Disclaimer: I don't own this.
Summary: A legend; a story…it was a once upon a time. A long time ago there was a family: a father and a mother and two daughters, Thaya and Keladry. This is a tale of the hidden past of Keladry of Mindelan, the Protector of the Small.
Title:Killer Instincts
Chapter 1: An Empire Afloat on an Ocean
Once upon a time there was an empire that strode tall on an island, which stood afloat on the deep ocean blue. Standing on top of a mountain, a sun will seek to please the colours of the eyes that wonder and ponder and watch it. Among the leafy greens and cool barks stand the army of roots, vines and trees that stand guard of the palace and its people. And on this island, the Empire that stands afloat on the ocean is the people, the Yamani. Across their small world were Copper Isles, Scanra, Tortall, Tyra, Tusaine, Galla, and Carthak, and more; but in this perfect world, what can exist to make this world cease from existence?
This is a tale; a telltale that many have heard and that none could forget…a story about a legend being born. It is about a family, who were once a happy family; that was, until jealousy came into play—along with greed, secrets, lies, affairs, evil schemes and murder.
Keladry fell to the ground, her knees and hands scraped and her silk material torn. Her hazel-green eyes looked upward to the figure hovering over her.
" Keladry, why do you always do this?" asked her sister, calmly.
The 12-year-old Keladry stood up and brushed the dirt off of her torn attire.
" I didn't do anything, it wasn't my fault I happened upon you doing 'appropriate' things," said Kel with sarcasm.
" Oh, hush! It's part of growing up," replied Thaya; she then let her hands go to Keladry's chest, which hadn't developed much, " but I see you haven't even accomplished half of the growing part yet."
"Ah—I'll grow when I want to, and I don't need you to touch me to tell me that. "
" What if I touch you, huh? What will you do?"
" I—"
" What will you do?" asked the 16-year-old Thaya.
Thaya slapped Kel, which let out a smacking sound while a red stain appeared on Kel's cheek. Kel held her cheek with a twitching hand; she then suddenly tackled Thaya to the ground.
Thaya pushed Kel off of her, and stood, leaving a flushed girl on the ground.
" Don't touch me, or I'll hurt you, badly," stated Thaya coldly, " and don't be jealous. Jealousy is a form of evil and shame; do not be jealous of what feminine charms I have and what men you do not have. Understood? Besides, who would want you? You're too tall for your age and are built of muscles because of all your training. You look like a cow."
Keladry just watched Thaya from where she sat; the two siblings were four years apart, and were very different. Keladry was intelligent in ways of military tactics, history, literature, arithmetic, foreign affairs and strategy. Where as, Thaya was more advanced with social gatherings, etiquettes, literature, dancing, and other domestic methods and was also selfish but beautiful.
A Yamani was to be emotionless and to take whatever was given to them in silence, a nature of composure and poise and self-control. Deep emotions were regarded as shameful.
Thaya stopped talking and looked down at Keladry, " Oh, look at yourself, you don't even look like a lady, you're covered in filth. Not fit to be of royal blood. Go and clean yourself; mother and father want us to have dinner with them."
With that, Thaya walked off with a smirk into the marble palace, leaving Kel on the ground.
Keladry sighed and headed towards the palace.
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The kimonos were the Yamani robe dresses that wraps around the body and is secured in front by a stiff sash called an obi. Obis were the wide, stiff sash or band that secures a kimono around the waist. Yamanis wear ornaments on obis and tuck items such as fans into them. The kimono's sleeves are long and rectangular and that served as pockets, the Yamanis wore at least two or three kimonos, the bottom one of very light clothe.
Keladry wore an auburn outer kimono with beige maple prints upon the silk; the edges of her inner kimono were beige. The obi was also beige that secured her kimono onto her. Her hair was tied back into a bun and with a dusty pink pin to hold it up.
She sat at the table with Thaya, in a yellow and gold kimono, sitting across from her; and her mother and father sitting at the head of the table. The family was sitting in their private room with a low-set table for the four members with a window that allowed a natural world-view of the nature world.
The family had just finished their dinner and were waiting for the servants to clear the table and set it for tea. As everything settled down, the tea was poured and the screen door was slid shut. The Empress placed the china cup to her blood red lips; the Emperor sat and smoked; Thaya drank her tea; and Kel looked out the window.
The Emperor blew out the air of smoke through his lips and put his pipe down, and waited for everyone's attention.
" My wife, and my daughters…as the sun rises and sets and the years go by, there is no stopping of time…rather than just let time pass and let days go by, we should play one or two parts of our roles in life.
" Keladry, so skilled are you in the arts of combats, and as are you Thaya in the domestic life of a woman. As years go by, my age and youth will go with it."
The Empress continued, " you have no brother and we have no son and the kingdom has no male heir…and we have decided to have one of you to be the heir to the throne, and not mine or your fathers' nephews to adopt this position."
