13Chapter Two
Taking my protegé by her little hand, I pulled us along down the halls and off towards the music room. She was adorable in the Idleberry silk outfit, but I had to impress upon her when she put it on this morning that she was to put another gown on top and that she could never show anyone what was underneath. I didn't want to outfit her only to have her attacked because of my gift. The bonus of the Alabastrian design was that the cuffs could be rolled down and the waist loosened so she could continue to wear it even as an adult. Idleberry silk was a rare commodity since only the monks across the ocean could create it and it was spelled to keep you comfortable in any weather.
The weave was so strong it could repel a blade or a spell thrown your way; making it was worth more than a full outfit of armour and it didn't restrict your freedom of movement. The only downside being that it was so expensive people could rarely afford it. At 40 pieces, I knew I'd garnered myself a steal and that it was only because she found out about my identity. That thought made me a little uncomfortable but as I glanced down at Isobel I realized I would do it again and again if it would keep her safe.
Assassins tended to favour Idleberry because of its dark color and their need for becoming a living shadow. The assassin's guilds highest ranking hires would own a full suit made of the material, someone once told me that it was the grandmaster's way to keep up their debt with the guild. An assassin in debt, was an assassin who had to work.
Being in the obsidian city was making me restless, I kept feeling as though I needed to escape the walls and make a break for the capital where the answers I so craved resided. Where the king, my father, resided.
I would go pester Mik about leaving sooner but I couldn't, not now when we were on such negative terms. Instead I pulled my little Isobel into a music room and had her plop down next to me on the cushioned bench.
"Every proper lady should know an instrument Izzy and you my dearest little sister are going to become one." I said to her gently, flicking on the metronome and placing my fingers on the ivory keys.
Isobel nodded, watching me closely to see what I would do next. That was one of the things I loved about the child, she was so ready to learn and absorb anything you threw at her.
"How about I show you the piano first, I'll play you a piece and if you like it maybe I can teach you how to play?" I continued. She stared at the instrument with fascination and I doubted she'd ever been so close to a piano during her short life.
"I'd like that miss." She answered happily. I wish she'd drop the miss. Despite having spent a week with me; she would still revert back to miss when she wasn't paying attention. I couldn't really blame her, with so much time on your own you would have to set many mechanisms of survival into place. For her, it seemed to be politeness and I didn't really understand why, maybe I never would.
With another sigh, I let it drop for now. I had to pick my battles and I didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable.
Arranging my fingers on the keys, I pressed down softly on the pedals below on the first beat of the metronome and began to play a somewhat haunting melody I'd learned as a child. My instructor had called the piece the moonlight sonata and I felt it fit me perfectly, the way the music seemed so powerful and yet melancholy.
After first hearing it, I'd spent weeks obsessed with learning to play it, my mother had thought I was going mad and eventually I succeeded in teaching it to myself. My teacher flipped when one day I'd plopped down at her piano, where she intended to teach me scales; when I had suddenly started to play the first movement of the sonata on my own.
Of course I couldn't play anything else for a long time but this piece touched me in a way I couldn't really verbalize.
The music flowed, and swelled beneath my fingertips and I kept my eyes closed just enjoying the way it played with my senses. When I finally finished, I paused my fingers on the keys and opened my eyes.
Isobel was staring at my hands when I looked over at her.
"I want to be able to do that, I want my hands to move like that," she whispered before turning her big beautiful eyes up towards me.
"Eventually you'll be able to, first thing though let's get you familiar with the piano ok?" I answered her smiling.
"Place your hands like mine on the keys, like you're holding something on top of your fingers, spread them out a little more. See how my fingers are?" I positioned her fingers like little chairs and adjusted her posture.
Standing up, I leaned around Isobel and placed my larger hands over her tiny ones. Quickly I began to press down a few notes at a time like my teacher had the first time she had shown me to play.
"Try to press down the keys with me ok? I'll start with our thumbs and then move out one finger at a time."
Isobel nodded, and together we hit the five keys our fingers were touching. After that I removed my hands and sat down next to her again.
She smiled at me, "What do I do now?"
I motioned towards the piano, "I just want you to play around with the keys, and get used to pressing them. Your fingers might be sore later because they're heavy to press but playing the piano makes your hands stronger."
