"Stand up straight!" The first words I hear from my loving mother as I walk towards the carriage.
"Why can we not walk to the harbour?"
"Walk?!" mother puy an appalling hand to her chest and gasped, "Why, women of our standards do not walk such distances and not in the filth!"
I knew that she would not walk, but I had to ask. I don't like being taken everywhere like I do not know how to use my own legs. I wanted to be out with the people, to actually feel like one of them, talk with them, understand them; but that was not the way of a society lady unfortuneately.
As we got closer to the harbour the noise got louder, so many people, the harbour is my favorite place and mothers most hated. There are so many different people here from all around, if only I was able to talk to them, learn from them. My mother thinks that anything different is evil, sent by the god Nescae himself. Nescae is the god of all wickedness is Roscrean, sometimes I think mother is one of his people. I love my mother, but it is not a love that most mothers share with their daughters.
"Ahah! we've made it just in time" my mother was peering descretely out the window, "they are just pulling tino port, meaning we do not have to wait in this infernal place long."
"Why couldn't they be late?" I thought to myself, "I could have observed more."
The driver stoped the carriage and jumped down from his seat to open the carriage door, then he gently held out his hand to my mother and helped her out, then to me as well. I smiled at Crete and whispered a thank-you. Crete had been in our service since he was eleven, and I very much liked to talk with him and listen to his stories. Mother and I started walking to the waiting line just by the dock where the ship would stop.
The ships beauty took my breath away; it was long and wide, for carrying cargo I assume, but it was also built to withstand they many different dangers of the waters. There were carvings of symbols and pictures all over the hull, along with writting in Akiviri, but with the very little of the language I know, I could not read it.
"Now stand up straight," my mother said to me sternly, "We need to show these...people..what civilized looks like."
I knew better than to relaliate, so I straightend my back and shook by braids so that they sat like little water falls on my shoulders. I was so exicted to see these people, I heard that they have warriors that are so fierce and deadly that only a small group of them can take out a whole army! I also heard that the Gifts were not frowned upon in the people, they were free to practice them. I wish I had that. Much to my mothers dislike, I have one of the Gifts that are forbidden in Roscrea. Alteration.
****************************************************************************
My head was swarming with the many sounds of the harbour, so many people, and they all looked so different. I was so busy with obsorbing everything around me that I did not notice that we stoped.
"Hello Lady Paken, you look lovely," said Captain.
"Good after noon gentlemen," Lady Paken replied with a slight curtsy to her figure. She was a remarkable looking lady, she wore a gown in the color of deep purple, that made her look thinner than she really was. Her hair was done up in an elaborat pile on the top of her head decorated with tiny pearls, this was to portray her as a higher class. Her smile did not quite connect with her green eyes. While looking at this lady I almost did not see the younger one standing beside her. She looked bout my age. She wore a simpler gown than the other women in the color of dark emerald, the cuffs and the neckline, which came to a Vshape point near her lower chest, had gold waves dancing with rapture. Her hair was in small braids that flowed like water down to her waist, and her eyes, oh the eyes I loved the most, they were a light brown, but looked green when the noon sun hit them, you could see the recklesness in them, the excitement and joy! Though as well, if you looked close enough you could see a longing for something, almost sadness or loneliness. I couldn't explain why, but I wanted to be close to her, feel her joy, and show her that she doesnt have to be lonely anymore.
"Who is the younger women?" I asked the Akedo warrior to the right of the sprawn. He looked startled.
"Its alright, you may speak."
The man exhaled and said quietly, " That is the youngest daughter of Govenor General and Lady Paken.
"What is her name?"
"Her name be Adelhaide, an interesting character that one."
My intrest was now hightened, "Why do you say this?"
"She is stronger than most women, and she does not like to be the lady that her mother wants her to be. If it was up to her she would be out hunting and fighting like men."
"Thank you." I settled back into my chair and thought, but all my thoughts went back to those hazel eyes and beautiful smile."What is it about you I find so enthralling?" I muttered to myself as I looked at her again. "Oh if only you could look at me with your eyes of joy."
Their home was called a "manor", It was quite simple to what I am used to seeing, but it was nice. It was three levels with many windows made out of a ember red brick, which seemed to give it its name of "Ember Manor". The sprawn was carried throught the front gardens of the house, a small line of trees made a pathway towards a small court yard; it was so different, there were so many different flowers in colors that i'd never seen before. You could tell that it was taken care of with loving hands everyday, for it looked lush and every plant seemed to reach for the brilliant sun and sky with happiness. When we came into the court yard the captain came and held up the curtain of the sprawn, I slowly emerged from its protective castings, feeling exposed to these strange people. Drawing myself upwards, I held my head high and andressed Lady Paken with a short bow of the head; then I turned to the young Lady Paken, Adedlhaide, and bowed more with my back than my head, trying to catch her eye. Adelhaide seemed shy for she curtsied without taking her eyes from the ground.
