Red Mornings

The sun had barely caressed the eastern mountains as Princess Kysha stood alone in the high tower of the palace. Clad in only her nightgown and a thin shawl, she stepped out on to the balcony. Time seemed to have stopped as she so dearly wish it would. “Just think,” she said aloud to the morning as she leaned on the railing, “In one day you’ll have a new king and he, a bride…yet she will not be happy.”

Her gaze wandered to the far pasture where a lone stallion grazed; her stallion, Emis. “But at least I have you. And together we will be free if only for a short while.” She told him. “Or maybe my mentor, Tafar was right. Maybe I do dally in a dream world where there is such a thing as true love. Ha! But what does he know! He is old and senile.” She scuffed. “But on the other hand I have never met nor seen Prince Nicolas even though we are to be married tomorrow. Maybe I will love him. I wish there was some way of knowing. Somebody show me a sign!” she shouted to the dawn.

Silence was her only answer. She did not want to start a day leading to tomorrow. Sighing she turned to go when a song caught her ear. It was pure and soothing causing Kysha to forget her anxiety. The song grew louder; she looked around for its source. What she saw took her breath away. A red bird with wings of fire and a long flowing tail of scarlet silk glided on the sun’s rays. It weaved in and out of the palace towers then alighted upon the banister rail of the balcony. Kysha stared in awe at this remarkable bird. The three feathers upon its head danced in the morning breeze. She reach out to touch the bird but as she did it sang once in alarm then took to the air leaving behind one flaming red feather. Taking it in her hand she held it tight so that the wind did not snatch it from her. She watched the bird as it flew over the city and in to the mountains like a ball of flames and was gone. Kysha turned, sadden by it departure and descended the tower wondering if this was the sign she had asked for.

On the eastern out skirts of town lay a small encampment, the habitants of which were a young man and a cat. They too had seen the mythical bird of fire.

“Hahaa!” the man exclaimed to his feline companion, “I told ya our luck would change and so it has, Shea, me girl! A phoenix can only bring luck and fortune to those who see it! Not to mention the fact that I now hold one of its feathers!”

The cat squeezed it eyes in agreement, “Yes but not all luck is good luck and some fortunes only lead to greed or unhappiness, Anthony.” The cat replied.

“Oh hogwash!” Anthony said with a wave of his hand.

“I’m serious young man, look where luck got the both of us.”

Yes, yes, yes I know, I know, a long time ago and a land far, far away, you where once a beautiful woman who fooled around with magic and turned yourself into a cat. And I was once a prince who ran from his kingdom in order to be free. Why must you always remind me of my past when I get excited?”

“Yes, because it keeps you down to earth.” Shea retorted.

“All right, all right you win. Now what about that palace? I don’t have all day ya know?”

Shea stretched lazily, “Right, I get the lay out and you steal the goods.” She muttered as she trotted off.

Kysha sat at the head of the table, breakfasting. Tafar sat on her right going through her schedule. “Your archery lessons are followed by literature and then riding. And after lunch—”

“Have you even seen a phoenix?” she interrupted.

“Have I seen a what?” Tafar repeated.

“A phoenix.” She said again.

“Heavens no they’re only a legend. Why do you ask?”

“No reason.”

“Though they say there bring change and good luck and legend says they have been known to guide lost people out of the mountains and bring messages.” Tafar inform her. “Now back to your schedule…” Kysha set down her spoon and started towards the door, “You can finish telling me during my archery lessons.” She said over her shoulder and was gone; leaving Tafar lost for words.

Kysha walked alone through the gardens after her archery lessons. In her mind though, she was far from the palace and its walls. She was in the mountains searching its secrets for the phoenix. Her logical side was beginning to doubt that she had even seen the bird that morning. Maybe it was all a dream. Taking out the red feather she told herself it had to be real. Or where had she gotten the feather?

Movement in the brushes caught her attention. Upon further inspection she found a cat of three colors. Kysha made a clicking noise with her tongue. The cat looked up in surprise. “Great, I’ve been found out.” Shea said to herself, “Though she looks friendly enough and a little attention could hurt.” Shea mewed and trotted up to Kysha looking as innocent as a kitten.

