A short time after his wings were freed of their splints, Endrah lay tossing and turning in bed. Sweat had his hair plastered to his skin. He seemed to fight with the blankets for a time before bolting upright. Endrah’s eyes opened wide and his wings flared open. He gasped for air as an unfamiliar magic grabbed him. His startled cry was muffled by the thickness brought into the air by the strange magic. Endrah struggled against it, trying to pull away. Then, there was a searing pain in his left hand, and the magic vanished. Endrah fell onto the floor and rolled to his feet. Cradling his hand to his chest, Endrah slowly stood up. The sound of heavy running feet echoed down the hall and someone began pounding on the door.

“Endrah, are you alright,” Acarad asked. “Endrah, the door is locked. I can’t get in.”

Endrah stumbled through the dark and opened the door. His wings shook like leaves in the wind. Acarad stood in the hall, wearing his nightshirt and loose pants with a sword belt and matching sword hastily strapped on. His eyes turned from fear and worry to just worry when he saw Endrah.

“What happened,” Acarad asked. He stepped into the room and summoned a light into the palm of his hand.

“I don’t know,” Endrah whispered. His voice sounded like he was about to cry. “I don’t know what it was, but something woke me up. Then something had a hold of me and..”

Acarad pulled Endrah into his arms and smoothed his hair down. Endrah’s wings shook uncontrollably as he clung to the young prince. After a few minutes, Acarad led Endrah to the bay window and they sat in the little booth. Acarad cracked the window open a little bit. Endrah took a deep, shaky breath before trying to open his wounded hand.

“What is that,” Acarad asked. He brought the light closer and took Endrah’s hand in his. “It looks like someone burned a seal into your palm.”

“What is the image,” Endrah asked.

“A pair of butterfly wings,” Acarad answered.

“What kind,” Endrah swallowed hard. “What sort of pattern?”

“It looks like a monarch butterfly,” Acarad summoned a healing potion to his hand. “This is going to sting a bit.”

Acarad slowly poured a little bit of the potion on Endrah’s palm, dragging a hiss from the sprite’s throat. Acarad quickly followed the motions of a healing spell. After a few moments, Endrah was able to fully uncurl his fingers from his palm. He stared at the both familiar and unfamiliar seal in his palm. He had only ever seen it set into orange wax on books before, not into flesh.

“What’s wrong Endrah,” Acarad asked.

“It’s a summons from the Monarch,” Endrah asked. “I need to answer willingly, or I will be hunted down and have my wings taken off.”

“I could prepare a set of guards to accompany you to the border we share with Kellar,” Acarad said.

“No, I need to go without help,” Endrah said. “Where are my Drifter’s clothes?”

“They had to be cut off,” Acarad said. “I think Brooke said something about a new set appearing in each of our rooms a few days ago.”

“That detour would take too long,” Endrah pushed his hair away from his face. “I need to go straight there, and hope that I don’t collapse or get hunted down.”

“Could you use Elikre magic to get there,” Acarad asked. “The same way that we come and go from Current?”

“I have never been in the northern part of Aviary,” Endrah answered. “I could use it to get me on track with a high ranking merchant’s train. From there I can follow the track on foot. I know where my family’s train meets up with higher ranking merchants.”

“Promise me you will try to be safe,” Acarad put a hand on Endrah’s.

“I would if I could,” Endrah said. “Thank you for everything Acarad.”

This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

With that, Endrah stood and walked over to the washbasin. Acarad hesitated a moment before he slipped out of the room. Endrah’s wings still shook as he washed and dressed. He only had the clothes that Acarad and the Head Seamstress had altered for him. The white shirts were still baggy on him, and the pants a bit too short, but they would work. Endrah hesitated for a moment, half opening his wings, before grabbing a jacket with wing holes cut in it. It would give an adequate excuse for him not using his wings if they were partially covered. He looked out the window to the false dawn and took a deep breath. He closed his eyes and drew on the magic First Wind had given him, Elkire, and brought the image of the Merchant’s quarter to his mind. The stands would be empty at this hour. The grass would be whipping back and forth from the early morning wind. When Endrah opened his eyes, he found himself inside his family’s stall. He rubbed the smooth polished wood of the counter, just making sure it was real. He braided his hair as he looked around the stall. His father would be there soon, to set the stall up for the day’s trade. He would bring the wagon, pulled by the family’s horses, Shine and her daughter Sun. Endrah fought down a lump of tears as he stepped out of the stall. He hesitated a moment before going back in. He ducked down under the counter, down into the very back of the cabinet beneath it. He was honestly surprised when he found what he was looking for. He pulled a small box out of its hiding place and opened the lid. Inside, three sealed jars of paint smaller than his thumb, two paint brushes, and at least a dozen pieces of paper lay inside, just as he had left them. Endrah opened the dark blue paint and dipped one of the brushes into it, and pulled out a piece of paper. There, he wrote a letter to his family.

To my family,

I am sorry I have not been home yet. I hope that Tamarah was able to get to you by now. If not, I hope that she is well. During the storm a few months ago, I found myself helping a spirit calm the storm. But I collapsed and woke up in human lands. There, I was met by a kyrill, flit, and a human. We four were chosen by First Wind and her sibs. I am the Air Drifter now. I wish I could come see you now, but it is too dangerous. The Monarch has summoned me. I will tell you all about my journey when I come home, if I can. I promise to try.

