Aethan

My people lived for courtesies, they lined the streets and called out for my good health and happy marriage wherever the carriage went. And what were they asking in return?

‘Marry the Southern Prince, so that our sons and daughters don't have to go to war. Marry the Prince and put an end to the countless failures at the hands of your father to end bloodshed. Cleanse the blood off your hands and do your duty.’

It was a fair trade from their perspective.

My honour for their lives. As prince I had resigned myself to marrying for the realm before. But I had always thought that when the time came that my father would find some well dowried lady in the court to become my bride and that would be that. I never could have conceived the insult of being given to a male.

Nor could have anticipated ever leaving my homeland to marry the prince of the enemy forces.

But then I hadn't thought Aella would've died either.

When the carriage stopped I knew it was time. I handled the seams of the dress and avoided touching the gems as if they were live coals. I forced the beaming smile to take over my face as I schooled my features into utter compliance.

"Are you with me, my daughter?" My father was asking more in those words than he had ever asked me in my life. He held out a hand with which he meant to escort me to the platform.

Would I throw in my lot with him? Would I deceive two nations; my home and a strange land? Would I become part of his web and trap him new prey?

And did I even have a choice? I asked my mother for forgiveness before agreeing. I took his hand, looking at the faces of my people, "I'm ready, father."

He said not a word. The doors opened, letting in strong rays of sunlight that caught in the gems of my garment and cascaded all around me in red streaks. My hair fell past my shoulders and my eyes had been dotted with the tear drop vidwa from the day before.

Left foot first, breast up and eyes fixed ahead I pressed ahead hand in hand with the last man I ever wanted to touch.

The crowd was formidable, but at this moment if I had decided to speak everyone would have heard me. They sank to their knees and bowed their heads, waiting silently to be acknowledged by me.

I gestured as I had been taught by Mirax. A deliberate hand movement that wiped my knees and gestured up towards my breast.

As I passed them the people rose one after the other and averted their eyes from my face. They were a people well bred, knowing to look once and politely look away as if the brilliance of royalty would blind them like the sun.

When I finally reached the elevated platform I let my father sit on the large dais while I took a seat just in front of him facing the crowd, crossing my left leg in front of me in a way that made the material of the dress part to reveal a bit of my leg.

The limb looked strange to my eyes, shaved and waxed, it shone in its smoothness and was quite as shapely as any lady's. I found myself marveling at Mirax's handiwork, in just a few days they had turned me into a woman. Just like that.

I smiled and rose my hands towards the ceremonial governor. I didn’t recognize the squatty man with greying whiskers, he was probably some high-to-do at court that had gained my father’s favor. He would lead the people in their performances and gift making for today. When he clapped twice the square erupted into joyful noises and lights, and the people could no longer be recognized as they lost a measure of civility. The energies in the air hummed and the thrum of a beating drum drove a pulse into my veins.

Fragrances wafted towards me, bathing me in lavender and berry brush and other floral scents. Wine was offered and dances began to break out all around the platform before I could properly blink seven times.

So this was the capital city's revelries. It was madness. Contained and sanctioned, but madness all the same.

Behind me I could just barely make out my father gesturing to his guards to surround the platform. I understood that he would not risk my life. Children did not grow on trees after all, unfortunately for him.

I slowly became conscious of the various court members as they arrived and mingled. A few came close enough for a bow and greeting. It was only my aunt, Lady Eva of Luviere that came close enough to hug me to her chest, “Glad you came to your senses,” she said into my ears as she hugged me, “Marriage can’t possibly be that bad. Do it for the kingdom, love. I’ll always be here to support you.”

After mom died I lost considerable love for Lady Eva even though they looked so similar. Grandfather, Lord Ceylon came next and I rose to hug him instead. His limbs were still strong. “You’re a jewel, Aella. If that southern bastard doesn’t treat you right I’ll be on the first ship over there to give him the beating his father should’ve given him as a whelp.”

I still had affection for grandfather though. Lady Eva behaved as if she was the queen ever since we buried mother. I’d even found her once in mother’s old chambers, wearing the official crown of the queen. Aella and I had never told father, but we never forgave. Nor did we forget.

I used to wonder why my father didn't remarry, but then I was made to understand by Lumen and Virax that he had actually loved my mother. There was no other for him. This was the news anyway, and even Aella seemed to believe it. Seeing him now, with his thirst for power and possessions I was beginning to form my own conclusions. Nothing would ever satisfy my father, but that didn’t mean that he had stopped trying.

"A gift," one of the lords had approached my throne and laid a carved ivory box at my feet, "To remind you of the homeland that nurtured you. On days you are homesick, it will bring peace to your heart, your majesty." This man of thin grey hair that grew even from his ears meant well enough. He opened the little box to reveal twin bracelets of gold and silver. The carvings that ran along the inside and exterior began with thorns, morphed into roses, displayed the most famous of our beasts, the python and elephant, and became flames when it reached full circle. It was beautiful craftwork. And likely cost a fortune.