"Shall we go inside for some refreshments?" asked Lady Paken, "I'm sure you must be wanting to sit and rest after your travels."
"Thank you for your kindness m'lady," replied the captain.
Since I didn't know how to adress these people, I stayed silent and took in every detail of their home. The floor shined like a gray mirror making the light coming in from the high arched windows dance in brilliance. There were portraits everywhere, some lady's with sour looks on their faces and young and old men in military clothing. We walked into the parlour where there was a large fire place, a large buffet window, sitting chairs, a small table with an what looked like to be a kind bisscuit, and a large portrait above the fire place. The captain motioned for me to take a seat, I chose to sit on the two person bench closest to the window. When everyone had taken their seats, Adelhaide sitting on the window seat to my right, Lady Paken rang a little bell. Two young women came rushing into the room caring trays and placed them on the small table infront of their lady.
"What do you take in your tea prince Kieji?"
Adelhaides head shot up quickly and her eyes focussed on me in surprise, I took a sideways glance at her and she quickly resumed looking into her lap.
"Thank you m'lady, but I will have no tea." I didn't like tea, at least their tea, it was bitter, could be the reason most people have sour looks on their faces in this country.
"Would you like some other reefreshment then?"
"If I may, I would much like a glass of water." At that lady Paken picked the bell up again and was just about to ring it when interrupted by a musical voice.
"Sahara is busy mother, please, I will get him his water," she stood and quitely walked out of the room.
"You have a very beautiful daughter lady Paken," I said still staring at the door she dissapeared through.
"well of course I do!" she exclaimed.
"A prince? I did not know that the young man was a prince, a nobleman of his people maybe, but a prince! Why did mother not tell me?" I thought to myself. When I entered the kitchen I asked Menick to send my mother a message that I needed to speak with her for a moment. While I waited I got a large crystal glass and poured water fromt the pitcher into it, then I cut a piece of lime and squezed a couple drops of its juice into it. I heard my mothers high heelded shoes march into the kitchen.
"What is it Adelhaide? You know that it is rude to leave guests to themselves!" she scolded.
"Why did you not tell me that we are entertaining a prince?"
"You needed not know," she said in a matter of fact tone.
"Mother, I am old enough to know such things, I am no longer a child that gets kept in the dark."
"If you really think so," she looked past me, I was furriated. How dare she still treat me like a child! "Young prince kieji is at the age of twenty and one, he rules I think two or three provinces in his country. He is the youngest of his fathers sons and is here to make sure that our trade agreement goes through properly. Now if you excuse me, I must go back to OUR guests." and with that she marched out of the kitchen.
"Why can we not walk to the harbour?"
"Walk?!" mother puy an appalling hand to her chest and gasped, "Why, women of our standards do not walk such distances and not in the filth!"
I knew that she would not walk, but I had to ask. I don't like being taken everywhere like I do not know how to use my own legs. I wanted to be out with the people, to actually feel like one of them, talk with them, understand them; but that was not the way of a society lady unfortuneately.
As we got closer to the harbour the noise got louder, so many people, the harbour is my favorite place and mothers most hated. There are so many different people here from all around, if only I was able to talk to them, learn from them. My mother thinks that anything different is evil, sent by the god Nescae himself. Nescae is the god of all wickedness is Roscrean, sometimes I think mother is one of his people. I love my mother, but it is not a love that most mothers share with their daughters.
"Ahah! we've made it just in time" my mother was peering descretely out the window, "they are just pulling tino port, meaning we do not have to wait in this infernal place long."
"Why couldn't they be late?" I thought to myself, "I could have observed more."
The driver stoped the carriage and jumped down from his seat to open the carriage door, then he gently held out his hand to my mother and helped her out, then to me as well. I smiled at Crete and whispered a thank-you. Crete had been in our service since he was eleven, and I very much liked to talk with him and listen to his stories. Mother and I started walking to the waiting line just by the dock where the ship would stop.
The ships beauty took my breath away; it was long and wide, for carrying cargo I assume, but it was also built to withstand they many different dangers of the waters. There were carvings of symbols and pictures all over the hull, along with writting in Akiviri, but with the very little of the language I know, I could not read it.
"Now stand up straight," my mother said to me sternly, "We need to show these...people..what civilized looks like."
I knew better than to relaliate, so I straightend my back and shook by braids so that they sat like little water falls on my shoulders. I was so exicted to see these people, I heard that they have warriors that are so fierce and deadly that only a small group of them can take out a whole army! I also heard that the Gifts were not frowned upon in the people, they were free to practice them. I wish I had that. Much to my mothers dislike, I have one of the Gifts that are forbidden in Roscrea. Alteration.
****************************************************************************
My head was swarming with the many sounds of the harbour, so many people, and they all looked so different. I was so busy with obsorbing everything around me that I did not notice that we stoped.
"Hello Lady Paken, you look lovely," said Captain.