“Well hello there.” Kysha said as she stroked the cat. Shea purred with pleasure. “You’re so thin, you must be starving.” She mused. At the hint of food Shea turned inside out. Oh, how she longed for a decent meal. Kysha picked up Shea and together went to the kitchen. Shea dined on roast goose and milk while Kysha scratched her neck and back. Tafar stormed in to the kitchen, his face red with anger. “Where have you been? I’ve been searching the whole palace for you. You’re late for your writings.”

Kysha ignored him and continued petting Shea. Tafar just noticing the cat, jumped and demanded, “Where did you get that thing?”

“She was in the garden.” Kysha said calmly.

“Fine, fine we’ll deal with that later but come, you’re late for your lesson.”

“I’ve decided not to go to any more today.”

“What! You can do no such thing.”

“Yes I can I am the rightful ruler of this land and have been since my parents passed away. You can’t tell me what to do now!”

“Lady Kysha! I am your guardian until you marry and until then I decide what is best for you.”

There were tears in her eyes now, “I am tired of having my day planned for me!” She took a deep breath, “I want to spend my last day as a child freely.”

Tatar’s eyes and face were scarlet; “You will have time for that after tomorrow. Now come you’ve wasted too much time as it is.”

She did not argue. She had never won a fight against him but that never stopped her from trying.

Shea had excused herself from the kitchen during the fight and now freely wandered the hallways in search of the stones Anthony had described. They were the scarlet and azure diamonds, symbol of the royal family and the pride of the country.

Anthony could not contain his excitement as he cleaned the young doe he had just killed. First the phoenix and now this; his luck had definitely changed for the better since he had not had a decent meal in three days. It was around this time Shea strolled into their make-shift camp back. She was quite pleased with herself.

“Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been?” Anthony said in a singsong voice.

Shea glared at him. “You know perfectly well that I hate that song and where I’ve been.”

Anthony laughed, “I was only teasing.”

Shea coughed her disbelief.

“Now what about the palace?” Anthony said his voice a bit more serious.

Shea stretched and sat down in a little compact bundle. “I don’t think I want to tell you.” She said indignantly. Anthony sat down next to the feline and affectionately scratched her behind the ears. She squeezed her eyes in delight. “Are you sure about that, little one?” He asked.

“All right, all right you win. Just continue right there. Oh, that’s the spot.” Shea purred.

Anthony chuckled but continued stroking the cat as she began to give him the lay out of the palace. And he immediately began to form a plan.

Anthony welcomed the darkness of the night for it was his time as it was for all thieves. Scaling the wall of the garden was fairly simply for one as agile of him. His black cloak allowed him to easily vanish into the shadows as two guards patrolled the hall. Once they passed, Anthony continued down to the kitchen then through the servant’s passages. Since these were rarely patrol, Anthony moved quickly and quietly. The sound of someone crying reached his ears from one of the passages leading off if the one he traveled. Cautiously he peered around the corner; a girl sat with her back against the wall and her knees pulled up to her chest. Anthony guessed she wasn’t a servant from the gown she wore. “You don’t have time for this; get going before she sees you,” Said a voice inside his head. Anthony kept going but didn’t get very far, “Oh who am I kidding.” He turned around he walked down the passage where she sat. “Is something a matter?” he asked softly.

Kysha looked up, startled to find a man standing over her. “Who are you and what are you doing here?” Looking him up and down, she gasped, “You’re a thief!”

“Yes. Yes I am. And you are?” Anthony inquired.

“Princess Kysha. You’re not planning to kidnap me are you because I’ll scream if you try.”

Anthony laughed which caught Kysha off guard for it was not a menacing laugh but a cheerful one. “Goodness no, I would never do such a thing it’s not my style.” He said still laughing. “My name is Anthony, Lady Kysha.” He said with an elegant bow. “Now if I may be so bold to ask why you are crying and if I may help?”

“Not unless you can stop tomorrow from happening?” she said dryly.

“Ouch, that’s a hard one. May one ask why you want tomorrow not to come?”