I reached down and accepted one of the bracelets in my hands, pressing it to my lips once in a sign of acceptance, "Thank you Lord Adanto, It is beautiful craftsmanship."

First gift down, no less than three hundred remaining, and that didn't take into account the rich merchants or generous common folk. This would be a tiring ordeal indeed.

A good many persons stepped forward, next I received a dozen fans each more ornate than the one preceding it, several horses and carriages, stunning crafts of wood, bone, ivory, silver and gold furnishings, among other fineries. I slowly wearied of the entire proceeding.

Pangs of guilt assaulted my heart. These were the gifts owed to my sister, given to appease her soul in a strange land. But she was going nowhere now, instead she lay in a commoner's grave, unidentified and unmourned while I received her bridal gifts. Life and death were both unfair.

Lord Kanta, my uncle, came next with his sons Roni and Ronald. They gave the customary bow before approaching. I wondered quickly if any of them knew the truth about Aella, or if my father was so paranoid that even his brother was left out.

“Princess,” Kanto came near and dropped a kiss on the back of my hand, “I’ll miss you at the councils.”

Really? From what I’d heard Aella and Lord Kanto disagreed the most when compared with other lords of the council. I smiled, “I’m sure you’ll find a way to go on, uncle,” I said it teasingly.

Roni and Ronald were holding something as they approached. Kanta spoke again, “These are oils and fragrances from the Eastern Isles and the Great plains. The handmaidens of my late wife have assured me of its… potency. A gift to help you win favor with the southern prince.”

Inwardly I rolled my eyes at the slight. It was petty and ill-conceived, but that was Lord Kanta for you. I accepted his gift just to get him to go away faster.

Finally with him gone I gestured to one of the guards, alerting him of my desire to leave as soon as possible.

“No your royal highness,” one of them responded, an elite named Farosh.

I narrowed my eyes at him, “Why not?”

“The king has commanded that we not escort you back until the festival is concluded. He is adamant that you receive the gifts personally, your grace.”

Of course he did. He didn’t want any suspicions raised at all about Aella’s disappearance for three weeks. He wanted people to see me for themselves for as long as possible. Meanwhile he was nowhere to be found. The king was probably off threatening some lord to give up a prime part of his hunting grounds.

I sincerely hoped it was one of the lords of the winter court, they at least had a reputation of thwarting the king with the support of Archduke Nario.

The festival dragged on until my attention was drawn by a disturbance in the crowd. Several guards rushed forward and before I knew it a small boy was held at sword point. Before thinking I was already ordering them not to harm the boy.

In my haste I had sounded a few octaves deeper than appropriate so I repeated the order, this time with proper decorum and charm.

The boy had halted, eyes registering fear and his little body trembling. In his hands he held something I could scarcely guess at. It was a little package, but well wrapped, it could sit on his palms.

Finally Farosh relayed my order and the guards relaxed, leading the boy up to the dais and placing him before me. The small figure fell to his knees still trembling and refused to look up as he bowed and rose his palm up with the gift.

How could they treat him this way? For sure he did not look like the usual person offering a gift but he clearly meant no harm. I approached the boy despite the low warning I received from Farosh.

“He’s a child,” I snapped, “If I can’t protect myself from a child I don’t deserve to be princess.” I turned back my attention to the boy and addressed him, “It’s okay, you can stop bowing now. They won’t harm you.”

He rose a small cherubic face out of his garment tentatively and rose his offering to the level of his eyes. His mouth moved as if he was speaking but no words came.

"Greetings, little boy," I returned politely using the phrase ‘Ul’riban’ that meant 'little brother', and took his hands in my own under the package. "You were very brave, just now."

His face was gaunt and his eyes peered out from heavyset brows and a face covered in muddy marks. I wondered where he was from. Were his parents around? By the looks of it he was half-starved and about the size of a rake. He looked like nothing that would have passed to get into the celebration. Perhaps he had just slipped in unnoticed.

He smiled under all that dirt, teeth flashing in contrast to his reddish, burnt skin, "For… you… prince-cess." His language was broken, but still formal, as if he had just learned how to make an offering.

The little box was brown and wrapped in green paper, like leaves. It was pretty in its simplicity, and curiousity gripped me as I accepted the gift, opening the small lid.

I gasped before I realised it. There, lying on the base of the box was a miniature anchor on a silver chain, perfectly mimicking Gorma’s symbol. I had given Aella one just like it. I took the chain in my hands, examining it closely, before realizing that the box still held something else. A small note on rough paper.

A note? I opened it discreetly, reading the words three times without understanding. Then I felt my breath leave me and my heart raced.

It read a quick message: "Eat this. I'm alive."

Quickly I put the note in the same hand as the necklace and rose the gift to my lips, taking the note in my mouth quickly and placing it at the roof of my mouth.

I knew exactly who sent it.

*******

I retained the boy who had brought the note, claiming that I had a gift for him in return. It was not the place or time for a scene. By morning I was to depart for the South, and my sister was alive, out there somewhere. I had to find her.

Many a times as we sent each other notes we demanded that they be destroyed right after. Sometimes it involved swallowing the note if it meant real trouble and we had no way else to ensure we would not be discovered. No one but Aella would have known to tell me this, knowing she would be obeyed.

