That night sleep evaded him, yet when his eyes opened  it was dawn. Pale sunlight streamed in through the windows and beyond the wispy clouds, a viridian  night faded to blue. 

Asael breathed, feeling at last a crippling discomfort leave his body. The warm bedding rubbed softly against his face. And as he blinked away the drowsy sleep, a small ball of blue fell upon his pillow and lifted its head. For a moment he hesitated, yet the  memory of his moon wisp faded, in its stead a pair of black eyes and a beak appeared.

Why was this little thing still here? Why had it not left? 

“ Why did you stay behind?” Asael whispered sleepily “ What did Serein tell you to do?” 

The creature blinked indifferently

“ You have to leave” His voice fell. “ You must convey my word to Serein. If a war breaks out in my absence will you bear its weight?”

Yet the messenger only closed its eyes, sitting atop his pillow at ease as it preened its feathers. A sour ache welled up Asael’s throat. Why was it not listening to him? What could he do? Was it Serein that had not called it back? He had thought to lay bare his fate upon the promise of its flight but at last even this fleeting hope had been denied. Yesterday this little bird had disappeared without farewell or call and now it refused to leave his side. 

Asael sat up and cradled its weight on his lap. 

“ You must leave” He begged, “ Relay my word  to the guardians. The wisp must be retrieved. But you must promise to never, never let a war begin. Do you understand? That the peace of this world and its lives lay in your hands?” 

Between the messenger and the second prince was silence, broken only by the creaking of a door.  It was Sarel, carrying with him a handful of medicine. He peeked through the door, leaving it open as the zephyr brought with it the scents of awaking flowers and bottled fragrances. 

“ Is it not the blue bird from the gardens?” Sarel pointed to the messenger as he hobbled in, laying upon the bed, numerous vials, herbs and bandages.

Asael shrugged gathering his hands upon his chest, “ It was there as I woke up, I will trouble you to let it out” 

Sarel paused and smiled vaguely. Yet as soon as he opened the door it hopped under the bed, hiding from view. How troublesome! Asael wiped his brow, it seems that the messenger did not wish to listen to him at all. 

“ We will leave the door open, maybe it will leave then” Sarel smiled apologetically. 

Then he sat beside Asael, rolled up his robes and with practiced precision studied each wound and broken limb. 

“ Lady Lilia said if there is not much bleeding, then it is alright to change the dressings in the evening. I just came to see” 

Asael brought up his palms and watched as a hint of cerise faded throughout. He stretched his fingers and clasped them back together. It was not as uncomfortable as before, and he could even move about with little tension.

Then Sarel’s gaze drew towards his chest. The phoenix’s tear that lay dormant before,  now shimmered brightly.

“ About the core…” Asael asked softly, “ How is it possible to heal one with a phoenix’s essence?”

“ Hmm” Sarel shrugged, gaze still trained upon the unravelling bandages, “ I am not sure… on that night, it was only when the tear touch your heart did you begin to breathe, or as I saw it”


“ I see” Asael slumped, feigning innocence“ I was not aware of its healing powers”


Sarel looked up at last, then shook his head vaguely. He looked about the room with a strange expression and fastened the door’s lock. “ I did read quite a bit about it. . . but it seems that, a phoenix’s tear does not bear power to heal,As it dies in ashes is it reborn, apparently it has the power to bring back life. ”


Asael’s brow knitted in thought.

“ When we found you. . . the white mist of death had surrounded you, it was not that the tear healed but rather tethered the remaining life to your body”


“ So I was dead…”


Sarel shrugged softly, “ I asked Lady Lilia many times afterwards yet not a word escaped her mouth. So I suppose it is a secret technique. If you wish to know more, I shall bring you a book. Lady Lilia said it would be unwise to ask others of this and to keep quiet. ”



Asael’s brows knitted in thought and he brought forth his hands, placing them softly upon his core. If he had died then. . . was it not possible to assume his Nimyi form anymore? He must relay this message to Serein and hoped that the little bird had listened to Sarel’s words.

And so as promised in the evening after his wounds have been dressed, Ara and Sarel  accompanied him to the east gardens. Today the melodic harmonies of the perfumery had quietened. In fact all of the establishments had ceased trade and festivities. A strange silence, had fallen upon the border city teetering on the edge of bursting excitement.

Rows upon rows of people gathered by the parapet walls, peeking through pavilions and high windows. Some even perched upon trees, next to waking birds and with looking glasses upon their arms. What was everyone preparing for?

“ Sarel what is happening?” Asael prodded his sleeve.