Time seemed to flash by in an instant as we sat there playing with the keys and soon the sun was throwing long shadows as it crested over the horizon. Yawning, I leaned away from the piano and stretched my spine.
"Izzy are you hungry? It's almost time for supper, we can continue this tomorrow okay?" I said gently, slipping off the piano bench and turning off the metronome.
"Yes miss, do I need to change before we go?" She answered me softly, still plunking away at the ivory keys.
"We've got to wash our hands and our faces, but then we can go into the big hall to eat if you'd like?" I promised, taking hold of her little fingers and shooing her off the bench.
When she slipped off into the stillness of the room I shut the lid and I felt her little fingers snake their way around mine.
"Thank you sissy." Isobel said, looking up at me with the brightest smile I'd seen. I couldn't help but smile back.
"Race you back to the room and the winner gets extra desert?" I challenged, pulling her along out of the big room and her eyes widened.
Tugging herself free she took off in a dash, laughing openly down the hall and soon she was out of my sight. I'd quickly learned that she had a thing for pastries, especially the ones with meringue inside. I had every intention to give her mine either way, she was still too thin for my comfort but she didn't know that.
Smiling, I took off after her; her enthusiasm was contagious.
Washed, scrubbed and brushed, we made our way down to face the music. It'd been three days since Mik and I had any contact. The anticipation of a possible confrontation made me feel anxious as I pushed my way into the long room at the base of the tower where people of import took their meals regularly.
Mik wasn't there, a scattering of the new officials were littered about the room and I felt my breath catch in my throat. Did that mean he'd succeeded in choosing a new council already? Ushering Isobel inside, I made our way over to the end of the table by the balcony where we could watch the sunset as we ate.
As soon as we sat down a servant made her way over to us, eyes bowed low and it was in that moment that I noticed just how infrequently I saw anyone other than soldiers in the halls. My face set into a grim line, I promised myself to change the law allowing slavery with my boarders as my first act in court.
The spry young woman placed down two steaming bowls of richly colored soup and a basket of freshly baked biscuits. I smiled up at her in thanks and she scurried away before I could initiate any conversation.
When I looked back to the table Isobel was already digging into her meal with fervor. Her appetite for life was something I appreciated in my solitude. Taking a glance around the room to make sure I didn't have anyone's attention, I quickly snatched up a biscuit and began dunking it in my soup. Very unladylike behavior but there was no one there to lecture me on behaving otherwise and no one who really knew who I was to judge me either way.
A soft laugh caught my attention from down the table.
"Princess or savage?" I heard Elaine coo at me, her head poking out from behind a large man with a silken bright purple shirt.
I paled, caught in the act and then smiled in what I hoped was a non-chalante way.
"Soon all the ladies will be eating this way, just you wait." I called back jokingly.
"Sad thing is I don't really doubt it." She laughed and I found that I disliked her a little less after our conversation. She was still a puzzle, but at least I knew her intentions for coming here and that made her seem less threatening.
"Come sit with us?" I called down across the table, feeling generous. Surprise was clear all over her face, but she picked up her things and moved down next to us.
"What can I do for you princess?" She asked me quietly when she sat down.
"Should I be the one saying that to you?" I countered jokingly.
"Do you really want to know?" She asked me seriously while she played with her food.
I paused for a second, biscuit in my mouth. Did I really want to know? Other than out of curiosity? I wasn't sure but sadly enough she was the closest thing I had to a friend outside of Isobel in this city.
"I do." I answered, looking her straight into those catty eyes.
She sighed.
"Well it's not that complicated, but what do you know about the royal family of Torrin?" She began.
"Not as much as I'd like to admit, the empire was crumbling when I was still young." I answered.
"It's tradition among my people to only have one heir; to prevent social strife or imbalances of power among the royal house during a coronation. Unfortunately the late queen and king were blessed with twins, worse still they were daughters. Identical in almost every aspect except magical talent, you do know my people are gifted correct?" She continued, looking up at me while taking a bite to make sure I processed the information she was telling me.
"Yes, I knew that your race can have access to special gifts." I confirmed.
