The Face that Brought War to Paradise
The Face that Brought War to Paradise
~*~*~
I sang softly by the inn’s fire my lyre in my lap, my fingers plucking the strings gracefully as my eyelids lowered with the mood. The women in the audience sighed and looked at me with longing; all I need do was curl my finger and they would run to my bed. As I took a soft breath and tossed my ebony hair out of eyes with a shake of my head, the men in the audience blushed, if I invited they would be more than happy to press me into my mattress. Nika once admitted, when drunk, that she thought I had the most beautiful face she had ever seen on a male. I have never let her live that down.
As I finished the song Finn and Marcus entered the inn. I looked up at them and Marcus tossed his head in the direction of our room. I smiled letting the last note hang in the air before tucking my lyre into my cloak. I stood and the woman closest to me grabbed my arm.
“Please, one more song,” she begged and I shook my head as I gently pulled free.
“I must bid goodnight to you all. Please make sure to check your pockets, it is well known that thieves choose to strike while musicians play,” I advised well aware that Nika was in the audience and she might not appreciate me warning them against her. I made my way back to our room, leaving the door cracked. Nika rushed in and glared at me.
“Thanks a lot, Bird Brain!” she snapped. Nika was a master thief, but she looked like a pixie. Tiny in frame and size, she had the complexion of a doll with curly blond locks, big brown eyes, and peaches and crème skin. We had never gotten along, mostly because of Marcus.
“Leave Ward alone, he earns his living after all,” Marcus chuckled. Marcus was a hero, destined from birth for great things. He was tall, muscular with skin that was just a shade away from tawny, eyes the color of the sky, and hair so blond it was gold. I was his opposite in many ways with my black hair and eyes, with my feminine features, and with my pallid skin that wouldn’t change color no matter how long I stood in the sun.
“I earn a living,” Nika whined, acting like a child when she was far from such.
“You take your living from the pockets of others,” Finn grunted under his black cloak. Finn longed for my coloring, but he too was blond and tanned with only minimal sun exposure. His eyes were not as nice as Nika or Marcus’ they were a brownish red like the color of old blood. Until Finn had met Marcus, he had been a Dark Mage. Marcus had made a bet with Finn, if Marcus won, Finn would protect Marcus to the full extent of his power for a century, if Finn won, Marcus would give Finn his heart. Against all odds, Marcus had won and Finn was now stuck watching out for Marcus for the next ninety-three years.
“Did the Seer finally agree to see you?” I asked and Marcus sighed.
“Yes, but he won’t tell me my Quest until I do him an errand,” he said and gave me a look. It was a look that said ‘my dear friend, Ward, you need to do something for me that you are going to hate very much and might not survive.’
“No,” I said and Marcus pouted this time.
“But you are my knave,” he said.
“I know that look, I remember the dragon!” I cried and Nika snickered. She had been so amused when I had been blasted with the fire breath.
“It’s not like the dragon at all,” Marcus said.
“We just need to get three feathers from the Queen of the Birds of Paradise,” Finn stated and I felt my jaw drop.
“You want me to get three feathers from my Queen?” I squawked, ashamed to sound very much like a bird.
“Damn it Finn,” Marcus growled before blushing slightly and grinning. “But…yeah.”
“No! No way! Marcus I’m a half-blood! They EAT humans!” I cried and tossed off my cloak, revealing my two jet black wings.
“They don’t eat all men,” Nika commented. “I mean, one obviously laid with your father.” I brought my hands to my hair, burying my fingers into my ebony tress.
“What do you think my mother did with my father after they laid together?” I shouted. “Birds of Paradise are man-eaters! I was born by accident on a random romp with a meal! Plus, my mother rolled my egg out of her nest!”
“You don’t know that,” Marcus said in a comforting manner.
“How else would the Killing Game slave drivers have found me!” I shouted. I had been born in the nursery of the Killing Game, an underground arena where monsters and half-bloods would fight to the death. I had been raised with the hope that I would be a vicious man-eater like my mother or a blood thirsty Bird of Paradise cock. I had had no desire for blood nor for man-flesh and so I had been thrown into the arena with the single purpose of being a non-human to be slain. Marcus and his master had found the games the night I was to die and they had destroyed the arena, freeing the monsters and half-bloods. Most of the creatures vanished into the night with their own kind save for me. I was the sole Bird of Paradise half-blood. Marcus had taken me in as his brother. I had sworn to aid and protect him within my ability. I was regretting that.
