I cocked my head at the mournful whistle of the wind through the thick, tall trees overhead my cabin deep within the forest. Everything in nature had a voice and I'd learned to listen. This particular one made me pause the chore of splitting woods for my hearth.
I'd grown accustomed to my solitude after I relinquished the throne to my sister and fled the castle. The forest suited the creature I had become but I visited Nadaya when I missed her though she was oblivious to it.
But this mournful whistle threading through the cold wind after midnight, like a loose seam pulled from wool.
At the sudden rush of black wings, I looked up at Roe, one of my crows, who loved to appear out of thin air rather than fly like its fellows. It landed on my shoulder and cocked its head, blinking its eyes.
I arched an eyebrow. “What's the matter?”
It gave a low croak, its voice settling into my mind with a message. ”Queen Nadaya…borne a male child…no magic…male heir to throne…no magic…Queen Nadaya weeps…calls for you…you.”
At first, a smile touched my mouth at the news of the birth but the warmth left my face at the latter part of the message. I stood abruptly and Roe flew to perch on a branch, looking down at me while I paced.
Every child born into our family had magic in their blood which manifested as great power and enforced their right to the throne. Nadaya inherited that blood while I was born without magic. And now, this new born.
I gazed up at Roe. “The people? Do they know?”
It dipped its head. ”Council…only whispers.” I closed my eyes, my chest feeling tight. The absence of magic was not the danger but what the people would make of it. And the unrest the Council could create in the kingdom if word of it spreads.
I strode into my cabin, put on my black cloak and fastened the clasp beneath my throat. I grabbed my dagger and stepped out into the cold.
I had watched over the kingdom from the shadows, sending my crows when I needed news but this was different. I wouldn't let this young one be treated less like I was by my own father.
I jogged and then dashed through the wind, the forest fading into a blur, as my body carried me with speed that had become second nature. A flock of my crows flew ahead of me. Before long, the palace appeared beyond the trees and I landed in a crouch on the sill of the open nursery window.
Nadaya needed her brother and for once, I would not let fear of what the kingdom thought keep me away from her.
[To be continued]
I hope you enjoyed reading this short piece. It's inspired by the Freewrite #dailyprompt phrase "after midnight”.
Thank you for visiting my blog.
Image by Alexander Roy from Pixabay