"Well, my sister was a prodigy and so she was selected as heir at the time of our birth; she has this brilliant golden red flame. For a long time, I was told I was simply the daughter of the court physician and then during the war Sal and I were seperated for the safety of the kingdom. At that point my parents finally admitted their betrayal to the court, with the hopes that it would cause the people to defend me like they did Sal but it had the opposite effect. My surogate parents are I were attacked and they made me watch while they were killed. I was carted off somewhere dark and it took all this time until now for me to escape; I can only assume I was another pawn in taking over Torrin. Unsure of my reception, I did infact pretend to be Sal until I knew I wouldn't be returned to my captors." She finished quietly, picking at a biscuit with a far off look in her eyes.
"How did they know she was the prodigy?" I asked her quietly, a little confused but sympathetic to what she'd gone through.
Elaine shook her head, "My country has a legend, a folk tale really, that when twins are born into the royal line it's a harbinger of coming disaster and to cope with that one will be born with special talents unlike any ever seen before. That the children would be born with unique inner fires and the fires would guide our race towards the proper light. One child will be swayed by darkness and the other will hold true to the cause. The king and queen didn't want to cause a mass panic among the people, and they said that was why they hid me away. The smaller flame that they thought would betray them in the end."
I shook my head and smiled at her sadly, "I'm glad you told me."
"It's in the past, don't look at me like that." Elaine countered evenly with an awkward chuckle, clearly trying to brush off any sympathy and I respected her for that.
"So who's the girl?" Elaine asked, clearly hoping to change the subject.
"She's my new little sister, until I can find her a place in a good home in the capital. Isobel, say hi to Elaine." I answered with a smile.
Isobel perked up at hearing her name and smiled up at Elaine with a mouthfull of food.
"efhloo mifh Eflainfe!" She squeaked her mouth too full to pronounce anything clearly, I couldn't help but laugh. Seconds later, Elaine joined me; tension from our talk evaporating and I was again glad to have Isobel with us.
All I wanted for Izzy was a normal life and so over the next few days I kept her close to my side. I kept her safe, and she kept me from feeling lonely when Artuzo wasn't around. Which, despite what he said his reasons were for being there, were more often now than not. I still hadn't gotten what had happened to the former captain out of him either, there was a lot more going on there than he was willing to tell me and despite the front I put on, that hurt.
I hadn't seen Elaine since our last run-in in the dinning room and I hadn't seen Mik since he stormed into my room the night I brought Isobel home either; I was starting to wonder if they'd left without me. That might be partly my fault though, in retrospect I'd given Mik every reason to dislike me and Elaine probably still felt a little raw from her share session over dinner.
Everyone seemed to give me a wide berth within which I could breathe a little. Although that berth brought me that much closer to departure until I was finally notified by a servant that tomorrow we would be setting off again by boat to the capital and to my answers.
My mother once told me that we all have souls, and that each soul existed in counterpoint to another. She said that counterpoint was the exact balance to our own and that we would only find one person like that if we were lucky, in each lifetime. She explained that it was like your life was a puzzle and your counterpoint was the missing piece. Tonight I would have to say goodbye to my counterpoint, maybe forever, hopefully just for now.
The moon had crested the sky when I slipped out of the tower, for something so prominent and revered as a fortress it was surprisingly easy for me to come and go as I pleased. I might have to mention that to Mik on the journey to the capital, maybe not though; I don't exactly feel like sparking another argument.
When I looked up at the balcony from the street I spotted two golden cat-like eyes shinning at me in the moonlight and I nearly jumped. So she was watching me the entire time, I wonder how much she's really seen. To stir the pot, I turned towards her again and waved to let her know I was aware of her presence.
I almost thought I heard a laugh as I ran off towards the docks.
It seemed that no matter where I went, the air around a dock would always taste like salt, sweat and feces. Somehow, when I was visiting Artuzo that didn't seem to matter to me anymore. Beneath my cloak I held my parting gift for him, the outfit I'd had tailored out of the same silk they'd used for myself and Isobel. Something to keep him safe under his clothing, something to help my peace of mind while we were apart and I contemplated telling him the whole truth behind my new life in the capital.
