Chapter 9: Snow and Rainfall
.xxv.
The last thing Hinoka had expected after— the bride and groom had exchanged vows, been granted blessings, and even kissed one another on the mouth in public —was for there to be another step. Aside from the banquet or the couple leaving for the privacy of their bed chamber. Yet once finished with the priestly performance the Nohrian king had descended the platform, while most of the audience filed out of the great hall, and had told Hinoka that she would ride with him for the next stage of the wedding. The ceremony itself hadn't been overly long, so the skies were dark as it was still the dead of night.
"King Marx, do you mean we're leaving the castle?" Hinoka asked with as much authority as she could muster in her voice. Although she likely looked far from queenly with red-rimmed eyes and clutching a tear-stained, lacy handkerchief which Charlotte had lent her. I can't believe I broke down like that, here of all places.
However, he didn't remark upon it, instead the royal consort answered, "Yes, and no dawdling!" Then she unceremoniously went beside the King, slipped an arm about one of his, and stuck herself to his side like a burr.
"We must depart now to arrive on time," Marx said, extending his free arm towards Hinoka. Swallowing any reservations Hinoka laid her numb hand in his gloved one and allowed him to loop their arms together— a pose that forced her into close proximity and caused his movements to prompt her own. Despite their difference in height his pace was one she easily matched, so without protest Hinoka allowed him to lead her away from the great hall and the rest of the crowd.
While they walked she kept glancing down to their intertwined hands, surreal in how she couldn't feel the way his engulfed hers. This close she felt the warmth of his body against her entwined arm, even with the layers of her Hoshidan and his Nohrian robes between them. It made Hinoka all the more conscious of how the castle hallways were largely empty, leaving them with only each other's company.
I'm alone with a couple of Nohrians. They could lock me in a room and no one would find me. Repressing the urge to squirm at that thought, she asked, "Will my retainers be accompanying us?"
Not missing a step, Marx shook his head. "The next stage is one meant for kin and kith, and… only so many intruders will be welcome on the mountain."
"We're going somewhere Nohr's King faces limitation?"
He glanced at her, the corner of his mouth quirking. "While the territory belongs to my kingdom, Garou Mountain has its own keepers who must be heeded."
Hinoka's brow pinched in confusion, but she had no desire to decipher riddles. Instead she asked, "Why are we traveling to a mountain?"
Charlotte abruptly leaned forward enough to catch Hinoka's eye as she answered. "It's tradition for newlyweds to make a point of beginning the new day together."
Marx nodded. "We're fortunate enough to go where they might also see dawn break."
"Leo and I also watched the sun rise together as husband and wife. But we married while on the march, so our wedding wasn't nearly as extravagant as all this." Charlotte gave a sigh that sounded more longing than resentful.
"Should I provide a generous stipend for your anniversary celebration?" Marx said, his voice quiet in a way that Hinoka was beginning to recognize.
"Oh, yes please!" The royal consort practically gushed, her eyelashes fluttering in a manner that was uncomfortably flirtatious. "I'm so grateful you're my brother-in-law, Majesty."
Marx's eyes narrowed and brow furrowed low even as he smiled. "Just as I'm glad my brother has a good woman to love and support him, First Princess Consort Charlotte."
At his words royal consort's expression became stiff and then she righted herself with a burst of self-conscious laughter. When Marx's gaze shifted to hers Hinoka abruptly broke it to stare before them, feeling strangely guilty for having witnessed the exchange. Nohrians and their shameless flirting! The rest of their walk was done in silence. After scaling several flights of stairs, they ended up on top a large tower with a flat roof where multiple wyverns were saddled and lay waiting.
"I'm riding with Foleo." Charlotte released Marx's arm and when he nodded she left with a wave. "Taa taa for now."
Hinoka didn't watch her go, instead was all too aware of the mounts they were intended to ride. Despite forcing herself to draw even breaths, each one was full of the scaly beasts' pungent musk. When Marx turned them to approach one Hinoka felt her heart beat growing faster.
The wyvern wasn't the sort that haunted her nightmares— black body, red eyes, and rows of fangs covered in Senshi's blood —instead its scales were a silver-gray while its head was covered by armored tack. Small mercies.
