Little Miss Wingless

Melanie pressed her face against the bars of her cell.

“So where are we again?” She asked staring at a foreign fabric map that was displayed on the opposing wall.

Alveeha sighed and clenched the bridge of his nose in frustration. An extra few wrinkles had formed on his forehead.“You’re in a holding cell. In the basement. Of Karada castle. Which is in the east district of H’trae.

The basement was generously lit with beautifully carved lanterns that hung from the walls and ceiling. The lined cells were clean and had some sculpted rock that was shaped into benching. There were etchings to prevent magic use along the silvery bars that held her, as informed by Alveeha among her constant questioning. The room actually looked like it was mainly used for excess storage. Melanie was the only person locked away with most of the tiny barred rooms stacked neatly with various chests, barrels and shelves holding goods. It wasn’t exactly how she’d pictured a dungeon under a castle, but she wasn’t happy to be locked in here regardless.

“And how come I have to be in here?”

Alveeha had been nominated to watch over Melanie. And he very clearly wasn’t happy about it. Especially with Melanie constantly complaining and quizzing him. He paced relentlessly while he fumed, failing to control his temper.

“Do you ever stop talking? You’ve asked me the same things over and over again!”

“Yes, that’s because I’m bored. And you’re the only one here to talk to here. Even though I don’t like you.”

“The feeling is mutual, cursed girl,” Alveeha responded through clenched teeth.

"So... How come you have horns?”

“Urgh... I need a break,” he groaned as he started walking away.

“Why are you walking if you have wings?” Melanie yelled out to him. But he continued to leave, refusing to acknowledge her even a moment more.

Melanie pouted and let out a huff when Alveeha disappeared out of sight. She slid her back down along the bars and sat on the floor with her arms crossed. Her clothing was still damp and the air was beginning to feel even colder. The pout on her face faded when she turned towards a tap on her shoulder. A big smile came back to her lips as she saw who it was.

“Kyro! Did you come to get me?”

Kyro smiled back in response. He had changed out of his wet clothing and into something with fewer, but thicker layers. His outfit was accompanied by a black and red coat, interestingly tailored with large press buttons at the back to tighten snugly around his belted closed wings. Kyro’s raven hair hung freely over his shoulders and intensified his young and innocent appearance. He passed a mottled brown blanket he was holding through the cells’ bars.

“Thank you.” Melanie gratefully accepted it and draped it over herself like a cloak, snuggling into the fibres. It was thick and warm like wool and had a vague, exotic floral scent.

“Mel, what is an angel?” Kyro asked as he pulled a necklace out that was hiding in his coat. The purple jewel on the end of the chain was embedded into a silver quatrefoil piece. The shape clicked perfectly into the lock mechanism.

“They are nice and prettyful people with wings, that are sent to help you when you really need it.” Melanie answered confidently.

Kyro seemed chuffed with that answer and made a delighted giggling noise. When he turned the pendant there were multiple clunks as the bolts shifted across, and then the door swung ajar.

Melanie slid out the now partially open cage door and gave a triumphant hooray. She then wrapped her arms around Kyro to give him an appreciative hug. He stiffened initially, surprised by her action, but then melted into it and hugged her back. He made another bubbly chortle and Melanie laughed back at the sound.

There were lots of stairs to climb to get out of the basement, but eventually, Kyro stopped to use his necklace again against the lock of one of the platform’s doors. The children peeked into the corridor to make sure it was unoccupied, before they tiptoed out into a far more pleasant temperature of the building.

Kyro held Melanie’s hand as he carefully maneuvered through the maze of hallway. There was a roughness to his hands due to the wound caused by his earlier fall. No bleeding, but they withheld an obvious raw tinge. The roof of the castle interior was tall. The design of the structure had a fancy, open feel. But it was not exceptionally eloquent with artwork and expensive-looking furniture as Melanie would have assumed. They approached an open area presented as a sitting room, walls lined with bookshelves, oddly shaped couches, and a toasty fireplace as the main feature.

The two halted their course at the sound of voices approaching. Kyro tugged the pair behind a large chair with tired cushioning to avoid being caught. Melanie could feel the heat of the fire warming on her back, piercing through the blanket she huddled in and countering the chill of her damp clothes underneath.

