7) Problems

Grayson sulked in his guest hall. If the Lord of Beasts had not just arrived he would be pacing his balcony, waiting for Carmon's next report.

 

“Grayson? Are you listening?” Jink's voice yelled, dragging Grayson from his brooding. The crow glared at his advisor, who had turned to the third man. “I'm sorry, Lord Gabriel. Gray has been rather obsessive as of late.”

 

“I understand,” Gabriel said. “Its that red-haired knight, isn't it?”

 

The Lord of Beasts, Gabriel Lionheart, was one of the largest people anyone had ever seen. He was close to seven feet tall and built like a tank. He had broad shoulders, a narrow waist and heavily muscled arms and legs. His eyes were a green-gold that looked like jewels and his hair was a rich red-brown. He was dressed like his people in white trousers and no shirt. Amilas tribesmen didn't normally like wearing clothes. They prefer to wear their fur feathers, and scales. Birds were the most modest group, Fish the least, and Beasts somewhere in the middle.

 

“Yes,” Jink said with a nod. “She seems to be the focus of his unease.”

 

“And he hasn't sent you to kidnap her yet?” Gabriel laughed. “I must say that I'm surprised.”

 

“I'm not,” Jink countered. “She is coming here with Arim. I think that is all that is keeping him from going out of his mind and getting her himself.” Jink looked over to were Grayson sat in one of the three wooden thrones. The crow was paler than normal and purple bags were under his eyes. He seemed skinner, too. “I haven't seen him this bad, Gab, since that day twenty years ago. His gift has never possessed him this bad.”

 

The lion nodded, as worried as Jink. “I sent a message to Seb and Ed. They should be here soon.”

 

The falcon sighed in relief. Sebastia, Lady of Fish, and a Dersonus named Edward were Grayson's only other friends. While Jink and Carmon were his closest friends, Gabriel, Sebastia, and Edward had always had his back.

 

Even with such good friends, Grayson couldn't help but still feel alone. It was as if he was missing something. He had five of the best friends anyone could ever ask for, but he still felt lonely. Gabriel grabbed Grayson's shoulder and shook him.

 

“Did you hear me, Gray? Seb and Ed will be here within the week.”

 

The troubled crow sat bolt upright. “Jink, how long dies it take a ship to get into our territory from Wis Island?”

 

“Four days, I think,” Jink answered.

 

“Mark's last report was five days ago. Their ship set sail five days ago.” Grayson stood and grabbed Jink's shoulders. “They won't reach Verona for another week at the least! Our pirates could attack their ship!” He again thought of flying to get her. A distance that takes weeks on a boat only takes hours for a bird.

 

“Come now.” Gabriel put one of his large hands on Grayson's upper arm. “From what your canary has found out about her, your lady will be able to defend herself nicely. Besides, she is with Arim, my favorite ambassador.”

 

“Grayson,” Jink said to get his near-hysterical friend's attention, “I sent messages to our pirates. They should get them by noon. It'll be alright.”

 

Grayson nodded and let his two friends guide him back to his chair. It had to be fine. If it wasn't, he didn't think he could control himself. If she was hurt he would not be held accountable for what he would do.

 

 

 

 

I wake up to shoats and pounding footsteps.

 

“Its those feathered pirates again!” one of the sailors shoats.

 

“They won't be killin' us today, no sir!” yells another.

 

I pull on my boots and grab my scythe. I rush out into the hall and run into Arim, Bin, and Fin. The three look as rushed as I do. They only wear light colored pants, their feet are bear, and their hair is rumbled. I don't even want to think about how my unruly curls look.

 

“What's going on?” I ask.

 

“Bird pirates,” Bin tells me.

 

“They don't know we're here,” says Fin.

 

“If they did they wouldn't attack us,” Arim reasons.

 

The three look at each other, nod, and head for the ladder that leads to the deck.

 

“No, you can't!” I grab Arim's arm. “If the crew finds out you're Amilas, they won't be happy about it. I'll go.”

 

“Mirina, kit, they can fly!” Arim growls. “They don't know you and they know us! What can you do?”

 

I grip my scythe tighter. The diamond embedded in the wood shaft glows yellow.

 

“I'll blow them away,” I say calmly. I race past them and up the ladder.

 

The sailors have formed a box around the ladder I'm on, trying to protect their passengers and cargo. The birds, a jumbled collection of ravens, sparrows, hawks, and pigeons, dip and dive around the sailors. The smallest of the birds are as big as a dog and the larger ones the size of horses.

