Page 32 of Apple Boy

“Let that be a warning to you, boy. No sudden loud noises or the bird instincts take over.” Mr. Percheval explained.

“Sirs, please forgive my companion. But—” I paused for a breath. I was sure that what I was about to say would not be well received.

“I, err believed I would be speaking to, for want of a better word, people,” I said apologetically.

“We ARE people!” Mr. Wrenfrey squawked in outrage.

“How? I’m sorry. I just don’t understand?” I admitted.

“What you see before you is the result of, misadventure,” Mr. Wrenfrey revealed.

“Aye. We were fooled into biting on enchanted gold coins to test their quality. We have been trapped in these bird forms for five-hundred-and-fifty-years.” Mr. Percheval explained.

“With this enchantment comes immortality and so, even though we now wear feathers, we are at least together.” He continued, and then looking over at Mr. Wrenfrey he added dreamily, “He is beautiful, don’t you think?”

Mr. Percheval then hopped off his branch and landed on Mr. Wrenfrey’s. He began preening his partner in a most lovingly way. I glanced at Adam and saw he was as taken as I was with their affectionate cheek rubbing and clashing beaks. I understood it then. These were men of Thorn, and therefore these Lovebirds were also, in fact, a couple.

“Can I ask where in Thorn did you come from?”

“We originally hail from Montestein.” Mr. Wrenfrey revealed, speaking of the region that shared the north-west ridges of the Silua Montis Mountain range on the border with Thorn, Erias, and Osia. It was famous all over the Empire for its miles of terraces growing the finest tea bushes.

“We came to Serein six-hundred years ago when it was but an idea, a dream.” Mr. Percheval reminisced. ”The city was under construction, and we journeyed here to set up our business because Osia had given Serein free city status. We built our depository from the vaults up.” He recounted. “We had to dig down so deep. The earth here holds such power. The stories I could tell…”

“They can wait for another day, my lovely,” Mr. Wrenfrey interjected. “We must deal with the business in hand.”

“Agreed,” Mr. Percheval ruffled his feathers.

“Lord Aeling. Forgive our frightfully poor manners. It is a pleasure to meet you. I can formally verify that you are indeed the son of Brioc, Duke of Thorn. We received instruction from your father some months ago. We are aware your Bloomsday is approaching, and he informed that we must ensure you were able to draw from the Aeling vault.” Mr. Percheval relayed.

“That will be dealt with in due course. However, we have other, more troublesome business to discuss.”

I had a feeling about what was coming, and indeed, I was correct. “We heard reports that the Royal galleon you traveled upon, The Trojan Star is missing in the Wide, and yet, here you are without the galleon. Tell me, my Lord, how is that possible? Could it be that you also have wings?” Mr. Wrenfrey challenged a note of sarcasm to his tone.

I did not know these gentlemen, and although they did appear to have the trust of my family, the information I possessed was of such a sensitive nature as to have dire ramifications for the whole of the Empire. I was not yet ready to loosen my lips. Percheval and Wrenfrey controlled the wealth of the crowns and the provincial Lords who stored their most precious belongings in cursed vaults beneath our feet. Therefore, the information I held was of incalculable value to them. What would happen if war broke out between the provinces? If Osia invaded Serein, they would seek to cut off access to the wealth of the other Lords of the Empire making them impotent to fight back. If word got out of an oncoming conflict, there would, of course, be a run on the depositories of Serein and the vaults would be stripped by all aristocrats with an ounce of sense. My mind was made up. I was not yet ready to be candid with these old birds.

“Sirs, forgive me,” I said. “I’m afraid I do not know the fate of the Kings galleon. Presently I can share only a little detail of how I found my way to Serein. I urgently require private counsel with my uncle, and I will heed his advice on how to proceed.”

“Ivon is on his way, correct?”

“Aye, from the missive I received that is what I believe.”

“So, my Lord, what can you tell us?” Mr.Percheval enquired.

“I can tell you that with permission from Fabian and Kristoff Von Harte, I did indeed take a berth on The Trojan Star with my valet, Mr. Jossuah Bowe. Six days into the voyage—this would be more than three weeks ago now, an altercation took place upon the deck of the ship which resulted in the cold-blooded murder of my beloved family retainer and valet, Mr. Jossuah Bowe—and, by orders of the Captain, one Silas Oates, I was also tossed overboard.”

“Gods save us!” Mr. Percheval exclaimed jumping from his branch. His beautiful wings stretched out to their full extent as he leapt in alarm, the sunlight shafting through the window behind him making his brightened plumage blaze with radiant colors. He flapped his wings in distress and took a hasty turn around the office. I saw Adam twitch and duck his head as Mr. Percheval flew over. If this had not been such a divisive subject, I would have laughed at Adam.

“This is an outrage! An OUTRAGE!” Mr. Wrenfrey puffed out his chest feathers, “An heir of Thorn thrown overboard from a royal galleon? A cold-blooded murder? I have never—”

But Mr. Wrenfrey did not get the chance to complete his sentence. Mr. Percheval came into land on the front of his desk and squawked over him. I noted that his voice sounded more bird-like when he was roused to anger.

“And what of the fate of the vessel? What of the vessel? You must know—” He crowed.

I wondered then if they knew about the true contents of the cargo hold. When the gold was minted into coin where better to store the Empire coin than in cursed vaults?

“I told you, sir. The ship was supposed to reach port four days after I was abandoned. I have no notion as to what happened to the Trojan Star after I left the deck. I awoke alone on a beach, and by that time there was not even a fisherman afloat on the Wide.”

Mr. Percheval spoke up “This is deeply—” “Deeply troubling.” Mr. Wrenfrey cut in, finishing his partner’s sentence. “Your uncle sent his ship, the Spirea along with the Great Council’s Trillium to seek out the fate of The Trojan Star. We must notify the Great Council of this most dreadful news at once.”