Present Day

Fire roaring, people screaming, a girl staring into her parent’s eyes as they slowly, miserably, burned to death.

Jesika woke up with a start, panting, and in a cold sweat. She wiped her forehead, trying to catch a deep breath. Once she was able to get her breathing under control, she slowly stood. She made her way across her room to her closet, pulling out her favorite tunic and her fur coat. She quickly changed, then grabbed her belt with the quiver attached to it and her bow and arrows.

She then quietly left her room, walking until she found the large castle field. She approached one of the targets for shooting practice. She stood several feet away from it and readied her aim. She shot at it repeatedly with her bow as she continued to step farther away from it, always getting dead center. Her jaw was clenched, her heart aching the way it had for years.

Suddenly she heard leaves crunching behind her. She turned and shot swiftly, narrowly missing her friend and bodyguard, Darryn. He deftly dodged it, letting out a relieved breath, before giving Jesika a wary grin.

“It’s a good thing my reflexes are at least ALMOST as fast as yours,” he said, straightening.

Jesika sighed, her body relaxing at the sight of him. “Don’t creep up on someone like that this late at night,” she replied, going to retrieve her arrows.

“And what are you doing up this late at night?” he asked.

She stood and looked at him once she had picked up her last arrow. “What does it look like? I was doing target practice.”

Darryn nodded, stepping closer. He leveled a knowing gaze at her that always made her squirm. “Couldn’t sleep?” he asked gently.

Jesika averted her gaze, her cheeks coloring. “Maybe.”

“Another nightmare?”

Jesika grunted, looking at him once again. She crossed her arms, giving him a warning glare. “I don’t want to talk about it, Darryn.”

He stared silently at her for a moment, then sighed, shrugging. “Alright. Then we won’t. But you really should try and get some sleep.”

Jesika shook her head. “You know I can’t,” she said, lowering her voice.

He looked at her, his expression pained. Hesitantly, he spoke: “Then I’ll stay with you until you do.”

Jesika’s face started burning like the fire from her dream. She lowered her gaze in hopes he wouldn’t notice. “Are you sure—”

“Anything for my future queen,” he quickly said.

She nodded, still not able to look at him. He reached out his hand, but she ignored it, starting back.

“Thanks, but I know my own way back, if you don’t mind. Don’t need you to guide me.”

He chuckled quietly behind her as he began to follow her. “Of course, Your Highness.”

***

Darryn groaned and leaned his head back against the princess’ wall. He sat across the room from where she lay in a shallow sleep. Being with her like this, late at night, brought back so many memories. Painful, confusing, frustrating memories. It was going to be a long night.

***

The next day, Darryn was in the field, sparring with his childhood friend, Aquila. She was one of the best soldiers in the army, second only to Jesika when it came to the female soldiers. To make matters worse, she knew every single one of his weaknesses.

She swung swiftly at his legs, and he quickly guarded them, only for her to fake out and swing for his head. He narrowly missed the brim of her sword as he moved back. He advanced forward, aiming for her torso, but she blocked. Again, and again he tried to get close, only to be stopped by her sword. Finally, he was able to knock her sword out of her hands, jabbing her stomach gently with the sword. Aquila grinned as she lowered the sword away from her.

“You’re getting better,” she said in a sultry tone.

He huffed, moving away, pushing his hair out of his face. “Yeah, well, so are you. It used to be a lot easier to get a shot at you.”

Aquila laughed as she grabbed her sword and put it in her sheath. “That was years ago, Darryn. I’ve grown.”

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He gave her a friendly grin as he put his own sword in his sheath. “That you have. How about I treat you to some food at a diner? My treat?”

Aquila rose one brow, still grinning. “But you won. Shouldn’t it be my treat?”

Darryn laughed. “Okay, then why don’t you treat me to lunch? Better?”

Aquila laughed, nodding. “Sounds good.”

The two walked together to the town diner. They went inside and sat at the counter and ordered. Once they had gotten their food, they turned to one another.

“I have to ask, Darryn. You seemed off your game today. What’s going on?”

Darryn shrugged. “I just didn’t get much sleep last night...”

Aquila furrowed her brows. “Why not? What’s wrong?” Darryn averted his gaze, clearing his throat. Aquila stared at him as it became clear to her. “You were with Jesika, weren’t you?”

Darryn looked at her, surprised. “How did you know?!”

Aquila smiled a sad smile. “She’s the only one that can put that melancholy look on your face. What happened?”

Darryn sighed, raking a hand through his hair. “I heard her get up in the middle of the night and followed her out to the castle field. She was doing target practice. She had another nightmare. About what happened. She couldn’t get back to sleep so I...”

“Stayed the night with her,” she finished.