Keladry and Thaya's eyes were focused on the Emperor and Empress's faces. The two married pair, the great Emperor and his Empress; so majestic and tranquil, yet deadly in their own way. The Island knew the ways and the temper and the way of dealing with disobedience and criminals.
" In five-years time, we will decide who will become the Empress of the Yamani Island. That person will, of course, marry to whom we decide is fit to be co-ruler. But until then, we shall not speak of this and we will decide whom is fit only from our eyes," finished the Emperor.
" You are free to leave," added the Empress, ending the conversation and topic all together.
Keladry and Thaya stood up and bowed and left.
---- Five Years Later----
A curvilinear figure emerged from the water as the water droplets rolled off the body with a sense of sadness and yearning to be. The woman gasped for air and opened her dreamy hazel eyes to the world, as her hands pressed her hair against the scalp. The deity was filled with charm; her lightly tanned skin glowed. Her facial features were blessed with features of a goddess with her hazel-green eyes, small straight nose and full rosy lips. She stood for a moment before she stepped out of the water to wrap a cloth around her nude body, and sat down on a stool as a servant briskly came and dried her hair with a cloth.
The figure stood for the second servant to clothe her; the servant took off the cloth around the body and laid an auburn material on the body, instead. Her top was a half-sleeve that was off her shoulders and landed above her belly; along with a skirt that was split at the legs, which lay just below her knees followed by a gold sash at her waist, as was the gold trimming of her outfit. The servant then laid gold slippers at the feet and disappeared as another servant came in.
The figure slipped on the footwear as the third servant came up to her; she attached gold anklets and a gold manacle onto her wrist. The servant combed the brown hair and let it down loose in its natural waves, as she hooked a gold necklace on the slender neck and ruby globules on her earlobes.
The female's hourglass figure graced the dark halls that she walked, which was lit with torches; the huge double brass doors were opened on her wake as she reached them. The doors opened to a brightly lit room filled with noble people of the Island, Tortal, Isles, Scanra, Carthak and more; she stepped into the room and right before her sat the great Emperor and his Empress; so majestic and tranquil, yet deadly in his own way. The Island knew his ways, his temper and his way of dealing with disobedience and criminals. He gazed at Keladry with his honey hazel eyes, looking over her beauty and points of visible strength. As she made her way to the throne, another woman stepped in-beside her, walking towards the thrones. Both the women stepped in front of the chairs and bowed and stood up right. The woman beside Keladry was dressed in similar attire to her, except in yellow with black trimming, with chocolate brown curly hair; half fell mid-back and the other half in a messy bun, held by sharp instruments and other bits that framed her face. Her bottom lip was fuller than the top, giving her natural pouted lips, along with big golden-brown eyes and a petite nose. Her body was shaped like a goddess, no flaws that the eyes can seek.
" My daughters, Thaya and Keladry. You both look so lovely, just like your mother," began the man who sat on the throne, he smiled at the woman beside him.
The Emperor stood up and began, " My people, the people, of the Yamani Island; we have gathered here today for the pronouncement of the heir to my throne. I have no male heirs, which any blind man can see. Yet, I will not give my throne to a foreigner of this land or, of my blood.
" In my eyes, I see my children all the same, none better than the other, but as ruler I only seek to see who is fit. Of course, my daughter will marry, and as husband to one of my daughters and as Emperor will be my Advisor's son, Corlath."
" But," continued the Empress, " we will have one task left for these two women. A combat between the two, using the naginata only."
The naginata, also known as a glaive, is a pole arm, including a four-or five-foot staff capped with a long metal blade.
The Emperor and Empress stood in unison and descended down the platform, from where their thrones sat, and stood before their daughters. The guards, quietly, made room for the clash by asking the guests to move back, near the walls. Nariko, the Yamani armsmistress for the combat arts came out with two naginatas, one in each hand, and extended it to the designated fighters.
Kel and Thaya bowed and retrieved the glaive; the instructor bowed back and left; Thaya and Kel then bowed to the Emperor and Empress. They went to the opposite ends of the room, width-wise and stood ready.
" Begin," commanded the Emperor and Empress.
Keladry and Thaya circled each other, their weapons pointed at each other. Keladry then stopped and started to do a pattern dance, her glaive becoming a simple blur, her eyes closed to close off any distractions. Thaya smirked and spun the glaive above her head and forcefully brought down her glaive on Kel's. Keladry started the dance to shield herself from Thaya's blows, but finished off with a broom sweep and suddenly swept at Thaya's feet. Thaya leaped and turned her body, swinging the glaive across and towards Keladry. Keladry crouched, her hair flying behind her and sent her glaive arching up to slice Thaya. Thaya brought down her glaive to block and pushed Kel down with her foot. Keladry sprawled on the floor, and Thaya advanced upon her as Kel kept backing up.