“I am to be married to someone I have never met or even seen.” She went on to tell him of her views of true love and such, by which Anthony was taken aback by the fact that she would bestow such trust in him. He listened intently and with much understanding for he too had suffered like her. Suddenly she stopped, realizing that she had been telling him everything even her some of her deepest secrets. Anthony looked at her curiously, wondering why she had stopped. “What’s wrong? Why did you stop?” he asked with concern.

“I shouldn’t have said all of that to you.” Kysha said staring at the ground.

“I am honored that you trust me that information. Now may I give you some advice?” Anthony asked from where he now sat across from her.

She nodded not knowing exactly what to say or expect.

“No body knows what the future brings but our decisions effect it in so many ways; many of them ways we shall regret. You seek true love yet are marrying a prince you have never met. What if he is your true love; the one you have waited for? One cannot decide before one meets him. One must have an open mind in order to learn the truth one seeks.”

She contemplated this for a moment, “Are you a philosopher?” she asked.

Anthony smiled, closed his eyes and shook his head, “No, only one that speaks from experience.”

Kysha nodded, “But what if he is not the one?”

“Then one must make a choice between love and thrown.”

Both sat in silence for a lone while. “What you say makes sense but I will be married tomorrow and unable to do anything if he is not the one.”

Anthony sat in silence, thinking. “There may be a way that I can help,” he said slowly, “but that means you must not tell anyone of our meeting or of me being inside the palace walls even if it seems like the right thing to do.”

“I promise.”

Anthony nodded, rose, and started to walk away. “Aren’t you going to tell what you intend to do?” she called after him.

He shook his head; “It is better if you not know. Now please do not follow me.”

“How do I know you are trustworthy and will not do something for your own good?”

“Fair enough.” He said and walked back to where she now stood. He kissed on the lips. As he did so he reached into his side pouch and placed something in her hand. Then he slipped into the darkness. Kysha stared speechlessly after him them slowly looked at her hand. A blazing red feather rested in her palm.

Anthony continued down the passage until he reached the end and turned left then right down the second to the last sub passage and through a small door. He now stood in the king’s chamber. It was deserted. Anthony crossed the room to the large double doors. Opening one of the doors ajar he peered into the hallway. It was empty with the exception of two guards standing at the far end. He slipped out and closed the door quietly behind him then made his way through the shadows to the far end. Retrieving a small bag from his belt he dumped some of its contents into his palm. Placing his palm out flat in front of his month he blew the powder in the direction of the two guards. With in seconds the sleeping powder took affect. Anthony stepped over the now sleeping guards and examined the lock on the door. It was simple to pick and Anthony had it opened with in moments and stepped into the volt.

Tafar awakened Kysha early the next morning, “My Lady, my Lady! The azure and scarlet diamonds are gone!”

Kysha sat up in alarm. “What?”

“Yes my Lady, they were taken last night.”

Kysha immediately thought of Anthony, how could he do such a thing? And she had given her word not to tell of him being in the palace.

“This means your wedding with have to be postponed until whoever stole them is found and they are safe.”

Kysha looked at Tafar in surprise. “Why?”

“Because they are a main part of the ceremony and with out them it cannot be commenced. And Prince Nicolas is to arrive shortly. There is no point in sending him away so he will have to stay until the wedding is rescheduled.”

Kysha could have laughed. Anthony had kept his word. She would now have a chance to get to know Nicolas. But would he return the stones if things worked out? She frowned.

“I must say Anthony; you never cease to amaze me. So do you plan to return the stones, if all goes well with the prince and Kysha?” Shea inquired from where she sat on the horse they had purchased late yesterday evening.

“Yes.” He said as he rode in the direction of the mountains. “For there are far more priceless treasures in this world and I plan to find one of them.”

“You chase the phoenix then?” Shea asked.

Anthony nodded. With that Shea jump from the horse’s back, “I shall meet you at the rivers then.” She said then run toward the palace to see if Kysha had found her true love.

High above them in the heaven a bird circled with wings of fire and a long flowing tail of scarlet silk. It sang softly to the new morning. Then, it flew towards the sun raising over the mountains and burst into flames, leaving behind a truly red morning.