Introduction- Part 1

It was around eight years ago when Uncle Ruy first visited our castle. He wasn’t really a blood relation at all, and yet our mother demanded that we refer to him as an uncle. From what I gathered, both of them used to be childhood friends, and… Perhaps it is for the best that I don’t know all the details. He was tall and slender, possessing short, light, blue hair and often looking far more menacing then he actually was. The armour he wore was padded leather, which was so light that he never saw the need to take it off. With him he brought his pegasus, Alpha; a pure white breed. We’d seen one before, but he asked us whether we’d ever ridden one before. With our heads shaking he lifted each one of us on to Alpha’s back.

“Now, you be careful on him Derek,” Uncle Ruy insisted. “Don’t want you falling off. Who knows what your mother would do to me then!”

Of course, the first time we were on Alpha he was smart enough to keep us on the ground. Basically we may as well have ridden a horse. Both Derek and I whined about it, and after much of that Ruy told us that when we were a bit older he would consider letting us have a solo flight. Now I look back on it I can’t blame Uncle Ruy for being a bit careful with us. Mother was, at the very least, the most protective woman I’ve ever come across.

“You let them ride that thing?!” she yelled forcefully at the table that night. As a torrent of anger flew out from her mouth her usual calm presence was shattered, leaving behind a tyrant clouded with silky golden hair and usually sweet, light eyes distorted.

Derek looked over from the other side and we both cowered in our seats. I didn’t even want to finish my brew. I just wanted to leave and avoid Mother’s roar, which Uncle Ruy would end up receiving the full brunt of.

“Lisbeth, they are not that young. Besides, I was careful not to let Alpha take off.”

Mother kept insisting that Alpha was dangerous and didn’t weaken to any of Uncle Ruy’s excuses. Father just sat there; head of the table, with a strange sort of wisdom in his silence; dark brown hair flipping down as he took another sip of his tea. It was smart not to say a word during an argument with our mother.

“Mum, it’s alright,” Derek insisted. “Nothing happened. We’re fine.”

I was tempted to support Uncle Ruy up also, but one glimpse into my mother’s eyes told me that I would seriously regret it.

“You are fine, but what if it got startled? What if it took off by accident and you fell off?”

Silence came, and we decided that we couldn’t win. Father, in his good judgment asked “So… you work for the military Ruy?”

Uncle Ruy let out a laugh “The military? No, of course not. I work as a mercenary. Much better pay.”

I wondered if father was insulted by this. He had worked for the military for most of his life and had been made a lord because of his services. He did not govern much land (only the forest which surrounded our castle and a small village which stood by it), but the king made sure that when he retired he was rewarded for the victories he had given the kingdom.

“Perhaps it pays better in the short term I guess,” father scoffed. Uncle Ruy looked at him distastefully. “But then I suppose the military wouldn’t pay highly for pegasus knights anyway.”

“No, I believe you’ll find it is the mages who are getting underpaid,” Uncle Ruy shot back. “Hundei’s forces are experiencing a rise in shaman numbers; a poor error on their part. Employing mages to fight against them is foolish tactics. Soldiers who are fast enough to avoid the spells and can discharge swift physical force upon them are preferred. Therefore…” Uncle Ruy took a mouthful of his brew before continuing, “I believe it is us pegasus knights who would receive higher pay. You clearly need to update your knowledge of current military dealings Bryce.”

“My knowledge is fine.”

“Bryce… please,” Mother begged.

“Oh, of course… You prattle and terrorise him for letting the boys ride a silly horse, yet when he insults your husband…”

“He wasn’t insulting you Bryce,” she defended.

“I suppose you’re right,” Father drifted off, before… “No one required for anything physical nowadays requires a brain. I was expecting too much for you to have formulated an insult.”

“Ha. And I’m insulting,” Ruy sneered.

The tension in the air was smothering. This was the first time Derek or I had ever met Uncle Ruy, but we knew now that he and Father did not see eye to eye. Even so, we never usually saw Father behave this way with anyone, despite whether or not the person had the same views as him. What had caused this cold and childish hatred to arise?

“Uncle Ruy?”

His eyes rebounded off Father’s and look straight into mine.

“Where did you get Alpha from?”

The warmth returned, the candles grew stronger and the small dining hall felt the conflict hush. Ruy smiled down on me as he answered.

“An old man who lives to the north. He breeds them on his land with his two children and their families. He told me that Alpha was actually wild, and his son captured him in the forest. Apparently, training him had been somewhat difficult…”

Mother looked bitter as she bit her tongue. You could see her saying inside her head ‘But still he let them ride that thing?’

“But they managed to do it eventually. Even the male conditioning worked in the end. The old man was somewhat proud of his results.” Uncle Ruy smirked. “He probably should have charged me more than he did, but I suppose he was happy to get anything for it.”

