Episode 2 + 1 - The Fortress
539 Words
Marvu breath out smoke and fire a bit. Not to fight. Just a test. Heat rolled over me. Smell of scorched air.
Me with look of disdain. "I control fire, which means I control you."
That moment Marvu took wing at once. Frightening me a little. Wind slammed my cloak. For one second I thought he'd dive.
Then I thought I saw a smile on him. Small. Sharp. Like he got the joke.
We touched down again. Ground shook.
Still frowning, I made to go.
Marvu understood I was uncomfortable. He huffed. Smoke curled from his nose.
Then left. Wings beat once and he was gone.
Relieved, I looked at the girl who watched the sky.
Blue, so clear. Not a cloud. Fine birds circling in the air. White and small. They cut lazy circles. Sun hit their wings and threw light down like shattered glass.
She noticed me sit back beside her and smiled. Quiet. Like she'd been waiting.
I quickly asked, nervous. "What?"
She only smiled more. Didn't answer.
I almost regretted staying and wondered why I thought about staying.
I glanced at her few times and almost thought she was stunning even as one who lives in the forest.
Dirt on her cheek. Hair tangled. Still stunning.
I asked for her name.She turned her head slow. Wind lifting her hair.
"Ayla,"she said.
One word. Like she'd been holding it. Like she knew I'd ask.
I repeated it under my breath. "Ayla."
Sounded wrong in my mouth. Too soft. Not a forest's girl name. Sounded like something the pink trees would whisper.
My jaw locked. I looked back at the sky fast. Like she wouldn't see my ear go hot.
"Ayla," I said again. Louder. Testing it. "Don't think the name will make me less annoyed."
She only smiled more. Didn't look at me. Watched the birds instead.
I almost regretted saying it twice. I almost regretted staying.
But I didn't leave.
Sat there. Frowning at nothing. While Ayla sat beside me, and the sky kept turning glass.
I control fire.... but I didn't control the way her name felt in my chest.
Evening came fast. Light thinned. The blue turned red at the edges. Cold slipped in under my cloak.
I finally decided to leave. Stood. Dust on my knees. Pride in my spine.
We took awkward looks at each other. Her on the rock. Me standing like leaving was easy.
"I owe you nothing now," I said. Prince way. Chin up. Voice flat.
"So back to your castle?" She didn't stand. Just tilted her head. Eyes bright even as the sky dimmed.
One of the fine birds cut low over us. Then gone.
Wind moved through the pink trees below. Sound like exhaling.
I didn't answer right away. Fingers clenched at my sides. Fire hot under my skin. Not from her. From the way "castle" sounded when she said it. Like a cage.
"Obviously," I said. "Where else would a prince go?"
I walked away a bit. Each step heavy on purpose. Looked back in a charming sharpened glance. Half smile. Half threat.
"And there won't be a next time," I said.
I took to the skies. Homewards. Home of the the impossible. The Fortress.
- Writer
