In the final dawn, a phoenix rises

Shaking ash and char

It held a name, a soul, a heart

But those who knew it already expired

It walked the land, looking for the one

The only one who still remembered their face

But where she went a blade met her skin

And all around her became soot and ash.

One day, she might find who she seeks.

One day, she may find the only smile that had been true

A smile from a girl, who despite everything

Had not been torched, and told her to fly.

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To my dear friend Rosey,

Apologies for making you wait so long for my most recent letter, and I’m afraid it will be the last for some time. Things for me have gotten complicated in the last couple of days, and I fear to say I won’t have the luxury of peace for some time. I can’t say much, but someone wants me dead. I wish I could say more, but I worry I would be putting you at even greater risk than I am by having Teoles deliver this letter to you. I hope he makes it to you unharmed.

Despite everything I am saying, don’t worry too much about me. I can guarantee you that, while I am in constant danger right now, I will not let these anyone spill my blood, and I will use everything at my disposal to do so.

I wish this all didn’t have to happen, trust me. Furthermore, I would love nothing more than to be sharing letters with you during this period, but I won’t be able to. Perhaps, if we are lucky, we might find a way to meet in person during all this. I doubt I would be able to stay long, but it would be nice to finally meet the person I’ve been sharing letters with face to face. If that day does come, I’ll try to teach you a little bit about falconry. What do you say?

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

Also, stay strong. I know things have not been easy, but know that I’m always behind you. Take back your life, don’t let that father of yours hold you back from what you truly are. Perhaps I’ll help with that too, if we do indeed meet one day.

Sincerely,

Natalia

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The girl known as Rosey gripped the letter tightly, ignoring the hawk that was to her side at the moment. She did her best to keep herself calm and not break down, after all, everything would be fine. There were others she could talk to, people who would listen to what was troubling her. By all means, there was no reason for her to be as pained as she felt at that moment.

That knowledge did nothing.

As she sat down and ground her teeth together, she asked why the world had shown her such cruelty. Even though there were others she could tell her troubles to, none would be honest with her. They would be too afraid to do so, because Rosey wasn’t some farmer’s daughter. No, she was a princess, and none would dare tell a princess when she is in the wrong.

Natalia, whoever the girl was, didn’t know that, of course. It was what made their distant friendship so perfect, and why Rosey could trust the girl with everything. She was an odd duck, Natalia, for despite how open she was with the princess, she never gave her true name. Perhaps they were similar to her; a person of high station, with none who she could truly be open with. It was very likely, but Rosey wouldn’t pry unless they asked first.

Finally, she teared her eyes away from the letter, the caw of the hawk perched on the desk snapping her back to reality. Rosey smiled at the hawk, whom Natalia had named Teoles. If she remembered, the name was the Harparic word for buddy. The thought made her giggle every time she thought about it, that her pen pal had given a hawk a name one would more likely give a dog. At that moment, the giggle was a much-needed reprieve for the pain and worry that bore at her heart.

“Keep her safe please, not just for the sake of the world but for me,” Rosey told the hawk.

The bird nodded and cawed in reply. The almost human way it responded caught Rosey off guard. Excluding the Harpen, she had never seen an avian with such human levels of intelligence. It did make sense, she knew Natalia was far more than human and that her pen pal’s connection to the bird was greater than anyone besides her knew, but it was uncanny. She couldn’t help but wonder what Teoles was always saying to her, and if she approved of her relationship with their master.

“I guess this will be my last letter for some time, as well as my last time seeing you for just as long,” Rosey said.

Teoles moved to the side as she grabbed her quill, dabbed it in ink, grabbed a piece of parchment, and began to write. She always found writing to Natalia so much easier than talking to any of her servants or even her father. Her hand moved effortlessly from letter to letter, word to word, until the parchment was filled with her wishes of health and safety. When it was done, she placed the quill back in its holder as she and Teoles waited for the ink to dry.

“Here, your treat as thanks for everything you and your master have done for me over the years,” Rosey said as she opened a drawer in her desk. She took out a jar of dead crickets, Teoles getting excited immediately as he eyed them. Rosey picked one up and held it out to the hawk, who took it without hesitation. “I’ll miss giving these to you. Here's to hoping that one day we can do this again.”

Teoles swallowed the cricket without hesitation and gave a loud caw. When the ink dried, Rosey rolled it up, enveloped it, and gave it to the hawk. Teoles took the envelope in his beak and, without a moment's hesitation, took off out the open window. Rosey got up from her seat and watched from inside her room as the hawk took off into the distance, her fingers crossed.

“Stay safe, Natalia,” she said, “May Rag’na’rog’s soil guide you.”