"I love you, Fallon. I always have and I always will, no matter what happens. And your father, even with everything going on, I know he loves you more than anything."
"I know."
"How long have you known?"
"I heard the rumors a while ago, but until you told me I didn't believe that they were true."
"Never hold anything like this in again, please. We may have kept this is secret, but had you asked we would have always told you the truth. I'm sorry you had to find out this way, but I hope you can forgive me? Forgive us.”
I pulled her tighter, no words required.
"And thank you for finding your father, but I can't go see him just yet."
"Why not?” I let her go and she dropped her arms to her sides. "He needs you."
She patted my cheek. "And you need me too. It's not fair for me to leave you. Not like this. Not right now."
"I'll be okay. When you get back we can talk about this more, but I know he's lost without you."
She clamped my chin in her hand and forced me to look at her. To see the warmth in her wide eyes. To witness the love. “You have a bigger heart than you realize. For that, and so many other reasons I will always be proud to call you my son."
I hugged her again, as new tears escaped my eyes and landed in her hair.
"I won't be gone long. And when all of this is over, all three of us can clear the air."
"Sounds good. Now pack light and meet me in the castle courtyard. It's time for the queen to go get her king.”
Just beyond the iron castle gates the golden bridge to Mosa gleamed in the midday sun. I wandered through the courtyard, appreciating the beautiful scarlet petals on the rose bushes that lined the miles of metal fence and kept the rest of the world outside. Three bushes from the gate I found the most perfect rose and plucked it, grazing my knuckles against the thick pointy thorns.
"Are you stealing my flowers, dear prince?"
I held the rose out to my mother and gave a sweeping bow. "No. Someone taught me to always bring a gift when you stay at a guest’s home. Maybe it will remind Dad of the castle and his life here."
Her cheeks blushed the color of the flower’s petals as she took it from my hand and tucked it in the bag around her shoulder. She raised the hood of her dark purple cloak over her head and scanned the courtyard.
"How exactly am I going to get to the temple?”
I whistled and almost immediately Alizeh appeared in the sky before landing in the courtyard. A gust of wind from her arrival rustled the leaves of the trees and plants around us.
My mother stared in awe but took a few steps back.
I took her hand and pulled her next to Alizeh’s wing.
"There's no reason to be scared. She's the most gentle creature you'll ever meet," I said as I stroked her long feathers. “Aren’t you, Alizeh? Just a big baby bird.”
My mother held out her hand, hesitant at first, but eventually taking the risk to pet her. Her fingers slipped gently across the feathers and her lips curled into a smile.
"She'll do all the work. But if you need to change course, say her name and then give your directions. Just make sure you are loud enough for her to hear you.”
“She’s so soft,” my mother said as she continued to stroke her wing. “Do you think she’ll listen to me?”
“Of course. Just be firm. I know you know how to do that.”
Mom shot me a harsh glare. “Thanks a lot.”
I laughed, then wandered back to the fountain in the middle of the yard and scooped up the bag of fish I’d stolen from the kitchen. The bag reeked and I lurched forward, holding my breath, but still much fresher than what Alizeh had been used to. Silvery-green scales chafed my hand as I pulled one out.
“Alizeh.”
She turned and clucked as I tossed the fish through the air, and she caught it with one gulp.
I held the bag out to my mother. “Here, you try. She’ll love you forever for it.”
My mother turned up her nose at the smell, but scrunched back the sleeve of her cloak and reached in. She glanced at me again, uncertainty in her eyes, but didn’t waver and threw the fish toward Alizeh with perfect aim. The bird caught the snack and cooed as she devoured the treat, then nudged her beak toward my mother, gently pushing her backward. My mother brushed the soft feathers between her big eyes.
“See. I told you she’d love you.”
“Speaking of love, have you figured out if you’re in love with that girl yet?”
I stared at our feet on the cobblestones, answering with my silence.
"And did you resolve your problems?”
"No. I haven't seen her since we last spoke. But I will. Next time I see her I'll make things right."
She clutched my arm near my shoulder and drew small circles with her thumb. “I don't doubt you will."
“Maybe you’ll meet her soon. The wise man at the temple is her father.”
“Ah.” She smiled, a warm knowing smile. “Maybe the rose wasn’t really for your father.”
“Alright, Mom, time to go.”
I helped her climb onto Alizeh’s back, her confidence growing slowly as she shifted and moved into position.
"I'll be back soon. Running the kingdom will be difficult for one person. Remember to ask the Council if you need anything."
"Everything will be fine. I've got this."
I stepped back to give them more space and yelled, "Alizeh, take her to the temple."
Alizeh spread her wings and within seconds they were soaring above the tops of the castle towers. I waved as they flew by, even though I doubted my mother would dare look down to see it.
The courtyard