As I arrived at their docking station the ship was gone and that meant its new captain went with it. When I looked down around the docks, there was no sign of a battle and I couldn't help the shiver of pain that shot through my head when I realised I would likely never see him again. I would likely never get to say goodbye, because where I was going Artuzo could never follow; Artuzo didn't even know to follow.
I could feel the tears running down my cheeks freely, and I could hear the pained voice of someone echoing over the shores. It took me a few minutes to realize it was me, and then I really broke down. My body heaved, and I was sick over the side of the dock. I cried and heaved until my whole body felt numb; spots danced in my vision and my arms began to tingle.
He had left me behind. I hadn't thought about leaving with him, but he hadn't even given me the choice. He was gone, my puzzle felt shifted and broken.
Picking myself off the ground, I took a few wobbly steps away from the pier and back towards the tower. Tears, I didn't know I had so many left in me, continued to drip down my face, like a child leaving behind a trail of breadcrumbs but the one person I hoped would track them never would.
I struggled to keep up the air in my lungs, it was like a searing white-hot pain in my chest and my whole body continued to shake. I'd only felt this kind of loss with my mother's dead, this kind of heartbreak before and I feared it would kill me before I made it up the stairs of the tower. I'd become too invested in the relationship.
Suddenly, within the courtyard surrounding the tower my legs finally gave out and I passed over into the darkness that had been begging for entry at my peripherals.
The sun that hit my eyes in the morning was offensive, and my thoughts seemed to clatter around my skull like knives craving their pound of flesh. I pulled the covers back up over my eyes, which were so swollen I could barely open them. My whole face seemed to be.
Trying again, I forced them open a sliver, just enough to recognize an obsidian door. I must be inside the tower, someone must have found me last night and brought me upstairs.
A soft voice answered my question, "Are you awake Cee?" A feminine voice. Elaine's voice. I mentally cursed my luck.
"Almost." I croaked, my voice hoarse.
"Hold on," she murmured placing her hands on my face. I jerked back but she held me firmly, and soon I felt warmth spreading down her fingers and into my face. My headache lessened, and everything seemed to feel almost better.
"All better, for the most part." She murmured to herself, helping me sit up and passing me a glass of water. The liquid felt like heaven gliding down my throat and so I downed another two glasses after that.
"They're getting the ships ready now, and you should set sail for the capital within the next two hours." She spoke quietly, like she was talking to something fragile and maybe in that moment I was.
Nodding, I sat up and slipped out of what I presumed was her bed. She didn't ask me why, which I appreciated. I didn't really understand why she would help me, but I also didn't question her for doing it either. Maybe this was her attempt to get into my good graces and maybe it was working, a bit.
"Come with me today, I'm not sure if you have somewhere to go, but if we're truly cousins you have a place in my family's palace at your disposal. I can't promise you'll be happier there, but it might give you a fresh start and everyone deserves that." I whispered hoarsely as I walking by, and didn't bother to wait for her reply. I had a feeling I already knew what the answer was.
When I made it back to my temporary quarters, Isobel was nowhere to be found. Had I not heard the melody drifting up the hallway, I might have panicked. Instead I smiled, she had really taken a shine to the piano and I was happy for her. She was actually very talented with the instrument, moreso than I was at her age and even more determined.
Our room was still well-kept despite my absence that evening and our balcony doors were open. I didn't wipe the tear that slipped down my cheek as I stepped outside into the sunlight. The breeze was warmer than it had been a few months ago, and as we approached the capital it would become warmer still.
The heat dripped down my spine, oozed down my forehead and made my clothes cling to me in a less than attractive way. I was miserable, and it didn't help that being on a ship made the edge sharper. I could see him everywhere, my memories of him and our time together on Gonzaku's ship haunting my every step.
I remember all the fights, how much I hated him at first and how things gradually changed between us until I saw an out and jumped ship. Maybe this had been his way to get even, pirates are notorious for settling a score and I had left right after his confession. Maybe he just thought it would be easier this way, if I didn't have to say goodbye. I guess I'll never know.
My fingers clutching the railing on deck were white, and when I let go I had to flex them in and out a few times to return blood flow. Elaine bumped my shoulder on purpose like she did every morning we were on the ship. I guess this whole ordeal had brought us closer, I still didn't completely trust her but I was getting there. One of the things I liked best about her was that she knew the value of silence and when it was best to put it to good use. Sometimes, a knowledgeable silence could be considered the rarest and most valuable gift there was.
