CBDBS l CH 27

Chapter 27 

König was fast asleep.
On tiptoe, I crept to the tall arched window that opened onto the balcony. From there, the whole of Black Dragon Castle stretched below me.

And sure enough, in the darkness, a massive shadow moved.

There he is again.

The same unwanted visitor that came looking for me every dawn.

Sharp golden eyes locked onto me from outside the glass, and all my fur stood on end. My clenched fists trembled, but I couldn’t keep avoiding him forever.

Tap, tap!

I knocked on the glass with force. At once, the shadow swelled to twice its size, puffing itself up to scare me—his usual routine every night.

“Chuut, tch-tch.”
Come on then. Let’s talk.

I crooked a finger at him in challenge.

Flapping wings rattled the air, followed by a screech like tearing metal.

[You fearless little rat!]

The voice slammed directly into my head.

It was the white-headed eagle who had been stalking me lately. By day, he circled the skies above the castle. By night, he crept close when König slept.

To him, I was either a strange curiosity living inside the castle… or a tasty snack waiting to be gulped down. Maybe both.

[Tsk, the closer I get, the more delicious you look…]

The eagle swooped closer until he loomed right outside the window. His shadow covered me, and his golden eyes glowed in the dark. Then his sharp beak tapped at the glass right where I stood.

This nasty bird…

When he tilted his head as though savoring me, I stumbled back in fright, nearly toppling over.

[Heh, look at you shake. Makes me hungrier.]

This crazy birdbrain!

But he only tilted his head innocently, as if he didn’t understand.

[Is it madness that the strong eat the weak?]

He wasn’t wrong. That law ruled both beasts and men. But back in Bear Mountain, things weren’t like that. Even my hawk underling, Jjorong, was a predator who lived peacefully with us.

And that was why I had come here tonight.
I wanted news of me to reach my friends in Bear Mountain: I’m alive. Don’t worry. Prepare well for winter.

I edged back toward the glass.

[Ah, so you’re from that strange Bear Mountain pack that treats rabbits and bears as equals.]

My breath caught. He knew Bear Mountain.

[Of course. Everyone knows about that odd place. Would be a stranger not to.]

He clicked his beak, as though amused. I felt like he’d suddenly stepped much closer.

“Could you… send a word to me? Tell them the white squirrel is alive. I’ll pay you anything.”

[So you really are from there. Hmph, that noisy hawk Jjorong must be a pain… But fine. Not hard.]

“You know Jjorong? Then just tell him I’m safe.”

[Easy enough. But you’ll do me a favor too, won’t you?]

“Name it.” I pressed to the window eagerly. I would’ve handed him every meal I had for days.

[Something simple…]

The eagle bent his massive head, lowering his glowing eyes until they filled my vision.

[Mind if I take just one bite? A plump little backside would be best.]

Slurp.

I heard him swallow his spit.

“…Wha—?”

When I looked up, his beak was wide open, ready to snap me up.

“Chuuuuuut!”

The scream burst out of me. If not for the glass, I’d have been gone in one gulp.

[Keh keh keh. Too bad.]

Clutching my pounding chest, I glared. But he only flapped his wings and laughed.

This castle is full of maniacs! Somebody save this squirrel!

***

The Next Day

Because of that bird, I spent the whole night wide awake.

And even now, he circled the castle roof, drooling.

[So soft and tender… bet you’d melt in my mouth.]

I groaned, propping my chin on the windowsill and flicking my tail.

“Lady Cherry, is something troubling you?”

It was Ria Viper, my assigned guardian while König and Gerard worked. Her eyes, sharp yet calm, followed the twitch of my tail, reading my mood.

Unlike the others, she understood me frighteningly well.

“You’ve got dark circles. Didn’t sleep? Someone bothering you? Say the word and I’ll snap them in half.”

Her knuckles cracked loudly. She wasn’t joking.

I waved toward the roof, flapping my arms like wings. “Chuut, chu-chuut!”

There’s a crazy bird stalking me, wanting to pop me into his mouth like candy!

I rolled around in pantomime. Ria covered her mouth, staring at me for a long moment—then suddenly raised her hand.

“The roof… wings… ah! You mean the white-headed eagle nesting around here?”

“Chuuut! Chuut!”

Yes! Exactly!
At last—someone got it.

Overcome with emotion, I nodded so hard my eyes watered.

Ria marched straight to the balcony.

“…Wait. Is that a dagger she’s pulling out?”

“Chuuut?!”

What was she planning?!

A moment later—

SCREEECH!

A horrid metallic cry tore through the chamber.

[Y-you devils…!]

Ria strode back inside—one hand gripping the eagle by its neck, dragging the massive bird before me.

“Lady Cherry, you needn’t worry anymore. I’ll take this to the kitchen. Do you want roast or fried for dinner?”

My jaw dropped.

The eagle was huge—even bigger than Ria herself, his wingspan easily over two meters. And yet she’d plucked him off the castle roof without breaking a sweat.

So the rumors were true—one of the strongest in Black Dragon Castle…

Before I could marvel further, the bird wailed.

[This cursed castle… it really is full of demons!]

His cry echoed through the night sky above the fortress.