“Come now, you have a way with women, besides, since you’ve grown up among men you are far better looking that the cocks of your kind,” Marcus said as if having a pretty face were a good thing among a people where the women were highly jealous man-eaters.
“Can’t you do him another favor?” I asked and Marcus shook his head.
“The Seer of Newland said that the Seer of August would tell me of my True Quest and the Seer of August refuses to help me until I do this,” he said and I groaned.
“Maybe your Queen will make love to you before she kills you,” Nika chuckled and I moaned in sorrow. I was going to hate this quest.
~*~*~
I flew over the horses as we move through the mountain passes to the valley that made the land of the Birds of Paradise. The Birds called their land Paradise, but most people settled for the long winded Land of the Birds of Paradise. Why not call it Paradise, it was beautiful enough with lush forests, clean water, and plenty of food and animals. The fact was the Birds of Paradise were rather neat so the edges of the valley were heaped with the bones of the humans who had been meals for the Birds of Paradise…my father’s bones most likely were in one of the piles.
Some people have asked me how I could know that I am a half-blood Bird of Paradise if I have wings. Simple, I have human feet. Bird of Paradise cocks have raptor feet with long claws which they use on each other in fights to curry favor with the females. I think it’s rather stupid to fight over women when Birds of Paradise the females outnumber the males twenty to one, but it’s like a rooster with hens. Half-blood Birds of Paradise are born with the wings of Birds of Paradise but lacking the raptor feet in males and the bird like lower bodies in females.
I landed as Marcus, Finn, and Nika stopped their horses. I sighed as I looked across the valley, I could make out the forms of birds off in the distance, birds that I knew were not the tiny type but the man-eating type.
“I hope you don’t run into Bird of Paradise cocks,” Nika stated out loud as if I wasn’t already horrified to be here.
“I hope you don’t either, they do so love to rape human women,” I replied and Nika gasped.
“They do not!” she cried and I gave her a look.
“Are you an expert on Birds of Paradise?” I asked and she looked uncertain, her eyes flicking to Finn.
“Ward is correct, the Birds of Paradise do enjoy human flesh both in their stomachs and in their beds, I’m not sure on the order of that,” Finn chuckled and Nika paled. Sometimes having a creepy as Hell Dark Mage around was useful.
“Ward, we cannot go further,” Marcus said and I sighed.
“If I die, I blame Nika,” I said as I removed my cloak, pulling my lyre out and attaching it to my belt.
“Me? I didn’t drag you here!” she cried as I took off.
“Three feathers, Ward!” Marcus cried and if he hadn’t saved my life countless times before this, I would have made a nasty comment, but Marcus was Marcus and I loved him as if we were kin. The land was beautiful and I had to admit this must be paradise. As I reached the far side of the valley I saw the massive tree with its various flying forms. I did not fly right up to them, instead I landed a mile from it and walked to the base of the tree. I found a nice rock to sit upon and I freed my lyre from my belt. I would not seek my Queen, I would lure the Queen to me.
I began to play and sing. Birds of Paradise have lovely voices but it is said that a half-blood Bird of Paradise once lured the gods to Earth with his voice. I carefully played, choosing to ignore the first flutter of wings. I cut myself off from the sound of birds descending to sit around me as I played and sang. I don’t know how long I sat there playing but at some point I paused to catch my breath and there was a loud applause. I opened my eyes to stare at the beautiful creatures around me. The Birds of Paradise were lovely, all the colors of the rainbow jumped and played across their feathers. I always wondered how such horrible monsters could be called such a lovely name but now I knew. The women were beautiful, lush forms, pert breasts, and colorful plumage. I could see a few men here and there, but they were not beautiful, horrible scars covered them from head to toe. I continued singing, bringing forth the best of my ability. The women sighed and stared at me with lust while the males glared but I caught one looking me over like I was a side of meat. It scared me but I refused to let them see it. I closed my eyes and continued.
I don’t know how long I sang but soon it was a practical harem around me. There were two obvious jewels among the Birds of Paradise. A woman who was clearly older, but not old, her wings were pure white like the tops of the surrounding mountains, but her tail feathers were the colors of the rainbow. The other was a young woman, probably just out of girlhood, her wings were gold and her tail feathers were the color of the dawn. I knew without being told that I was looking at my Queen and her child. I stopped and quickly moved to bow down before the two women.
