Oh hell no!
Oh! Hell no!
Father had just announced that Torbe would be accompanying us to my guardian spirit's awakening the following day and I strongly objected. Why did he have to come along anyway?
"I'm not going anywhere with that bird." I blurted out.
"Bird?! I'm an Ancestor!" Torbe snapped
"Looks like a bird, flies like a bird, doesn't talk like one though."
"I'm this country's finest guardian and most respected Ancestor, I'll have you know."
"Bird."
"What did you call me?"
"B-I-R-D!"
"That's enough!" Father ordered.
"Torbe will be accompanying us tomorrow and that is final. You may return." He said and Torbe flew back into the distance.
I stood there dazed and upset at the same time. I knew father and I were capable of visiting Scye on our own. So why did that arrogant, annoying, selfish big bird have to come with us? Afterall, he was Father's guardian and not mine. I marched angrily to my room, leaving Father in the dining hall confused. I felt bad having to walk out on him like that, but I was also very angry too. Did Father not have enough faith in me? Mother, I would've understood. But I didn't think Father also had this much doubt in him. I got to my room and slammed the doors loud enough, hoping Father would hear and take it as a sign to leave me alone and not come upstairs to try 'convincing me'.
I slowly let myself slide down from the door to the floors and sat there in silence, my thoughts consumed me. There were a lot of things that I had not been made aware of, and it didn't make any sense to me that even though Mother and Father constantly burdened me with the need to become a successful ruler, I knew nothing about the kingdom. And to think that we had talking animals! I shook my head, hoping that I had been hallucinating and none of what just happened was real. How sad—because it was in fact, very real. I let out a deep sigh and gently rested my head on the door with my eyes closed.
No! I immediately stood up, making my way towards my bed. I remembered what happened the last time I sat by the door like that and how I'd slept on the cold floors. No, no, no! As I sat on the bed, removing my clothes and jewelry, my mind kept on replaying everything that happened at the balcony. A talking bird? A rude, talking bird I thought.
"Ughhh!"
I grabbed my clothes and threw them in the laundry basket, nearly tipping it over.
"That damn bird!"
I threw my jewelry angrily into the jewelry box.
"I could just…" I choked angrily on the air, imagining it was Torbe.
"I wish I could just—"
"Snap his neck?" A voice came from the window
"Yes! A-and…"
"Break his wings?"
"Ughhh! Yes! I—"
"Eh?!" I stood up, still strangling the imaginary bird.
I looked towards the window to see Torbe calmly standing there on the window frame. His big body blocked out the sunlight, casting a huge shadow on the floor and his black eyes were locked in on my hands that were still strangling an imaginary victim. I looked at my hands, and then at Torbe, then back at my hands again. I quickly adjusted myself and hid my hands behind me, hoping he hadn't seen or heard anything. Who was I kidding? He shifted his gaze from my hands to the room, looking a bit disappointed by the mess in my room. The clothes I had flung earlier had an arm or two sticking out, and the jewelry box which was now wide open had knocked a few bottles of perfume over, causing them to spill.
I quickly moved to the table and placed the bottles properly on the table, closed the jewelry box and neatly placed the clothes in the laundry basket. Torbe stood calmly by the window, his eyes holding no emotion even as I scurried around the room.
"Don't you know it's rude to watch a lady undress?" I snapped.
"Oh please. I'd take pride watching old women bathe instead."
"What do you want? You're getting feathers all over the place."
I said even though I knew that wasn't true and I was only trying to strike a nerve. He looked very much unbothered by anything I had to say to him. Or maybe he didn't care? What's with that annoyingly calm pose anyway? I thought to myself as he only stood by my window, doing everything but stating his reasons for coming to my room.
"You have a long day ahead of you tomorrow. Get your rest so you don't give your father any trouble." He finally said.
"Excuse you?"
He took a step back, spread his wings and simply flew out of sight and into the distance again. I hated that bird. I really did. And to think I'd be spending the entirety of tomorrow with him at my guardian spirit's awakening? Father really hadn't made the best decision. This was more like a punishment! I laid down on my bed with my face turned towards the ceiling, hoping that night would come slowly and I wouldn't have to see that annoying bird any sooner. I also silently wished Mother would have no need to send for me. Frankly, the last thing I needed after a rough day like this was her annoying lectures.
I closed my eyes and listened to the gentle sound of the wind as it blew in from the window; the window that obnoxious bird stood on. Although it was a hot, sunny day, the wind blew a very cool breeze and it made me feel a lot calmer. I took a deep breath in, feeling the cool breeze tickle my nostrils and I slowly drifted off to sleep.
Morning came the next day and I lazily got out of bed. I really didn't want to go anywhere or do anything today, so I nestled myself back into the sheets and decided to sleep some more. I opened one eye and looked towards the window; it was still dark outside. Great, I could sleep some more. I shut my eyes and was about to sleep when I suddenly realized I saw something by the window.
I opened my eyes wide and looked towards the window again, there really was something there. I aggressively rubbed my eyes with the back of my hands and looked again, this time squinting my eyes so I could make out what it was that stood on my window. Everything looked blurry and it didn't help that it was still very dark outside. I climbed out of bed and reached for the lights, switching them on and almost blinding myself considering how bright the room suddenly got. I was a bit scared, but I tried to be brave enough to at least shoo away whatever was on the window. As I neared it, I noticed a golden beak and a pair of jet black eyes that were reflecting the light in the room.
"Torbe?"
He screeched loudly and I instantly felt my soul leaving my body as I jumped away in fear.
"Get dressed, or we'll be late."
"Uh? Good morning to you too?"
"The King is waiting for you at the dining hall, once you're done preparing you'll need to join him and set out at once." He said calmly, not minding anything I said.
"I didn't know the Ancestors were so obnoxious and rude."
"We leave in an hour." He said and flew towards the city gates.
That bird! He'd done it now. I pushed the sheets off my body and stomped all the way to the dining hall where Father and Mother had been waiting. Mother quickly cast a sharp glance at me and looked away. I too, wasn't ready for another one of her episodes, so I paid her no mind. It was Father I had business with.
"Father, that bird cannot come with us! Absolutely not."
"Oh dear, you're not dressed yet." Was all he had to say.
I sat next to him and held his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze
"But papa, you and I can go by ourselves just fine." I begged.
"You whine like a child. Get up and get ready to head out!" Mother's voice echoed through the room.
I gave Father another look of plea and desperation. It would be a long ride to Scye with that idiot bird and i absolutely did not want that. Suddenly, mother angrily dropped her cutlery and slammed her hands on the table loud enough to break it; had it not been made of stone.
"Elise!" She called.
"Ugh"
"Elaine…" Father wanted to say,
I grunted and angrily stormed out of the hall into my room to prepare for the journey. I heard Father call after me but I was too upset to answer him. I slammed the door loudly like I had done the day before, hoping they would hear and take the cue to leave me alone like I wanted. Or didn't want? Who knew?