In the bustling city of Sario, the capital of Morata, home of King Rouland and his queen, Roswitha. There, was a falconer named Declan DeMoss. He was in charge of all the king’s birds, not only his falcons and hawks but his pet birds and aviary as well. He was good at his trade and loved it. He had even earned his king the title of having the finest hunting birds in the realm. One day in late spring a herald came to him and said, “Declan, there’s a girl here that’s requested to see you.”

“She asked for me personally?” he questioned.

“No, she asked to see the King’s falconer,” the herald replied.

“And you abided?” he asked annoyed.

“Yes, I really think you’d like to meet this girl,” the herald said grinning. More than a bit annoyed he followed the herald out to the courtyard where the girl awaited. He studied her. She looked to be about fifteen, and was tall, only about a head shorter than he, and quite thin. Her hair was long, straw blond and in a braid down her back. Her light brown, almost yellow eyes, reminded him of a falcon’s eyes. She was dressed, oddly enough, as a man would in a tunic, shirt, breeches and tan cloak, worn leather boots. On her left hand she wore a thick leather glove and a huge golden eagle perched on it.

It stunned him; he was surprised that a girl her size could hold such a big bird let alone keep it under control. It was a good two feet tall and a bird that size had to weigh at least 20 pounds. Eagles weren’t usually used in falconry, rather they were a novelty for those who could afford it. Smaller birds were more trainable, golden eagles were finicky, irritable, and hard to catch, and ultimately better for falconry hunts. More than anything golden eagles were hard to come by. If you were lucky you could find someone that would sell one to you, but they were more expensive than a peasant girl, like this, could afford. He decided the bird was stolen.

As he studied her, she studied him. Declan was a tall man in his mid-thirties, muscularly built, with a handsome face and short dark hair. His eyes were an intense blue like the sea after a storm and his jaw line strong set. Finally she asked, in a guarded voice that had a slight accent of someone who had lived their whole life in the mountains, “You’re the King’s falconer?”

“Yes, I am Master Declan DeMoss,” he said. He usually didn’t like to be called “Master,” but he wanted to show her that he had authority.

“My name’s Morgaine Tait sir,” the girl said.

“Why do you seek me Mistress Tait?”

“It’s Morgaine if you please Master DeMoss,” she said a bit shy. “I wish to be your apprentice. All my life I’ve heard tale of the King’s birds and how wonderful they and their master are. I was trained by my village falconer, he said I was good, but had learned all I could from him.”

“How did you come by that golden eagle?”

“Skye? She’s an eyas.” She meant a bird who was raise by humans from a nestling. “I found her sir, when she was just little. She had fallen out of her nest and couldn’t fly yet. I took her home and cared for her and we’ve been together ever since,” she said, her tone very matter-of-fact.

“What of your mother and father?”

“They were killed when I was just four,” she said unemotionally, apparently she had gotten over it long ago and was used to people asking about them. “Arram, my village’s falconer, took me in after that.”

“How were they killed?”

“Our village was attacked by a dragon and they were killed,” she said, again, her voice emotionless. The part about a dragon threw him a bit. He’d heard stories about dragons, but that’s all they were, stories. Never the less he listened as she went on. “Skye is the only one I have left now. Arram died just this spring. That’s why I came here.”

Declan was silent for a few moments. He didn’t want to take her on as an apprentice. She was too old to be just learning the basics of falconry, he couldn’t be sure that she had been telling the truth about already having been taught them, but most of all she was a girl. In all his years he had never heard of a woman falconer, especially never a woman as the King’s falconer. He couldn’t be sure that her story about the dragon was true either. On the other hand she had to know some to be able to keep such a large eagle under control. What a magnificent bird it was; it would be a wonderful addition to any mews. He did believe that she had found the bird as a nestling, it looked perfectly at home and at ease on her arm. Maybe she did have some talent at that.

“Morgaine.”

“Yes sir?” she asked, a hopeful look in her eyes.

