5 July 2012
A magpie sat upon the shoulder of a young maid, its sleek black-blue feathers shone in the evening light. Around its leg was a shiny silver ring, engraved with a message written in an scrawling, ancient language, it read:
'Come fly, come die, come worship the eye.'
There was no moon tonight, but the stars shone brightly as a scattering of glitter across a purple velvet sky. The girl sighed, looking up at the castle before them. She could smell the roasted pork and hear the clatter of men at the tables in the courtyard.
The magpie took flight, silently drifting up to perch on the caste wall, he whistled down at the girl before hopping along the wall towards the guard tower.
"Pirr, come back, Pirr!" She hissed at the bird.
He turned a shining black eye back to look at the girl below, before disappearing over the wall. The girl cursed under her breath, wishing they could sneak in through the cattle yard like they normally did.
But then a face appeared over the wall, "Mira?" he called down to her, dropping a rope.
Her stomach did a backflip at the sound of his voice, she surrendered to his tight grip as soon as she reached the top. He felt his breath tickle her neck as he drank in her scent.
"Where have you been?" He murmured softly as they snuck through the shadows of the castle to the nearest tower, "I've missed you."
Mira shrugged as her magpie Image hopped back on to her shoulder, "They're guarding the cattle yard now."
As soon as they were in his chambers he clasped his hands around her face, tenderly pressing his lips against hers.
Tears ran down her cheeks at his touch, she pushed herself closer to him before pulling away reluctantly, "How long is she going to keep you here?"
Mónne's soft, brown eyes melted in to hers, "She thinks I'm her Prince," he sighed.
Mira shook her head, they had this conversation too many times, "Any news of Ryu?"
Now it was his turn for his eyes to water, the lost of his Image was not something anyone could bare. She regretted asking now, so took him in her arms again.
"Did you hear of Joha's attempt on the Princess' life?" She whispered, "He's searching for you still."
He sighed again, kissing the side of her mouth, "He is too foolish for his own good, you know I can't leave while she has Ryu..."
Suddenly the door exploded inwards, a giant black bear roared into the small tower room. The eight men of Princess' Guard followed, their Image's close behind.
Hands ripped them apart, and all Mónne could do was watch as she was torn away from him.
The Image Realm | 2 • Opuss № I