Page 22 of Ladybird

“Pardon me?”

“Nothing. Go ahead,” he said with a nod. “Continue.”

“There is a certain way to do this but it takes a long time to learn. I don’t see the point of even teaching you since you are not really going to be a falconer at all.”

“You spin it around in the air, right?”

“Yes. This teaches the bird to hunt other birds and catch them in midflight.”

“I’m watching,” he said, taking a step back when she started to swing the lure around in the air over her head.

“Timing and accuracy is of utmost importance. I don’t want the falcon to have to fly too close to me. I have to be sure to toss the lure out when she gets close.”

“Why is that?”

“These birds can fly very fast, and even dive through the sky at great speeds,” she said swinging the rope with the lure around her body and even spinning her body around from time to time. She seemed to do figure eights on one side of her body and then the other. “I don’t want the bird or myself to get hurt. Now move further back. Here she comes.”

Hunter did as instructed. He watched in awe as the bird flew back and forth making circles overhead. Regina continued to whirl the lure in the air around her, doing what she told him was a left-handed pass that was not as close to her body as a right-handed one. It was like a beautiful dance with the lure whirling through the air to one side and then the other. The bird flew back and forth swooping down and then going back up into the air again to try it all over.

After about a dozen passes, when Hera returned, Regina brought her arms together and threw the lure straight up in the sky, letting go of the rope altogether. Hera’s talons grabbed onto the lure in midflight. Holding it, she drifted slowly to the ground never letting the lure go.

“Come on,” said Regina, rushing over to the falcon.

“Why did you let go of the lure?” he asked, not understanding her method.

“I did that purposely so Hera wouldn’t get hurt. The weight of the handle is too heavy for her to carry away and it gently guides her to the ground. Now, as her reward, I will give her a piece of raw meat. She’ll let the lure loose so I can have it, and get back on my glove where she has been trained to go. I am careful never to feed the birds too much or they would have no desire to return to me.”

Hunter was impressed. The bird did exactly as she said.

“You are quite a talented woman, Regina.” He held nothing but admiration for her, watching her work as a falconer.

“Lady Regina,” she corrected him.

“Pardon me?”

“I am a noblewoman. You must be sure to use my title, so don’t forget again.”

Any attraction between them was brought to an abrupt halt at that. Just like that lure being stopped in midair and brought right down to the ground.