(If you have not read my prologue or previous chapters, please do so now.)

Tales of Tanjia, Chapter 6 - Parents and Preparations

  I immediately felt anxious knowing that our father had called us to the throne chambers. I sincerely hope that he didn't find out about my leaving the palace and staying overnight with a stranger. Though nothing disgraceful happened, almost anyone would take the situation out of context, but my father would blow it so out of proportion that I have no idea as to exactly what he would do. I take a breath, though not too deep to be noticable, before answering my brothers. "We best not keep father waiting, then. You know how he gets." Both of my twin brothers nod quickly before turning toward my door to leave. They decide to race each other to the doors of the throne chambers. As princes, you would think that they would be more mature, but boys will be boys no matter how old or what their rank is.

   We walk -- or, rather, I walk and my brothers run down the various corridors and pathways to get to the throne chambers. The Imperial palace is immense, how so very few people get lost in here amazes me. After a while we finally arrive at the entrance to the throne chambers. The doors are very tall and made from strong, dark wood and have many metallic embelishments and designs, all of it emphasizing that inside the room behind these grand doors you would find the Emperor and Empress. In my and my younger brothers' case, our parents.

   Ma'olu and Koa stop just before running into the grand doors. Both of them arriving at the same time, and both insisting that they were there first.

   "It's clear that I'm the winner! I was the winner in our sparring session, why wouldn't I win in the race?" Ma'olu tries to stand taller than Koa even though they are exactly the same height.

  Koa refutes as he always does, "Are you blind? Of course I won our race! I've always been faster than you! You were stronger today with our sparring, but you don't always win!" he says as he sticks out his chest and tries to be taller than Ma'olu.

  "I was born first and I will always come out ahead of you!" Ma'olu puts his face close to Koa's, trying to intimidate him.

   I walk in between them, "I was firstborn and you both are being ridiculous. Now compose yourselves, you'll look like fools infront of father and mother." Koa sticks his toungue out at Ma'olu before smoothing his windblown hair. You'd think they were both ten years old! They are nearly 19,000 years old, they should at least behave as if they weren't children anymore.

   I walk up to the grand doors and the two guards standing on either side open them for me and my brothers. The throne chamber is extravagant in every way. Mile-high ornate ceilings, each of the eight walls are lavishly decorated with precious metals and many, many gemstones and tapestries. On the north-facing wall is where the thrones are placed. Both thrones are grand, but they are very different from each other. The throne for the Emperor is very large -- but not so large as to dwarf the Emperor -- and has a very masculine shape with several square and octagonal jewels of varrying colors. The throne for the Empress is slightly smaller than the Emperor's throne, though still impressive, and has a swooping, feminine shape with oval and pear-shaped jewels decorating it.

   Me and my brothers stand before our parents. Our mother, who is naturally quite beautiful, is very painted and overextravagantly dressed again as she always is. I never understood why she liked to look that way, but I'm not very much like her. Father looks down on all of us from his high throne, his disapproving sneer is as noticable as the silver streak in his inky black hair. With his broad, strong shoulders and powerful frame he is intimidating, even without adding in the ferocity of his temper and god complex. We kneel out of respect of our father's postiton as he speaks with his purposely intimidating tone.

   "The alignment of Ki'konia and I'Ono will take place in a few short months," his strong, deep voice booms and echoes throughout the large room and he holds his chin up higher, emphasizing his sneer further, "and several cities have started preparations for the festival. This alignment, the Imperial family will be overseeing the preaprations in Taj'erii City. We leave for Taj'erii in two days. You are dismissed." He sits down and props his feet on the embroidered ottoman set before his throne and we leave.

   Ma'olu and Koa are particularly excited about the location we will be in for the festival. Taj'erii City is an amzing city, mostly because of it's location. Taj'erii City is a submerged city, using an energy sheild to keep the surrounding water from drowning the city and its inhabitants. It will be raised out of the water during the alignment of Ki'konia and I'Ono. It is one of the largest cities on the planet and it is very modern and beautiful. I'm excited about going, but my brothers are far more entusiastic than I am.

   My brothers and I part ways and go to our separate rooms. When I get inside my room, Rii'ei is waiting for me. She greets me with her soft voice, which always has a hint of her timidness. "I trust that everything is all right...? You were called to the throne chambers just after your lessons..."

   "Yes, I was, but everything is fine. We will be going to Taj'erii city in two days to oversee preparations for the festival." I give her a reassuring smile and pat her shoulder as I go over to my balcony and look out on the beautiful landscape.

   "I hope you have a pleasant trip then..."