Still Hinoka went tense when Marx untwined their arms and offered to help her. After she managed to nod, his gloved hands moved to her waist and he lifted her onto the saddle. He moved her without struggle, yet the tight wrap of the formal robes forced her to sit side saddle. The position was made even more awkward once Marx swung into the saddle behind her, the solid warmth of him once again touched her side. She hadn't shared the saddle like this since she'd been a small child, before she'd taken up training, and it had her overly conscious of how large of a man Nohr's king was. If only golden kites were nocturnal like these beasts, then I could demand to ride alone.
Suddenly the wyvern shifted into a stand, and the exaggerated wobble of its movements had Hinoka catching whatever was in reach for stability. One hand grabbed the saddle's pommel and the other Marx's forearm. Her touch evidently spurred his arm into firmly encircling her with a hold which pressed her bodily against him and cradled the center of her weight in the vee of his thighs. Admittedly it was a more secure position, one that provided balance. Yet Hinoka hadn't been held this close by a man since her disastrous ride through the streets of Shirasagi— a hot blush rose in her face at both the memory and current predicament.
She heard the wyvern's tack jangle musically as it idly shifted its weight from one foot to another. However, Marx ducking his head close had her pulse pounding over the ambient noises. He murmured in her ear, "...you smell of spices."
Hinoka mentally cursed her racing heart, and replied as steadily as she could, "It's a bag of dried cloves. I'm wearing it to ward off colds, especially with this weather."
"You're right, it will be cold."
She sent him a questioning look, but Marx offered no further explanation. Instead he called to one of the servants, gave an order, and within moments an all too familiar cloak was fastened about her shoulders. Once he's glanced to the side she gave into impulse and rubbed her cheek against the cape's fabric, luxuriating in its plushness. Hinoka couldn't help noticing that it shared his scent.
.xxvi.
The flight from Krackenburg Castle to their destination had been long, the skies they'd traveled through were dark and biting with nighttime chill. Hinoka had found herself grateful for Marx's large form, as he'd shielded her from the whipping wind. Yet she was more thankful when the group of wyverns had finally descended to land. It was a mountainside which was entirely white, covered in snow. The breaths of both mounts and riders puffed into the air. When Marx slid out of the saddle from behind her, Hinoka felt herself beginning to shiver despite the layers of her silk robe and the borrowed cloak.
He helped her down from the saddle and had to catch her when sudden movement in the dark had Hinoka leaping out of her skin. With a numb hand rising to the ready position for a fight, she asked, "Wha-what was that?"
Taking his hands from her waist Marx reached past Hinoka to the wyvern's saddlebags and brought down a glass-chambered lantern, one that sparked to life with the glow of magic in his hands. As she glanced about another lit up in Crown Prince Leo's hands, revealing his bride and mount, and another illuminated ringleted Foleo and Princess Consort Charlotte. A last lantern flickered on between the long fingers of the eye-patched Zero, behind him stood Kamui and a pink-gowned woman seemingly huddled together for warmth. The four anima lanterns cast enough brightness in the gloom to reveal what Hinoka had spied earlier— the hulking shapes of many huge, furred creatures.
She'd never seen an animal like them: bipedal, long arms, massive hand-like paws tipped with claws, flat faces with fangs, tusks, and horns, thrice the size of a grown man. Two people stood before throng, a woman and man whose hair was comprised of two colors. Although as she looked, Hinoka noticed inhuman features on the man— black, dog-like ears and a furred tail. It was similar to how fox spirits were rumored to appear, people with the animal's ears and tail.
Marx's voice was low as he said, "These are the keepers of this mountain, they share its name, the Garou. People also refer to them as wolves' kin."
The tailed man cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, "Oi, yer Kingliness, 'bout time you showed up!" The twin-tailed woman at his side seemed to actually be hopping up and down with excitement.
"Wait here, I must greet them." Marx told her before he walked towards the Garou, snow squeaking under his boots. Hinoka physically cringed when the creatures surrounded him, furry bodies blocking him from sight. She found that she was more disturbed by the thought of the Nohrian king being torn apart than not.
"Don't worry about His Majesty. He's just saying hello to Pieri, Flannel, Velour, and their pack."
Hinoka turned to a new stranger, the woman who'd been huddled with her brother and Zero a moment ago. Without the light of the anima lantern, her hair was more peach-colored than orange while her pale skin which curiously wasn't reddened with the cold. She was looking at Hinoka with a smile and seemingly guileless eyes, which had her more suspicious than anything.
Choosing her words carefully, Hinoka asked, "You know the Garou?"