But it was not enough to know she was alive. I had to find out more. Where was she? Was she captive? Did my father know? Besides everything else I needed answers, because I was about to marry her betrothed, a man, and the future king of the Southern Kingdom. This would not be necessary if she were still here.

I turned the anchor over and over in my hand and agonized over whether I should tell my father, or not. But I knew that to tell him would mean trouble. Whether he knew she was alive or not would mean nothing good. And now that he knew the prince was a briolk, there was a distinct possibility that I would still be made to marry him anyway, and Aella, if she had run away, would be recaptured and punished. I could not betray Aella whether knowingly or in ignorance.

The boy returned with me and my guard, then stayed in the outer room as I changed out of ceremonial garments and back into comfortable, yet feminine clothes. I kept my hair exactly how it was styled before, knowing that Mirax would have me punished if I had taken it out myself. He was very particular about his handiwork after all, I dared not touch it. Then when I felt sufficiently composed I left my chambers to go out to the boy.

Did he know who had given him the note for me? How could he risk his life for it? Could he tell me where Aella was or was he just a pawn? Either way, he was the best bet to tell me anything about her.

Aella and I had spent a great deal of our childhood on ships. Her anchor was dear to her for more reasons than one. Sending it with the note was her final seal to reassure me it was her. No one else could’ve been responsible for it.

The boy was crouching to examine the underside of the table in Aella's room, seeming to find it interesting.

"Is there something you like about it?" I asked him and he started abruptly.

He shook his head and his eyes grew frightened.

I sighed, it would not do for the boy to fear me. He would tell me nothing if he felt threatened.

I went over to him, crouching beside him on the floor and looking at the underside of the table. The swirling patterns had ridges that sparkled with a kind of stone that glowed in darkness. Perhaps that was what had captured his eyes. I knew this stone well. They were in many places back in Gorma. We called them 'Trealia', meaning 'crab guides', because the crabs followed and clustered around them perhaps for the light. Fishermen always knew where to find the best crabs based on the lights alone. Crab hunting was best at night.

I smiled at the boy, "You like the trealia, do you? Are you a sailor boy?"

He shook his head.

"You've never seen them before?" He shook his head meaning yes, they were probably in the marketplaces here. What was wrong, where was all the bravery of before? Why wouldn't he speak? "Can you tell me something?" Silence. I went on. "Where did you get the gift from?"

He looked up at me and smiled shyly, then rose his hands. He opened one hand over the other as if he was holding something in it and placing it in the other. Then brought the receiving hand to his chest.

"Someone gave it to you? For me? Who?"

He gave another shy smile, cheeks reddening even under his burnt skin. Then he looked up and opened his mouth exaggeratedly wide, mouthing words and seeming to scream somehow.

I felt a frown settle on my brows. I had heard of the silent children, but I was sure that I had heard him speak. I remembered how he had greeted me in broken Gracian.

His words had been malformed. But I had attributed it to his age, an adorable mixing of words. But maybe he really was a silent child. So who had taught him to speak his greeting?

He touched my wrist, drawing my eyes back to him, then started to draw patterns in my skin. I followed his movements, eyes never leaving the tip of his fingers and imagining lines where they made passage.

He drew the outlines of a house, with a single door and one window at the top floor.

"You want to go home?" I guessed.

He shook his head frantically, grey eyes retreating once more like a crab in its shell. He drew a quick 'x' on his house that he drew on my hand. "So you don't want to go home..." This time he smiled and nodded. "You have to go back, won't your mama worry about you?"

He seemed agitated now, drawing furious little stick figures on my forearm, many little boys and girls.

"A children home?" He drew an x on all of their mouths. "For silent children?" He nodded then sat on the floor, looking at the trealia again.

So he was an orphan... But how would he get the chain from my sister? "Who took you from the children's home?"

He shook his head and rose his shoulders, tapping me on the knee before bowing. He seemed to fear that I would think that he was hitting me so I took his hands on mine, stroking the palms soothingly, "It is okay. You didn't hurt me. But can you show me where you came from?"

He eyes shadowed again. It was clear that he did not want to go back there again. But he had to go back, I would be severely punished if I took a child from the homeland without asking a single question. I tried to be gentle, "Little brother, I am going away and over the rivers tomorrow, then many miles over to a land of people that killed many of my people. People like your papa and mama..."

He looked at me with a new intensity, then drew on my hand; one stick figure wearing a dress and a smaller one holding her hand and following.

He certainly had made up his mind. The boy pressed a hand to my forehead then touched his own forehead. Me and you.

This small body had already comforted my heart. First with his message then now by his trust in me. I sorely wanted to take him with me in that moment.

"Okay. We will come back here to the palace together. But you must help me find the place where you were taken from. Was it a woman that took you?"

He frowned, thinking, then finally nodded. Then he showed that something was covering over the mouth and over the hair. If it really was Aella then she had worn a disguise.

"Will you take me there? I need to know something... I need to know if my sister is near."