“You are truly gifted, Half-Blood,” my Queen spoke in a lovely voice, but I knew my voice was more musical.
“I owe it to the blood of your people, my Queen,” I said, not moving from my deep bow. I felt her hand move to my hair, it was a gentle caress. Her hand slipped under my chin and brought my face up to look at her. Her face was beautiful, but it was cold and dark. In her black eyes I could see no mercy.
“You speak well,” she tilted my head to either side. “You are beautiful, the most beautiful male I’ve ever seen.” I lowered my eyes and the blush was real.
“Thank you, my Queen,” I whispered, her hand moved down my neck to my chest. She stroked my chest and I feared what she might do.
“With such a voice, I would have wanted to keep you, but with that face, I will definitely keep you,” she stated and I felt my heart fly up into my throat. “I think I wouldn’t mind a young bastard child with such beauty as yours.” I nearly fell over in horror until there was a cough.
“Mother, you said yourself you were done with such things as mating and eggs,” the Princess stated and I looked at her from the corner of my eyes. She was looking me over like I was a piece of very delicious meat. I was suddenly worried that maybe I would be on the menu. “I want him.”
“You can’t let your first child be a bastard mixed breed,” the Queen stated and the Princess did not look happy.
“I don’t have to keep an egg, his mother obviously didn’t,” the Princess growled. I watched as the Queen and the Princess glared at each other. I didn’t know what to do as the Birds of Paradise around us began to move to either the Queen’s back or the Princess’.
“My Queen, my Princess, I do not mean to cause strife between you,” I said, bowing low. I felt a kick and I fell flat between their feet. I turned to see a very large male, his feathers were a dusty brown, the color of Finn’s eyes.
“No use, Half-blood, the Queen and Princess have been waiting for this moment. It is time for one to kill the other,” the cock said, his face was a mess of scars. One of his eyes was gone but the other was a lovely shade of silver.
“It’s time for succession?” I asked and he nodded. “Which side are you on?” The cock looked at me and chuckled as he settled on the rock in front of me, I could see his wicked talons.
“I can’t choose a side,” he stated and as I looked at the cock I could see that his features were familiar. As I turned to look at the Princess and Queen I realized the truth.
“You are the chosen of the Queen,” I gasped, horrified since this male as the Queen’s lover and the Princess’ sire.
“I was, she long ago threw me from her bed,” he stated as he ran a finger over his empty eye socket. “When this happened really.” I blinked and looked down.
“I am sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen,” I whispered and the male nodded.
“Obviously, you came for some reason. Loneliness, instinct, whatever the reason, you were born too pretty and too talented in the voice. You will be the cause for this,” he said and I felt strangely at ease around this male.
“Will you get in trouble for not picking a side?” I asked and he shook his head.
“Neither will you, you’ll be the cause, but no one will blame you. Our current Queen took her place from her mother over a piece of jewelry,” the cock stated and I blinked.
“So trivial,” I muttered and he nodded.
“That’s how hens are,” he laughed. “You and I will sit here and wait, when it’s done the winner will claim you.”
“What if it takes a long time?” I asked and the cock shrugged.
“Hopefully not, but this Queen and Princess have been conniving, my greatest fear is war,” he said and I stared.
“War?” I managed to repeat and he nodded.
“If they get the others involved it will take years,” he sighed. “I dread having to leave Paradise if it comes to that.”
“Goddess…I could use some help,” I prayed and at that moment there were two hideous shrieks. I jumped and looked above me as the Queen and Princess attacked each other. They were ripping at each other, pulling at hair and wings mid-air. I blinked as a handful of white feathers landed on my left wing and a handful of gold feathers landed on my head. “Thank you, great Goddess.” I quickly put the feathers into my tunic pockets before I looked at the cock.
“I would run if I were you boy,” he chuckled. “I see war starting over that pretty face of yours.” I nodded and quickly took off on a low flight, my feet brushing the tops of the trees all the way to the entrance of the valley.
“Ward, you’re alright!” Marcus cried and I looked at my friends as I grabbed my cloak off of Marcus’ horse.
“Yes, alive, we need to leave, now,” I stated before I took off again and began to fly through the pass.
“Damn Bird Brain! We need to clean up camp!” Nika cried, but I didn’t look back, the memory of the Queen and Princess tearing into each other was fresh in my mind. What male would want to lay with such evil beauties?