"You look a little green." She teased, poking me in the arm and looking out towards the big blue ocean.
"I'm about as green as your hair, or are we forgetting who spent the first week getting sick on deck?" I retorted back with a ghost of a smile.
She tactfully avoided my gaze, "Well what a poor little bugger that must've been, I wouldn't envy whoever that was. Mik says we're going to arrive tonight, are you ready to face your father?"
"What a clever title for a man I've never met, who ran his country into the ground and surely doesn't deserve the affiliation, wouldn't you say?" I responded quickly.
Elaine laughed, "I still think it's romantic that he never pursued any other relationship after your mother disappeared. He clearly loved both of you."
"Maybe nobody would have him, he could be hideous and his country is broke. It isn't the best sales pitch if you're looking to find yourself a new queen. Please marry me so that we can slowly become destitute together?" I mocked.
"You do know flattery gets you further than cynicism ever will?" She answered evenly.
"I'll take that under advisement, but I can't promise to ever put it into practise," I retorted using the guard rail to push myself up into an upright position.
Elaine ran her fingers through her hair with sharp motions and I could tell she was upset about something but we had a don't ask don't tell thing going on since the night she brought me in from the courtyard that I rather enjoyed. Our ride had passed otherwise without incident, and I was glad for it. Poor Isobel seemed to grow more pale with each passing day on the ocean, so our arrival was timed for the best and with Artuzo being gone I had never managed to find her a suitable family in the capital. She would stay my ward, my new sister rather, for until I could arrange something myself.
The bell on deck rang, and the crew stopped their tasks to look up at the captain. He was a man I'd come to know as Gerard, and he'd been sailing for most of his life on this ship. We'd spent a night or two listening to his tales over dinner and I found myself rather fond of the old man, in the way you'd look at a grandfather.
Quickly his crew assembled on the upper deck, it was more than shoulder to shoulder because of the size of the vessel. Between passengers and crew, his daily meetings were well-staffed. Clearing his throat, he motioned for everyone to quiet down.
"Tis time tah pray teh Walita, we're approaching treacherous waters and we need 'er blessing tah pass unharmed." He commanded, his reverence to old gods was something I'd never become accustomed to but with a man like him you'd never question it either.
One by one, all the sailors and passengers crossed a hand over their hearts, up towards their heads and spit over the railing. Afterwards they all separated to continue their duties onboard and the Gerard retreated into his quarters to verify our course. Though he said we were approaching rough waters ahead, the crew all knew that the assembly would always be a daily ritual on board the Mistrel. Superstitious lot they were, the sea folk.
Isobel wandered down to the railing and I pulled her further in deck. She'd filled out a bit as a child but she was still thin enough to slip through the railing and I wasn't taking any chances. She smiled up at me somewhat weakly and I patted her hair comfortingly.
"We'll arrive tonight, and then no more ships for a long time okay?" I gently offered and she weakly shook her head in agreement.
Mike strutted across the deck confidently and I couldn't help feel guilty, we still hadn't spoken. What had been an argument had evolved into a battle of wills that I was quickly tiring of. I needed to mend things between us, I needed allies in my new home and he could be useful if things were as bad as I feared they might be with my father.
After helping Isobel take a seat next to Elaine I made my way across the ship towards Mik and had I not known better I could have sworn he visibly cringed at my approach.
"Mik, can I speak with you for a moment in private?" I asked him in the least demanding tone I could muster.
"Absolutely princess." He responded in a somewhat detached tone, like he was dreading any further interaction with me. I was never one easily deterred from a goal, so I quickly pulled him around the corner of the deck into the more secluded bow where the men rarely ventured.
"I'd like to move forward and let go of any animosity between the two of us." I quickly began.
Mik didn't immediately respond, to which I grew increasingly anxious and agitated.
"Let me think about it," he eventually began and I nearly snapped.
"What is there to think about? We have both said our peace, we were both at fault and I'd like for us to move forward from that. We're family, and I'm apparently in short supply when it comes to relatives. I don't want things between us to continue this way, in fact I've let things go on this way for far too long as it is." I responded, trying to keep the anger from my voice.
