Bird Furious

Ashli glanced at Haly. “I think I might actually be onto something. I could use another eye, though, if you wouldn’t mind lending aid while Evalyn woos Tiernan.” Haly grimaced at that.

“I’ll go get changed and be right—“ she was cut off by a knock at the living room door, so she left the library to open it. ”Good morning,” Ashli said. “Might you chance to know where Evander is?” ”Uhhh…” after a moment, realization reached her face. “Oh! Yeah. He’s in the library. Come in.” Ashli followed her. “Good morning, Evander.”

“If I dissuade him, he loses interest and our time is up. Um, I don’t know. Lipstick or something, I guess.”

The raven returned eventually with a letter. Wynn, The report carried by our representative gives us a few concerns, but nothing major. As you believe your accusation was based on a misunderstanding, we will deal with these small problems later, particularly as we are facing some particularly pesky problems at the moment. Good luck with your quest, Anastasia ”Keep him interested. I guess I should go sort of coy?”

“I’ll try,” she sighed. “I should probably choose something nice to wear, but nice things are annoying to wear, and I’m not sure exactly how nice to go. Um… suggestions?”

“Nobody’s going to come in here,” she replied dismissively. “Besides Cjehu, and he’s not here. I hope he’s not still stuck to that wall…”

“I don’t know. You’re welcome to explore the castle, or the grounds, or read, or do whatever.” Rising to sit, she slipped off the bookshelf and became a wind chime to circle down to the ground.

Stopping to pick a flower, Kealie found a shiny rock. The sunlight bounced off of it, but stayed near it, like a bubble of light. Cool! With a smile, she slipped it into her pocket.

She winced at being reminded. “I’m supposed to show Tiernan around this afternoon.” (Figured I just had to pick a name now, so…)

“Oh. It was okay. Boring. Lots of people. I got restless.” She looked around. “I have no idea how I got up here. No, this doesn’t happen often. I think… I’m pretty sure it’s Rylla—the energy inside me—doing… something. But hey, it’s better than fire. Or floods. Or fields full of thorny roses.” She winced at the memory.

Waking up completely, she yelped and jolted upright, almost falling off the bookshelf. “TAAron! Good morning. I don’t know. I… don’t remember.” Scrunching her forehead, she looked around at the library. “There was something… a dream, or something. I’m not sure.”

She was in the library, still half- asleep, watching the ceiling and mumbling incoherently from the top of the very high bookcase.

“Yeah, me too. Exactly.” That’s what I should have said. Oh well, next time. With a smile, she closed the door.

“Thanks. Come by tomorrow, please.” Not eager to close the passage, she licked her lips. “Good night.”

“I… nothing’s wrong. I just don’t know how to say everything I want to say, and I feel like that’s not fair, because you have no idea how much I appreciate you.” Her cheeks tinted slightly. “That’s all.”

She nodded, trying to puzzle through his expression. “Yeah, it’s… the closet.” Quickly traversing the distance, she kicked the back of the closet and it opened into another series of rooms. I need to say more, there’s more to say. “Thanks. Really, thank you so much for being here. Without you, this would be so lonely and sad…” suddenly not quite sure of the words, she looked down. Will it be enough?

“Yep.” Nayka tore her eyes away from a glittering bird in a shop window.

“Hey.” She rested her hands on his shoulders. “Don’t look like that. She’s wrong. You know Sykel—she doesn’t care. But that’s how you get through life. You have to care. She’ll learn that, but for right now… please don’t let her get to you.” “You’re probably right. People will come. You could hang around in the library, or the kitchen, or Cjehu’s room—it connects to mine through the closet. Whatever you prefer.”

"How dare she," Haly hissed. "I'm going to murder her myself." It wasn't fire Rylla offered, or floods or steel or glass. Rylla offered Change. I can help you know. I can find the way. The outcome could be in your hands. See, I'll help you see. Let me help you see. Not now. Later. "Don't listen to her, okay? Please."

She clenched her jaw and muttered in a different language. "You were dead, out of the picture. Haly was here. You were not. Everything was simple!" "Sykel, not now," Haly insisted. "And now you're here to distract her and trip us all up and tangle everything around--" "Shut up and get out." She clenched her fists and quivered, face reddening with rage. "Out." Sykel shot him a glance. I'm not done with you. Then she did leave, closing the door softly behind her.

"Ummm... be a dignitary." She smoothed her hair and wiped the glistening tear trails off her cheeks. Then she opened the door to find Sykel, who stepped in, eyes on TAAron. "What are you doing here?"

"Thank you," she mumbled into his shoulder. "That means so much to me." Somebody knocked. --- The man left to discuss these things with the council.

That alone made her feel wam inside. "I could use a hug," she admitted quietly. --- "An overheard snippet of conversation."He examined the silent souls, dissatisfied. "I've seen enough. You'll receive a missive in a couple days to inform you of the desicion resulting from the details of your inspection. In other words, start praying." He turned and began preparing his method of travel (gotta ask Ranryu later).

"No. No, TAAron, that's not true." She took his hand in both of hers. "You make everything better just by being there. I need you right now. Please, don't talk like that. Trust me when I say it's not true." --- "And the spirits." He turned and addressed them. "You are happy? Not screaming?"