The Royal Revenge
Chapter 68: A Quirky Queen

Chapter 68: A Quirky Queen

"A bird?" Elys blurted out as the giant birds flapped their wings, hovering above them as if deciding whether they were worthy to be considered a healthy meal.

"That’s not an ordinary bird," Aleksander commented, "that’s a fucking humongous monster!"

The blue feathered bird with a red crest that hovered above them tilted its head to the side. Its beaks were curved and sharp, its talons just the same, but probably deadlier if it hooked them. Its wingspan was around double the width of their carriage.

The bird opened its beak and chirped, the sound it created enough to blow one’s eardrums with how loud it was. The others birds joined in and they chirped one after the other, a cacophony of avian screeches that made everybody’s ears bleed.

"Who called Lawin a monster? That’s not a nice thing to say to this beautiful creature," a wispy voice said with an indignant tone. "Lawin is a magnificent bird with a lot of talent and a great personality!"

Everybody searched for the source of the voice, but couldn’t seem to find where it really came from. The birds began circling the vampires and their human companions, whereas the blue feathered bird prepared to land where the carriage would have been if it hadn’t fallen to its doom.

"That bird better be friendly or else we will have roasted bird meat for breakfast," Cordelia grumbled as the bird’s eyes stared at her.

"Why does it seem like that bird understood you?" Henry asked as he walked in front of the prince to shield him from the bird. "Am I the only one thinking its angry with us?"

Cordelia held the princess closer to her side. She wasn’t taking any chances with the giant bird even if it meant she had to fight it without weapons.

The princess on the other hand, was still trying to search for the source of that tiny voice that spoke to them – maybe that person could help them to the other side.

"I’m over here," the tiny voice called out again.

There was a whistle that pierced through the air, and the other giant birds seemed to listen to it and went away. The princess was confused. Why did the birds flock them in the first place? Had it been the bell? But it didn’t even make a single sound!

Quite impossible if she was to say.

The winds died down as the skies cleared off the birds. Elys and everybody else slowly stood up from crouching to the ground, while the princess continued to search where the voice came from.

"Silly girl, I am in front of you," the voice called out. "Here, I’m here."

The princess turned her attention back to the blue feathered bird. Upon closer inspection, the bird had straps around its body, quite similar to that of a saddle. The princess slowly peered around, trying to find out if the straps were meant to carry someone behind a bird’s back.

Suddenly, a head popped out of nowhere, and Elys almost screamed in surprise.

Laughter tinkled in the air, and everyone raised their brows in confusion. A girl who looked about in her early teens emerged from the bird’s back, hugging the bird affectionately as if it was her pet.

"Wait, are you literally riding a giant bird?" Henry asked as he pointed back and forth at the girl and then the blue bird, vice versa.

"Yeah? Why do you look so stunned? The people of the East are naturally animal whisperers," she smiled, "we thrive with nature, and nature gives back twofold as we take care of them."

Elys’ mouth almost dropped to the ground.

The idea of riding a giant bird somehow made her jealous, but she slapped herself mentally. She wasn’t supposed to be thinking of such things. They were literally greeted by a strange child that rode a bird high up in the air!

"I guess you are good people then since Iyoha had let you pass through the first gate?" the girl asked with an obvious chirp to her voice.

She was so bubbly it was unnerving to Elys, and all the more unfamiliar to the prince who always had to act tough.

Aleksander scoffed at the child’s question.

"We aren’t as good as you think we might be," the prince teased the girl, "we might just be the reason this kingdom falls down, if you know what I mean."

"Oh, I highly doubt that," the girl said. "The Eastern Kingdom condemns violence. There won’t be a need for any kingdom to fall down."

Elys stared at the girl that was hugging the bird’s neck as if it was some plush toy. She had an ephemeral air to her, a wild vibe that she can’t quite put a finger into. Her hair was shaggy, her eyes a milky white blankness that contrasted her well-tanned skin.

The teen hopped off of the bird’s back and walked barefoot towards Elys and Cordelia. Her hair jumped with her movements, her hand swaying like a child as she skipped the distance between them.

"Who are you?" Elys asked as she got closer.

"You ask who I am when you are the foreign person here," the girl said as she tilted her whole body at an angle. She clapped her hands together and then said with a smile, "I know! Why don’t you introduce yourself first?"

"We are envoys from the Western Kingdom, sent by King Raxus to meet with the Eastern Queen," Elys replied immediately, cutting the chase and asking once again, "And you are?"

Upon hearing Elys’ reply, the child’s expression switched from her initial smile, and a frown formed wrinkles on her forehead which a teenager wouldn’t have had.

’Was it something I said that upset her?’ the princess worried. Elys heard another flapping of wings in the air, and she raised her head to see a bird with another person riding it.

"Your majesty, why have you responded to the bell’s ringing yourself?" the person called out to the girl. "My queen, you must return to the palace, it is dangerous out here!"

Elys and Aleksander glanced at each other in disbelief as the newcomer’s words sunk in.

Could it be that the quirky girl in front of them was actually the Eastern Queen?