“I’ll take you on, but first I want to test your knowledge. It’s late now, but first thing in the morning I’ll take you and one of my birds hunting, see how you do. If you’re not as knowledgeable about birds as you claim to be you wont be around any mews of mine,” he said gruffly. “If you do well you’ll study under me for no less than two years as my apprentice. After that, if I feel you are ready, you will become a journeyman falconer for a minimum of five years. Then you can take the mastery exam and become a master falconer. If you can’t prove yourself to me I wont throw you out in the cold; you may stay as long as you’d like. I’m sure they can always use another set of hands in the kitchen washing dishes and what not.”

She shrugged indifferently and said, “I’m good with birds, not washing dishes. I wont let you down.”

“Let’s hope not,” he muttered not caring that she heard. “Let’s get you and Skye settled for the night and tomorrow we’ll see,” he said and led her to the palace mews. Before they reached the mews he stopped at the aviary and said, “Thought you might like to see this.”

He could see that she was clearly awed by it. The aviary had been created with the birds in mind. It was a two story high building enclosed with fine mesh netting and was filled with real trees and vegetation for the birds. Inside there were a dozens of different kinds of song birds in all sizes, shapes, and colors that you could think of.

He was about to warn her not to go into the aviary because it was just for the King’s pet birds and he would be very displeased if her eagle ate any of them, but he was too late. She want in. What occurred next Declan would never forget for the rest of his life. The birds of the aviary swarmed around Morgaine not minding the huge eagle and in turn the eagle made no attempt to attack the birds. A moment later she emerged from the aviary and said, as if nothing unusual had happened, “They're very nice. I’ll have to visit them again.”

Still bewildered he led her to the mews where they kept the hunting birds. It wasn’t as fancy as the aviary, but it was still very nice.

“Will Skye be all right with the others?” he asked blankly, still stunned from what he had seen.

“Sure, she’s use to living with strange birds. At home Arram mostly trained and sold or traded birds,” Morgaine said and Skye screeched in agreement. She let the bird into the mews then asked, “Are you quartered near the mews?”

“Yes, you will be also,” he said and showed her to a small room. It was filled with just a bed, a chest, a desk and a table with a wash basin. “You stay here and I’ll send for someone to bring in fresh linen. I wouldn’t bother to unpack yet, not till after tomorrow.”

When Declan left Morgaine began to unpack. She knew that Declan would be eating his words after tomorrow. A few minutes after she had finished unpacking a petite woman entered carrying a stack of white sheets and blankets and introduced herself in a voice heavy with the common lit that most people in Sario had. Making their r’s long and almost skipping their vowels . “I’m Mistress Conler, but you can call me Mia. As I understand it from Declan you’re to be his new apprentice and be needin’ some fresh linen, but I didn’t catch your name.”

“It’s Morgaine, mum,” she said.

“Well it’s nice to meet you dearie,” Mia said setting the blankets down and started to put sheets on the bed. Morgaine helped. “Thank ye dearie. There’s not many around here who take the time to help me. Is this yer first time in Sario?”

“Yes, how did you know?”

“No city lass would ever help me and you got a country look. I’ve always figured that in the country they raise lasses just like lads and now I see it’s true.” Morgaine was going to say that not all girls from the country were raised like boys, but Mia wen on. “I know for sure that you’d never see the princess runnin’ ’round wearin’ breeches.”

“I didn’t know there was a princess,” Morgaine said blushing slightly at her ignorance, but glad that she could change the subject away from how she had been raised. Arram did the best he could, he just didn’t know much about raising a girl.

“That there is and a young prince too. He’s just four but he’ll be king one day. The princess, Celestria, is just fifteen and as lovely as a rose. The young men just flock to her and any that be lucky enough to be called her friend,” Mia said rulefully as she finished putting on the last blanket.

“Well I have no interest in that...I find that birds are much more agreeable than men anyhow,” Morgaine said sitting down on the bed.

Mia grinned and said slyly, “I have a feelin’ that after a few weeks here you’ll change your mind. There are a number of young men around this palace who would love to get to know a pretty young thing like you better. Their handsome and charmin’ and most is nobles so my advice to you is don’t fall in love. Just enjoy it while it last.”