Mik didn't respond for a few minutes, which again bothered me and I got ready to force the issue.
"Under one condition, you stop running off any time you're unhappy with the situation. You put everyone at risk when you do so, and you're more important than you realise. Agreed?" He tried to bargain, and realizing it was a losing battle I easily acquiesced to his terms.
When night finally set and the castle began to loom close enough I could feel a thrum reverbate through my necklace. Taking a chance that I could make out it's features I scooted closer to a window and pushed aside a curtain; I hadn't expected something so breathtaking. The whole palace was a construct of beauty, with shining white marble and glass. It glowed at night and so the whole area seemed lit by a constant stream of firebugs. The castle gave me the distinct feeling that it was trying to twinkle a hello to me the closer we became to the outter walls and I could almost feel a happy thrum through the walls echo in my bones. Until that moment I never really understood the meaning of being home. It was both exhilarating and terrifying in a way I've never experienced before.
Music and bells echoed up and down the corridors, a cheerful melody, as we went off in search of my wing in the castle. The whole town around the castle sang with merriment and it seemed as though my arrival was no secret. Elaine grew progressively more and more withdrawn the further into the castle we became. Despite our unspoken agreement not to ask, I was becoming slightly worried at her change in demeanor.
"So this is my new home?" Isobel asked me hopefully, tugging at my hand and drawing my attention away from Elaine. I smiled and nodded.
"Will I have a piano here too?" She continued to fire questions my way.
"Absolutely, and a proper teacher as well. You won't just learn the piano though, you'll have all kinds of teachers to tell you about a great many things that will be important for you when you get to be as old as me." I answered her gently with enthusiasm.
Her beautiful two-tone eyes seemed to light up at the prospect of her lessons and I couldn't help but feel an inkling of pride for the child that was so eager to make use of the opportunity I was presenting her.
When we'd finally reached the entrance to my wing, a servant led Elaine off and left Isobel with me. I had instructed them that Isobel would stay in my chambers for now; until I was confident she would be okay staying on her own. Nobody disagreed with me and I had a gut feeling that nobody within these walls ever would.
When we pushed open the large doors to my suites, we were greeted with an impressive display of wealth. The decor was elegant but feminine and walking through the room there was a large balcony overlooking the ocean adjoining my bedroom. The game room next to my sleeping chambers was full of children's toys and Isobel seemed very eager to indulge in them. I smiled at her ooh's and ahh's, quickly excusing myself from her clearly favorite room.
In the foyer there was a large portrait of what looked to be my family, and seeing them like that made me realise just how nice we had all looked together. I was still confused as to what had happened to my little family to cause my mother to run and deep in the pit of my stomach I couldn't help but feel slightly afraid to discover exactly what was waiting for me with this new life. Would I find joy or heartbreak?
The sun the next morning rose too quickly for me, and I was startled to find a strange woman in my room going through my things.
"What in the world do you think you're doing in here?" I demanded, stunned.
The woman froze, "Miss I'm your maid, you have three of us assigned to maintain your quarters. I'm just organizing and airing out your things for you, I can stop?" She answered me softly, like she was afraid of what I would do.
Running my fingers through my hair to shake out the tangles I decided that I believed her, "No no it's fine, it's my mistake. What is your name?"
She visibly relaxed and turned to face me, "Princess you may call me Estelle. Would you like me to run you a bath?"
I smiled at her and nodded, "Please, call me Selece, I'm not really into the whole titles thing and yes I'd appreciate it greatly if you could."
Sinking into the warm water, I allowed myself a moment of peace. My father had yet to summon me, which I thought was strange for someone who had supposedly anticipated my arrival on bated breath. Maybe he was giving me some time to adjust? Either way, the lack of his immediate presence was unsettling. I just couldn't wrap my head around why he wasn't there to greet me as soon as I set foot in the castle.
A bubble clung to my nose and tried to wipe it away, only to find half my face covered. Quickly I dunked myself underwater, and when I resurfaced I almost screamed. Standing next to my bath was Isobel, but it wasn't Isobel; it just looked like Isobel. The same face, but older and cryptically beautiful in its translucent nature.
"Who are you?" I breathed.
