The Mehndi Prince

Hearing Day

Hearing day. There’s one every moon cycle. I have been attending them since I was fifteen. They are simultaneously dull and unbelievable. Crop lines and paternity suits. The unpredictability keeps it interesting.

The queue is longer than normal today, running the length of the throne room, through the great doors and out into the courtyard. At least that’s as far as I am able to see. And it’s only just sunrise.

I’m glad father and I had a large breakfast, I think we’re going to need it. As usual I stand behind my father’s right shoulder.

Before us stands Terrilyn head bowed as she talks softly with the first person in line, an elderly gentleman, with a what appears to be a raven or crow tattoo on his forearm. His attire is worn but well maintained and scholarly. Perhaps a teacher or a professor, as raven and crow Mehndi favour philosophy and learning and are predominantly bright.

“Sire,” Terrilyn begins in a resonant voice, “this is Corbin, he is a representative of the corax and is their current leader amongst the unkindness.”

“Thank you Terrilyn and thank you Cobin for attending today’s hearing. What issue does the unkindness need my help with?” Rumbles my father.

“It is something we would like to help you with, your highness. Do you remember the days when we were not just scholars and lecturers? When we were the eyes and ears of the kingdom?” I watch my father from the corner of my eyes nod his head solemnly. Personally I’m struggling to maintain my composure and not share my shock with the entire room. Spies? The ravens were spies? “We have seen someone who should not be here, wondering the unclaimed lands. The fire mountains and such areas.”

“Is it many or one? The same person or different people?”

“We are certain it is the same man” Corbin assures my father.

“A man?” A flicker of concern flashes in my father’s eyes.

“Yes.” Confirms Corbin with no hesitation.

“We thank the unkindness for its continued vigilance and long faithful memory. If the unkindness ever are in need of anything we can bestow, please do not hesitate to ask” with a quick bird like bow Corbin leaves the throne room.

The next person in the queue has a more common place dilemma, land disagreements and it continues, marriage brokerages, marriage dissolutions, claims of thievery, requests for repairs on roads of commerce. Slowly the queue begins to dwindle, then finally all grievances are seen to.

Shifting his neck side to side, the bones cracking loudly as father stands and makes his way over to where Terrilyn sits. Father assesses the older dragon and dismisses Terrilyn. “Time for you to seek dinner and rest my lady.” Terrilyn laughs softly “It was a good hearing day, I was not needed. I rested most of the day.”

“Well, now, you are free to do as you please, yes?” With another soft chuckle Terrilyn reached over and tapped my father on the cheek. “Young rascal” and departs from the throne room.

Just as the footman was about to shut the great oaken doors a man slipped through. The man was dressed in a ratty brown cloak with the cowl pulled over his face.

“What brings you here at this late hour traveller?” Booms my father, his voice echoing, even making me startle slightly. The man flinches dramatically, but continues toward us at a steady pace. More details become obvious as he moves closer. His boots covered in differing flecks of mud. The dried mud on the hem of his cloak. The traveller stops two metres from the raised dais and drops dramatically to one knee. With a flourish the man pushes back the hood of his cloak.

Pale, flaxen hair gleams in the remaining candlelight. His icy blue eyes meet my father’s gaze. “Did you miss me cousin?”

So this is the cousin dad spoke of last night. Father arches an eyebrow. “ I seem to recall that my father told you never to return.”

“Yes, yes, he did.” He replied urbanely. “But I got bored being this world’s so called ambassador” he said using air quotes with the word “ambassador”.

“We all know I was banished.” I know that dad implied that he was responsible for the death of two of my siblings, but I’m curious as to what he thinks he was banished for. “Why were you banished?” I ask “there had to be a reason.” His gaze turns to me. “Oh look, it’s the whelp, which one is it? Onyx or Coal?” Father inhales sharply, closing his eyes and looking slightly pained. Grinding his teeth, he exhales, smoke trickling out of his nostrils.

“Neither,” it was an animalistic growl, his eyes glowing, like sickly green fire. “They didn’t survive your little prank!” He bites out. I watch my father’s control begin to slip. He fingers growing into talons, scales starting to push through his skin. His breathing hot and harsh. His fury beginning to fill the enormity of the room.

Watching both dragons carefully, I indicate with my hand, slowly to the guards to circle around my so called cousin. Mind linking with dad I inform him, You can’t change in here, you’re too big and mum will gut you if you destroy the castle.

The golden hue beneath his skin begins to fade and his talons recede. “I ought to eat you now and be done with it” growls my father, barely able to talk around the dragon teeth still within his jaws. There is a subtle scent wafting in the air. I take a deep inhale through my nose. Ahh… yes FEAR! From multiple sources. But most strongly from the Mehndi kneeling before us. Internally, I grin savagely.

“Please your majesty, I swear I come bearing a request as an ambassador.” His voice now trembling and not filled with the cockiness of before.

“SPEAK!” Snaps my father, the dragon bleeding into his words.

“I have spent the last few years in a realm far from our world. Yet the predominant species is similar to us. They are a bird species that also has a human form. But their world is dying and so is their species. They are hoping to find a new home while they wait to go extinct.”

While my curiosity is piqued, fury has relinquished its grip on father.

“Despite the source, this is something I will have to think upon. Return tomorrow Helio with an actual report, not just a sob story.” Helio remains on his knee. “Your majesty, I have nowhere to stay,” I can see in dad’s eyes he is about to let loose again. “Perhaps, cousin Helio can find lodgings in one of the inns surrounding the palace, and we could provide a voucher that the innkeeper could collect upon when he leaves?”

“I approve this idea.Helio go see my steward. He will arrange the particulars.” As father stands he mutters under his breath “I have grown tired of this, I’ve been deprived of my wife’s warmth for too long today.” Mentally I gag. Thanks for the over share dad! Fixing Helio with a glare, father growls “Why are you still here?” Stumbling to his feet our cousin hurriedly leaves the throne room with an armed escort.