Page 5 of Songbird
At the idea of being under his watchful gaze again, sensation skittered over my skin. It wasn’t apprehension. More a comforting sensation, like the embrace of a cherished memory, spreading warmth that felt both familiar and soothing.
How long had it been since I felt like that at the prospect of someone listening to me sing?
I couldn’t even remember.
But somewhere down deep inside, I looked forward to it.
Chapter 4 Tarrick
With my arm linked with my favorite female in the universe, we strolled through the bustling market. The voices of vendors called out their wares amid the chatter of a multitude of languages filling the air, while colorful flags and banners hung overhead, swaying gently in the artificial breeze. Aromas of exotic spices and freshly cooked meats wafted from every direction, making my mouth water. Priemba took it all in with youthful exuberance, stopping at each stall to examine the unique and peculiar items on display. Often eagerly haggling with the merchant. Possessed of a talent, no doubt, gleaned from her mother.
Level six of theArdeese Valoutspace station housed the merchant level as well as Space Pearls, other restaurants, and my brother’s cozy apartment. Priemba’s school, where I’d picked her up mere minutes ago, was located on this level as well. Level six simmered with luxury and wealth, but despite my family’s best efforts to help those in need, many still lived in squalor, just two levels below. My travels as a spy had taken me to the darkest corners of the universe, where poverty and suffering were rampant. I had seen it all—it was a reality I couldn’t ignore or forget. Yet the only thing my mind focused on at the moment was beauty.
Her beauty.
The songbird’s image had floated through my mind more times than I could count since last night, becoming clearer and more vivid with each remembrance. The way her slender figure curved in all the right places, her long blonde hair cascading over her shoulders and down her back in perfect golden waves. Her bright blue eyes seemed to sparkle with an otherworldly light, her lips full and perfectly shaped into a bow, and her pale skin glowed like moonlight. She was the most beautiful human I’d ever seen, and I’d carefully committed each facet of her appearance to memory.
“This way, Uncle Tarrick.”
Priemba’s tug on my hand brought me back to the present. I glanced up, realizing she’d led me deeper into the market.
“I thought you wanted to go to lunch?” Feigning near starvation was how she’d wrangled me into picking her up from school early.
Her adorable face turned upwards, golden eyes wide and sporting a rather sheepish grin. “I am hungry. But feathers are more important.”
“Feathers?” I bit back a laugh.
Priemba gave an exasperated sigh. “Yes, Uncle Tarrick. Feathers are all the thing right now. All the popular kids have them.”
While I knew for a fact that my niece was one of the more popular students in her class, I still recalled enough of my school days and the desire to fit in. Part of being a successful spy meant being able to fit in anywhere. And sometimes to accomplish that, one needed assistance.
“Then feathers you shall have!”
I clasped her hand tightly as we made our way through the bustling market area. Among the chaos, a particular stall caught Priemba’s eye with a mesmerizing display of feathersand intricately patterned fabrics adorning the stand. The vibrant colors seemed to dance and swirl in the light, beckoning customers to come explore the treasures within.
“And what color feathers shall you have, my princess?” I asked, grinning as I watched Priemba practically vibrate with excitement.
“Red ones,” she announced. Her yellow mane floated about her head as she whipped her eyes about, enthralled by the massive selection. “Oh, and some green ones... and maybe some purple ones... and....”
Half an hour later, I carried a bag heavy and overflowing with feathers. Priemba skipped along beside me, her face lit with joy as she hummed a cheerful tune. I had no doubt Praxxan would scold me for spoiling my niece, but I saw her far too little to let any such rebuke take heart.
“Now for lunch, my princess. What shall you have?” If I had to carry the bag of feathers for long, I would require sustenance.
“Can we go to the place that sells Verdesian stew?” She grinned up at me.
“You like Verdesian stew?” I’d admit to being shocked. While Priemba wasn’t a picky eater, the Verdesian flavor profile tended to be spicy, much more than what a youngling might enjoy.
My niece gave me a dazzling grin that indicated she aimed to charm me into something. “Not really. But I do love their sweet cakes.”
“I thought your mother said no sweets when you told her we were going to lunch.”
Priemba’s lower lip turned out in a pout.
I sighed, completely defeated—as usual. “Okay, but don’t tell your mother.”
My niece’s squeal of glee and subsequent hug was totally worth any ire I might suffer from her parents.
With a quick shift in direction, we veered away from the bustling market towards the quieter section of the level, whereSpace Pearlsand other tantalizing eateries awaited.