Before Morgaine could say anything Mia slipped out the door. Tired from a long trip and eager for the next day to come so she could prove herself to Declan. She knew that she was good, but she also knew that Declan should have seen it in how handled Skye. If she had been a boy he would have taken her on right away. If she had been a boy Arram would have sent her here years ago to learn from the King’s falconer.

Early the next day they were out in the training field working. The training field was simply a clearing where half a few posts had been set. The posts were training perches for the birds. Declan had three birds for Morgaine to work with. All three were sparrowhawks of varying ages and experience. Declan was surprised and pleased to see that she knew more than just the basics and the birds responded well to her. She immediately took the most experience bird and caught a few hares that would be bait for the days training. It was a small thing, but a sure sign that she knew at least a little about what she was doing. There were other things as well. Little things like knowing where to caress a startled bird to calm it down, and the proper way to remove rufeters so the bird was calm and ready to work. She had all the signs of a natural at falconry. He could see that one day her talent would exceed his own.

That afternoon they were still hard at work when a well dressed nobleman in his late fifties walked down to the training field. Morgaine was so preoccupied with her bird that she didn’t notice him. Declan did and without calling attention to himself he walked over to the noble. The noble opened his mouth to say something, but Declan put a finger to his lip and pointed to Morgaine and they both turned to watch her. She had the most inexperienced bird perched on the pole and was standing several yards away. The bird was attentive and ready for her command. She whistled and gave the command to return. The hawk’s body tensed and dipped slightly as it’s wings opened and it jumped into space. The wings caught air and created lift. There was one wing-beat before the feathers shifted and taloned feet pointed strait forward. Morgaine lifted her gloved hand and caught the bird as it landed. She cooed and praised the bird and offered it meat. The noble clapped and Morgaine noticed him for the first time.

“Bravo child, just yesterday I saw that bird respond not nearly as well for Master DeMoss as it responded to you,” the noble said and then introduced himself as Lord Taliesin of Feinnes and advisor to his cousin, the King, when it came to falconry. She bowed awkwardly, trying not to upset the sparrowhawk still on her arm and introduced herself. “Morgaine Tait, sir, of Yruas.”

“Yruas, then you must know Master Arram Quinnel.”

“Yes sir, he is—was my master. He died just this spring.”

Lord Taliesin nodded sympathetically. “I know,” sigh, “It really is a tragic loss of a good falconer. He could have been a great falconer if he didn’t drink quite so much.” Morgaine blushed at her mentor’s faults, but was hopeful all the same. Lord Taliesin studied her and said, “Arram was good friends with my falconer in Feinnes, Arram always spoke highly of you to him, had you been a boy I would have invited you to my home to study. The facts are that you’re a girl and falconry is men’s work. Arram was only indulging you by teaching a skill you could never use.”

He turned and began to walk away. Declan put a hand on her shoulder and gave her a look that said he was sorry. Morgaine was so shocked by this blatant rejection it took her a moment to react. When she did she bobbed her arm sending the hawk back to it’s perch and ran after Lord Taliesin and shouted, “Wait.” She caught up. “That’s it, I’m a girl so I can’t be a falconer.”

He turned to her. “I’ll say one thing about you girl, you have spirit, but that doesn’t change the facts and now you’ve spoken against a noble’s decision.”

“But falconry is the only thing I know! It’s how I was raised,” she protested. She might have continued on if Declan hadn’t stepped in and said, “Lord Taliesin, please forgive her. She’s an ignorant country girl, but she has more than skill when it comes to falconry. She has talent. By putting her out on her ear you’re only giving someone else the chance to exploit her talents.” He pulled Lord Taliesin aside and quietly, so Morgaine couldn’t hear, he whispered, “She does have some special talent, just give me time to figure out what it is exactly. There is also the matter of the golden eagle I was telling you about. Send her away and it goes too.”