Ara placed a few seeds of sunflower in her mouth and clapped excitedly, “ Why it is the prince’s  betrothal”

“ Well the heir of the empire is marrying a prince of the Ahsara royal family” sighed Sarel, “ and tonight is  the parade of blessing”

“ Parade of blessing?” Asael inquired softly. 

The cold night stretched before them. Asael wrapped the large quilt around himself and sat back comfortably. In his bosom nestled the little blue bird that had refused to leave his side, it’s warmth dispersed  softly through his body. 

“ The betrothal of the two imperial families brings great joyous prosperity to all the land falling under its union” Sarel looked about the empty streets, “Or that’s what they say. It’s pretty either way, to see the fireworks and earn money. You hadn’t seen it but the royal palace commissions Lady Lilia to select each and every variety of flower thrown in the parade”

 “It is good money and we will have enough to eat in all winter! Food is good anyway!” Ara too supplied helpfully. 

Asael’s mind was elsewhere. What he had thought to be a political union in the wake of war had been one of love after all? It was strange to think that such a vicious man, the dragon of the underworld was capable of feelings as tender and precious as love. And to think on it’s end was the prince of Ahsara. No wonder they could see any strange movements within the winter border. For their doubts had been wholly misplaced. 

But what would become of his wisp now? Had it already been fed to the dark wells of the corrupted forests? Or does it still lay in the hands of the crown prince. What had happened to the traitorous Raglar? What unrest brewed in the winter border that he could not see? What intention did the bird carry that it would not leave his side? There were many questions to be answered. 

“ Then is the betrothal taking place in Ahsara?” 

Ara looked at him incredulously, but Sarel smiled and explained with patience, “ Of course not, the betrothal will be taking place in the imperial palace of Drugar but naturally the prince  must be swept off their feet first” 

“ Sweeping ones feet?” The Drugan prince must sweep his betrothed’s feet? Certainly a peculiar tradition.

The sound of soft laughter came among the roses. Behind one of the open windows stood Lilia. She carried with her a small warmed opal. And as she climbed over the window, she placed the stone in Asael’s hands.

“ The choosing of the bride occurs in the Ahsaran royal palace but the betrothal takes place in Drugar, the capital of the empire. It would not do to hold such an auspicious occasion in a small border nation” 

Asael gasped silently, “ I see” 

Then at once, the murmuring crowds ceased and a warm zephyr swept past the illuminated streets. From afar flowed melodies of flute song and chiming jewels. And in a moment he blinked, a shower of petals cascaded down from the sky. 

Through the dancing petals, arose figures of violets and gold. Softly they sang songs of love and yearning, of the light that falls upon the world at a kiss, the warmth that blooms from new life. The affection carried by a life long promise.  Not many understood the meanings of these hymns, yet applause and cheer arose through the evening.

“ Ah!” Ara cried happily, “ How lucky you are!”

A single myrtle flower landed atop his palm.


“ Myrtle is often a sign of prosperity, looks like good times are ahead” Lilia placed one such a flower in his hair.


Asael pinched its soft stem and held it against his nose. It reminded him of home. He looked to the sky, finding solace in its undulating haze. The flower dropped from his hands and rested atop his core, gently scarlet blossomed across, staining the white petals. 

After the parade had passed the sound of loud drums banged through the streets, waking even those who dwelt deep within wilderness. Asael covered his ears and Serein’s eyes burrowed into his robes, peeking only through a small hole in the woven embroidery.

The thunderous drums were followed by a strange footfall. Then came the soldiers, clad head to toe in  terrifying black, moving within the shadows, evading the  gazes of the curious crowds. They mounted upon peculiar creatures. Four legged and with grotesque elongated faces. An awful sight, Asael covered his face with his hands.

The clamour dissipated to murmurs, and the horsemen stopped along the parapet walls, nailing along it large scriptures written in convoluted tongue.

Asael looked to Lilia and whispered softly, “ Lady Lilia what is happening?”

He had never seen anything of this kind in Araya.

“  The horsemen are conveying the message of the prince’s betrothal to the townsfolk, although everyone already knows”

“ Horsemen?” Asael perked up. So those creatures were called horsemen.


Lilia blinked in surprise then pointed to the creatures, “ Those are horses, creatures of great speed and prowess, riding them are soldiers of the Ahsaran royal guard”

The parade faded to the inner city carrying it’s tunes. The gathered onlookers began chattering. Which prince was it that would be wedded to the empire? It must be the first prince, perhaps the third prince. For their beauty among the royal children was unrivalled. .

And as the evening deepened the clamour of the border streets and the outer city flourished once more.