’ back, “but you owe me a double shift of guard duty. Let Saleb know when you return.”

Izuri’s face fell a little at the mention of double guard duty, but his spirits quickly rebounded at the thought of a full week of freedom. He would make the most of it.

Zakius watched Izuri race off down the corridor with concern. The boy was already eighteen and still he showed no responsibility. It was a fact that had kept Zakius up late many nights stewing.

Zakius had a tough decision, one that he didn’t relish making. Beladonna was the neighbouring country to the east and they were desperately in need of military aid. The only problem was that if Zakius lent them warriors, Naypa could possibly refuse to sign the peace treaty, and Arhus needed that treaty. The free lands needed to unite if they were to withstand an assault from their shared northern border.

That only left one alternative: marriage. And since Zakius was already happily married with two children, he feared that task would fall to Izuri. But was Izuri diplomatic enough to handle an arrangement like this? His advisors thought not.

What sort of woman would the Beladonna flier’s daughter be? Would she be another flighty personality like Izuri, unable to shoulder responsibility? Or would she, by some stroke of luck, be a grounded, responsible person? He hoped, for the sake of all the free lands, that she would be able to tame his brother.

Layette grinned to herself as she felt the dewdrop-laden air flowing past her face and neck, lifting her hair and whipping it out in a fanfare behind her as she removed her hat and veil. She had escaped the constant vigil of her father’s advisors and was quite enjoying her hard won freedom. They were no doubt still puzzling as to how she had escaped the picnic area without their notice. They would be in the first stages of panic at the realization that their charge had fled and would most likely be ordering everyone to scour the countryside to locate her whereabouts. The thought was quite amusing; those old stuffed coats.

The sweet trill of birdsong colored the air with vibrant strokes as Layette wound her way through the waving poplars. The pristine birch seemed to dance along the vagaries of the wind; it’s leaves keeping perfect rhythm with the sighs of the forest.

It was such a beautiful day; Layette didn’t understand how anyone could stand to be cooped up talking about politics, much less marriage. How her father expected her to marry a complete stranger was beyond her. Why was she even expected to marry at all? Surely her father didn’t think that with her appearance she would ever be comfortable in such close proximity with another person, much less someone of the opposite gender. The only person she ever let see her without a face covering was her personal maid, and Janine had been with her since infancy.

Poor Mellany. Layettes older sister had been married off just two weeks prior, and Layette was sure that was what had caused her fathers sudden attention to her marriage prospects. After all, a daughter of a flier was only good for one thing: sealing alliances through her marriage to an important diplomat’s son.

Finding a rather perfect looking branch in a nearby tree, Layette tucked her skirts up, determined to climb into the sanctuary offered by the boughs and pass the time dreaming up adventures she would have if only she were brave enough to run away.

She had been sitting there for quite some time, fantasizing about growing wings of her own and exploring the luminous mountains to the east, when a rustling beside her disturbed her reverie. Two liquid brown eyes poked out from amongst green veined leaves, ears twitching to and fro, searching for danger. Layette’s breath caught in her throat as the darling little creature with its little tail flicking furiously, scampered out onto the adjacent branch and stared at her curiously. Having spent most of her life within the stonewalls of the keep, Layette had never seen a creature like this. Heart beating heavily, she slowly stretched out her hand toward the enchanting creature, breath held lest she scare it.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

Layette gasped at the sudden sound, teetering precariously on her perch before regaining her balance enough to scrabble with her hat and veil that she’d foolishly left on the branch beside her. The animal took that as its cue to disappear into the surrounding branches.

“Those critters can be quite nasty.”

Layette was alarmed to see that the shadows drifting around the man also sifted and caught among blue-white feathers adorning wings that sprouted from his back. Was he one of her fathers fliers? How had he found her? Cautiously, she made her way down the tree, conscious of her sweeping skirts and his watching eyes below.

Landing firmly on her feet, she carefully arranged her dress demurely about her legs before lifting her eyes to meet his curious gaze. All at once she was alarmingly conscious of the man’s enormous height, massive shoulders tapering to slim hips, and piercing grey eyes that pinned her to the forest floor and appeared to strip her of her usual spontaneity with strangers. There was a clamoring in her throat like a frightened bird fluttering in an attempt to escape the approach of a snake.

She was dimly aware of his hand extending in greeting, but didn’t quite catch his name over the thunder of her pulse in her ears, and had to ask him to repeat himself. Feeling acutely aware of herself, heat flooded her cheeks beneath her veil, thankful for its safety, that she might blush undetected.

