It took Flora a few days to recover from the dinner with the two royals. If she had it her way, she would never see them again, as much as a lofty dream that was. After many restless nights, Flora got up and prepared for the day. She made her way to the aviary through bleary eyes. In just about a week, she would be finished caring for the animal, since she would be all healed up. At least the bird liked her and was always happy to see her. Flora quickly prepared he something to eat and checked on her splints. Pulling up a chair, Flora leaned her head against the stone next to her cage. Before she knew it, she had drifted off into a light sleep, the bird snuggled up next to the bars by her head.
Not knowing if it was only a few minutes or a few hours, Flora heard a shuffling through the doors. Expecting it to be a keeper or Pell, she didn't bother to open her eyes, much less move her body. Flora was still in between being awake and dreaming, so she couldn't quite tell what was real and what was fake. A low rumble came from presumably the person that had entered the aviary. A second voice in response to the first pulled Flora further into reality. Deciding that she wasn't going to move, Flora thought it best if they assumed she was asleep.
"Has she come here often?" A voice much like Prince Andrei's asked his counterpart.
"Yes, your highness. The girl has been coming in every morning to care of that wounded phoenix. She comes in the morning and in the afternoon." The keeper responded, confirming Flora's suspicion that it was the prince he was talking to.
The prince waited a moment before he continued, "it is almost as if she has been trying to avoid me." His footsteps echoed through the room until they were right behind her. Flora was still as death, refusing to give up that she was awake. She didn't think that she could deal with that embarrassment. "I'm surprised that she has devoted so much time tending to this one." Flora could feel him leaning towards the cage to look in at the bird. He lowered his voice as he added, "has she been a bother?"
The keeper chuckled as he replied, "maybe to some of the others your highness, but I quite like her. She doesn't take no for an answer, and obviously has a genuine heart. There is something to be said about someone who says they vill do something and then does it." He laughed quietly to himself again as he spoke, "she even seems to have won over Pell."
"Really?" Flora could feel the prince's gaze on the back of her head. "You know, you keepers should go easier on that boy. Dellon works him half to death." He turned away from her and headed back towards where Flora knew Koffee's cage was. "I want you to send Stinion out hunting so he gets some exercise. He will be very busy for the next few days while I'm gone." Gone? Where was the prince going? Why hadn't anyone, especially Prince Andrei, mentioned anything to her? "I'm taking Koffee out, so prepare her some fresh meat while we are gone."
There was an awkward shuffling of feet from the keeper. "Vhat shall I do about her your highness?"
"Just let her sleep."
"Yes your highness, but," there was a momentary pause where the keeper must have been deciding if it was right to question the prince any more, "vhat about that phoenix she has been taking care of? The others have differing opinions, and I heard his highness Prince Osip was not pleased to find out the girl had been taking care of one of the phoenix's."
A familiar scoff came from Prince Andrei. "Screw that ghost and his ego. If he has a problem with her he can take it up with me." Wait, Flora's back stiffened a hair. Was the prince defending her? No, there was no way. He must have been wanting to take control of the situation. The prince didn't like it when people gave him attitude or talked down to him; that's what this must be. Prince Andrei sighed, again glancing in Flora's direction. "Regardless, the phoenix will choose what she wants to do. It's not like she is one of our top fliers, and I'm sure Dellon was planning on stinting her growth so she couldn't escape anymore."
"That's..."
"Yes, I know about how he runs things here, so it isn't much of a loss to us if she bonds with the phoenix." There was a short whistle, and a rustling of feathers as Koffee jumped down onto the prince with a soft thud. "If it were up to anyone else, Koffee wouldn't be here anymore, so screw all that other noise. You can quote me on that."
There were a few steps before the door opened and then closed, leaving Flora alone with the keeper. The keeper let out a long groan, before simply saying, "shit." He walked about the room for a bit, gathering objects before he whistled and called out, "Stinion!" A large gust of air past over Flora, blowing a few hairs loose from her braid as the massive bird flew down with a loud caw. "Your companion wants you to go hunting now. Bring back something for Koffee." As if the bird understood, he cawed again before lifting himself back into the air with a whoosh. Once the bird left, the keeper left the aviary as well, leaving Flora completely alone.
Flora may have never related to someone more before. She also was tired of the royals and their need for everything to go their way. However, there was something about that conversation she couldn't quite grasp. It wasn't like the prince was interested in her, but he had asked the keeper quite a lot of questions. From what she could tell, Prince Andrei cared more about these birds than most people, be that as little as he may. At least it didn't sound like he was going to chew Flora out for spending so much time with the bird. Maybe she could get closer to the prince through her new friend. Ha, that was a long stretch.
Waiting a great deal of time after the keeper had left, Flora finally moved from her position that she was sleeping in. She rubbed her face where it was sore from being pressed against the hard stone. It was unlikely that she would fall asleep again here with how stiff she was when she rose from the chair. Flora looked back into the bird's cage as she was staring right back at Flora. It felt like she was making fun of Flora, saying, 'you avoided them by pretending to be asleep.' Flora squinted back at the bird, telling her, "and you would do it too if you were me." A small cheep came from the creature in response.
At least she would be safe for the time being. Flora was not sure what she would do when the bird was all healed, but one thing she knew for sure was that she would do anything in her power to keep them from locking her up again. She could feel it in whatever connection her magic was letting in, that this bird craved to be in the open skies again. There was no other option.
"I'll be back tomorrow friend," Flora mentioned to her. "I have some business to attend to." She gave the bird one last scratch on the cheek before exiting the aviary and heading back towards the East side of the palace. Although it was becoming easier and easier for Flora to navigate through the palace, she was still ending up lost at some point on her way somewhere. Only the route to the aviary and back to her chambers was inscribed inside her brain. Therefore, it took longer than she would have wished to get back to the courtyard she hadn't visited in a while.
Flora approached the greenhouse, a little nervous to talk to Hyacinth for the first time in over a week. It wasn't that she was afraid of the girl's reaction, but that she didn't want her to feel bad. At least, that was what Flora was telling herself. Hyacinth was nothing short of a spitfire. Rapping on the door first, Flora entered the greenhouse scanning the room for the girl. Unfortunately, she wasn't there, but Flora knew if she waited long enough, Hyacinth would appear.
If anyone Flora knew would had information on the prince's trip, it would have to be Hyacinth. She didn't want to be kept in the dark on Prince Andrei's activities, because that would be just as well admitting defeat. Knowing more about what the prince did and his role in the palace could only help her. So, while she waited for Hyacinth, she sat down in her favorite chair and began to meditate to pass the time.