Tale of a blackbird, p.32
Tale of a Blackbird, page 32
The Ministry of Faces once ruled Mala, Stadarfell and High Shoals with an iron grip, but no longer. Kye had single-handedly brought down the Unholy Trinity of islands and since tossing the old tyrant off the spire the threads Nefaro worked so long to hold together had totally unravelled.
The Clerics Palace had once again taken control, as much as they could with the alliance breathing down their necks, and the Black Shadow, namely Birdie’s uncle Maddox, constantly checking in and making sure no one attempted to return things to the way they were before.
And good riddance, she supposed. Things had been horrible in Mala. She had the scars and nightmares to prove it.
“Copper for your thoughts?” asked Birdie, looking sidelong at Leek.
“Just thinking back to the way things were.”
“In general?”
“Namely Mala.”
“Ah.”
“I wonder what it’s like there now.”
“Not good, I heard.”
“I mean, Paste, you know my friend I told you about?”
Birdie nodded.
“Well, he was able to get a note out to me every once in a while. I won’t forget your uncle and what he’s done for him since the plague struck the city. With the quarantine on going, it’s been hard for him. People are dropping like flies, those that survived the spire burning, I mean.”
Birdie’s hands tightened on the railing, making the blood drain from her fingers.
After freeing Kassova Kye from the prison cell in Mount Lena, Kye had been found by the Order of Mist and had made his way back to Nefaro. But at least he’d kept his word about not returning to help, instead plunging a knife through the old man’s heart, and tossing his body off the spire for good measure.
If Kye had left it at that Birdie would’ve bloody applauded him. But instead of leaving and never showing his face like he’d promised her, he’d set fire to the spire with barrels of the dreaded Skyfire, burning many in the upper sectors of the city.
“It’s not your fault, you know?” Leek gave her a smile.
“It is, Leek. All those people who died that day died because I was too weak to leave my father to his own fate. I should’ve left him to fight Maddox. One life, no matter how painful it might’ve been to lose, was much better than losing hundreds of innocent people.”
“But you couldn’t have known what he’d decide to do.”
She shook her head. “I was a fool to trust him. A mistake that I won’t make again. I’ll make him pay for what he’s done, no matter how long it takes.”
“And what does Ariss think about all this?”
Birdie looked at him.
“I… just noticed you’ve been sending each other letters.”
“Did you read any?”
“No!”
“I know how curious you get.”
“I swear, I didn’t.”
“Good. A woman’s mind is her own to know. Ariss and I deserve some privacy, instead of always being questioned and annoyed by you and Maddox.”
“But you haven’t spoken to Maddox.”
“He annoys her. You annoy me.”
“We’ve been pretty much locked away together in that castle for a year. Bound to annoy each other eventually.”
Birdie gave him a scolding look.
“I meant sometimes. Annoy each other sometimes… Not always.”
“Shut up, Leek.”
*
Maddox entered the hall and was surprised to find it almost empty. Only Ariss occupied the long marble table, seated at the head chair. He sat next to her and took her hand. She looked up from holding her head in her hand and smiled.
“Tough day?”
“Tell me about it.” Ariss groaned as she sat back. “I thought things would get easier once we defeated Nefaro and his lackeys. But it’s had the opposite effect.”
“My father always said the best captains always got the longest voyages.”
“What?”
“You’re doing a great job, is what I’m trying to say.”
“Oh.” Ariss took a sip of cordial. “Because right now it feels like I’m bailing water with a thimble.”
“Things will get better.”
“Will they?”
Maddox noticed then just how tired she looked.
“I mean, the Hangman, or Joshua, isn’t getting any better. And once he dies, who’s going to keep things in order between his pirate crews? They’re a bunch of lawless rogues at the best of times. I’m afraid they’ll turn to their old ways once he’s dead, and who will keep the navy in check then?”
“I know.” Maddox nodded. “Without supplies from the mainland and other islands we’ll be cut off.”
