Bella Jesby

Bella appeared in the courtyard, dressed in feathery gown of black that scintillated in the ruddy hues of red sky, her raven blade dangling in a sheath at her side. The old stone demon in the fountain turned to regard her. Her wavy, black hair was longer than when last he saw her, but her wide, generous lips and long, narrow nose were immediately recognizable.

The fountain demon bowed, “Lady Bella Jesby, you’ve returned from your long absence. Will you be taking your meal in your ways or will you be joining the family?”

Bella flashed her black eyes at him, replying, “In my ways, Kolick, though I do not intend to stay long. Send a messenger to Lord Suhuy. I have questions that I’d like to ask him before I leave.”

The great stone creature bowed again, as something crawled from the flickering fountain at his feet and flew out of the great flaming archway at the end of the courtyard, “It is done as you wish, Lady Bella.”

After a moment of ruffling, another large black bird alighted next to the first, glanced down at the branch under his feet then at the other bird, who was still grooming himself. He said, “She’s been quiet, Corbi.”

The first bird stopped his grooming and looked at the other, “Who, Yugi?”

The second bird squawked, “The she in the tower, Corbi.”

The first bird nodded, “Ah, that she. How do you know, Yugi?”

The second bird sniffed, “Not screaming is she, Corbi?”

The first bird tilted his head, listening, “I suppose you’re right. Maybe she’s asleep, Yugi.”

The second bird said, “I bet she’s not, Corbi.”

The first bird replied, “Perhaps she’s not. No way to tell from here, is there, Yugi?”

The second bird thought on this, then nodded, “I think she’s awake, Corbi.”

The first bird said, “Still, could be asleep, Yugi.”

The second bird shuffled down the branch, “I will check, Corbi.” He spread his wings and flew to the top of the black tower and pearched at one its black windows, so he could poke his head inside. Taking a deep breath, he shrieked, “Bella! Bella! Bella!”

After listening for some minutes, he flew back down to the tree and took his place next to Corbi, who had returned to his grooming.

The first bird stopped his grooming to ask, “Well, Yugi?”

The second bird said, “No screaming, Corbi.”

The first bird pondered, “Reckon she may be dead, Yugi?”

The second bird said, “The Jesby wouldn’t like that, Corbi.”

The first bird nodded, “Not at all. Still may be the case, Yugi.”

The second bird thought on that a moment, “Possible, but didn’t smell dead, Corbi.”

The first bird nodded, “That’s a relief, Yugi.”

The second bird replied, “For the Jesby, Corbi.”

The first bird said, “And for her, Yugi.”

The second bird nodded, “Goes without saying, Corbi.”

The first bird said, “Suppose she’s not dead and not screaming, Yugi.”

The second bird replied, “You suppose maybe she’s not mad anymore, Corbi?”

The first bird said, “Could be. Oh, speaking of mad, look at this, Yugi.” His feathers exploded into gaseous shadows that reformed over several moments into a long sleek blade with a guard in a raven motif balanced precariously on the branch.

The second bird turned his head to get a better look, “Clever. Clever. Where did you pick that up, Corbi?”

The sword sat still.

The second bird said, “I can’t hear you, Corbi.”

The sword exploded into black gas, then again became a black bird, “Forgot I didn’t have a mouth, Yugi.”

The second bird said, “Seems an oversight, Corbi.”

The first bird replied, “Agreed. For talking, at least, Yugi.”

The second bird nodded, “Naturally, Corbi.”

The first bird said, “Anyhow, it came from her mind, Yugi.”

The second bird replied, “It’s nice to know she’s thinking of us, Corbi.”

The first bird nodded, “Quite so, Yugi.”

The second bird asked, “So, presuming she’s not screaming and not dead, when do you think she’s going to come out of the cell, Corbi?”

The first bird tilted his head, “Not screaming, Yugi?”

The second bird nodded, “Not screaming, Corbi.”

The first bird asked, “And not dead, Yugi?”

The second bird nodded again, “Just so, Corbi.”

The first bird replied, “Never, Yugi.”

The second bird countered, “Soon, Corbi.”

The two birds cackled with glee at their little joke until they were tired of laughing.

The first bird said, “I’m hungry, Yugi.”

The second bird responded, “Food goes in the top, shit comes out the bottom, Corbi.”

The first bird nodded, “Just so, Yugi.”