With all the love I have,

Endrah

With the letter finished, Endrah called the wind to him, just enough to dry the paint without smearing it. He cleaned the brush off on his pant leg and put it and the paint back into the box, careful to seal the paint tightly. With that, he hid his box again and used a rock to weigh the paper down on the counter. Then, he stepped out of the stall and began his walk through the tall prairie grass.

It took him another day and night walking to the palace, but at dawn on the second day, Endrah came to the palace. Endrah stepped into the palace, hesitant to enter such an elegant place as this. He swallowed the lump of fear in his throat, and climbed the stairs. He met the eyes of one of the guards.

“What business do you have here Disgraced One,” the guard asked.

Endrah flinched before he spoke, “I was summoned by the Monarch, warrior. I have been summoned. I submit to your rank and hers.”

“Prove it,” the woman said. Endrah showed her the seal on his left palm. “Follow me.” She turned around and walked through the door of silk.

She led him through the halls of the palace silently. He did not have the nerve to speak first. Endrah held himself and shivered.

“What happened to your wings, Disgraced One,” the guard asked.

“I was attacked by humans,” Endrah answered.

“You were a warrior before then,” the woman asked.

“No Warrior. I was a merchant before leaving Aviary.”

“You left Aviary?”

“Not of my own will, Warrior.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was swept up by a storm and landed in human lands.”

“The storm four months ago?”

“Yes Warrior.”

“Why have you taken so long to come home?”

“The First Wind spoke to me and made me her errand runner. I go where She wishes me to, do as She says, and I cannot refuse.”

“You are Her Chosen one? Her Drifter?”

“Yes. And I believe I have failed Her.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t stop the slaughter She told me to end. I was shot with arrows. The next thing I knew, the Earth Drifter was hovering over me, begging me to wake. I woke up in a human home of nobility. I have not fully healed yet. I failed First Wind.”

“Is it her bidding that lead to your wings being torn?”

“Yes. They still hurt when I move them. I had to use my magic to get to Aviary, and then walk here from the south.”

“You were wounded and alone on this battlefield, Drifter. Remember that and know that you have not failed First Wind. The Monarch will hear what you have told me about this meeting, Drifter.”

“Thank you Warrior.”

The warrior stopped at a beautiful gilded door and gave Endrah a sad look. She opened the door and gestured for him to go in. Endrah’s wings shivered as she closed the door behind him and locked it. He walked to the center of the room, marveling at the beauty and artistry. High up on the ceiling, scenes of the sky had been painted. The walls were painted to resemble the prairie. The floor had a carpet of woven grass that smelled of being freshly cut. There were only pillows to sit or lay on, and a singular sconce to hold a torch for in the night. Endrah sighed and knelt down on the ground. He shrugged the jacket off and tied it around his waist. He stayed kneeling until night fell. A young man came in as the moon rose, bringing a tray with prisoner’s rations on it. Without a word, Endrah took the tray. Once the young man had left, Endrah was left alone until dawn. He then returned with a new tray and took the old one. This happened again at moonrise and sunrise for another two days. Finally, the Monarch entered Endrah’s room at noon. Endrah rose to his knees and bowed his head in respect.

“You have left Aviary. You have left your family and position unattended. These are crimes against your family Disgraced One. What excuse do you have for me?”

“I was carried away from Aviary and into human lands during the storm four months ago Monarch. I came home as quickly as I could.”

“It should have been a mere week-long flight. You dallied in human lands of all places! You bring disgrace upon your family.”

“Monarch, I was called upon by the First Wind while in human lands. I-”

“Do not use the First Wind as a scapegoat Disgraced One! You will be taken down to the Final Tier. You are a Lost One. You are lucky that your wings were torn, or they would be ripped off their joints and hung on my wall.”

“Monarch, please listen to what I have to-”

“Enough! Be gone before I turn or you will be executed.” The Monarch slowly turned away, and Endrah stood to his full height.

“My Monarch, I am under different circumstances,” Endrah said. “First Wind Herself Chose me to be Her vessel, to do right. She tells me where to go, what to do, and how to get to where She wants me. I am Her Drifter and I will not apologize for Her sending me to do Her bidding. If you want me to be forgotten, She will punish you. And do not dare cast my family down. They have nothing to do with what I have done in my time away.” His wings twitched and his hands shook, but he met her in the eye. “I am Endrah Feyborn, The First Wind’s Drifter. I refuse to apologize. I refuse to heed your casting.”

“You dare speak to me that way!” The Monarch spun around, wings flared out behind her. “You will be executed, you arrogant low tier! GUARDS!”

Endrah summoned his magic, wrapping the room in shields that could not be passed by a sprite. He called the wind to him, and asked it to bind the Monarch to her place. “I am above you in rank now Monarch.” His wings and hands trembled but he walked up to her, close enough to touch. “I am the Air Drifter and you will learn your place.”

Endrah released the shields and pushed the Monarch backwards. With that, he pulled on his magic again, and let it carry him away.