Manon's Child

Part 29

Manon's POV

I wake up early, nausea churning in my gut. I lurch into the bathroom, gulping down some water, and manage not to puke. Still, I call for a servant, and despite the early hour, one answers immediately, and I request food. It's comes barely five minutes later, and it's food like I haven't tasted for ages. Camp food isn't exactly delicious.

When I finish, I leave the tray on the bed, stalking over to the open window. Dawn is just breaking over the horizon, the sky turning from a deep purple to bright pink. A faint wind brushes over my face, and I lean further out of the window, welcoming the cool breeze. The crisp fresh air clears my head.

Suddenly, I'm not staring at the dawn sky but into Abraxos's worried eyes. His head is craned round to face me, the rest of his body sitting on the roof just above my head. I smile, laughing at his worry, and stroke his leathery head. In one swift movement, I latch my arms around his neck and he lifts me out of the window and onto the roof beside him. I stare at the sunrise, no barrier keeping me from falling to the floor, standing on the roof. I'm surprised Abraxos's claws haven't scraped any of the tiles off yet.

It's barely a minute before I'm bored of just looking at the sunrise, and want to be in it. It simply isn't good enough for the Queen of the Witches to just watch it. I'm sure the people of Perranth will love to see us framed in the sunrise, anyway. I swing onto my wyvern's back, and we gracefully soar into the candyfloss clouds.

We dance in the clouds for more than a while, and with a sudden pang, I wish someone else is here with me. The sky is a lonely place, so wide and empty, especially when you're the only witch. If only -

No. I can't think like that. Half of the sun now peeks over the distant line of the horizon, it's light dancing on the surface of the lake. I turn Abraxos back towards Perranth, watching the lake sparkle peacefully beneath us. I smile as imagine a sea wyvern dancing in those waves, splashing around playfully with it's offspring. 

I look back towards the city, then let go of Abraxos' scales and stick my arms in the air. It's childish, but freeing all the same. A flicker of motion catches my eye, and I glance down, holding back onto my wyvern. Despite the early hour, some sort of procession is making it's way through the streets of Perranth. A flash of gold catches my eye, and I smile. Typical.