Winged

Chapter 5

"Good day, Uroda."

"Oh-...uh" Before she could get a word out, the Sokol dressed in fancy clothing serving patrons around her strutted away. The buzz in the castle entrance was palpable. A chandelier was hanging over-head two spiraling staircases which led up to a row of doors and carpets painted gold. The entrance was plastered with beautiful deep purples, streamers of red that if you followed their path; seemed like they were jumping about the ceiling. The walls shifted every once so often as a strong wind blew through, and as she looked up it seemed like the levels went on forever. Uroda heard the gossip of the royals, and those close to them. Things such as wedding gone rogue, a father disappearing, and most of all; a Sokol with shabby wings who could fly faster than a dragon. She squirmed in embarrassment and discomfort,  the word shabby pricked at her confidence like a stubborn gnat. Wojna seemed to notice her discomfort; he shuffled up behind her and grabbed her shoulder. 

"You're pretty tense. Something the matter?"

"Oh, it's nothing... Just a little taken aback... This is where the royals have hidden? If this is the safe house, then... What's the castle like?"

Piekno ran forward with a grin on her face and batted her wings, jumping up and rocketing up into the higher levels. Uroda guessed that was where the queen resided. Frykas followed, but in a calmer manner. He grabbed a snack from the server before lifting up gently and controlled. Wojna walked forward and looked back at her, waving her hand around them.

"Pretty marvelous,  huh? The queen has been raving your name about like gossip!"

"...I'm not sure why, I'm nothing special."

"On the contrary, Uroda, you're the first person to qualify for a slayer in the last two decades. We've been starving for some new recruits and you came at the perfect time."

"Wait, how many slayers are left?"

"There's eight of us left. Four of them are still bringing people from the castle, and us four are meeting with the queen."

"I thought I wasn-"

"Normally you wouldn't be. But we can't ignore the death of our Leader. Thankfully, we have Prodontis to lead us; but we're currently without an appointed Leader. It's safe to say you're apart of our group now, whether you're ready or not. Now, let's go up."

"Before we go, who's Prodontis."

"You'll meet him after we regroup. Hurry, now, we don't have all day."

Wojna turned and flew up with Uroda following - the stares of those one the ground drilled into the back of her head. She was acutely aware of every little judgmental glance and every murmur around her. She weaved between hovering Sokol who flew between hallways and corridors. Finally, Wojna crested her flight-path to a large door in the wall. It didn't have a landing and it was already wide open. The veteran slayer eased down onto the walkway and Uroda landed besides him; taking a couple steps to slow her down. Uroda glanced at the doorway; A thick and luxurious material - crimson in color- was what the door was made out of. 

"Uroda, my dear, come forward!"

Snapping out of her daze, Uroda turned rigidly towards the queen. She was unlike anything she'd ever seen. Her gown was fluffy and purple, hiding her legs and feet completely. Her shoulders were showing, the clothing tracing a line from the middle of her shoulder to just above her chest. The queen was - quite literally - sparkling, her eyelashes defined and her cheeks rosy. Her dark tan skin was broken up by splotches of white, and half her face was pale. One eye was a dark brown, the other was a light blue. Her lips were plump and red, and her hair was packed into a bun that was covered by her crown. The crown was large, with blue gems placed neatly across the face. It seemed to drip down the sides of her face, resting at her chin and forming into neat triangles. The queen smiled and spread her wings. One was pitch black with white feathers strewn about. Uroda swore she could see the galaxy in there. The other was a blinding white, with little black feathers poking out. She was gorgeous in every sense of the term. 

The queen stood, walking down to where Uroda was standing. Grabbing her face, the royal studied her features. Taking the new slayer's wings, she traced her fingers to a stray feather and swiftly plucked it. Handing it to a servant standing besides them, the queen bowed to Uroda. Taken aback, she found herself squealing. The queen, now bowed, stifled a laugh. 

"Q-queen, I- it's nice, I'm not sure... Woah... You are..."

"Hello, Uroda. You seem... flustered." The royal stood up straight and Uroda realized how tall she was. She felt like an ant besides her, in importance and in stature.

"Well, I'm not - I wasn't... I'm sorry?" Uroda felt like she was shaking. She hadn't taken her eyes off of the queen since she entered. Suddenly, the queen enveloped her in an embrace.

"Thank the stars you have come!" The queen let her go and took her hand, spinning on her heel, then pulling her towards the three other slayers who had stationed themselves at a door behind the throne.  "You would not believe the amount of times I have almost peed myself. In this nice dress, too. So much stress, almost dying, you know the drill.  When I heard Lithilos passed, I couldn't believe it. The Lithilos, dying during my reign! A dragon attack, and now a new slayer! You should have seen how Lithilos saved us, Uroda." The queen spun and crouched down. "He came into my room while I was asleep! He rescued me, then rescued everyone else... What's the condition of my castle, do you know?"

Uroda felt dizzy from all of the information being thrown at her all at once. She shook herself, then replied.

"In earnest, it looks like it's not going to make it."

"... All of my notepads were in there, though..."

"Your MAJESTY!"

Uroda and the Queen stopped at once, before turning to a fuming Frykas. The Queen lowered her head,

"What, Frykas?"

"You have countless dead! More Sokol wounded, and you're worried about your notebooks? I know you've been appointed far to soon, but have some urgency! Have some respect!"

The queen looked ashamed of herself. She stood up straight, dusted herself off, then nodded.

"Of course. I don't know what came over me. Come, Uroda, let us go into the war room."

Uroda watched as Frykas, Wojna, Piekno, and the Queen all walked into the dark room. The Queen turned and said;

"You can call me Flora, Uroda. Please, forgive me for my childishness. You're the first girl my age I've seen since I was a little child so... I hope we can be friends."

Uroda saw her gown disappear before the world came crashing into her. A giddy happiness could be felt rumbling in her stomach, but the confusion and dread drowned out the glimpse of warmth like a match suffocated beneath an ocean.

"Okay, I'll just go in then. Stracony, I'll find a way down to you. I promise."

Uroda entered the room, letting herself be enveloped by darkness.