Thaya took another step towards her and then leapt at her with her glaive poised. Keladry rolled and jumped to her feet, Thaya bounded after her and grabbed her in a bear hug, squeezing her.
" Uh uh…"whispered Thaya into her ear.
Kel gave a grunt of retort and got her right arm out and took the heel of her palm and hit Thaya's jaw; Thaya staggered back and Keladry kicked back with her leg. Thaya went sprawling onto the floor, holding her jaw. She looked up to see Keladry advancing upon her with her glaive; Thaya tried to get up, but was stopped by Keladry's foot that was on her stomach, holding her down.
Thaya grabbed hold of Kel's leg and yanked hard, bringing her down onto the cold floor and the glaive skidded away from her. Thaya rolled away and picked herself up, as did Kel; Thaya ran at Kel and dropped herself to the floor to kick the legs out beneath Kel. Kel jumped and flipped behind Thaya, using her back as support and pushed her onto the floor.
Thaya frowned and grabbed the sharp instrument that held up her hair and threw the black vine-like steel at Kel; the watching eyes of the guests, so interestingly, widened; of all people, Thaya should know she shouldn't disobey the rules of combat.
The Empress came in-between the two, she used a broadened cherry blossomed fan to catch the thin weapon and snapped it closed and steadied it upon her palm.
" Thaya," stated the Empress coldly, " that is enough."
Thaya stood up, staring with her crisp golden-brown eyes. She bowed at the Empress, then the Emperor.
" My apologizes."
" No, Thaya, the apologizes are all ours," stated the Empress, " you are done with the hostility. You should not have disobeyed the rules of combat, which we dislike."
The Emperor stepped forward and announced, " as of now, the Yamani Islands' heir to this throne is Keladry."
Keladry's dreamy, long lashed hazel eyes widened as Thaya's luring eyes narrowed at the announcement; the throne room erupted in approval.
The eyes of the Emperor and Empress rested coolly on Thaya but then moved onto Kel's face with a smile and then onto the people. Everyone seemed happy at the announcement… except Thaya.
Thaya watched everyone celebrate as she swept her gaze around the room; the corner of her lip twitched with anger.
'A Yamani was to control their emotions and become emotionless as a rock. Emotionless, indeed, I shall have to deal with Keladry, quietly…such disobedience to her elder sister will not do…'
Her scanning eyes, abruptly, settled on Corlath, whom was standing aside with his father. She smiled and winked at him, which he returned with a smirk.
Thaya smirked, and then made her way to Keladry.
" Congratulations Keladry, I'm so happy for you."
" Thank you, Thaya…I'm sorry that—"
" Nonsense, no need to apologize," Thaya interrupted, " what mines is yours, and what yours is mine…is it not?"
Keladry hesitated a bit, but smiled and replied with sarcasm, " of course, what mines is yours and what yours is mine. But, don't be too selfish."
Thaya smirked and hugged Kel; Kel let Thaya hug her, and waited for her to let go. But Thaya just hugged Kel tighter until Kel hugged her back.
" I'll try not to be too selfish… I promise," she whispered into Kel's ear.
The crowd began to settle and the Empress stood up to speak, as Keladry was about to say something back to Thaya. Thaya shushed Kel but gave her a small malevolent smile.
" The wedding will take place tomorrow in the morning, which will be followed by a feast and ball, I hope within that time you'll all enjoy your stay here in the palace. Now, my friends, about the banquet tonight!"
The Emperor clapped his hands, and a separate door off the throne room was opened to the banquet hall. The lords and ladies made their way to the food and the laughter sounded mingling between the halls.
The tables were lengthy and heightened and were arranged to seat the royalty and nobles. The Emperor and Empress sat at the head of the table; their gaze settling on everything and everyone, everything must be seen to near perfection. Emperor talked amongst his advisor and royals of the realm, while the Empress gossiped with the realm royals and ladies; Keladry sat with Thaya and Corlath, sitting in-between them, and their air filled with an unknown thing called tension.
Thaya took her hands and let her hand glide onto Corlath face; she embedded her nails into his skin, lightly, as she turned his face towards her.
" Corlath," she softly said, " I expect you to take excellent care of my sister. I would be very disappointed if you do not. But, of course, you already know that."
Keladry smirked. She remembered an event that happened some years ago, where she had caught her sister, Thaya, doing things with a boy. Although, Keladry had known who the boy was, she had not said anything even when the 'mutual' relationship continued.
Keladry looked at the boy now; he had brown hair and brown eyes and had that familiar type of face. He was handsome, no doubt; was she in love? Most likely not, but presently, she was infatuated by him. She couldn't help it, really, she couldn't. Over the years a boy name Tohya had her shyly smitten to him; in the same way, he was also lovesick, where any thoughts and feelings were correlated to Keladry. But, Tohya was married off to another girl because of family and money problems. Heartbroken? No. But…she still missed him, and then came Corlath, out of nowhere! She just noticed him, one day, and had 'fallen' for him before she realized whom he was.
