Ginger: Communications in Secret
The following morning, the sunrise is golden and pink. Such a beautiful visage I can see from my bedroom window, open wide to let in morning's fresh, clear air. Outside in the yard, I can see Indrik and my father with the huge brightly-painted, gaudily-decorated Golbez family caravans. Two men and an older woman are engaging them in conversation, no doubt bartering for better prices this month.
We trade a variety of products from the ranch: chocobo feathers, bundles of herbs and fresh vegetables from the gardens, rock lizard eggs and meat, dainty little horns from the rams, wool, haunches of lamb, jams and preserves. All kinds of things. Everything we can't make ourselves, we buy in. Very rarely, maybe once or twice a year, father takes my brothers up to Bhunivelze for certain supplies.
I'm showered and dressed, brushing my hair absently and examining each chocobo in line at the front of the caravans. One of the yellows at the back is putting too much weight on his left side, I notice. Might have lamed his leg on the way here but still, he shouldn't really be working in that case. Just when I'm about to head downstairs to do a closer inspection, there's a knock at the door.
"Come in," I call and Lucan appears, first peeping his head around the door and then entering the room fully. He's holding a wrapped box in his arms, grey and plain-looking but it elicits a knot of excitement in my stomach. Presumably it's from Hope and I haven't a clue what it could be.
"Here, this arrived for you earlier," Lucan confirms. I take the parcel and open it revealing an ornate plant pot, cool to the touch and painted with delicate flourishes. In it is planted a single flower. A beautifully slender stem the quintessential colour of nature holds in place two delicate leaves, soft and fragrant even from this distance.
But it's the flower that takes my breath away. It is the perfect match of a chocobo's feathers, in both colour and texture, fanning out like a wing or a tail. Even the blade-shaped petals have tiny little indentations in them the style of a feather's barbs. Tied loosely around the stem with blue ribbon is an envelope.
Before I can read what's contained therein, Lucan sits down beside me on the bed and puts his arm around me. There's a concerned look on his face. "Had to hide it from father. I'm pretty sure he'd have trashed it."
"What are you talking about?" I ask, puzzled.
My brother takes a slow deep breath before continuing. "Father's taken issue with the Academy and your new friend in particular. From something stupid Denny said at dinner ages ago, he reckons they're gonna take you away to Bhunivelze and we'll never see you again. Ever since, he's tried to throw your friend off the trail. Lied to him and stuff. But I need to know sis, are you serious about that Academy guy?"
"In what way? Do you think something's going on Luc?"
"I ain't judging you. I wanna see you happy. I ain't seen anything make you this happy in a long time. You think I don't notice." My brother squeezes me gently and that simple act of affection rattles a torrent of emotions in me. Tears sting and breath catches painfully. I try to speak but I don't even know where to start.
"Lucan..."
"I see it sis. How you're always staring off into space when you think no-one's looking. Or how you won't let that book of his out of your sight. Or like yesterday when you were brushing Rhongo's feathers six, seven, eight times in a row till I shouted your name. If he means that much to you, let me help."
Eventually, I end up telling Lucan everything and it's hard. Takes a lot of stops and starts. I definitely am not used to sharing my feelings with anyone, let alone the four men I've grown up with. It makes a welcome change to just open up and trust him, lightens the burden somewhat. Lucan promises me he'll do his best and leaves the room. If I think I'm done crying though, I'm mistaken; there's Hope's note still to read.
