1st of Glade, 220th Year of the Age of Steel
Talon walked the halls of the Palace of the First Wind. A breeze flowed through the halls, the long silken drapes fluttering in the winds bringing with it the cool spring scents. Talon could smell the mountain air as it turned to the revitalized essence of Glade. He could feel the frost of Winter ebbing, just like every Avialae in the city. They could sense their native season leaving just as they could sense that it was arriving. It had been a troubled winter but they had weathered it with the same resilience and strength they always did. Despite the attacks from the Warrens, the murder that was yet unsolved, and the roaming of beasts from the Wildking’s Forge, there was no place Talon was prouder of.
But as his bare feet padded across the cool floors of the palace, the large silver feathered wings that sprouted from his back draped behind him like a cloak, Talon couldn’t help but feel a sense of melancholy. He felt that there was a change on the horizon, one that would inevitably shift both the world and his place in it. In the time since his father had privately told him that he would not yet be naming him Shinsei, Talon felt relieved. There were things he could explore about himself, free of the weight of looming duties. Certainly many in the city expected his father and the council to follow tradition and name him Heir to Kalzasi but with that quiet divulgence, Talon had been offered the opportunity to see a life outside of that mantle. It was not that he begrudged the idea of stepping into the role expected of him he’d simply never contemplated a life outside of what that would be like.
Now? He could.
A small chirp caught his attention, bringing a smile to Talon’s face. He felt the soft grip of claws on his shoulder and the brush of wings against his cheek before a fuzzy head was rubbing against his face. He chuckled. Reaching up, Talon pet his Minova bat companion affectionately on the head before stroking beneath his chin.
“Hello Trinket, where did you get off to?” The bat chirped, showing its proud catch. A big fat cherry that it nosed with pride. Talon shook his head and poked the bat in the stomach gently.
“Eat too many of those and you will get fat.” The bat gently nuzzled his cheek before making himself comfortable on his shoulder. Talon didn’t mind. Trinket was warm and his presence was comforting in light of more recent events.
“My Prince?” Talon came to a stop. He looked up to see Danica, his mother’s handmaiden before him. The Siltori woman curtsied before offering him a smile, which he returned. “Your mother wishes you to join her in the gardens.”
“Thank you, Danica.” The woman curtsied again then went off to tend to what other duties his mother must have had for her. Trinket contented himself with nibbling on the cherry in his grasp while perched on Talon’s shoulder. As Talon made his way through the palace and toward the gardens, he was again struck with that feeling of something looming on the horizon. His feather fluffed up momentarily before settling. He suppressed the shiver. The cool grass beneath his feet felt nice and having the air brush over the feathers of his wings brought with it the desire to stretch them and fly. It had been some time since Talon had simply just taken to the skies and soared.
“Do not fly off just yet, my son.” His mother was seated at one of the polished wooden tables. She was dressed in a beautiful floral gown that signified the coming of spring. Her slippers were beside her in the grass as she sat comfortably on one of the large cushions. In front of her was a fresh, steaming pot of tea and an assortment of his mother’s favorites. The bowl of fruit nearby immediately grabbed Trinket’s attention. His reaction prompted his mother to laugh softly.
“You may have some, Little Mischief.” Trinket chirped, gobbling down what was left of his cherry before licking Talon’s cheek then fluttering over to the bowl. His excitement brought a smile to Talon’s face, prompting his mother to speak.
“That is the first genuine smile I’ve seen on your face in some time, my son.” He didn’t miss the concern in his mother’s voice. Talon had indeed been in a dark mood as of late. The clouds of which were only just beginning to part. He knelt and placed a kiss upon his mother’s brow before seating himself beside her. He stretched out his nearest wing and wrapped it around her so that the early Glade chill was staved off comfortably. She poured the both of them some tea which Talon accepted thankfully. He blew on the steam then sipped it quietly. Not far off, Talon could hear some of his younger siblings playing in the gardens, either with their pets or with each other. The sound brought a warmth to his chest that had been missing for a while. He and his mother sat in comfortable silence as Talon contented himself with watching Trinket bounce between trying to decide whether he wanted fruit or some of the almonds nearby.
“Your father told me.” Talon nodded. He was not surprised. He also knew that it was likely his other brothers and sisters as well as his other mothers knew as well. “What are your thoughts, Talon?”
He considered his words carefully. His mother’s grey eyes searched his face as though looking for something.
“I think Father made the right decision. I am not ready. There is much I still do not know. There is much I must yet prove, to myself, to our people. I do not want to be Shinsei because of tradition. I do not want to be Shokaze because it was simply expected of me and the traditions of our city. I want to lead because I am worthy. So I must find what that means.” He took another sip of his tea. Something of what he said must have pleased his mother for she nodded.
“I want you to meet someone.” Talon quirked a brow. He hoped it was not a suitor. His heart was not in a place where he could fathom pursuing such games. When his mother nodded in the direction of the palace however, Talon turned his head.
“She comes.”
