Vengeance

Some say you are not defined by your past, but aren’t you? Events happen in your life that shape you as a person. As for me, one event changed me completely and forever. As a result of this event, I was left broken, alone, and filled with rage. This event was the action of one selfish, self involved man, and I vowed to get my revenge on him no matter what lengths I have to go to, in order to get it.

I sat on the stage plucking away at the strings, the tavern filled with a beautiful melody. I lose myself in the music forgetting where I am,forgetting why I am here. For a fleeing blissful moment I am happy, until my hands play the last note on the beautiful golden harp and the music stops echoing around the room, filled with the sent of whiskey and beer.

Applauds erupt through the pub and I give them a slight smile.

“That was wonderful little lady, come down here so I can show my gratitude properly!” A passing traveler yells at me.

“Shouldn’t have said that.” The regular next to him mumbles.

I gracefully glide down the stairs and to the vulgar red headed traveler. He smiles as I approach, missing one of his yellow front teeth. I smile sweetly back at him and put my face right into his.

“What were you saying?” I ask

“Why don’t I just show you.” He reaches out to grab my arm but before he can I pull out a knife from my boot and have it up against his throat.

The regulars chuckle around me, knowing I’m not a girl to be messed with.

“Well dear sir, I hope this has taught you to behave yourself like a gentleman from now on.” I sneer in his face which has gone white.

I smile at him again and take the knife off his throat, then spin around and walk out of the pub into the clear afternoon air. I take a deep breath of relief, I hate being indoors, too suffocating.

“Viviana, wait!” Emilio calls after me.

I begin to walk faster hoping he would take the hint but as usual he doesn’t and in a moment he is walking by my side not saying anything. It’s not that I don’t like him personally but his father Cristoforo Ricci bought my fathers tavern when he was killed and refuses to give it to me. He says it’s not a womans place to own a pub.

“That was some beautiful playing you did.” He tells me, a little out of breath from running over here.

I ignored him and he looks at me with big pleading baby blue eyes. All the girls in the village are after him, waiting for him to cout one of them. I suppose he gives me so much attention because I am the one girl that doesn’t fall at his feet.

“My payment?” I ask

“Oh, yes of course.” He pulls out a small bag of coins from his coat and hands it over to me.

I take it, making sure it feels like the weight I’m owed for playing. Then I place it in my satchel and put the hood of my black cloak over my head.

“You sure showed that Irish man didn’t you?” He chuckles.

“Oh was he Irish?” I ask.

“Yes. father hates Irish men, but won’t refuse their money.” He laughs.

“Then I suppose I like Irish men a little bit better.” Letting my hate for his father be known.

He sighs loudly, “I know you hate my father, but you shouldn’t disrespectful. He is man after all and your just-”

I stop walking abruptly and turn and look him dead in the eyes never letting go of eye contact.

“Just a what Emilio?”

“An falcanor orphan, not to mention a woman.” He states matter of factly.

I bring my fingers to my mouth a let out a loud whistle. Emilios eyes widen and begin to dart around the sky, he knows what’s coming.

A loud screech echoes through the air and my falcon Alvar comes into view.

“Send that devil bird away Viviana!” Emilio panics

Alvar lands on my right shoulder wear I where I sewed a leather pad on the inside of my cloak so his long deadly claws don’t pierce through my skin.

His black beady eyes stare at Emilio, he knows how much I dislike him.

“What were you saying earlier?” I purr as I stroke Alvars feathers.

“N-nothing.” He takes one more look at Alvar and then turns around and runs away.

“Oh thank the stars.” I mumble under my breath.

Alvar stays on my shoulders as I walk us to the forbidden forest, down the path darkened by the tree tops and to our home. I moved here after my family was killed only two years ago when I was just 15 years old. I couldn’t stand to stay in the same house my family was murdered in, or in the village where everyone gave me a pitting look as I passed by.

No one dared to come to the forbidden forest, for they think that it is a cursed place where witches reside, but I don’t believe in such nonsense. Which makes this the perfect place for me to live.

I walk into the clearing where my house is and let the sun bathe my face in it’s warmth. As I walked up the stone path covered in moss, Alvar flies off of my shoulder and into the treetops. I stop and wait for them to come. A few minutes later the screeching of ten falcons filled the air. They all come down to the ground in front of me led by Alvar.

These are my falcons that I have raised since they were hatched, and trained them to deliver messages to one place to another, as well as protection.

“You guys must be hungry to get here so fast.” I laugh

I go into the shed where I keep my supplies and their food and pull out the bucket of fish I caught earlier this morning and throw them each a fish one at a time. After I’m done they all fly away into the trees.

Other falconers keep their falcons in cages, only taking them out to train them and use them to send messages. I, on the other hand let them fly free until I need them. I would hate to be kept inside a cage all my life so I can’t do it to them.

