(If you have not read chapter 1 or my prologue please do so now.)
Tales of Tanjia, Chapter 2 - Friends
I make sure that I have everything in order before I leave the palace for Wa'iyen-nekyevi. Any detail left unaccounted for and everything would mean chaos for at least a month. The proper channels for permission to leave the palace create a complex, repetitious process. This serving as an irritating barrier to the outside world. The idea seems to be that they hope it's too much of a bother and this no one will trouble themselves with it. To be honest, I just don't have the mind or the patience for that today. With the delivery of the proper notes and excuses for my absence done, only a few preparations remain. Inspecting my ensemble, I decide that the pale green gown that I'm wearing is just fine for my little day trip.
Stepping outside my bedchambers I can see that the servants are already rushing about. Cleaning this, and serving that, it's incredible the amount of work they do. Walking down the hall I feel the icy coolness of the marble floor pricking at my toes, still warm from the bath. The pair of servant girls I heard from my bedroom were still standing at the top of the stairs. They had piles of laundry in their hands and gossip on their lips. The two of them are infamous among the servants for spreading rumors, even Rii'ei has told me about them.
"Did you hear that the princess was bathing alone again this morning?" One of them whispered, her short, stocky frame drawing closer to her companion.
"What? Again?" The other hushed back, her bird-like nose crinkling in a sneer. "She's so odd. Everyone bathes together! There's even that enormous bathhouse exclusive to Imperials!" She wrestles one of her hands out of the heap of laundry she's carrying to give a dismissive half-shrug. "Why does she think she's so special that she needs to bathe alone? She isn't even Empress ye-"
"Good morning, Le'yil, To'lea," I said in a short tone of voice. Rather aggravated that I was their topic of gossip. "Seems like it's another busy morning for everyone. Is anything particularly interesting going on today?"
To'lea cleared her throat in an awkward manner, her round cheeks blushing violet. She struggled to bow while holding the mass of laundry. "Nothing of particular note, your Grace. Though, I did hear that the Emperor's advisors will be assembling this afternoon. They were to discuss the Eastern Territories and their mining operations."
"It'll be a long afternoon for them, then." I give a half-tilt of my head and a minuscule wave as I begin to walk past them. "I'll let you get back to work, then."
They both bow lower and speak in unison. "Thank you, Your Grace."
The floor-to-ceiling windows and polished marble staircases seem to go on forever. After a little while, I find my way to the stables. Though kept immaculate, the musty scent of hay and the stink of manure still permeates the air. I find my horse and greet her by stroking her long face, her skin like smooth silk under my fingertips. "How're you doing today, girl? Ready for a ride?" I feed her a small lump of sugar before strapping on her saddle. Such a huge creature, so strong and quick, not to mention beautiful. "Come on, Liir'a, let's go for a nice, long ride." I mount her and ride out to field to warm her up. I can hear my brothers sparring in the field across from here, they're always so loud about it. Always having to be the strongest, the fastest, or the bravest. They practice just about every sword skill and every form of martial art they can find. Without a doubt, they're skilled warriors. It's clear, though, that there's not much to them beyond those few skills they've honed.
Once I had Liir'a warmed up for the journey, I took her over to the gate. I offer the guard a note that I had taken great care in writing so that he'd allow us to ride outside of the palace grounds. He allows us to pass through and we begin our ride to Wai'iyen-nekyevi. I put on a light riding cloak that I tucked away in a compartment of Liir'a's saddle before we left. The wind is whipping at my face while we ride, and it takes us about three hours to reach the village. We finally arrive and I reward Liir'a with a bag of feed and a good rest with the other horses.
As soon as I look around, I feel like I'm home. I came here so often as a child when my grandmother would sneak me out of the palace. Maybe that's where I picked up the habit of venturing out on my own like this. I pluck a Rihani flower from a low-hanging vine and place it behind my ear. A young girl named Ta'am bumps into me while she's playing with two of her other friends. "Are you alright?" I ask. She nods before dashing off to meet her friends. The village is bursting with life today.