"Good after noon gentlemen," Lady Paken replied with a slight curtsy to her figure. She was a remarkable looking lady, she wore a gown in the color of deep purple, that made her look thinner than she really was. Her hair was done up in an elaborat pile on the top of her head decorated with tiny pearls, this was to portray her as a higher class. Her smile did not quite connect with her green eyes. While looking at this lady I almost did not see the younger one standing beside her. She looked bout my age. She wore a simpler gown than the other women in the color of dark emerald, the cuffs and the neckline, which came to a Vshape point near her lower chest, had gold waves dancing with rapture. Her hair was in small braids that flowed like water down to her waist, and her eyes, oh the eyes I loved the most, they were a light brown, but looked green when the noon sun hit them, you could see the recklesness in them, the excitement and joy! Though as well, if you looked close enough you could see a longing for something, almost sadness or loneliness. I couldn't explain why, but I wanted to be close to her, feel her joy, and show her that she doesnt have to be lonely anymore.
"Who is the younger women?" I asked the Akedo warrior to the right of the sprawn. He looked startled.
"Its alright, you may speak."
The man exhaled and said quietly, " That is the youngest daughter of Govenor General and Lady Paken.
"What is her name?"
"Her name be Adelhaide, an interesting character that one."
My intrest was now hightened, "Why do you say this?"
"She is stronger than most women, and she does not like to be the lady that her mother wants her to be. If it was up to her she would be out hunting and fighting like men."
"Thank you." I settled back into my chair and thought, but all my thoughts went back to those hazel eyes and beautiful smile."What is it about you I find so enthralling?" I muttered to myself as I looked at her again. "Oh if only you could look at me with your eyes of joy."
Their home was called a "manor", It was quite simple to what I am used to seeing, but it was nice. It was three levels with many windows made out of a ember red brick, which seemed to give it its name of "Ember Manor". The sprawn was carried throught the front gardens of the house, a small line of trees made a pathway towards a small court yard; it was so different, there were so many different flowers in colors that i'd never seen before. You could tell that it was taken care of with loving hands everyday, for it looked lush and every plant seemed to reach for the brilliant sun and sky with happiness. When we came into the court yard the captain came and held up the curtain of the sprawn, I slowly emerged from its protective castings, feeling exposed to these strange people. Drawing myself upwards, I held my head high and andressed Lady Paken with a short bow of the head; then I turned to the young Lady Paken, Adedlhaide, and bowed more with my back than my head, trying to catch her eye. Adelhaide seemed shy for she curtsied without taking her eyes from the ground.
"Shall we go inside for some refreshments?" asked Lady Paken, "I'm sure you must be wanting to sit and rest after your travels."
"Thank you for your kindness m'lady," replied the captain.
Since I didn't know how to adress these people, I stayed silent and took in every detail of their home. The floor shined like a gray mirror making the light coming in from the high arched windows dance in brilliance. There were portraits everywhere, some lady's with sour looks on their faces and young and old men in military clothing. We walked into the parlour where there was a large fire place, a large buffet window, sitting chairs, a small table with an what looked like to be a kind bisscuit, and a large portrait above the fire place. The captain motioned for me to take a seat, I chose to sit on the two person bench closest to the window. When everyone had taken their seats, Adelhaide sitting on the window seat to my right, Lady Paken rang a little bell. Two young women came rushing into the room caring trays and placed them on the small table infront of their lady.
"What do you take in your tea prince Kieji?"
Adelhaides head shot up quickly and her eyes focussed on me in surprise, I took a sideways glance at her and she quickly resumed looking into her lap.
"Thank you m'lady, but I will have no tea." I didn't like tea, at least their tea, it was bitter, could be the reason most people have sour looks on their faces in this country.
"Would you like some other reefreshment then?"
"If I may, I would much like a glass of water." At that lady Paken picked the bell up again and was just about to ring it when interrupted by a musical voice.
"Sahara is busy mother, please, I will get him his water," she stood and quitely walked out of the room.
"You have a very beautiful daughter lady Paken," I said still staring at the door she dissapeared through.
"well of course I do!" she exclaimed.
"A prince? I did not know that the young man was a prince, a nobleman of his people maybe, but a prince! Why did mother not tell me?" I thought to myself. When I entered the kitchen I asked Menick to send my mother a message that I needed to speak with her for a moment. While I waited I got a large crystal glass and poured water fromt the pitcher into it, then I cut a piece of lime and squezed a couple drops of its juice into it. I heard my mothers high heelded shoes march into the kitchen.
"What is it Adelhaide? You know that it is rude to leave guests to themselves!" she scolded.
"Why did you not tell me that we are entertaining a prince?"
"You needed not know," she said in a matter of fact tone.
"Mother, I am old enough to know such things, I am no longer a child that gets kept in the dark."
"If you really think so," she looked past me, I was furriated. How dare she still treat me like a child! "Young prince kieji is at the age of twenty and one, he rules I think two or three provinces in his country. He is the youngest of his fathers sons and is here to make sure that our trade agreement goes through properly. Now if you excuse me, I must go back to OUR guests." and with that she marched out of the kitchen.