The woman quickly nodded, the high tail of her hair rippling with the movement. "I do! Well actually, I only know Flannel and Velour. They were part of the army last year. Which, by the way, I'm so glad you're looking better, Queen Hinoka."
That had her brow raising. "Have we met before?"
The woman nodded again, though with less energy. "Yes, it was… It was when you'd returned to Shirasagi castle, the day the war had ended."
At her words Hinoka was suddenly there— smoke in the air, splintered wood underfoot, salty tears on her tongue, Ryouma's blood on Raijinto —she had to take a deep breath, a painful one because of the cold, mountain air.
"Uwaaah, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to… I-it was a hard day for everybody."
After Hinoka had gathered her composure she opened her eyes, made herself look fully at the woman, and did find her face familiar. She'd been the peach-haired servant in the black uniform who'd tried to guide her through the ruins of her own home on that terrible day.
"What're you doing here?" Hinoka asked, her tone harsher than she'd intended.
"Sorry, sorry." The woman shrank a little, shoulders curling inwards to make herself smaller. "Flora's my sister, so I got to come. My name's Felicia."
"No need to apologize, Lady Felicia, I was too harsh." Hinoka put on a smile, mentally chiding herself for falling apart not once but twice in a night.
She returned the smile. "I'm Corrin's personal maid, he's a wonderful master."
Hinoka's brow furrowed. "Your sister married the crown prince and you're being treated as a servant? Shouldn't the match have elevated your status too?"
"I-I-I-I-" Her's eyes darted everywhere but Hinoka's face. She looked completely flustered as she blurted in a rush, "Ilikebeingamaid!" After bowing deeply at the waist, Felicia turned then sprinted back towards Kamui and his husband.
Hinoka found herself blinking after her, unsure what to make of the jumbled retort and hasty retreat. She didn't think on it long as Marx finally emerged from the crowd of Garou. He called out in a loud voice, "We've permission to climb to the summit and watch daybreak. The wyverns will remain here until our return."
The rest of the riders all began to head off on the same direction and Hinoka followed them, unwilling to remain alone with the beasts. Marx caught up to her quickly and then matched her pace in the climb, often offering a steadying hand whenever it grew steep or uneven. In her formal garb it took the bulk of Hinoka's concentration, and soon enough they'd reached the summit proper.
Everyone approached its ledges, although gingerly as the darkness concealed much. Hinoka watched as the Nohrian royalty and their spouses spread out, remaining clumped in the same groupings they'd flown over in. She found her eyes drawn particularly to the effeminate young man at Charlotte's arm, curious over where precisely he fit within the Nohrian royal family. Once standing positions were agreed upon the anima lanterns were set at their bearers' feet and doused. Without the magically fueled illumination, the hour made itself known with the faintest light of pre-dawn.
A wind blew over the summit, not strong or chilled, but enough to keep quiet conversations from the ears of others. So Hinoka decided to indulge her curiosity, leaned in and said, "I met Soliel and Foleo at the wedding. Them and that singer, King Marx, who are they?"
She felt the shift of the air as he stooped towards her and replied, "They are princes and princesses of royal house Anya, my younger blood relatives."
I guess Yukimura's reports that King Garon having more than four children were accurate. "More of your brothers and sisters? I haven't seen Princess Camilla or Princess Elise."
Marx's mouth drew into a taunt line and he hesitated. "My sisters aren't here."
Hinoka nearly rolled her eyes. "Obviously. Where are they?"
"I don't know. Have either of them been spotted in Hoshido?"
"No, the last reported sightings were during the war."
Marx's expression grew tense, but he nodded.
Noticeable noise from the rest of the crowd filled the air, Hinoka looked out and found that the day was breaking. The sun rose in the east, into the sky on rosy wings. Its rays illuminated the sides of the snow mountain alongside the hills and plains below the high peak. The color of the dawn light was a delicate pink that reminded her of cherry blossoms, and it somehow made the craggy, barren landscape look softer. Yet it was impossible to forget that this wasn't home and was not so far from the place Sumeragi had been ambushed and killed. I hope father saw the sun before he died.
After a long moment of oppressive silence, Hinoka turned to Marx and asked, "When was the last time you saw Princess Elise and Princess Camilla?"
"A few days after my coronation they went missing." Marx slowly turned his face, as if reluctant to look away from the view. "We searched but didn't find a trace of my sisters or their husbands."