"You already know Ariel, you have to know Ariel, you have to help us Ariel, you promised, I got her away and you brought her back, how could you Ariel." She whispered panicked in my ear, her warm fluid fingers brushing aside a strand of hair as red tears flowed freely down her pale cheeks. Turning to look into her face I noticed that she had two amethyst eyes instead of Isobel's unique dual colored gems.
A cold shiver ran up my spine and before my eyes her body began to lose its shape. In its wake, all it left were the red droplets in the place her fingers touched my face. I wiped my fingers across my cheek and pulled away to take a look. All I could see was red and all I could smell was blood. Another tremor ran down my spine and I quickly finished up my bath.
The floor next to the tub was a pool of it and I had never seen anything like it in my life. She must have thought I was my mother. I did bear a striking resemblance to her with our green eyes and similar facial features, I think the only trait I got from my father must be my blonde hair. I wonder what color my father's eyes were, from what I heard he married into the throne. My grandfather Trent had arranged them to wed to prevent a war between Yuto and Asthene. He disapeared shortly after their ceremony and it had briefly caused an uproar until they eventually forced my parents to take the throne in his stead.
The goosebumps on my arms ushered me out of the washroom, leaving pools of water in my wake. Quickly I called to Estelle to get someone in to clean up the mess before Isobel woke up.
She didn't question the mess on the floor and I was thankful for her discretion, but also curious as to what else she'd seen around here to make her so desensitized to a pool of blood.
When she'd started back on knitting in the foyer, I sat down next to her intent on asking her exactly that when Mik appeared at my open doorway.
"Cee, your father requests your presence, are you ready?" He rushed, short of breath.
I stood up abruptly and nodded, I wasn't going to get any better than this. Estelle looked mortified.
"You're meeting the King for the first time and you aren't even in formal attire? Your mother would box my ears. Come on, you're changing." She essentially commanded, tugging me into a dressing room adjacent to my parlour.
Quickly she helped me into a gown that flowed in the back and stopped slightly below my knees in the front. Apparently it was in high fashion in Opal to have such a hemline. Shrugging the strange thing on, and allowing her to fasten the back of the white dress closed, I felt ready to face whatever may come. Unfortunately, before that could ever happen Estelle set about pinning my hair and plucking my eyebrows.
It stung and I didn't like all the unnecessary grooming, but it was over quickly enough.
Minutes later, I was being escorted by my cousin down the hall towards an audience with the man that was supposed to be my father.
The halls were all made from that same white opal with clear glass ceilings, I think that was my favorite feature in this castle. The walls were all opaque thankfully so that your privacy wouldn't be comprimised, but the sunlight would always be able to light every crevace of every room.
There were exotic plants creeping along the outside of the walls, and their multicolored blossoms were entrancing in the daylight. I was stunned to suddenly find myself at the large doors to the throne room.
The throne room was empty when we arrived, and I was entranced by the simplistic beauty of the room. High glass ceilings made the room seem almost unending and Opal carvings of previous monarchs lined the walls with lifelike accuracy.
As we walked up the carpet towards the throne I finally noticed the man sitting there. He was an unremarkable man, with a larger waistline than I'd heard a heart and when I approached he seemed to appraise my every step with his beady brown eyes.
"Daughter," He began, while assessing the situation.
"I'm pleased to see you've grown into a beautiful woman like your mother." He continued somewhat awkwardly without standing up.
I didn't know what to say to this man, we had nothing in common and so silence prevailed until he finally stood up.
"I have a gift for you." He gushed, and I was reminded of a strangely graceful rat. The way he curled his fingers and scurried across the room to a display case along the wall.
It took me a few moments to realise he'd intended for me to follow him and cross the room towards where he patiently waited. In his stubby fingers lay an intricate amulet, amethyst coiled inside an emerald clasp. It looked like vines around a flower, it was so detailed that it almost looked real. Taking a step towards me, he extended his hands.
"This is yours, I was supposed to give it to you on you 16th birthday but you weren't here so I'm going to give it to you today instead. It's a gift from your betrothed's family, well it was from your betrothed's family but with you missing for such a long time they broke the engagement." He explained quickly.