~*~*~
I sang softly, my song full of sorrow and suffering, several women in the audience were weeping and more than a few men were keeping their hair in their eyes. I strummed the last note as Finn, Nika, and Marcus entered our inn. I stopped and got up. My audience applauded and for a moment I remembered the applause of my winged kin. I walked back to our room before the others. As they filed in behind me I held out six feathers, three white, three gold, to Marcus.
“You got them!” he cried happily.
“What was that? You ditched us, Bird boy!” Nika cried and I sighed as I sat down on my bed.
“I met my winged kin,” I sighed as I looked at her.
“So what, didn’t you enjoy your family reunion?” she asked and I shook my head.
“Would this have to do with the horrible racket that started on the far side of the valley as you appeared?” Finn asked and I nodded.
“I brought war to my people,” I sighed and hung my head, feeling for the first time in my life just how alone I was.
“You don’t have a people, Ward,” Marcus said and I looked up at him hurt as he approached me and patted my shoulder. “But you do have us.” I blinked up at Marcus’ blue eyes before I laughed. “What?” Nika giggled at Marcus and Finn even had the mirth to smirk.
“You are so hokey, Marcus,” I said with a smile. “I suppose I much rather be in the presence of a Dark Mage, a thief, and a hero than the insane hens of the Birds of Paradise.”
“Awww you didn’t find a Bird Brain hen to be your own,” Nika teased and I smirked.
“The Queen and the Princess both wanted to keep me, the white feathers are the Queens and the gold feathers are the Princess’ I figured the Seer would know which ones to use,” I explained before looking at Nika and smiling gently at her. “They said my face was enough to start a war.” I moved so that I was standing in front of Nika, a blush was slowly spreading over her cheeks. I curled a finger under her chin and she let me pull her face closer to mine with just my fingertip.
“Stop playing with her Ward,” Marcus sighed and I smirked as I turned away from Nika.
“Awww, Marcus, but she’s so easy to tease,” I cooed before something landed on my back and I yelped as Nika began to pummel me.
“Stupid Bird Brain!” she shrieked as Finn and Marcus laughed at us.
“Get off of me you crazy human hen!” I cried, doing my best to try and cover my head with my arms.
“Stupid bird cock!” she cried and I couldn’t help myself.
“You completely want my cock and you know it!” I replied and Nika screamed in rage. The bruises were worth it.
~*~*~
Author's Note: From the moment I saw the prompt a version of this story was swimming in my head. The first version I didn't like Ward, he was too submissive, I like my narrating characters to have a little spunk. The second version when Ward got to paradise he went nuts, which after I wrote I deleted the whole thing. This version is the best. Ward has a personality, he has fear, hope, and love but he's not a push over. I have this image in my head of Marcus as your classic 'hero' with golden hair, a strong jaw, and muscles on muscles with muscles. He's the type of hero who wins his enemies over with kindness and love or, you know, totally kicks their asses.
Finn is actually one I really love. I didn't give him much time in this story, but I may have to write another story with this group. Finn really wants to be a bad ass Dark Mage, which he actually is, but he has good looks. He's got beautiful hair, a handsome face, and always has a tan, he doesn't look like a Dark Mage, and unlike an evil person, he doesn't use his looks to decieve. He wants people to fear him, but he's just so hot that people are drawn to him. Poor Finn.
Nika started off as this bipolar person in my head, she would be nasty and cruel to Ward and then be sweet and innocent for Marcus. Originally I was going to have Marcus unaware that Nika was a thief but then I thought, he would be a sucky hero if he couldn't spot a thief. Nika's actually a lot older than we the audience thinks, I'm thinking only Ward may know her true age. I see Ward and Nika having a love hate relationship, they love to hate each other and poke. Thus Ward knows that Nika finds him attractive and Nika annoys him with things like his failures (ie the dragon).
The hardest part of writing this was the use of the word 'cock' because I'm a teacher, I immediately cringe when I see this word. While I think of a male bird (usually a rooster) I know that if I were to say this word there would be a boy someplace who would snicker and repeat it in a whisper just loud enough to set off another two or three boys. However, by the end of this piece I just HAD to throw in a penis joke. I guess I just couldn't stand the fact that I was cringing over a stupid word that was accurate. Most male birds are refered to as cocks...I looked it up.