“-Were they able to get in touch with Tancred?”

“Not yet you’re majesty. But we are aware of his whereabouts. As fate would have it, he is currently in the next town over, in Ga’Lar on business. I have already sent two scouts to find him.”

The voices were of King Kerbahn and a woman.

“Very good. Alert me as soon as there is any more news-”

As soon as voices faded and the room fell silent again, Kyro was tugging Melanie back along the main corridor.

“Is this your room?” Melanie asked as Kyro softly shut the heavy door behind them.

“Yes,” he confirmed.

“Whoa! I could fit my whole house in here!” She said in awe, dropping the blanket she had been wearing to the floor. An over exaggeration. But it was indeed the biggest bedroom Melanie had ever seen.

Red and gold, as with much of the building, seemed to be the room’s colour theme. There were many cushions and places to sit, a study area with a big wooden desk and shelves of literature, open cabinetry filled with many different choices of attire, and rugs and tapestry that blended everything together. The piled-high bed seemed excessive for one person. It could potentially fit a whole family in it, and was positioned by a long window with wooden panels that were latched shut to keep the cold out. Kyro even had his own little fireplace carved into one of the walls, the logs currently unlit.

“Kyro?” King Kerbahn’s deep voice sounded from the other side of the door.

Melanie instantly bolted and hid behind the windows’ long draped curtains. She held her hands tightly over her mouth, trying to remain as silent as she possibly could. There was creaking from the hinges that supported the thick old wood as the door slowly swung open. Melanie could not help but peek between the overlaying strips of the fabric to see what was going to happen.

The king gave the room a suspicious scan and collected Melanie’s discarded blanket, picking it up and draping it over a wall hook before he addressed his son again.

“Have you calmed down a bit now?” Kerbahns voice was stern.

“A little,” Kyro mumbled back in reply and avoided eye contact. “I’m still sad that the ground forces treated my friend badly. That wasn’t nice.”

The king paused for a moment, to think of what to say.

“You’re right. It wasn’t nice. But they did it because they were scared.”

“Why?”

“Because she-.” Kerbahn stopped to correct himself. “Your friend is not like us. They think she’s cursed.”

“Like I’m cursed?” Kyro asked looking at his feet, his expression that of dismay.

Kerbahn sighed and picked Kyro up by his underarms. Gently placing him on the edge of the bed, his father then sat down next to him. The puffy blankets sagged down under his weight.

“Don’t be silly, Kyro. You know that is not true.”

“That’s not what everyone else says.” Kyro tugged shamefully at his dark hair and pulled it over his face.

“Stop it, Kyro. We’ve been through this many times. There is no curse. And it is not bad to be different. Do not let the unjustified opinion of fools affect you.”

Kyro said nothing and still would not look at his father.

“You didn’t eat much at dinner,” Kerbahn said, changing the subject. “Are you still hungry? I can ask the kitchen staff to make you something.”

“No,” Kyro replied stiffly. “I’m not hungry.”

There was another pause before he spoke again. The king’s voice sounded a notch more sympathetic.

“Is there anything else you want to tell me? About what happened today?”

“No,” Kyro answered bitterly.

King Kerbahn sighed again as he stood up. He untangled Kyro’s hands from the fistfuls of his black locks and pushed the long strands out of his face. Kerbahn pressed his forehead against Kyro’s, expressing a comforting reassurance of their close bond. “Today was a bit tough. Let us talk more tomorrow after Tancred arrives to help your ‘friend’. Alright, son?”

Kyro hesitantly agreed, watching the King leave the room and close the door behind him. As soon as his big footsteps could be heard no more, Melanie flopped forward through the curtains and onto the big comfy bed.

“He’s right you know. It’s not bad to be different. Don’t let meanie people like Alfalfa get to you.”

“I’m the only person in Karada, and probably the whole of H’trae, with red eyes and black hair.” He told Melanie sadly, avoiding his gaze.

“So what? That doesn’t make you cursed. That makes you special. I think you’re cool.”

“Cool?” Kyro repeated, his somber expression dissipating.

“Sure!” Melanie grinned. “Plus, you’re a prince. So that kinda automatically makes you cool.”

Kyro’s smile returned as he tilted his head quizzically. “Really?”

“Yep.” Melanie insisted.