Page 147 of Scourged
The woods were quiet, save for the chirping of the birds and the rustling of the leaves. Mariah tilted her chin skyward, savoring the sun’s warmth on her cheeks. It was past the Spring Equinox now, when the moons vanished from the sky. She’d been born on an Equinox—the Autumnal Equinox—but always felt the most uncomfortable during those nights. The darkness of the night left her feeling wary and nervous.
She was always glad when the moons emerged the next night and only grew more at ease as they waxed through their next cycle.
Which, in this case, would be the Summer Solstice. As much as the thought of that magic energized her, she wasn’t ready to deal with how it would be handled. Not with the schemes of the Winter Solstice still lingering.
The stables appeared through the trees and Mariah paused on the path, glancing around.
“Mariah? Everything alright?”
Mariah shook her head, brow furrowed. “I just realized I’ve never actually been to the aviary before.”
Matheo chuckled. “It’s just around the stables. This way.” He veered right down the path, heading away from the palace. Mariah followed, Trefor at her side.
They passed by the sprawling stables, the low-roofed buildings replaced by taller, multi-story facilities. They were still within the palace gates, but Mariah had never been this far from the main courtyard. Her brow creased as she studied the simple structures with their unadorned windows and plain doors.
“It’s the barracks.”
Mariah turned to Trefor. “What?”
He nodded at the buildings. “The barracks. City Guards stationed at the palace stay there while on assignment. It was also where we—the Marked, I mean—lived and trained for twenty-one years.”
“You lived here? All of you?”
“It’s nicer than it looks,” Matheo said over his shoulder. Trefor grinned.
“It is,” he said. “It’s really not bad. When we were young, we all shared a large dormitory together, but we were given our own rooms as we grew older. But it was nice to have a place that was ours, away from the sophistication of palace life.”
Mariah snorted. “Sophistication. Right.”
Trefor bumped her with a shoulder. “Things only got debaucherous after you arrived.” Their laughs rang out into the clear morning.
“The aviary is just up ahead.” Matheo pointed at a domed structure tucked against the wall ringing the palace land. It was made of woven metal, a solid barrier against the outsideworld, but one that still allowed light and air to pass through it. Towering roosts sat in a corner and the screeches of falcons and hawks cut through the air.
A middle-aged man pushed through a hinged gate, his weatherworn face twisted into a scowl. His shoulder-length gray hair was pulled back in a low bun, revealing a savage scar across his left cheek. In his gloved hand, he carried a hooded falcon, the bird quiet and calm.
“What do you boys want? I’m busy,” he called out gruffly. The falcon jostled its neat pewter feathers.
Mariah stepped out from behind Matheo, grimacing as her hand shot up in an awkward wave. “I need to post a letter. To Andburgh.”
The man’s eyes widened, his mouth popping open. “Oh—Your Majesty, I—please forgive me?—”
“It’s fine.” Mariah smiled. “I often have the same reaction when these two come around.”
“Hey,” Matheo said indignantly. “What do you mean?—”
“Can you help me? Post the letter, that is?” Mariah interrupted, her smile sweetening as Matheo crossed his arms and huffed.
The man nodded. “Of course, Your Majesty.” He whispered something to the falcon on his arm, just before removing its hood. With a shake of its head, it spread its wings and launched into flight, soaring up through the trees and vanishing from sight.
The man turned. “This way, Your Majesty.”
Mariah followed him through the gate and into the domed aviary. Birds were perched on tall limbs, soaking in the sun’s rays, while a few roosted quietly in their nests.
“What’s your name?”
“Aldric, Your Majesty.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Aldric. Please, call me Mariah.”