I couldn't help but cringe at the idea of marrying a stranger and feel slightly relieved at the concept that they'd given up on me being found. My mother had saved me from a loveless marriage, had that been the reason she left? I had so many questions.
"I see. Is that why my mother left?" I asked him calmly, attaching the clasp around my neck. The necklace felt cold and heavy against my skin.
"I'm not sure why she left, I guess I just wasn't enough for her. She didn't want this marriage, I'm glad she found happiness with you outside these walls at the very least. She always acted like a trapped canary." He answered back, not looking me directly in the eyes.
He was lying, about what I wasn't sure but I knew with time all things eventually come to light.
"Do you like the necklace?" He asked changing the subject.
"Of course, it's beautiful, you'll have to thank them for me." I responded maintaining etiquette.
"You can thank their prince yourself at your ball, I've sent them an invite so the princes should attend." He answered me quickly, as though he'd been hoping for that response. I resisted the urge to cringe, was he hoping to rekindle the engagement now that I was home?
"Your birthday ball is going to be exquisite, I've hired all the best musicians from Alabast and mages from Takor are coming to put on a light show to commemorate your return. The whole kingdom is coming!" He spoke with enthusiasm.
I had a hard time reciprocating the feeling, but the idea of seeing people from Alabast brightened my spirits significantly.
"Thank you father, I can't wait. When are you holding the ball?" I asked graciously.
"In three days, until then I have a seamstress coming in to design you the perfect gown for the occasion."
I couldn't help the shudder that shook my spine as I began to see the gears turning in my father's mind, his appraisal of my worth as a tool for political advancement.
Mik escorted me directly back into my room from the meeting where I was to wait for the seamstress to show. Afterwards Mik was to train me in the courtyard, my father was from Yuto which meant he expected me to be not only a princess but also a warrior. As it stood, I was a wonderful tactician and a scholar. I could even slip around people nearly unnoticed most of the time, but outside of some defensive maneuvers I'd learned growing up from clients in exchange for my services as a healer -I was no warrior.
I'd never expected to be kept waiting as a princess, but I sat there for two hours before the seamstress showed up at my door with her entourage. She was a short stocky woman, who much to my amusement wore pants and a blouse. Looking at her, you wouldn't think she even owned a dress but here I was putting my debut as a princess in her hands.
"Don't slouch child." She lectured me as she took my measurements.
"Do you have any color preferences?" She asked me kindly.
"No, not really. I would prefer not to wear red, but otherwise I'll wear what ever." I responded calmly, trying to swat her hand away from my thigh.
"Red's a horribly dramatic color, and you're already a sight without it." She responded, quickly rewinding her measuring tape and writing down her findings.
"I'll have something for you to try on tomorrow morning before breakfast, until then Princess." She spoke with authority, before marching out of my room. I could help but shake my head at her departure.
Stepping down from the stool, I made my way quickly into my dressing room. Estelle had thoughtfully laid out a set of pants and a blouse for me to train in. Quickly I slipped them on and then went in to wake Isobel.
She was still snoring soundly and I had to hand it to her; she wasn't a morning person. Sitting down on the bed next to her, I gently brushed aside the hairs on her face before shaking her shoulder.
"Time to get up sleepy head, it's almost time for lunch and I had Mik arrange for your first piano lesson in an hour." I murmured to her, watching as her eyes opened and she stretched like a cat.
"Piano lesson? Really?" She asked, overlooking the first half of my sentence and I couldn't help but laugh.
"Yes really, the castle apparently has someone on staff who offers lessons. So you had better get yourself cleaned up and ready by the time he arrives." I answered, poking her in the cheek.
Those were apparently the magic words because she nearly leaped out of bed and rushed into the bashroom before I even had a chance to tell her the new tutor's name.
Laughing lightly, I slipped out of my room with instructions to Estelle to bring her breakfast and stay with her during the lesson. While I was home, I still wouldn't trust a stranger I hadn't met with Isobel alone and having another woman in the room made me feel slightly more secure about the arrangement.
I found the courtyard where Mik was waiting easily enough, and I was surprised to find another eight warriors lined up to his right. He had mentionned being the head of the royal guard, so I suppose it was silly of me to assume our training would be private but having an audience was enough to let a pit form in my stomach.
Taking a deep breath, I called out to get his attention.