The Lady from the Sky

“You know you could stare wistfully at things other than the horizon.” Aolis’ voice was annoyed as ever. “You know there are a dozen suiters who would do whatever you asked to get you to look at them that way.”

Lusha rolled her eyes and refused to look back at her brother. “Maybe if they were even half as interesting as the horizon I’d think about it. Yet as is most of them aren’t even that interesting. Most just wish to flaunt their half earned accomplishments the rest want to flatter me into bed. They don’t want to lead. If they do they don’t want to go anywhere other than the safe locations. The few who want to go anywhere interesting. It’s always the high hills or the peaks. Some want to go to the glaciers or the lakes but they of course just witch to watch from afar.” She turned and headed for the door, still refusing to look at her brother. “If you, father or mother wish to see me wed to someone ‘suitable’ I suggest you either raise your standards of men, or lower your standards for families. Else I may just go find myself a man on my own.” Lusha met Aolis’ eyes not bothering to keep the ice out of her glare. “I don’t think any of you could survive such a scandal.”

Aolis swallowed visibly. “I will talk to them. Where will you be going?”

“The lower lakes, or somewhere else exciting. Don’t bother sending Virion to follow me. You know I’ll loose her.” Lusha said storming out of the room. Her fowl temper drove her to the garden. She knew the pond would be her way out. As she made her way out of the palace and into the garden proper Virion appeared in her periphery. “No.” Lusha said without slowing down bursting though the door into the afternoon sun.

“No one sent me Lusha.” Virion said, “I simply want to make sure you’re going to comeback.” the maid said following Lusha into the garden. “If nothing else to help ease your mother’s worries.”

Lusha stopped for a moment. “Is she worried that I’ll end up deflowered?”

“Among other things.” Virion commented flatly.

Virion sighed slumping her shoulders. “It’s not like everyone in town knows what would happen should he do that to me. The few sailors who don’t functionally get kidnapped by their shipmates after giving me the faintest taste of passion. I wish I could be anonymous but alas.” she raised her hand where one of the marks of house Pavalur resided on her body. “I wish I wasn’t born with so many.”

“Lusha, they signify your status and membership of this family. To have so many can only be a blessing.” Virion said watching Lusha take off her shoes. “Must you leave though the pond? Surely there is another, more dignified exit.

“It has to be undignified otherwise mother would approve.” Lusha said wading into the water. “Besides the water is cool and it's quite the warm summer's day.” With that Lusha waded out of the palace grounds reaching the far side she walked though the forest following the path she had taken hundreds of time snaking her way down the hill into town.

Yet instead of continuing into town Lusha decided to take another path staying to the outskirts she made her way around the town and further down the mountainside. The flowers at the lower lakes should be in bloom and there was no way she wasn’t going to come back without a bouquet, something for her mother.

The lower lake was beautiful as usual, the trees were the mixture of pines and the leafy type found farther up. It was a clear day and she could see the toxic clouds of the ocean were sitting a short ways below the cliff the lake spilled over. Lusha started picking the daisies and tulips. “I wish the ocean wasn’t so interesting.” Lusha said to the flowers. The winds swelled up blowing wisps of the toxic clouds over the lake. Mumbling the well practiced spell Lusha encased her self in a protective screen. “I think I’ll come back for the rest of you.” she said to the flower bushes as the wind picked up. Then the wind took her and Lusha tumbled down the mountain.

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