   I turn to look at her, "You don't think I would leave you here all alone, do you?" I giggle a little as I go over to her and stroke the piece of her hair I braided earlier, "I'd be lonely if you weren't with me, and you didn't get to go last time because the festival was held here at the palace. I want you to be able to see it this time." Because the festival was held on the palace grounds and because Rii'ei is my personal handmaiden, my father wouldn't let her attend the festival being held outside.

   "You're too kind to me, miss." She starts fingering her wrist, her nervous habit, and looks away. "But thank you. I appreciate your kindness more than you know." I'm sure that's true, but I have some idea. Rii'ei is so delicate and sensitive, I'm glad she was given to me and not to my mother, who would complain, yell and whine about the smallest mistake. My mother is vain and unforgiving, though I wonder somtimes if that attitude is only to keep my father interested in her.

   I walk over to my massive walk-in closet and open its doors, revealing the beautiful walls of white shelves and the hundreds of garments that rest on them. "Will you help me decide what to bring for the trip?" Rii'ei nods and helps me chose my wardrobe for the next few months. I will miss the palace and the freedom to leave without being noticed while I'm in Taj'erii City, but I look forward to the change of pace.

   Early the next morning I take a walk in the palace garden. The sun is just rising by the time I finish decending the enormous marble staircase and the pavement is still moist with dew. Sunrise is one of my favorite times of day because everything is fresh and new for the coming day. The palace garden is a mix of stone and living flora and fauna. There are many stone pillars and fountains among the lush plants. Rihani flowers bloom on one of the pillars that a vine had found a home with. The palace garden is beautiful, but I don't think anything compares with the beauty of the Hidden Garden that the Protectors have built over the myriads of millenia that we have been protecting this world.

   I finish my walk around the palace gardens and courtyards before returning to my room and relaxing in a scented bath. The hot water and relaxing floral aroma sooth my aching muscles and ease my mind. As I was walking back to my room so many of the palace servants were buzzing about, getting ready for tomorrows departure. I feel sorry that I can't help them, but my mind is on other matters. Spending the next few months in Taj'erii City will not exactly be a vacation. The Imperial family is to oversee the preparations for the festival, and even though I won't be a huge part in that, I will be in closer proximity to my father in that time. Something I don't want to do. It is not my opinion when I say that my father hates me, he has said it openly and has expressed that to me verbally and physically in ways I take care to not remember too often. The scars on my back still ache from the priavte "lessons" he gave me just after my brothers were born. He wants me to give up my birthright to succeed him when I come of age and give it to my brothers, but I refuse to do that. It has been the law since the ancient times that the firstborn of the Emperor, be the child male or female, should succeed him when the child comes to full adulthood. And I intend to end my father's tyranny when that time comes.

   Letting the water and fragrant oils soak my body, I try to let my cares wash away. I could have stayed in that wonderful bath for hours, but I started to wonder if Rii'ei thinks I've drowned. I laugh to myself and get out of my tub, dry myself with my power and dress myself for the day. My tutor was kind enough to let me study on my own today because of all the chaos going on at the moment, so I studied the traditions of the alignment festival quietly in my room, which was very nice to be able to do. Before I knew it, it was evening and I was called to the dining hall for dinner. I change into a more formal dress before going down to the dining hall because I'm not exactly sure who I'll be dining with. Sometimes it's just me and my brothers, or there are several people from the court having dinner with us.

   The dining group tonight was fairly small, only me, my brothers, my governess and a few others. Everyone was talking about the coming festival, musing about how wonderful it is that it will be held in Taj'erii City this time. I just quietly ate my meal and listened, I wasn't in much mood for talking and I was fairly tired. After diner was over we all wished each other a good night's rest before going back to our bed chambers. At first I was hesitant to sleep, fearing that my nightmare from the night before last would play in my sleep again, but eventually tireness got the best of me and I slept soundly the entire night.

   Waking to the sound of servants rushing about again, I sit up in my bed and stretch and get up to wash my face. Today we leave for Taj'erii City and everyone is excited. I'm happy that I get to bring Rii'ei along, because she didn't get to attend the festival last time. I put on one of my more comfortable dresses because we will be travelling for quite a while today. I read more about the festival and its traditions and then I'm led by one of the guards down to where our transport to Taj'erii City is. It is an elegant vehicle that hovers above ground and easily can become an underwater vessel once we reach the area where Taj'erii City is submerged. I am helped in by the guard and put in the same car as my brothers, who are very excited about the festival.

   Once everyone who is travelling with us is abord the vessel we set off for Taj'erii City.