“It must be fun, being a pegasus knight,” Derek commented casually.

“You think that?” Uncle Ruy let out a boisterous laugh. “I suppose that’s understandable, considering you haven’t really ridden one yet.”

“But when I get older I will,” Derek said, assuring himself.

“How old are you Derek?” Uncle Ruy inquired.

“Ten.”

“Well… I was a year your younger when I first rode a pegasus,” Ruy stated. “Ten seems like a sound age to start to learn, doesn’t it?”

“Really? You mean that?” Derek beamed, excitement flowing from his voice.

“Ruy.”

Mother’s eyes pierced into Ruy’s; a threatening glare was all it took for Ruy to realise he was treading in dangerous territory.

“I will not have these two learning how to fly one of those… beasts…” she hissed, focused and enraged.

“Come now, Lisbeth, Alpha’s no beast,” Ruy replied in a relaxed manner. “It is no different to riding a horse…”

Mother’s glare remained.

“…Listen. How about I tie down Alpha’s wings while he’s on him?”

”But Uncle Ruy!” Derek cut in.

“And when he gets more experience…” Uncle Ruy continued, “We will see how he does with flight. Sound good Lisbeth?” Mother hung her head and tried to see a way she could both get her own way and not disappoint her son. There was none.

“Trust me.”

Mother nodded reluctantly, and Derek’s smile widened. Father just sat there, silently; tempted to intervene. But he knew he’d already caused enough problems for one night, and none of them needed anymore stress.

“And how about you Ancas?” I looked up and pulled out of my slump. “You’re nine, aren’t you?”

“Eight,” I corrected.

“Eight,” Uncle Ruy repeated, “So then, when you’re nine or ten you’ll want to learn also?”

I glanced over to Father, who had anger written over his face. I knew saying yes would not help in calming him. And yet, I did not want to lie and say no either.

“I’m not sure,” I said hesitantly. I expected some sort of dissatisfied look from Uncle Ruy, but instead I received a kindly grin.

“That is fine. You’re still young. It may take some time before you decided on what to do in life.”

For a few seconds the table remained quiet. Derek was still content with the thoughts of learning how to ride a pegasus and both Mother and Father sat uneasily in their seats, trying not to seem displeased.

“Well, it’s late,” Uncle Ruy said, breaking the silence. “And the bed, she calls me...” A mischievous smile was printed on his face. He stood from the table and walked around to Mother, giving her a small kiss on the cheek; Father bit his tongue. Ruy left the dining hall and Mother soon demanded us follow suit. Derek left and wandered through the candle-lit hallway, soon gone from sight like Uncle Ruy. I cursed my curiosity, as I hung behind the large entrance door, out of my parent’s sight.

“The nerve…” Father muttered bitterly. “I should have hexed the fool. I was in the right mind to, I assure you.”

“He’s a friend, Bryce,” Mother whispered softly.

“He’s more than a friend. Don’t be so detached as if you can’t see his feelings towards you Lisbeth.” Mother had nothing to say. All she could do was take another sip of tea and hope Father’s anger would subside. “He still loves you. If it’s so blatantly obvious to me it must be obvious to you too.”

She shrugged, pushing the light hair back from her eyes. “I invited him here, Bryce, as a friend and I intend to treat him as such, despite however he may treat me. If you see a problem with him, deal with it yourself. I am not going to steer him away because of some juvenile feud you two seem to have with each other.”

“It’s just…” Father sighed. “The nonsense he’s filling the boy’s heads with… I’m worried that they may get influenced by it.”

She let out a laugh, something which hadn’t happened all night. “You worry too much…” She rose from her seat and walked over till she was behind Father. She placed her arms around his neck and sighed. “They’re just children. Ruy won’t be the heavy influence you think he’ll be.”

“I suppose you’re right, as usual…” He turned his head and gave her a small peck on the cheek.

I soon realised they were about to leave and quickly dashed down the hallway, trying to land my footsteps softly. I clutched the cold banister as I made my way up the stone steps, getting ever closer to my room. The gentle candle-light guided me down the passage and through the ancient archways which towered above me. Soon I was standing within my room; the moonlight glistening through the balcony and adding a sense of enchantment to the usually bland walls. Before tossing myself into bed I walked over onto the balcony and stared out at the old forest bordering our castle.

I still remember that night, and the beauty of it all. The moon bending over the sky and lighting all which lay under it. The white glow was mesmerising, and I stood there for minutes just staring blankly at it. The wind thrust the leaves into a spin, making the trees appear to be dancing under a light-filled spell. Slowly, a dark cloud wandered over the moon, coaxing its light and destroying the haunting atmosphere. I sighed and returned to my bed, where I should have been. My dreams that night were filled with the wonder I’d seen; dancing trees under an enchanted moon. I only wish the next day could have been the same.