What do you mean? The peacock didnt give himself away. What an actor! Would they teach me anything? They wouldnt even give me any fruit when I sang under the window. Amazingly insensitive people! They have splendid palaces, but they wont let a talking bird into any of them.
Why? Dont they value rare species?
Thats not the point, the peacock deftly picked a grape from the fruit bowl with its beak, and only continued when it ate it greedily. He appeared to be hungry.
There is great fear in eastern countries of spies sent from the sea. And I am blue, the color of the sea. And the stone in my forehead shimmers with all the shades of water.
Are there spies from the sea?! What does that mean?
Well, said the peacock, uncertain how to avoid the embarrassing subject. I shouldnt have brought it up.
Well, now go on. Why be embarrassed?
He ate a few more berries, grunted softly, and then shifted his gaze to the pearl in the dried out shell flaps.
You dont have to look out of the window at the sea. Theres so much going on in the sea. I saw all sorts of terrible things while I was hiding in the masts of the ship on which I sailed as a stowaway.
Lilothea laughed involuntarily. What a pun it turns out!
By the way, I thought the ship sailed to another kingdom, and ended up here. Bad luck!
You will know how not to pay the fare! She joked. I should have added that he deserved it, and that he who wants to deceive others in the end remains deceived himself, but she was not cruel. Its the maidens at court who like to let the stilettos go. The peacock will never get enough of them, and will probably pretend to be dumb so as not to have to answer their taunts.
Do you think that if I brought a coin to the sailors theyd tell me exactly where the ship was going? The peacock showed unexpected seriousness.
What could you say to that?
I dont think so, Lilophea answered honestly. They would have taken the coin, and you would probably have been caged and sold at the first port.
You see, I might not have been honest. He spread his wings in triumph and ate almost all the grapes from the vase. What a glutton!
Travelling alone is dangerous in any case, Lilophea consoled him. It is better to sail the ship only with the mistress.
Well, Ive managed to get out of it, now you can always be my mistress.
What does that mean? He thought of himself as master here and her as servant? Or is he her best friend now? You cant be mistress to a friend. Its not like hes a pet. The peacock had indeed chosen her for himself. He wasnt bought. He wasnt brought as a gift. He flew up to her in the garden and made conversation. Thats what everyone who wants to make friends does.
Ill consider you my faithful cavalier, Lilofephea suggested aloud. By the way, do you have a name? Or should I call you something.
Its not nice to call him just a peacock, like all the other birds in the garden that dont know human speech. A talking creature, however feathered, deserves to be addressed by all the rules.
I am Seneschal, he bowed respectfully. Lilophea had no idea that a peacock could bend its neck so low. He could at least be applauded. Had he escaped from the circus? The princess sometimes heard rumors of cruel trainers, from whom it was not easy to buy back rare but offended animals. A peacock with his talents could bend the bars of a cage and escape on his own.
There is already one seneschal in the palace. Thats what they call the chief of staff, Lilophea hesitated.
For him it is a title, but for me it is a name. Though, to tell the truth, the peacock looked conspiratorial. I was in charge of the servants in the house of a great sorceress for some time.
Lilophea grinned incredulously.
Enchantresses and rogues are practically the same thing.
What do you know, girl?
I am guided by my experience at court.
This isnt the court to learn anything.
But you got here somehow. Which means theres already something unique here a chatty peacock!
Im the most worthy creature here, he arrogantly cocked his beak. Lilophea gazed for a moment at the stone glinting in his forehead. She wondered if it hurt him, made him feel uncomfortable with the hard jewelry growing in his forehead. Even her own tiara was starting to press on her head if she wore it too long. All jewelry should be removed before going to bed so it wouldnt leave a mark on the delicate skin. Thats what the ladies-in-waiting used to say.
Lilophea remembered the crown. She longed unbearably to try it on again, but the blue peacock looked behind the chest like a spy. It seemed that if she took anything from there, and he pecked her in the finger. Of the chest there was a wet puddle on the malachite table. There was no place for it to come from, for the jug and the basin for her morning bath were in another room. There was water inside the jewels themselves. But how could it have flowed through the hard casket. There was an icy chill coming from the water. It felt like a draught in her chambers, though the day was very hot. All the ladies at court were waving their fans vigorously. Suddenly there was an underwater chill in the princess apartments. Lilophea noticed that in a puddle on the table bloomed most real water lily. What a miracle!
She must send the peacock away on some errand while she looks around and tries on all the pearl adornments.
So you are Seneschal, she smiled at him. Ill call you that if you like. Do not present yourself as so to the other courtiers, or you will be confused with the head of the household. He might think you are making fun of him and tease you.
Let him try it, the peacock hummed haughtily. Apparently, hed never been chased by a cooks knife before. But Lilophea had once seen a swan roasted for a feast, and the sight made her sick. How can you make a feast of a beautiful bird? People can be so cruel sometimes.
You love waterfowl! You have a good heart! You have a water heart! Come to me! Come into the sea!
Who said that? It was certainly not the peacock. His insolent bird voice is not capable of whispering with such inspiration.
Ill tell you what, Lilophea opened her writing bag. Take a couple of letters for me.
Im not a messenger, the peacock grunted.
She scribbled a few lines on two sheets of paper, sealed them with the Royal Seal, and handed them to Seneschal. Here, one is for the cook, let him not cook birds yet, better let him treat the ambassadors with fish and crabs from the local coast.
Here the peacock understood her and nodded sternly.
It is no birds to eat, he agreed and clutched the envelope in his beak.
Can you find your own way?
He nodded again.
And the second letter is for my fathers honored guest. He is coming today. He is the famous navigator and privateer. You know what that is.
Peacock dropped the envelope on the table for a moment.
Capering is legalized piracy, with the profits from the plunder paid to the crown, he resented. Capers are sneaky, sneaky fellows, to think of such a thing. Stay away from them.
This fellows not bad. He is quite a charming little rascal. His name is Morrin.
Hes quite handsome. He has brown hair and brown eyes. Hes tall. He prefers to wear green caftans. In his left ear is an earring with an emerald in the shape of a drop.
And you want me to give him a love letter.
It is not a love letter. I want him to do me a favor and find out something for me.
Well, all right, the peacock took both envelopes in its beak and finally flew away.
Lilophea waited until his trail had gone cold outside the window, and then she rushed to measure the jewelry. Bracelets, necklaces, rings, beads she strung a whole row of them on herself. How beautifully the pearls had transformed her outfit. She became like a sea queen. The twisted-frame mirror on the wall even flattered her. It showed not an ordinary princess, but as if a goddess from the depths of the ocean.