"H-husbands?!"
"Camilla had wed my retainer, Laslow, and Elise had married Leo's retainer, Odin." Marx continued, as if she hadn't made an outburst.
The last time she has seen her, Princess Elise had looked younger than Sakura. For Nohr's youngest princess to have been married, Hinoka couldn't quiet wrap her mind around. After clearing her throat, she asked, "Where were they from?"
Marx's brow furrowed low, jaw tight as he answered. "We don't really know. Two men and a woman, all skilled warriors, appeared seemingly from nowhere and King Garon appointed them our royal retainers. During the war and the year preceding it, they were thought to be loyal, yet…" He broke eye contact to instead glare at the lightening mountainside below. "The betrayal of stealing princesses cannot be forgiven. Laslow and Odin are marked for death, should anyone spy them in these lands again."
Hinoka stared at him, at a loss for words. She couldn't imagine putting a bounty on Setsuna or Asama's heads— no matter how frustrated she might grow at their antics. Then again Mikoto hadn't forced them upon her, Hinoka had chosen the clumsy noblewoman and obstinate mountain priest to be her retainers. And they'd honored her choice by sticking by her side, even fighting a losing battle while Hoshido crumbled around them.
Yet if things had been different. If Corrin had come home, Hoshido had won the war, and then both her younger siblings had disappeared with her retainers as the most likely culprits… Hinoka imagined she wouldn't have felt very forgiving either. In fact, she likely would've been heartbroken.
She looked at Marx's face, long and hard, exaggerating shadows cast by the dawn light slanted across his profile. Slowly she realized the emotion lining his features wasn't anger or disgust— it was grief. The Nohrian king was silently grieving, and Hinoka found it inspired disturbing feelings within her. It's only fair that he suffer too… so why am I not enjoying it?
.xxvii.
After returning to Krackenburg Castle, Hinoka attended the banquet long enough to be noticed and not set tongues wagging, then retired to the guest rooms. After falling into a deep sleep despite the hour, she'd woken late in the day. The castle was quiet, its occupants and guests apparently still sleeping off the night's revelry.
It would've been the perfect opportunity to take an evening flight of her own, except Windmire's skies were laden with dark clouds which dropped a slow drizzling rain. Yet Hinoka found herself craving the uncomplicated companionship that animals provided, so headed to the mews regardless. It was where the wyverns were housed and not a place Hinoka would've normally chosen to visit, but the large birds of prey were too aggressive to house in the stables alongside horses.
Only native to Hoshido, golden kites were rare to begin with. The flock raptors in the wilderness that were often hunted by ranchers and farmers because of how they'd prey on livestock. And truly wild kites weren't 'golden' but rather faded pallets of cream and brown that better blended into foliage. It was only through the efforts of her Byakuya ancestors, capturing and selectively breeding the most beautiful specimens, that the peacock-feathered golden-colored kites existed at all.
Shirasagi's rookery was one of the few places that housed multiple flocks of golden kites, each belonging to a different noble family. Although with how the war had thinned its numbers Hinoka worried remaining within the local circles ran the risk of detrimental inbreeding. Out of the flock only adult female golden kites were big enough to carry human riders, the males were considered only good for stud-work and rearing chicks.
There were times Hinoka wished she'd bought a new tenma for herself while visiting the ranches— no matter how impressive riding a golden kite could be. But the truth was, another tenma wouldn't be Senshi. The animal wouldn't know her, the years of bonding would have to begin anew. Right now, Hinoka wasn't sure if her heart could take it. Besides it's not as if there's anything wrong with Okibi. Stop mooning over it, Hinoka.
Once inside the large tower which housed the mews, she ignored the stink of wyverns and headed to the level where her entourage's mounts were being housed. The birds were squawking and whistling to each other in their paddocks, she heard the faint scratching of one or two rearranging the straw on the floor. It took her a moment to remember precisely where her own golden kite was housed but moved there eagerly once she had— only to come to a halt, shocked to find the paddock doors thrown open and another person already inside.
It was the singer, the light blue of his hair unmistakable. Rather than black robes, he wore an ensemble of blues. His form-fitting clothing emphasized the leanness of his body, his slight built, and long limbs. Even without the hulking bulk of the average Nohrian, the willowy beauty of him would've stood out.
He resembled Aqua so much it was painful. Is he her brother? Aqua never mentioned having one… then again, I can't recall a time she'd ever spoken about her life in Nohr.
