Archangel

[Kevin Kingswell]

Tapping her fingers lightly on the window sill Adela Mazovia stared out into the land around her family's mansion. From her spot next to the window she could see the farmers sowing their crops in the fields, the merchants taking their goods down to the town market for sale and the small groups of children that ran to and fro playing their games of fun. It was this last sight that brought a gentle sigh to her lips for she longed to go outside and play like a regular child instead of being confined to her room.

 

A knock at her bedroom door announced she had a visitor and knowing the time it could only be one person which brought a smile to Adela's face. Rising from her seat she turned to face the door and smoothed out the creases in her dress before speaking. "You may enter" she said and as the door was opened and a young man her age stepped in her smile grew.

 

An answering smile of equal intensity radiated back from her twin brother's features and as he crossed to her he held out his arms so she could embrace him. Standing at six foot three he towered over her yet they had the same olive skin and brown hair and eyes that matched their parents looks and marked them as siblings. Stepping out of her brother's embrace she gestured for him to follow her to the table by the window and to sit down.

 

Taking a seat across from his sister Edward sat down taking care not to get too much dust on his state military uniform that his father had insisted he wear. Adela having taken her seat reached under the table and removed a large wooden box and set it upon the table's surface before opening the lid and carefully removing the wooden chess set contained within. The game of chess was something that both siblings enjoyed playing and the pair would spend hours playing game after game switching between sides every so often. Today was no different,

 

Three hours later the pair were still playing their games of chess when the chamber's doors were thrown open and their father angrily stormed into the room. "There you are boy!" he shouted loudly "do you realise how long I have been looking for you and then I find you here playing games with your sister. Unacceptable you have lessons and you are already running late. Now get up and go to them right this instant".

 

Standing Edward smiled apologetically to his sister before hurrying out the room leaving his sister alone by the window. Drogowit gave his daughter one last look of angry annoyance before turning and leaving the room slamming the doors shut behind him leaving Adela to go back to staring sadly out of the window.