Lord Taliesin took a moment to think this over and finally said, “All right, she can stay, but Declan any unsatisfactory performance and I want her shipped out.” Then he turned and walked off. Declan turned to Morgaine and said, “I’m sorry about calling you ignorant, but some people need things like that said to make them feel superior. Otherwise they feel threatened by people who they think could be better than them, like a woman falconer. Really it’s just a closed mind.”

“You don’t seem to be to closed minded to having me as your apprentice, why?”

He hesitated a moment then said, “I think you have something special. I just cant get over what happened with the birds in the aviary yesterday. How did you call them and why weren’t they afraid of Skye and why didn’t she attack them?”

It was too much for her to explain at once so she just shrugged her shoulders and said, “Speaking of Skye, I should take her out so she can hunt for her supper.”

“She’ll be fed with other birds, but about what happened in the aviary?”

“I know she’ll be fed, but she’d rather hunt, she’s just that way,” she insisted.

“All right,” he said knowing it was useless to probe any further right now about what had happened. “You run along and take her hunting, but don’t be too long. Supper’s in an hour, and don’t get dirty, I want you still looking respectable for supper we are to dine with Lord Taliesin.”

Declan watched as she ran off gleefully to the aviary. So young, he thought, and so innocent. What could she be hiding?

He didn’t see any unusual behavior from her or the birds and he was beginning to think that what happened in the aviary the day before was just a fluke. The only thing that bothered him was that when he tried to ask her about it she always managed to avoid answering.

When they finished work for the day and headed back to the mews she asked him, “Are things always like this?”

“No, things will get much busier in the fall when there are more noble hunts.”

“No, I mean like last night, dinning with Lord Taliesin and all. I felt so homely in a room with all those nobles wearing fine clothes and me wearin’ what I would wear out in the mews.”

“You know that dressing above ones station is against the law. I wouldn’t worry though, Lord Taliesin rarely asks me to dine with him. He prefers the company of nobles,” he said and Morgaine left it at that.

At first Morgaine was sure that she would be lost in the huge palace, but Declan showed her around for the first week and she seen learned her way around. However she didn’t lose her awe of the palace that fast. She saw the most beautiful people and wondrous things there. She saw great lords, ladies, and other nobility and people of all sizes, shapes, and colors. Though, none compared to the King and Queen, she was still in spell-bound by them. Tapestries adorned the palace walls and some windows had colored glass that depicted scenes from Morata’s history. She began to feel quite at home in the palace but she was not yet totally comfortable.

One night Morgaine couldn’t sleep no matter what she did, she was use to sleeping in an airy loft on a bed of straw with Skye near by. Her bed was too soft and the air in her room dead still. Finally she gave up on sleep and pulled on her clothes and went out to the mews. All of the birds were sleeping except Skye, who was wide awake.

“So you can’t sleep either?” she asked.

No, I’ve been waiting for you. I knew you wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight, Skye’s pleasant voice said, more inside Morgaine’s head than out. You’ve been worrying, why? Things are good for you here.

“I know things are good here, that's why I’m worried. It seems like every time things start going good for me something bad happens.”

You’re being silly, nothing bad is going to happen. You can’t predict the future by mulling over the past. Besides, the future is what you make of it.

“I guess you’re right.”

You know I’m right. When have I ever been wrong?

“You’re always right, I know, and you’ve never steered me wrong before.”

You are wise to listen to your raptor-sister, a new speaker said. Morgaine looked to see a great horned owl perched in a tree.

“Hello night-brother, what do you know of the future?” she asked.

I know these are good times, but a storm comes. Remember with a storm comes rain and rain brings life, the owl said silently lifting off.

“Good hunting night-brother,” she called after him. Then to Skye she said, “What did he mean, I don’t smell a storm?”

Don’t hold his words and face value. That was an omen. The meaning depends on how you interpret it. Now it is time for you to go to sleep or you will be too tired for the surprise Declan has for you in the morning, Skye said bating her wings. A golden light flowed from them, and encircled Morgaine.

Suddenly she was very sleepy, too tired to ask about the surprise and it took everything she had to keep from falling asleep as she walked to her room. When she reached her bed she fell instantly to sleep not bothering to undress.