“Hello,” I said to the birds in the tree. Using animal speak was dangerous, and I was all too aware of the Imperium’s opinion on any magic that wasn’t electro magic. Still, in the north, animals were the best spies we had.
“Food,” one said back. “Food food food.”
“Food?” another asked, hopping up to my windowsill.
“I don’t have any food,” I said. “I was wondering what you’ve seen?”
“Food,” the bird said, annoyed, turning back to catching the flying insects.
I sighed. The problem with most animals was that they were too dumb to have more than instinct in their head. Some were able to speak a word or two, but Eonaî claimed they weren’t even speaking, not really.Ourmind was translating their instincts into words.
It was rare to find any animal with enough mental capacity to express real language. Wolves and whales spoke their own language with their own kind, and ravens were smart enough to even learn different human languages once they realized the possibility of reward.
A dark black bird landed on the branch closest to my window, his large form bending the limb and scattering the smaller birds. He screeched so loud I sat up, jerking my head back.
“You are the one everyone is in a flurry about? Pah. You aren’t worth even a second look. Why is everyone so consumed with you?” The raven made a shrieking noise again, and I gaped. “If you give me two fish, I won’t tell anyone your secret!”
A servant rushed into the room, his face alarmed, and he quickly closed the window shutters.
“A million apologies, Prince Airón. We should have shut the window last night…” The servant trailed off, wincing before swallowing whatever else he was going to say.
I waved my hand. On the other side of the window, the bird screeched, and I heard the loud pecking of a beak against wood.
“Do you need help dressing?” the servant asked. He’d been introduced last night. I recognized his hairstyle, but in the light of day, I couldn’t remember his name for all the fish in the ocean.
“Of course he does.” Nohe came into the room and smiled at me cheerfully, holding a fresh set of clothes. It was one the seamstress had chosen last night.
I stood, trying to keep my eyes away from the closed window, where the raven on the other side was yelling, “Two fish! Fine,onefish! But if I do not get my fish, Iwilltell someone!”
“Get one of the gardeners to deal with that bird!” Nohe said through her teeth, glancing at the serving boy significantly. He jumped into motion, running out the door as though she’d used a cane to emphasize her words. “Our deepest apologies, Your Highness.”
From her expression, she couldn’t understand the bird, and I wondered if this was what it was like for the rest of them. They spoke a secret language of movements that I only vaguely understood while I spoke the language of animals. So I might miss out on someone at court slighting me by refusing the right hand gesture, but I definitely knew that the raven was being adick.
Standing, I approached her and let her strip me of my sleeping garments and help me into the new clothing before the serving boy returned, saying a gardener would take care of the bird.
“Good.” She looked me over, then pulled out a few different containers, offering one over. I carefully picked it up and realized it was a shimmery powder like what Fuyii had brought with him. Only this was full to overflowing, not the meager amount Fuyii had left after twelve years away from court.Either no one from the night before had informed Nohe of the emperor’s preferences, or this was a test.
“No, thank you. My intended has made his preferences clear.” I needed to make him like me. Emperor Tallu didn’t wear powders, so I wouldn’t either. Even if it made me look even more out of place in this glittering capital.
“Of course, Your Highness.” She made the container disappear into her pocket. “Would you prefer breakfast now, or do you have any morning practices first? Turtle House has a room specifically for morning meditation or prayer? We have heard that in the north, you practice your martial skills before breaking fast?”
“Food is fine,” I said. No sense in showing off exactly how lethal my martial skills were. “Everything prepared so far has been delicious.”
I followed her to the receiving room, where a dozen small dishes of food were set on a table near the window. The serving boy was sent for a forgotten tea service, and after filling my plate, Nohe stood silently on the wall. I was hyperaware of her presence.
From the open door to my room, I could hear the raven screaming at some poor gardener. “Youdarelay hands on me.”
When the gardener made a grunting noise and I was sure the raven was going to send him falling off his ladder, I stood up, grabbing one of the dishes of food.
“I’ll see if I can’t deal with it,” I said. Nohe started to protest, but I waved her off. “We have inquisitive birds in the north, too. It likely just saw something shiny it wants.”
“Your Highness?—”
“The bird reminds me of home,” I said honestly. “Let me handle the creature before it gets hurt.”
Striding back into my bedroom and shutting the door behind me, I threw open the window. The raven swooped inside, even asthe gardener gawked at me, his yellow tunic sticking to his chest with sweat.
Closing the shutters again, I turned to regard the raven who had perched on my dresser. “What do you think you know?”