I start heading toward the center of the village when something hard hits the back of my head. I rub the back of my head and turn around to look at a young boy holding a slingshot. "Luano! I've told you to stop throwing rocks at people!"
He tucks the slingshot behind his back, feigning innocence. "But I didn't throw the rock, miss..." His false smile then into a smirk "This did!" he whipped the slingshot back out and shot another stone towards me, but this time I dodge it. I grab his arm and take him to his father. "Hey-! Ow! Let go, you crazy lady!" I huff and set him in front of his father.
"To'kunga, your boy has been throwing-"
"I have not!" Luano interrupts me, his arms crossed and his face flushed a shade of violet in anger. Exasperated, I let out a sigh,
"He's been throwing rocks at people again." His towering father crosses his arms over his round figure.
"Luano, I've told you that if you used your new slingshot, you had to use it where there weren't any people." He said in his deep, booming voice. The boy just makes a face, crinkling his nose in frustration.
"But that's no fun! I need somethin' to hunt!" he huffs and sits in the dust. I leave the boy to listen to his father's stern lecture.
I go over to the house of one my good friends, Nu'zuri. We've known each other since we were small. As I near her humble home I can see her husband M'tu carving some wooden project. He offers me a short nod of acknowledgment without breaking his gaze from his work. Not much of a conversationalist, that man, but he's a kind soul. I greet him and go inside. "Hello, Nu'zuri."
"Ka'asume! What brings you all the way out here?" Nu'zuri asks with a cheerful ring in her voice. A house fire blinded her when she was a baby, but she's never complained about not being able to see. She's always been a cheerful person.
"I just felt like visiting today. How are you?" I ask as I sit next to her and put my hand over hers to let her know where I was.
She turns her head toward my voice, her milky eyes looking just past me. "Oh, Ka'asume, I've been wonderful. I just found out that I'm pregnant!" I smile at her and grip her hands in excitement.
"That's wonderful, Nu'zuri! You and M'tu must be so happy!" She and her husband had been trying for hundreds of years now, but she is frail and hasn't been able to carry a child. I hope that she and her child will be safe over the next few years of her pregnancy.
"We are! If the baby is a girl, we hope to name her 'Rai'ka' and if it is a boy, we will name him 'Un'guvu.' "
"Those are wonderful names, Nu'zuri. I'm sure you'll be a wonderful mother."
We talk for hours about how wonderful it will be for them to finally have a family. She beamed with joy throughout our entire conversation. M'tu joined us inside with his half-finished project. He served himself and Nu'zuri a drink and offered me one as well. I declined and congratulated them both again before excusing myself.
When I step outside I see that the latest hunting group is just returning. Among them is my cousin, Do'naki. After tying her Awin·da'adjii to its post and removing her hunting gear, she ran over to greet me.
"Yo! Ka'a! How have you been?" she says in a boisterous, enthusiastic manner before giving me a slap on the back.
"That nickname again, Do'naki?" She laughs and twiddles a section of her hair, the same section she'd dyed purple after taming her beast. I don't particularly like it, but it's bold, just like she is.
"Sorry, sorry. I know you feel weird about it, I just like nicknames better." She inspects one of her arrows. "Did you hear that Nu'zuri is pregnant? Isn't that great?" she says as she brushes a clump of dirt off of her knee.
"Yeah, it is," I reply. "She just told me." Do'naki sticks the arrow back in her quiver and says
"I hope that they'll both be ok." I nod
"So do I." A few of Do'naki's hunting friends start wrestling and shout for Do'naki.
"Ugh, I gotta break 'em up. I'll talk to you later, Ka'a!" she said as she ran off and showed the boys 'How a real fighter does it'. They're such a rowdy bunch, but they always seem to be having fun. I think for a moment that I should head back, but it's only two hours past noon, so staying a little longer won't hurt. I play with the little girls and talking with the older women of the village before going off to my real sanctuary. The Secret Garden. |
