It may have been twenty-eight days since I’d murdered my father, but it’d been twenty-one days since I hadofficiallymet my half-sister.
And I thought she might just be my new best friend.
***
Soon enough, I found myself freshly washed and donning a pair of plain brown leathers, consisting of flexible trousers and a form-fitting tunic. Lacing up a pair of matching brown boots, I headedout of the washroomwhilebraiding my pale white hair away from my face into one thick plait. I fluffed my bangs, which I noticed as I caught a glimpse of myself in themirrorwereframing my face perfectly today.
I tugged the balcony door open to find Matea, Laurence, and Eden waiting. Their conversation ceased as I stepped out into the near-blinding sunlight. Icouldn’tremember how longit’dbeen sinceI’dseen my own griffin.
I cleared my throat, looking towards the older male before me. Not only was he here right now, but if Eden’s shiny feathers meant anything, he had been taking great care ofher in my stead.
“Thank you.” I shifted my gaze towards Matea. “Both of you.”
They both smiled and exchanged a quick glance, subtle pride written across both of their features.
“It was nothing, Your Majesty,” Laurence said kindly.
“Now, let’s stop wasting daylight and get up there,” Matea exclaimed, grabbing Eden’s reins from Laurencewitha confidenceI knew she was faking.
She hated the simpleideaof flying.
The fact that she was still willing to do this with me made my appreciation for her run even deeper.
“Matea, you really don’t have to—”
“I want to,” she reassured me. “Come on.”
She settled into the custom-crafted saddle on Eden’s back, affectionately scratching the top of her head after settling in. She hid her nerves well, but not well enough. She absent-mindedlypicked atthe skin around her nails before focusing her energy on gripping the reins. It seemed that nervous tickwas another thing we had in common.
“Just don’t drop me, alright?” Matea whispered to the griffin, who in response let out a sharp chirping sound.
Tilting my head skyward, I gazed upon the scattered clouds movingat a leisurely paceabove. I tucked my wings closer into my body cautiously. I desperately missed it up there, but was I ready to fly again?
I couldn’t help but think,After everything I’ve done, do I deserve this privilege?
Picking up onmy hesitation, Laurence rested a hand on my shoulder.“Let yourself enjoy something again. Take this opportunity andfly, Aviva. Fly… for those of uswho cannot.”
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I nodded and took a step forward, towards the middle of the large stone balcony. Slowly, I stretched my wings out, away from my body.They spanned the length of thebalcony,the silvery tipped feathers shining in the morning light. With a deep breath, I bent my knees slightly and launched myself into the air.
The cool wind nipped at my skin as I sailed straight up into a passing cloud.Sweatbeaded on my skin, and Icouldn’thelp the smile that crept onto my lips. Flying blind, I continued upwards until I was above the lower cloud line.Not buta moment later, I heard wing beats below me. I swerved out of the way heartbeats before Eden and Matea could slam into me.
“I don’t know how you do this all the time!” Matea cried out, clinging to Eden tightly.
It stirred something in me at the sight of my sister clinging to my griffin.Maybe itwas the insanity of the fact that I had a sister. Ormaybe itwas that even up here in the vast, pale blue sky again, I wasto be able to see it. All I knew was thatinthat moment, something broke in my chest.
Tears sprung to my eyes, and Icouldn’thelp but release the hearty laugh bubbling up inside my chest.
I spread my arms wide, angling my head towards the sun and clouds and sky beyond.My wings kept me steady as I laughed until my sides hurt.Matea eventually laughedas well, either at her own absurdity or mine.
After catching my breath and wipingmydampcheeks, I looked back towards Matea.
“I’ll race you to the dens,” I challenged her. Since Laurence took the time to bring Eden to us, the least I could do was ensure she made it back safely.
“Oh, you’resoon,” Matea responded, arrogance dripping from her words, seemingly covering her earlier nerves. “Let’s go, Eden!”
Without warning, the two females sprang into action, Eden’s wings beating so strongly they stirred the top of the clouds directly below us as the duo headed in the direction of the dens.
“Hey! Wedidn’teven count down!” I called out. When theydidn’tstop,Ishoutedagain, “Wait for me!” And with that, the three of us raced through the cloud-speckled sky over the Southern city ofCairnyl.
