Chapter 4: A Cage for a Cage

A finch flew over the orchard on the Dunn Estate, sweeping from tree to tree. Layalla Dunn stood beneath a pear tree and watched it fly.

She lifted her hand and sparked to life a yellow eternal flame. It took on the shape of a finch and flew into the air, mimicking the flight of the bird. As it flew higher, it appeared more and more lifelike, until it was indistinguishable from the real finch. The two birds danced with each other through the air, and Layalla's orange eyes followed them with bright interest.

"Layalla, my child!"

Her concentration faltered and her fake finch sparked in the air. The sudden flash of light startled the real finch, and off it flew, over the walls of the estate and far out of Layalla's sight. The smile fell from her face and she gave up her little game, allowing her fake finch to dissolve into a puff of smoke as she turned to greet her approaching father.

"Layalla," Lord Dunn called her name again as he reached her, stopping to stand beside her beneath the pear tree. "Practicing your magic?"

She smiled up at him, folding her hands respectfully in front of herself.

"More like playing than practicing," she admitted. "It's such a lovely, clear day, I couldn't stop myself from going for a walk about the estate."

Lord Dunn shielded his eyes from the sun as he looked up to the bright sky above them.

"Indeed, it is a lovely day. Do you mind if I join you on your walk?"

They began to stroll around the perimeter of the estate wall. Layalla stared up at its brown bricks, wishing that she could have followed along after the finch.

But she had never once left the walls of the Dunn estate.

From the day she was born, she had remained within the walls, and had never been permitted to leave them. She'd stopped asking why long ago—she always received the same answer. 

"You are special, Layalla," her mother would say. "Your birth was foretold. You're destined for greatness in this world. We cannot allow you into society until we're sure you're ready…"

It was strange, every time she thought of the circumstances of her birth. Long before she was ever conceived—before her father and mother ever even met—her great-grandmother had a vision of a child born on the Dunn estate, a child who was destined to wield a great and important power.

Her mother had whispered the words of the prophecy to her many a time:

Born under a black moon on a starless night

Illuminated by eternal light

A child is born so pure and bright

A savior come to end all plight

And thus, she had been born. Almost eighteen years before, a night blacker than any in memory fell upon the city of Genua. A great shadow seemed to pass over the full moon, and not a single star was visible in the sky. Her mother went into labor and delivered a healthy baby girl—and as Layalla was pushed into this world from her mother's womb, her entire body had been wreathed in eternal flame.

Nothing like it had ever been seen before. Both the baby and the mother were unharmed. The words of the prophecy seemed to have come true.

And ever since, the walls of the estate had been Layalla's cage.

But her sentencing was very close to coming to an end. In less than a week, she would have her eighteenth birthday, and then she would finally be introduced to Genua society. The key to her freedom was so close at hand…

"What is it that's gotten you so lost in thought, my child?"

She blinked and focused on her father, who was watching her closely as they slowly strolled along. She smiled at him, genuine and warm.

"I was thinking of my party," she admitted, cheeks warm with a flush of excitement. "I'm eager to make my debut and meet so many new people!"

Lord Dunn smiled back at her. He held out his arm, offering it to her, and she gladly took it. He gave her hand a light squeeze.

"That is precisely what I wished to speak to you about. You'll be meeting all kinds of people at this party. And there's one person in particular who may prove to be more important than all the rest."

Layalla raised a dark eyebrow and looked at him, questioning.

"Earlier today, your mother and I had a visitor," her father went on, staring ahead as they continued to walk, arm in arm. "A man by the name of Nimo Spire—you may have heard of him before. He is a relation of our great leader, Keeper Spire, and an esteemed young man. Well, this Nimo Spire came to the estate today to ask your mother and me if we may consider an arrangement between him and our family."

Layalla frowned with confusion. "An arrangement?"

Her father nodded. "Yes. You see, Nimo Spire is yet unwed. And he is very interested in finding a wife. That is why he came to us—because he sees great potential in you, Layalla."

She came to a halt. Her head was spinning.

"Great potential… in me?"

Her father finally turned to look at her, but his orange eyes were unreadable.

"Potential as a wife, you mean?" she went on, a slight quiver in her voice. "Nimo Spire means to ask for my hand in marriage?"

He nodded, gently taking both of her hands in his own.

"Nothing has been decided, yet, though," he assured her, but his words didn't stop her head from its spinning. "We've only agreed that the two of you shall meet during the party. And if there is anything between you, then we shall move on to real talks of marriage."

Layalla felt woozy. Marriage? But how could this be? She hadn't even won her freedom yet, and here was a whole new kind of cage, waiting to lock her in as soon as she was released from her current one. 

"Isn't this all a bit sudden?" she said with a hollow laugh. "Aren't I too young to be thinking of marriage yet, especially since I've yet to join society?"

Lord Dunn smiled and shook his head. "I'd been married to your mother for many years by the time she was your age. No, I think it's the perfect time to be thinking of marriage."

Layalla's palms, still clasped in her father's hands, began to sweat.

"But I do not wish to make a match that doesn't suit you," he went on. "That's why we want the two of you to meet, to get to know a little about each other, before we reach any final decision. If after the party, you find no objections with Nimo Spire, then we can begin the wedding plans."

Her eyes fell to the ground between their feet. Her long-promised freedom was already slipping through her fingers.

"You must promise me," Lord Dunn said, gently tilting Layalla's chin up so that her eyes met his once again, "that you will try to like him, at least. Nimo Spire is a nephew of Keeper Spire. This would be an incredibly advantageous match for you, Layalla. You'll not likely find another man of his stature in all of Genua."

She pressed her lips together, holding back the many words she wished to speak. How could her parents trade their own daughter off to a strange man, all for the exchange of societal status? She pushed down the poisonous betrayal she felt, deep within her gut.

After all, isn't this what daughters were for?

She forced a smile, even as her eyes threatened tears.

"I'll try, father. I'll do my best."

He beamed down at her and bent to kiss her forehead.

"You are our greatest treasure, Layalla. We only want what's best for you."

She held her fake smile as they parted, and she turned toward the main manor of the estate.

She needed to talk to Maira, immediately.