 

Arim and the twins come up dispite me warning. The sailors start to panic. Some even turn as if to fight my cat friends.

 

I spin and the diamond in my scythe glows yellow. A gust of air is created from my blade. It hits everyone on deck and in the air, knocking the sailors on their butts and the birds are blasted away from the boat.

 

The sailors stare at me in amazement. I take advantage of their shock.

 

“All of you get below deck,” I bellow. “You will get in my way.” When no one moves, I slam the butt of the scythe's shaft on the deck. “I SAID GET BELOW DECK!”

 

The next minute is pandamodium as the sailors scramble to get below. Once I am alone with my Amilas company, three hawks and a raven fly into view. As they near us they change into their Palmen forms.

 

The three hawks look much the same. Muscular young men with tan skin and golden brown hair. The shortest hawk had medium-length hair and the other two, who are the same hight, can only be told apart by their hair. One has elbow-length hair and the other's is so short it is barely there. All three wear a matching gray uniform.

 

The raven is one of the most striking woman I have ever seen. Her jet black hair falls stright around her smooth, snow-pale face. She is tall and thin. Her black shirt clings to her, outlining her full figure. Her black pants tuck neatly into her black boots. Her eyes bring topazes to mind. She reminds me of a porcelain doll dressed as an elegant pirate.

 

“Who are you, girl?” the raven snaps. “How dare you attack my men!”

 

My spine stiffens and my grip tightens on my scythe. I can't seem to control my temper, though, and the diamond on my scythe shines red.

 

Arim's hand on my arm stops the retort in the tip of my tongue. “Grendel, what are you doing here?”

 

The raven steps down on deck and looks closely at Arim's face. Her eyes widen in shock.

 

“Arim? Is that you?” she asks.

 

“Answer me, Grendel,” Arim growls. “What are you doing here?”

 

“I am in charge of this band,” she says. “My betrothed wished for me to guard the boarders, so I do.”

 

“You're betrothed?” asks Bin.

 

“Who would want to marry you?” asks Fin.

 

Her wings arch and fury leaps from her eyes. “For your information,” she snaps, “it is the Lord of Birds himself, Grayson Crow!”

 

The name makes something in my brain click together. I am suddenly far, far away from the ship deck and the Amilas. I'm back in the old palace, back in time to the day my mother died. A pale boy with kind black eyes. His arms and wings wrap around me and hold me close as I cry for my mother. Another man, the boy's father, I think, calls my comforter Grayson. I run my hand over the feather now hanging above my shirt. Could the Grayson who gave it to me and the one the raven is talking about be the same man?

 

A hand grabs my wrist and yanks it out of the way. The sharp pain drags me out of my memories and into the present. Grendel has hold of my wrist and is snatching up my feather.

 

“What is this filthy...” She stops when she realizes what it is. I try to fight her off, but she breaks the chain and smacks me. The force of the blow knocks me onto the deck. My head slams into the hard wood and colors burst in my eyes, blocking my vision.

 

I hear shoats, growls, and wing beats. A healed boot kicks my side, turning me on my back. A bird's foot locks around my throat, talons digging into my skin. As my vision clears I see my cat friends fighting with the hawks in their animal forms. I also see Grendel bending over my, her right leg partially transforms into a raven's leg.

 

She holds the feather in front of me. She says slowly, “Where did you get this feather?”

 

“I'd rather burn in hell with the Dark Element than tell you a damn thing,” I spit out. My right hand reaches for my scythe, but it is just out of reach.

 

The raven puts more of her weight on her right leg, making it hard still for me to breath. “You nasty little b***h!” she snaps. She leans closer so that her face is closer to mine. “This is a pen feather of my beloved Grayson. How did you get it?”

 

I spit in her face and grab the foot on my neck. I pull the talons out of my skin and shove the foot away from me. I kick the unbalanced bird, then scramble for my scythe. As my hand locks around the bladed staff I feel talons rip into the skin of my back.

 

My cry of pain mingles with bird shrieks and roars. The talons are suddenly gone and slim hands carefully take hold of me.

 

I don't really see the man who is trying to help me sit up while avoiding my wounds. All I see is a yellow canary viciously attacking a blue-black raven. The larger raven knocks the canary into the mast.

 

“Lady Carmon!” the man holding me yells.

 

I make the decision to attack in under two seconds. I leap up and swing my scythe. The red flames the diamond creates zooms across the space between the raven and I. I see the flame blade hit the dark bird's left wing before I black out.

Author's Note

Bum bum bum! Hot damn, guess who won't be happy about this!!
^_^