After a minute of looking up at the vibrant blue sky one last time, I pull out the key to my door that I wear around my neck along with my mother’s locket. I unlock the door and shut it behind me. The smell of damp wood and cinnamon hit my nose, the smell of home.

Against the right wall is a fireplace and cabinet where I keep my food and to the left is a small table I took with me from my old home, the only thing that wasn’t covered in blood from that night. My bed is up against the farthest wall, that’s it. I don’t spend a lot of time here so I don’t bother to make it more homey and welcoming, after all there’s no one I want to welcome here.

I walk over to the window and open the curtains. My emerald colored eyes stare back at me in the reflection of the glass. My pitch black curly hair frames my heart shaped face. It pains me to see myself, I look just like my mother.

I turn away from the window and take out the money from my cloak, pouring it out of the table. I count it and realize I was shorted a denarius.

“That good for nothing man.” I mumble under my breath.

I grab my homemade whistle that hangs on my bedpost and go outside. I suck in a deep breath of air and blow the whistle. Alvar and the rest of my flock comes flying down in front of me. I point at my youngest and blow the whistle again, she comes and lands on my shoulder. I ignore the pain of her claws and bend over and pick a wild black rose, which only grow here in the forbidden forest.

I open the small bronze capsule attached to her claw and place a petal inside. Emilio and his father will know it’s me and what I want. I blow three short whistles singling that I want her to go to the pub and she takes off into the sky.

The others watch me with beady eyes and I clap two times telling them I don’t need them anymore and they all fly away except for Alvar, who lands on my shoulder careful not to pierce through my skin.

“My job playing at the tavern isn’t enough.” I sigh

Alvar nuzzles against my neck, seeming to understand what I am saying. I’m never going to earn enough at this rate to buy my fathers pub back from Cristoforo Ricci.

I decide that I need to take a walk so I begin on my path to crystal river, deep into the forest. Alvar goes ahead of me seeking for danger such as wolves. If I hear three quick screeches then I know to run away.

I’ve never run into any trouble but I’m not stupid I know what dangers lurk around every corner, not just beasts but people too. Then again some people are the beasts.

I regret not grabbing my cloak as thorns and thistles scrape against my legs and arms. Right now I’m just wearing a plain white blouse and black trousers, which is frowned upon for women to wear, but no one is out here to see me, and even if they did I wouldn’t care.

I see the light in front of me where the river is, but just before I step out of the cover of the trees I hear Alvar screech three times. I quickly scan my surrounding and spot a good tree to climb up in. It only takes me a moment, thanks to the practice I had when I was little climbing with my little sister Eva.

“Come out little sparrow I saw you.” Someone says only a few feet away from me.

I watch as a tall man in silver armor passes my tree and looks around. A knight, what would a knight be doing out here? My curiosity overtakes my need to survive and I jump out of the tree, landing on my feet gracefully.

The man turns around, he looks to be about my age of nineteen.A strand of curly fawn colored hair falls in front of his face as he looks me up and down and raises his brow, probably at my trousers.

“What is a lady like yourself doing out alone in this forest?” He asks.

“I could ask you the same question.”

“Snippy are we?” He laughs.

“If you must know, I was sent out here to bring in a witch they believe is trying to kill the prince.”

The only reason he would tell me so much information is if he thinks i’m the witch. My curly wild black hair is probably not making me look like any less of one right now.

“Nonsense, I lived here for two years and have never encountered one.” I say confidently.

“Are you trying to say you’re not one yourself?” He asks.

“Well obviously, you’re not the sharpest knife in the drawer are you?”

He takes another step closer placing one hand on his sword that hangs from his hip in a sheath. I reach for my knife in my boot and at the same time we have our weapons at each other’s throat.

“Are you prepared to fight a trained knight?” He asks quietly staring me down.

“I think I am.” I whistle loudly and Alvar comes tearing down from the tree tops towards the knight.

The knight turns around toward the noise and I take the opportunity to knee him in the back and he comes falling down with a loud thud.

“Alvar!” I yell while he is down.

He drops his sword to cover his head and I pick up his sword and straddle his back. I hold the sword to the back of his neck pressing just hard enough to draw a tiny trickle of blood.

“Witch.” He sneers into the ground.

“More like falconer.” I say.

“Falconer?” He asks.

“Yes if I let you up can we have a civilized conversation?” I ask

“Yes.” He mumbles under his breath.

I smile and get off of his back keeping his sword in my hand.

He gets up on his feet and turns around defeated, with a hint of pink on his cheeks.

“Are you sure you’re not a witch?” He asks with the faintest smile on his lips.

“Quite sure.” I chuckle.

