"But why does he want to see me?" the bird wailed piteously, her struggles weakening as both the horse and the man approached with soft words instead of cruel intent.
Jigano looked at Samuel, hesitating to promise too much but, like his friend, hoping to urge the story onward. "He's heard of your legendary beauty," he guessed, presenting it with the same confidence Samuel had. "He wants to honor you, and admire you."
"Admire me?" she asked, blinking luminous golden eyes at her captors. She sat still now, fear abating as she remained unharmed - and, miracle of miracles, the human understanding her! "Would... would I really be safe if I went to see him?" She looked from Jigano to Samuel, seeking reassurance but seemingly ready to be convinced. "I... I suppose I could go with you to meet this king... if you promise me no one will try to hurt me... and maybe there will be more corn?"
That elegant head of hers really was quite small, Jigano thought ruefully. It was probably for the best that her natural fiery state made her essentially inedible.
Jigano looked at Samuel, hesitating to promise too much but, like his friend, hoping to urge the story onward. "He's heard of your legendary beauty," he guessed, presenting it with the same confidence Samuel had. "He wants to honor you, and admire you."
"Admire me?" she asked, blinking luminous golden eyes at her captors. She sat still now, fear abating as she remained unharmed - and, miracle of miracles, the human understanding her! "Would... would I really be safe if I went to see him?" She looked from Jigano to Samuel, seeking reassurance but seemingly ready to be convinced. "I... I suppose I could go with you to meet this king... if you promise me no one will try to hurt me... and maybe there will be more corn?"
That elegant head of hers really was quite small, Jigano thought ruefully. It was probably for the best that her natural fiery state made her essentially inedible.
