Feather’s Blossom Read Online Free PDF Page A

Seldrin, this is Niira and Orwait Roper. My parents.”
    Seldrin bowed low. “You have raised an exceptional daughter.”
    Niira smiled. “We know.”
    The smells of breakfast were filling the room.
    Orwait raised his brows, “Your grace, will you join us for breakfast?”
    “Please. I have had nothing but rations for days. Whatever is being prepared smells wonderful.”
    Tyhana smiled. “If you will allow me, I will see you properly seated.”
    He nodded, and she led him into the dining room, showing him the one seat that was designed for someone with wings. “Where will you sit?”
    She snickered, grabbed the chair next to his and turned it around so that the back came up to her ribcage. “It is emergency seating for me. It took a while to figure out that a chair at the end of the table was my best bet for not getting gravy on my wings.”
    Footfalls began in the house above them.
    Tyhana chuckled. “Brace yourself. The littles are awake, and they have never seen another person with wings.”
    “Will they touch?” He seemed nervous.
    “Not without asking. They may ask for a feather though. My sisters keep journals and scrap books.” Tyhana was used to her sisters making her bed for her. If they found a shed feather, they could keep it as long as they made her bed.
    The little feet came pounding down the stairs, raced down the hall and screeched to a halt in the dining room. The bright brown eyes widened, and they came in to introduce themselves to the stranger in their midst.
    Tyhana watched the interplay between the alien and her family. It was surprisingly fun to watch him run his fingers through his feathers to see if any were loose. There was one flight feather that came loose, and Tyhana snatched it away. “You know the rules. The most chores done for Mom in a day wins the feather.”
    Seldrin blinked. “It is a prize?”
    “Oh yes. My feathers are pens, bookmarks, were the mobiles over their cribs. A black feather is worth a lot more in chores, and they are all old enough to learn to earn what they want.” She grinned. “If you shed another during your nap, it will be up for grabs tomorrow.”
    “I am still not convinced that I am going to take a nap.”
    She laughed. “You have not had a meal prepared by my mother. You will not have a choice.”
    He looked wary, but there was anticipation as her younger siblings trooped in with plates of every possible breakfast food, pitchers of fruited water and fried cake stacks two feet high.
    Seldrin didn’t talk, didn’t complain, he just ate everything she put on his plate and complimented every bit of food that he had consumed. His expression was genuine; he really was enjoying himself.
    When her youngest sister asked him about his wing colour and asked if it was a boy thing, he didn’t bat an eye. “It is a family colour. Both of my parents have black wings, just like your parents have dark eyes and all of you have dark eyes.”
    Leonara looked between them. “That isn’t true. Tyhana has light eyes and light hair. She doesn’t look like Mom and Dad.”
    Tyhana looked to Seldrin and her parents chuckled.
    Niira let him off the hook. “She knows. She is just having fun with a new person.”
    Leonara scrunched her shoulders and giggled.
    Seldrin’s relief was almost palpable. “That was the scariest thing that has happened all week, and I have crashed a ship, dislocated my wings and faced a pack of predators.”
    The little ones perked up. Leonara said, “We know how to fix your wings!”
    He raised his hands in surrender. “Tyhana did a very good job. I am able to fly now.”
    The younger siblings looked disappointed.
    Ty leaned toward him. “They like playing medics. Many a winter night has been spent with me mummified next to the fire with them practicing wrapping.”
    “Ah.”
    He was going to speak again, but there was a squawk from the com unit that Orwait was wearing on his belt. He got to his feet and left the room.
    When he returned, he