The young man had a hand touching Okibi, petting over the thick feathers on her long neck. The golden kite was almost eerily tranquil, eyes contentedly closed and body settled against the ground. When Hinoka dared to draw closer, she heard him lowly humming a melody.
Finally snapping out of a daze, Hinoka called out, "What're you doing here?"
"Ah!" The singer ceased humming and he spun to face her. "M-my apologies. I didn't mean any harm-"
Okibi's eyes snapped open and she surged to her feet, feathers ruffling. She bristled and puffed herself up— feathers shining yellow and fading into sky blue on her long head and tail feathers. Cocking her head towards the young man, her hooked beak opened and her wings flared in a threatening display. Every bit of her body language threatening to lunge.
He recoiled away from the bird, looking panicked. Resisting every impulse to rush Hinoka walked at an even pace towards the paddock, repetitively clicking her tongue. It was a sound the bird-keepers had taught her to calm the golden kites, one they'd been conditioned through training to respond to. And it worked, looking away from the singer Okibi cocked her head to one side then the other, glossy yellow neck extending and retracting.
By the time Hinoka had entered the paddock and was within arm's reach, her wings had folded, her beak had shut, and feathers had smoothed. Continuing to click her tongue Hinoka stroked the downy feathers along the side of the bird's head with the back of her hand. She rubbed down to the glossy curve of her sharp beak, until Okibi give an irritated squawk and sidestepped. Hinoka grabbed the young man by the arm and hauled him out of the paddock— only stopping the noise once the doors were closed and secured.
The moment the clicking was gone, the bird inside gave a shrill cry then stamped and raked the straw with her talons, kicking up a cloud of dust. Hinoka kept her grip tight and led them far enough away that the golden kite would no longer feel like her territory was being intruded upon. Then she gave him a stern glare and repeated her question, "What were you doing here, in my mount's paddock?"
Compared to all but the wildest tenma, golden kites were ill-tempered and volatile. Territorial birds of prey, they wouldn't hesitate in lashing out when feeling threatened or aggravated. The fact he'd gotten so close in the first place was puzzling.
The singer's expression was sheepish, as he said, "I enjoy flying but get on poorly with wyverns. When I'd heard winged mounts from Hoshido were also here… I wanted a closer look."
Hinoka let go of his arm and asked, "What's your name?"
"I'm Shigure."
Strange he didn't include his surname or title. "I wouldn't have expected a Nohrian prince to have such a Hoshidan name."
"Ah… my mother was unique, and my father indulged her." His smile was sad. "She apparently liked the meaning."
A drizzling rain shower in late autumn, that is what his name meant. It was poetic in its own way, especially considering the current weather. Although it was an uncommon name as it could also be given to girls thus was often considered too feminine for sons. Hinoka had to wonder how Queen Shenmei had such intimate knowledge about ancient languages of foreign, enemy countries.
"Well, Fourth Prince Shigure of Nohr, don't harass the queen of Hoshido's golden kite again without permission. It'll likely take the rest of the evening for her to settle down."
Shigure had the grace to blush. "Please forgive me, I know it wasn't proper."
With the situation handled, Hinoka found her adrenaline and irritation evaporating in the face of his contrition. He really did resemble Aqua, not only in looks but also graceful motion. So, she accepted the apology with no further reprimand. "You're forgiven. Perhaps on a different day I'll give you permission accompany me for a flight."
Shigure's expression brightened. "Truly?" She nodded and found her breath stolen by the radiance of his smile, "Oh thank you, I'd love that."
"Are you available tonight?" The words escaped Hinoka before her sense of decorum could catch them. "T-to talk, I just want to talk."
Shigure smiled again, out of politeness this time. "I'm afraid I will be busy later. My father also wants to speak with me. Though I hope we'll see each other again." He then excused himself, gliding across the floor until he was out of sight.
Hinoka sighed, strangely missing Shigure despite having only just met him. Yet there'd be plenty to keep her busy, not only comforting but also grooming Okibi. As she turned, she noticed there beside the paddock doors was a feather that'd been kicked out with some straw. A large, yellow, and as long as she was tall, patterned with stripes of color, shading from a light blue to indigo at the tip. It was a primary feather from Okibi's tail, which would flutter behind them in flight like a warbanner.
Reverently picking it up Hinoka drew the feather across her cheek, felt the caress of its individual barbules against her skin.