The man grinned, revealing even teeth at contrast to the dark of his tanned skin.

“I am Izuri,” his eyes crinkled at their corners in greeting.

Layette gasped but tried to cover it up with a cough. Izuri was the name of the man she was supposed to marry! What were the odds of there being two fliers named Izuri? The color that had infused her cheeks only moments before drained as she stared into the face of her betrothed and frantically wondered if he knew who she was. The polite interest in his eyes suggested not, and a plan began forming in her mind.

“Alianne,” came out her breathy reply, apprehension brightening her eyes behind their misty veil. She held her breath, awaiting his reaction.

“A beautiful name for such a beautiful woman. Do you often climb trees and converse with squirrels Alianne?” He teased as he took a step closer, curiosity alight in his eyes.

Layette found herself retreating, hands wringing in the folds of her skirt as she cast about for a reply.

“My m-mother sent me out for berries,” she burst out, belatedly cursing her lethargic brain as she saw his gaze drop to her empty hands.

“Did you lose your basket?” His eyebrow arched upward, delicate as a birds wing, skepticism written over his face.

“I forgot it a while back,” she gestured in the general direction she had come from as she turned and began walking. “I had better get back before they notice my delayed absence. It was very nice meeting you Izuri.” With a final wave, she made her escape.

“What keeps you so silent this morning brother? Surely the double guard duty last night wasn’t that tiring?” Zakius looked up from his half empty plate, catching Izuri’s thoughtful gaze.

“No. It was quite an enjoyable night, if you must know.” He resumed fiddling with his utensils.

“Come now, something must be bothering you, you’ve hardly put two sentences together. Did something happen on your trip?” Izuri debated how much he should reveal as he watched Zakius scoop jam from the jar and smear it onto his toast. The meeting with Alianne had remained vivid in his thoughts as he’d gone about the rest of his day and even after he had returned home he found he constantly had to banish images of their encounter. The barest glimpse of misty eyes and a rosebud mouth from behind the veil had been enough to capture his sense of intrigue and he was determined that the next time they met, it would be face to face.

Studying Zakius as he ate, Izuri concluded that there couldn’t be any harm in telling him about the woman if he excluded her name. After all, her being about without a maid suggested that she was of a lower social status than he, so he had nothing to worry about.

Inconspicuously, he took a spoonful of porridge before answering. “I met someone.”

Zakius looked up from the paper he had been glancing over, polite curiosity composing his features. “Oh, that is interesting. I hope you had a pleasant conversation.”

“Yes, she was most intriguing,” he replied, studying his brother’s face for a response. When he got it, he was mildly surprised at the opposite effect his words seemed to have had from their intended meaning. Zakius’ eyes darkened and a slight scowl gathered his features into tight lines as he carefully set down his toast and folded his hands on the table before replying.

“Izuri, there’s something to that effect that I need to discuss with you.”

“Oh?” Apprehension bloomed in Izuri. What could Zakius possibly have to talk to him about on that subject? He certainly hadn’t mentioned anything particular about the girl, so how could Zakius have any objections thus far?

“As you know, Arhus is in the process of putting together a peace treaty that will unite all the free lands-”

“Against a northern attack. Yes, I know. What does any of this have to do with me?”

“A great deal more than you think. The Beladonnan’s have a stipulation to their signing, and I’m afraid you’re the only one who fits the bill.”

“What do you mean?”

“They require military aid in the form of soldiers, but if we allow this, we have reason to believe that Naypa will refuse to sign the treaty. On the other hand, if we had a familial connection the Naypa couldn’t object to our aiding the Beladonnan’s.”

Izuri’s eyes narrowed as his face drew into hardened lines. “No, absolutely not.”

“Izuri, we don’t have any choice. We’ve received news that the northerners are amassing a large-scale army and we’re their only possible targets. We need this treaty if we’re to stand a chance against them, and you’re the only card we have that can assure this treaty is signed by all parties.”

“So that’s all I am, a business transaction?” Izuri shoved back from the table, his chair toppling as he stood up. “I knew Arhus meant a lot to you, but I never thought you would sink so low as to sell your own brother.” He made for the door.

“It’s not like that Izuri,” Zakius called after him angrily. “This is for all the people of the free lands. Would you want to see them all dead or worse?”

Izuri stopped with his back to Zakius, hand frozen in the process of pushing open the door. “This is just the perfect opportunity for you, isn’t it? You get all the praise for successfully completing the treaty and find a use for your nuisance of a brother all in one fell swoop,” he shoved the door angrily, leaving Zakius standing dumbstruck at the table.