Eagle Spark (My Side Part II) 6- Announcements

The day passes slowly, and the ceremony is even worse. After the Royal Flight finishes their passing and loyalty swearing, I step up for my part.

"Danica Shardae, as the new Tuuli Thea, do you intend to maintain the age-old treaty that your predecessors have maintained with me and my guards?"

"Yes. I so solemnly swear to maintain the treaty and retain the capital punishment if someone breaks this treaty." according to tradition, I step forward and lightly kiss Danica's forehead, as I did her mother before her and all the way down to the beginning of this all.

I head up to Danica's room and lightly rap on the door. She answers, attempting to get into the dress she wore yesterday. I smile and help her after closing the door.

"Thank you." I nod.

"Not a problem, Shardae. Or shall I address you as Danica now? As you are the Tuuli Thea. Amara. Fetch a page and send them to bring Eleanor lyssia here."

"Of course." She leaves and Danica raises an eyebrow.

"What?"

"How did you know that I would want to speak with Eleanor?"

"I know everything. But I'll have to get ready as well. So I'll be leaving you alone once Eleanor arrives." She nods and writes a letter out. Eleanor enters the room and I smile at her. "Eleanor."

"Lady Yuuki." I nod at Danica and leave the room. I face Amara, who is waiting in the hall still.

"Tell Hal, Mary, and Janice to get ready to leave quickly. We are expected at the palace by midday." She nods and I head to my quarters. I change into my formal emerald dress and sigh to myself. This should be an interesting afternoon. After I finish changing, I head up to Danica's rooms. Eleanor is gone, and my four guards are present. "Are we ready to depart? Festival is today. You won't be missed until morning."

"Yes." We walk to the balcony and Danica goes first, changing form and resting on the rail. Mary and Janice shift next, resting on the ground to allow Amara and Hal to ride on their backs. I shift last, flying towards the forest as a signal for the others to follow. I fly in front of Danica, and the guards fly behind her. We land just inside the forest in front of the palace. We walk the rest of the way to the palace to be greeted by three female guards. We go through the halls to the audience chamber. Irene hurries over to hug me. Shm'ia quickly joins her. I nod politely to Charis and she smiles. Zane dismisses the three guards and I nod to my own. All of the guards leave the room.

"Danica, allow me to introduce Naga Charis Cobriana. And you've met my sister Irene. And this is Shm'ia, my sister in law."

"Sister-in-law?" Shm'ia curtsies to Danica.

"My mate was Gregory Cobriana. I meant to thank you for your actions the last time you were here." This information startles Danica, the way that Shm'ia so easily says that. And then her swollen belly seems to carry new meaning for Danica.

"My son speaks quite highly of you." Charis jumps in, lightening the atmosphere.

"How shortly should we expect your guards to storm the palace?"

"The Royal Flight will be informed of my whereabouts shortly before sunrise, if I have not returned by then." Adelina enters the room and I sigh tiredly.

"Zane, you are needed."

"Am I? I'd like to know what your guard needs me for at this moment."

"I need to speak with you." She amends her statement.

"You can speak as freely in front of Danica as you can in front of me." I sigh and walk over to Zane, touching his shoulder.

"She deserves a chance to speak with you before the ceremony. We'll take care of preparing Danica." Zane hesitates, but goes out into the hall and Adelina shuts the door.

"She knows not to hit anywhere the bruises will show, right?"

"She does."

"But I doubt that Zane's in a mood to tolerate it even if she is justified." I shake my head and sigh.

"Is there something I'm missing here?" I laugh.

"Adelina and Zane have a complicated relationship."

"She has been very vocal with her protests of this arrangement." As though on cue, Adelina's voice rises and carries through the door. I sigh and we wait for the argument to quiet, moving down the hall.

"The Ceremony will be held in the Synkal--that's where any public event takes place and every Serpiente is admitted. Zane is very popular among his people, which means the Synkal will be full."

"You will be separated from the crowd for the actual announcement, but later you will be expected to move among them. The Serpiente do not expect nor want distant monarchs; if you refuse to see your people, they will not tolerate you."

"No weapons are allowed in the Synkal, and in addition to Zane, you will have a guard with you at all times. One of my personal guards."

"That should keep any surprised zealots from putting a knife in you this evening." This information seems to have Danica shocked beyond being shaken.

"After that, the majority will be wary about starting fights. The guard will keep a lookout for troublemakers, but as I said, Zane is popular: If he seems happy, his people will follow him." Irene and Shm'ia look at Charis, trying to see if there was something else they need to say.

"Danica, how much do you know about our kind?"

"Not much. Only an extremely small amount from what Lady Yuuki has told us." I clear my throat.

"I'm sure you've noticed the…unreserved behavior of your average Serpiente."

"One thing my daughters would not think to mention is that there are some basic differences in behavior. In avian society--correct me if I'm wrong, please--one is expected to behave with a level of distance and formality that is all but unknown among my people. As Tuuli Thea, you are expected to be more a symbol than a power, speaking with cool rhetoric and moving with smooth grace. As Naga, the rules are different. A Serpiente leader is a friend to her people and sometimes closer, occasionally a rival, but never distant. You've spoken with my son enough to know that every emotion he feels, he shows, and that is what is expected."

"Please go on." Charis continues her explanation easily.

"Loosen up, Danica. If you feel you can't trust anyone in the room, you know perfectly well that Amara and Hal would never harm you. And they would throw themselves in the way of an attack. Calm down. Remember how you're supposed to act." She nods and we hear the cue. I escort Danica out of the antechamber and to the dais. Shouts and questions fill the room and dull to dumb shock as Danica leaves my side and joins Zane. She looks about to faint. Ah, she catches Zane's arm and then puts her arm around his waist. This shocks Zane for a second in the middle of his speech, but he continues easily.

"Allow me to introduce my Naga, Danica Shardae." The palace guard are the first to kneel in the crowd, and then the rest kneel in almost a wave-like movement. All but four have recovered from the shock. "Kendrick?" Zane addresses one of the four.

"I don't know what…" As Kendrick sputters, he looks around, noticing that he's only one of four who are being obvious about their refusal of this. One of those others kneels quickly. "She's a hawk…"

"Really?"

"But, sir, she's Danica Shardae!"

"I just said that."

"Zane, you can't expect everyone to just accept this."

"Of course not."

"But he can expect them to at least pretend to accept it." Another of the protesters kneels. Kendrick and the woman still standing exchange a glance. Zane lightly kisses Danica and looks back at Kendrick.

"Kendrick, there is no need for jealousy; you are welcome to go out and find your own beautiful hawk."

"Zane, this is crazy!"

"Pamela, no doubt you are right. I must be stark raving mad." Amused murmuring follows that and Zane continues. "I must have lost my mind to want someone as beautiful and charming as this for my partner. To think Danica Shardae could possibly have walked into the Synkal, despite the fact that they might very well throw her out of the Keep for daring to answer my dearest prayer…" He goes down on one knee in front of Danica. "…for her to abandon all propriety and become my Naga." Pamela is smiling now, and so is Danica. Her expression looks rather embarrassed and amused; the perfect expression that a hawk should wear in this situation. I notice Adelina stalk out of the Synkal and sigh silently. If I were worried that someone might cause trouble, I would suspect Adelina first.

"Zane--" Kendrick is in shock still. Zane gently pulls Danica down.

"May I?" She nods and they kiss for a moment. I hear several muted 'awes' and smile at that. Danica breaks the kiss and they stand, with Zane's arm around her waist. "Naga Danica Shardae, your people." The moment we step down, Amara and Hal flank Danica and Zane.