The Eagle's claw is bright against the snowy wite of the man's shoulder. It wraps around a diamond so clear and smooth I can barly tell that it's there. A guard comes into the hallway, beconing fme forward.
"His majesty is ready," he tells me. Shyly, I let him lead me into the bright room, well lit from the glare of the sun. I feel dirty and ragged against the sheer whiteness of everything about this place, from the man's flowing white beard to the soft cloth that carpets the floor, huggng my feet, as if trying to pull them back, saying, "you shouldn't be here," "You dont deserve this". another guard towards the back of the room looks in shock at the trail of dirty foot prints that twists behind me, curling like a sooty snake. When I get to the front of the room, I kneal quickly and quietly, just like I've been practising all day. There is silence for so long that I am finally tempted to peek up through the curtain of tangled hair that has fallen down my face. The man is smling down at me.
"My men have told me that you were a great help to our country." It' not a question. I wait.
"They have given me glowing discriptions of your actions." I'm not sure if I'm supposed to say something, so I don't.
"They told me what happend at Erleroy." I stiffen. His voice is gentle, but the memory brings a sharp pain to me.
"Is it true?"
"Yes," I hear my own voice echo off the walls.
"Then I am prepared to offer you a deal." He motions for me to stand, so I cautiosly rise. "One of these treasures can be yours." He says, waving the eagle forward. It stops in front of me. I look down at it, knowing it will probably be an eagle soup by tomorrow if I pick the glistening gem it holds.
"Choose wisely." The bird looks up at me sadly, as if knowing that it won't survive much longer. The diamond is the logicall choice. I could sell it at market on Sunday and be rich for the rest of my life. Then again, it will probably be stolen by then. The eagle slowly releases it's hold, as if resigned to it's fate. Carefully, I take the gem, and walk slowly up to the man. Curtseying, I let it slide from my fingers into his palm.
"I think this belongs to you, sir." He looks down at me with soft eyes.
"Good girl." suddenly shy, I walk quickly back to my place and hold out my arm to the eagle. It looks at me for a moment, then readily jumps aboard. Together, we run out of the room. But before we get to the door, I turn around and smile
"Thank you." I say.
"His majesty is ready," he tells me. Shyly, I let him lead me into the bright room, well lit from the glare of the sun. I feel dirty and ragged against the sheer whiteness of everything about this place, from the man's flowing white beard to the soft cloth that carpets the floor, huggng my feet, as if trying to pull them back, saying, "you shouldn't be here," "You dont deserve this". another guard towards the back of the room looks in shock at the trail of dirty foot prints that twists behind me, curling like a sooty snake. When I get to the front of the room, I kneal quickly and quietly, just like I've been practising all day. There is silence for so long that I am finally tempted to peek up through the curtain of tangled hair that has fallen down my face. The man is smling down at me.
"My men have told me that you were a great help to our country." It' not a question. I wait.
"They have given me glowing discriptions of your actions." I'm not sure if I'm supposed to say something, so I don't.
"They told me what happend at Erleroy." I stiffen. His voice is gentle, but the memory brings a sharp pain to me.
"Is it true?"
"Yes," I hear my own voice echo off the walls.
"Then I am prepared to offer you a deal." He motions for me to stand, so I cautiosly rise. "One of these treasures can be yours." He says, waving the eagle forward. It stops in front of me. I look down at it, knowing it will probably be an eagle soup by tomorrow if I pick the glistening gem it holds.
"Choose wisely." The bird looks up at me sadly, as if knowing that it won't survive much longer. The diamond is the logicall choice. I could sell it at market on Sunday and be rich for the rest of my life. Then again, it will probably be stolen by then. The eagle slowly releases it's hold, as if resigned to it's fate. Carefully, I take the gem, and walk slowly up to the man. Curtseying, I let it slide from my fingers into his palm.
"I think this belongs to you, sir." He looks down at me with soft eyes.
"Good girl." suddenly shy, I walk quickly back to my place and hold out my arm to the eagle. It looks at me for a moment, then readily jumps aboard. Together, we run out of the room. But before we get to the door, I turn around and smile
"Thank you." I say.
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