Darryn’s face reddened and he shook his head violently. “Yes, but it wasn’t like that. Nothing happened. I just sat with her until she fell asleep... Which took a while.”

Aquila smiled, shrugging. “It’s fine. You don’t have to defend yourself from me. It’s none of my business anyways.”

“It’s your best friend. Of course, it’s your business,” he said with a frown.

Aquila shrugged. “I guess... So, did she ever fall asleep?”

Darryn nodded, leaning back in his seat. “Yeah. But it was a very fitful one.”

Aquila’s expression saddened and she shook her head. “The poor girl probably hasn’t had a proper night of sleep since what happened... It’s changed her so much.”

“It’s changed all of us, Aquila.” Aquila looked at him for a long moment, scrutinizing him. Darryn squirmed under her appraisal. “Yes?” he asked.

“Do you miss her? Miss being with her?”

Darryn sighed, trying to fight the lump in his throat. “Of course. But you know why I broke up with her. It was like courting a rock. There was a connection. But it’s been cut. Burned, I guess you could say.”

***

Aquila whistled and her phoenix came soaring into the blue open sky, swooping down to meet her in front of the diner. She smiled as it nuzzled her, warming her skin in the harsh, wintry kingdom.

“Hi there, Frankie! Have you been having a good time in the forest?”

He cawed quietly, flames briefly lighting on its back, indicating his happiness over being with his owner. Aquila ran her hand down its head, feeling its warm fur, until she reached his midsection. She slowly mounted the large bird and leaned down to hug its neck.

“Take me to the big library, Frankie.”

The phoenix cawed yet was careful to keep its flames from lighting and harming his owner.

The phoenix rose slowly into the sky, winding his way through the town buildings and around the town stores. He flew until he reached Wimborne. That’s where the big church was, the fighting grounds, the training grounds. And the Querencia Library. A three-story building filled to the brim with books dating back centuries. It was Aquila’s favorite place in the whole kingdom, other than her small, peasant home.

Frankie carefully descended in front of it, making a gentle landing. Aquila got off of him and moved in front of him to stroke his head. It once again nuzzled her, and she giggled.

“Come on, Frankie. Follow me in.”

In a world where everyone owns a beast and their very financial status can depend on it, they had made sure to allow for things such as bringing beasts into buildings with you. There was limits of course. There were few places royals could bring their larger beasts. And no beasts once so ever were allowed in the church or castle. However, in places like the library, where there was plenty of room provided, beasts of all types were welcomed.

Aquila opened the door and smiled as her phoenix strut in. Frankie was one of the library staff’s favorite beasts. Whenever Aquila brought him, he would go lay in the fireplace and light up, making the library even warmer and cozier than they could manage to get it to be.

Aquila followed Frankie in, leading him to the fireplace with her hand on his head. The library staff smiled and waved at them from where they stood in the center of the library, behind the circular counter. Once they reached the large stone fireplace, Frankie laid down in the already lit flames. He looked at her and Aquila smiled and blew him a kiss. Frankie cawed happily at her show of affection and lit up, flames enveloping the bird. He nestled in the fireplace, closing his eyes. Already it was feeling warmer in the library.

“He really spoils us, you know,” a voice said from beside her.

Aquila turned to see one of the most regular library attendants in the whole kingdom. Rowan. She smiled. “He’s spoiled too. It only is fair, I suppose. How is your griffin?”

Rowan grinned. At his mention, Kronos came running up to greet them. Aquila laughed and pet the large beast’s head. Rowan looked at the griffin, a stern expression on his face.

“What have I told you about running in public buildings?!” he scorned. The griffin stiffened, his ears lowering at his owner’s stern words.

Aquila laughed yet again, stroking his head, comforting him. “Don’t be so hard on the big guy. He’s only excited to see his favorite girl. Isn’t that right, Kronos?” Kronos nuzzled her, then seemed to glare at Rowan.

Rowan laughed, shaking his head. “So, Aquila, what brings you here today?” he asked, turning to her.

“The usual. I want to escape to other worlds, other lives,” Aquila said with a shrug.

Rowan frowned. “Why would you ever want to do that? What’s wrong with this world? This life?” he challenged.

Aquila smiled, tilting her head. “We always want what we can’t have, Rowan.”

Rowan scoffed. “I disagree. I am perfectly happy with what I have.” Kronos huffed beside him, pawing the floor. Rowan looked at him and sighed. “Kronos isn’t the greatest at staying in one place too long. I’m afraid someday he’ll up and leave me so that he never has to stop flying.”

Aquila laughed. “Kronos would never leave you.”

Rowan smiled, petting the beast’s head. “He wouldn’t, would he...” Rowan paused, and looked back at Aquila. “Would you like to see what new beast I’m studying?”

Aquila grinned widely, nodding excitedly. “I would love to!”