Page 56 of A Touch of Royalty

She was dead, had died, and somehow lived. The Moon Mother’s birds could heal anyone. At least that was the legend. Even those that were near death. That begged the question of why her: Why would one of the Moon Mother’s birds have chosen her, a poor child from the streets of the lower city, to save?

Surely there had been other, more worthy souls. But the bird had chosen her, and there was a responsibility there. She had to use the power granted her for good. For the purpose it was meant, which was healing.

She needed to speak to Asan. He would be able to help her figure this thing out. How to support the soul inside her. She’d never thought about it before, her soul, but if it truly was one of the Moon Mother’s birds inside her, then should she seek it out?

Emryn needed to eat, and then she would bring her questions to Asan and to Cas, and between the three of them, they would figure it out.

As it turned out,Asan had already had breakfast brought and was seated at the table in the dining room. He’d had the draperies closed and was sitting there in the dim light. The light which increased as soon as Emryn cleared the doors.

Her wings shed light, drops of flame clung to them, and the feathers themselves were starlight and flame supported on what looked like glass bone that had more of that flame flowing through it.

They were the most ridiculous things. They belonged in a story, not on a person.

“The Moon Mother’s wings,” Asan said, gesturing to the food on the table. “Today we will attempt to contact your soul, and we will drill down into the facts that make up your existence. I took the liberty of dismissing the servants for the day. Until we hide the wings, I do not want gossip spreading.”

“Sound,” Cas said, assisting Emryn to her seat.

She sat with a sigh, wings drooping. They were heavy, awkward, and she could only repair her gown to a certain extent, so it was sitting all wrong on her body.

Her chest muscles hurt, as did the ones in her back. She was going to have to work on strengthening them if she was to carry the wings.

“Eat,” Asan said as Cas dished her up some breakfast. “Now that the wings have been released, so has the true extent of your power, and you are going to burn calories at an accelerated rate until things even out.”

“What do you mean?” Cas asked.

“I mean that with the release, rather than being able to heal quadrants of the city, she could potentially heal the entire capital at the same time.” Asan pointed to her sternly. “Do not do that, Emryn. We are playing cat and mouse with the Empire now and it is best not to make waves.”

“What?”

“Have you ever seen another guardian bird?” He asked, looking down at his breakfast. “According to the histories, they used to be numerous, but they are myth now. It has been centuries since the last one was seen.”

“But why does that mean that the Empire is involved?” Emryn asked, picking up her fork.

“Because the disappearance of the guardian birds coincides with the rise of the Empire.”

“That’s correlation, not causation.” Cas objected. “I don’t think we can connect the two without further research.”

“Indeed.” Asan looked proud for just a moment. “I still do not believe it wise to make waves with Emryn’s newfound power unless absolutely needed.”

“That’s sound,” Cas nodded, flicking a look over at Emryn. “Are you alright?”

“It’s a lot.” Emryn set her fork on her empty plate. “I need to speak with the Mother, and see if I can talk to my soul, which is just the strangest thing I’ve ever said in my life.”

“There’s a House of the Mother attached to the town,” Cas replied. “We just have to figure out how to get there.”

“A cloak is a sound option.” Asan nodded to Emryn. “It’s cold today and no one will look twice if we go.”

“Are you finished eating, Emryn?”

“Yes.” Emryn shoved her chair back and rose, pushing her gown back up on her shoulders. “I would rather have answers than another plate.”

“I’ll fetch your cloak and we’ll go.” Cas walked away before Emryn could stop him, leaving her with Asan who was looking at her as though she was an insect under glass.

“Would you spread them for me, Emryn?” He flicked a hand at her wings. “I would like to see them.”

Emryn nodded, raising the wings and spreading them out. They were easily ten feet on either side of her, easily five feet wide, hundreds of star-shine feathers with globes of flame dripping from each.

“They are lovely.” Asan walked over and touched one of the glass bones. “These are a puzzle, but we will research. I believe, with the size of them, you could potentially actually fly, Emryn.”

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