“We need him. Without him we’re finished. And now Ubba’s ran off to King City, getting ready for this tournament with Lord Scarlett.” She groaned and put her head back in her hand. “I mean, is it the more powerful the man, the more childlike the mind?”
“I think I’m quite mature, for a young man,” smiled Maddox.
“Shut up, you old fool.” Ariss leaned in and kissed him. “You’ve been great though, I must say. Without you by my side at the council meetings I feel like I’m just shouting at blank walls.”
Maddox squeezed her hand. “Take a break. Once Birdie and Leek return from their trip let’s go and relax at the castle stronghold for a few weeks. It will do you some good to get away from here for a while.”
“Maybe.”
“No maybe about it. We’re going.”
Ariss sighed. “I wonder how they’re getting on.”
Maddox looked around the room and grimaced as two officers entered carrying stacks of correspondence. “Better than us, I dare say.”
*
The ship docked into the mainland port. Birdie left Leek to tie off the ship and speak with the dock captain.
It was strange, as the last time Birdie had gone through this port she’d been in cuffs and had got abducted for her trouble almost right off the pier. But now, handing in her papers with the actual real name on them and not the thousand aliases her uncle had created for them all, it was surreal in a way. Not to be hiding.
It was… nice.
“What’re you smiling about?” called Leek, as she made her way back along the pier and helped Leek load up a cart they’d hired.
“I was just thinking of how much has changed.”
One of the stevedores bobbed their head to Leek as he took the bags and loaded them onto the back of the cart.
“You can say that again. I’m not used to this treatment. I’m more used to being ran after and shot at.” Leek laughed. “Though I prefer this much more than the latter.”
Birdie helped Leek haul up a crate. Peeking inside she found about ten tomes Leek had ‘borrowed’ from the castle stronghold. He’d turned out to have a penchant for studies and had impressed Maddox with the concoctions he could create the last time her uncle had visited the castle stronghold. He not only could create potions now that would knock out a whale, but also remedies that surpassed the ones taught to Birdie by her aunt Bella.
Bella.
Birdie’s stomach lurched at the thought of her.
How long had she longed to return to the woods? To visit the cottage and just… be there.
“I can’t wait to get there.” Birdie finished helping Leek load the cart and they climbed onto the driver’s seat.
“Yeah, me too.” Leek wiped back his hair. “I wonder if my mother’s still there.”
“It will be good for the both of us. We’ll get some closure.”
“M-hmm.” Leek shrugged. “You’re more hopeful than me, Birdie. I just want to be able to say I went, and nothing was there and now I can move on with my life.”
“Me too.”
Leek gave her one of his withering stares. “Birdie, I bloody saw the blueprints for the cottage you’re planning on rebuilding. You have me wondering if you’re even planning on coming back.”
“Of course, I am. I don’t plan on building the new cottage just yet. But one day.”
“You really miss the woods, hmm?”
Birdie picked up the whip and set the two horses going with a flick. “Kind of. I guess the training has me drained. I can’t wait to get some fresh air and just… breathe. You know?”
Leek smiled and reached back, pulling out a tome and flicking it open to the bookmark.
“You’re bloody hopeless, Leek. Do you know that?”
About the Author
Rory .C.J. Dwane is an author and artist living in the midlands of Ireland. He writes in many genres and has numerous books self-published for different age groups.
His two upcoming stand-alone novels are scheduled for release in 2023, titled ‘Knox of the Bloom’ a Fantasy/Romance, and ‘Empire of Sin’ a Fantasy/Crime/Noir genre.
When he is not writing, he enjoys music, food, art, and hiking in the woods.
You can follow him via e-mail at his website, at https://rorydwaneart.wordpress.com
Or on his Indie Literary Press Facebook page, Crumpled Papers.
Also by R.C.J. Dwane
For Adults:
The Burning Tree: A Novelette
Blood Roots: A Novella
An Odd Anthology
Black Tales
For Younger Audiences:
The Adventures of Ominous Crane
Borris the Cabbage-Corn Kid
R.C.J. Dwane, Tale of a Blackbird