“Then I suppose I’ll go report to the King that no witches reside in this forest.”

“That would be much appreciated.”

“Although I have overheard that the king was in need of a talented falconer to send war messages.”

My heart begins to race, if the king himself employed me no doubt he would pay handsomely.

“I would gladly assist the king.” I do a little curtsey and he laughs.

“Then you should come back to the castle with me. Where do you live? You will need to retrieve your supplies.”

“It’s about a ten minute walk from here.”

We don’t talk on the way to my cottage and that’s fine with me, it’s a comfortable silence. I walk with quick light steps across the forest barely making a sound, he on the other hand stumbles through the forest making a racket.

Finally we reach my home. I walk up to the front door and pull out my key from my necklace and unlock the door. I turn to him.

“Wait here, it shouldn’t only take me a moment.” I rush inside before he can respond.

The first thing I grab is my cloak, feeling more safe inside of it somehow. Then I grab my satchel and put the small bag of coins Emilio gave me earlier today and a light blue skirt. If I’m going before the king I can’t go dressed like I am now. I decide to only grab my whistle and put it in my cloak pocket, not bothering to bring food. I’ll just buy some away the way. I take one last around and take a deep breath and open the door, closing it behind me.

“Where do you keep your falcons?” He asks looking around.

“Oh they are around somewhere.” I say with a wave of my hand.

“You don’t keep them caged?” He asks surprised.

“No, would you like to be caged up all day?”

He grunts and looks at e questionably, “I suppose I wouldn’t.”

“Right.” I say agreeing with him.

“But you will have to keep them in a cage for the journey. The king will not allow birds to be flying freely through the castle.” He tells me.

I go to argue but stop myself, this could be the job that pays for my fathers pub, I can’t mess this opportunity up. I head into the shed wear I keep dusty metal cages.

“How many birds should I bring?” I call out to him.

“Oh, I’d say two should be enough.”

I grab two large bird cages and bring them out to him. Alvar will fly above us, I won’t use him for this job. He hates being caged up, even if for a moment.

I take out my whistle and give it a blow. Alvar is the first to appear as always and slowly the rest come and land in front of me.

“They must be very loyal to come back every time.” He remarks.

“My father used to give the credit to my birthmark.” I point to my collar bone showing him my birthmark in the shape of a flying bird.

“Are you absolutely sure you aren’t a witch?”

“Yes very sure.” I chuckle.

He turns and watches the falcons , which are watching me intently waiting for a command. I take a good look at each of them wondering which ones to take. Althea and Rosa are my two most experienced out of the ten, other then Alvar of course.

I point to Rosa first and blow my whistle, she flies over on my shoulder. I turn to the cage and open it, she knows what is coming and squawks loudly.

“Sorry girl, it’s only for a little while. I carefully take her off of my shoulder and place her in the cage.

She looks at me almost with a look of betrayal and I have to look away from her. I open the other cage, all of the flock watched me probably hoping they will not get picked. I point to Althea and blow my whistle gesturing to the cage. She flies in without hesitation, she is one of my most obedient and calm falcons.

I lightly pet her head for a moment thanking her for not putting up a fight and gently close the cage door. Alvar shrieks loudly above me, protesting their being locked up. Alvar has the biggest personality, and the loudest beak of them all.

“Unless you want to take one of their places I suggest you be quite!” I yell up to him.

“Why do you talk to them as if they can understand?” I forgot that he was there.

“Well I’d like to believe they can.” I say watching Alvar fly in circles above the cages throwing a fit.

He doesn’t say anything but watched Alvar. I check my satchel making sure I didn’t forget anything important, when I see Andrea, the one I sent to collect the rest of my money at the tavern flying towards me.

“I almost forgot about you!” I exclaim as he comes and lands on my shoulder, eyeing up Rosa and Althea in the cage.

I untie the capsule from his foot and he flies off into the trees. I open the capsule and inside is a note inside. I throw the not to the ground and let out a frustrated grunt.

“Why would you do such a thing?” He asks

I don’t answer but instead turn around and throw the capsule into the woods, and to avoid him seeing the shame in my face. Most girls in my village have learned to read by now, the king decreed it, but I didn’t have any parents to make sure I went to the classes.

“You don’t know how to read do you?” He asks. I can almost hear the smile in his tone.

“Are we leaving yet? I don’t want to keep them in these cages longer than I have to.” I go and pick up the heavy cages and face him.

“Alright, but before we start I better tell you my name.” He says.

“I thought Knights were the perfect gentleman? If memory serves me right the polite thing is to give your name to someone upon meeting them.” I sat with a smirk.

“Well I would have, if not for you holding a knife to my throat.” He chuckles

“Fair enough, now tell me.” I demand

“Felix.”