Keladry let her fingertips softly trail down his neck and chest; she turned his face towards her.
" Of course he will take care of me, won't you, Corlath?" whispered Keladry, so close to his lips and her breathe thrilling him.
He stared into her eyes; in the years he had gotten to know her, he knew he loved her as a friend. And he knew that he would do anything for her. But all he has to do now is to learn how to love her as a woman, as he did Thaya.
" I will, I promise."
Keladry smiled, and let go of his face when she saw her father rise. He summoned the servants to clear the dinner and to prepare the evening hall for refreshments and a minute ball.
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The ballroom was extravagant as was everything on the Yamani Islands; the room was huge and was lit with torches that gave the peach walls and portraits a romantic air, as did the enormous glass doors and cherry blossom petals on the floor.
The floor was filled with dancing figurines that twirled and swirled to the music that was in the air, which mingled with the cherry blossom scent. The men with their perfect postures with the women with their some overflowing gowns and kimonos and jewels that glittered in the light. The cohorts of dancers swept the floor to the left and spun to the right, twirled in place and around the main couple.
Corlath and Keladry were in the middle of the ballet floor, dancing among the other couples. They were in a light embrace as they swept across the floor; all eyes fell on them as they mingled with the people but stood out as they stepped lightly with their feet; the lovely laughter of the two; and the perfect pose when the two were together. As the second dance began, Thaya stole Corlath away as the Emperor took Keladry.
The dance progressed throughout the evening, couples stepping into and out of dance for air and refreshments.
Keladry stepped aside and searched for Corlath, not seeing him made her worry and she made her way towards her mother and father.
" Father, mother, have either of you seen Corlath or Thaya?"
" No, my dear, but perhaps they are getting some fresh air," replied the Empress.
" Yes, they must be, thank you," Kel lucidly whispered with a smile.
The Empress returned a small smile.
As Keladry walked away from her parents, she thought, ' Gods of mountains and rivers, please watch over Thaya's wickedness…'
However, a scandal was forming; a jealous deity spoke a few soft words to the Emperor-to-be, and sailed away into the shadowed Royal corridors of the palace.
He pushed her against the wall, kissing her fiercely.
She moaned.
" Corlath…stop…"
Corlath covered her mouth with his, silencing her.
She pushed him off of her, " let's go to my bedroom…"
Thaya walked down the dark hallway, gracefully, leaving Corlath to follow her in the ill-lit halls and into an enormous room; she closed the door after him and advanced on him. She blew out the candle on the side table, and started to kiss him. The feel of Thaya's lips warming his made him quiver with delight. He closed his eyes and deepened the kiss.
Thaya licked his bottom lip, which he acknowledged and opened his mouth to and let her explore his mouth. He then pushed his tongue into her mouth, and let his hands wander. He placed his hand on her waist, whom she did not object to being touched to, and so he let his hands wander lower.
Thaya ran her fingers through his dark hair, and felt her be pulled closer and hips being grinded against another's. Thaya pulled away, breaking the kiss and pushed Corlath back slightly.
" What is it?" Corlath said.
" Would you do anything for me?" asked Thaya.
" Haven't I always? All you have to do is name it, and it shall be yours."
" I want to be yours…"
" I was always yours, but now—"
" I want to be yours! Do you love Keladry, then?"
" As a friend, nothing more. But, you I love, which you already know."
" I know," she stated and kissed his lips, " but I also want to be the heir to the throne, I want to be Empress!"
" Thaya…"
Thaya to Corlath, her lips brushing against his, she murmured against his lips.
" Corlath…I want to be Empress, don't you want to be Emperor along side me? I want you…and the kingdom…help me get it."
" I-I—" stuttered Corlath.
" Do you want me?"
" Yes."
" How bad do you want me?"
" Badly," he replied as he lunged for her familiar lips.
" Will you do as I say, then?"
" I—I—"
Thaya pressed against him, and bit his lower lip. The blood rushed in, making his lip bruise with her administration.
Corlath, urgently, tried to capture her lips in a kiss, muttering incoherent things as a babe begging for milk.
" I will," he simply stated in a monotone voice.
" Good," she whispered and pressed her lips against his, both falling onto the canopy bed in a heated passion.
Thaya straddled him, as started to undo the buttons of his silk butterscotch shirt.
" You will not regret your decision, Corlath, I promise."
He grunted, in response, and pulled down her face to his to silence her words so that they may move on to the more pleasurable bits and pieces of the night.
Hope you liked the first chapter of Killer Instincts. Read and Review!
- Internal Ecstasy