Chapter Eleven
Naima woke to the sound of strange birds chirping nearby and warm, bright sunlight flooding into her room between drawn curtains. She rubbed her forehead, feeling a pounding at her temple that was unfamiliar. She groaned and rolled over, finding herself uncomfortable as she slept in all her clothing. How did I end up here? She wondered, only remembering sitting beside Sinbad and listening to all the conversations at the table. The wine was strong, she definitely remembered that. Sitting up, she swung her legs out and bare feet touched the cool floor. She stretched and undid all her braids, allowing her curled hair to tumble down around her shoulders. I wish I could remember everything from last night…
She walked over to the window and opened the curtains wide, enjoying the warmth of the sunlight. She took a deep breath and smiled, basking in the glow. "Looks like a good morning to go out on the water!" She said to herself, and she turned away from the window, undoing the Imuchakk clothing until she was bare save for her underwear. She went to her bag and pulled from it her worn fishing pants, white and thin, easy to move in. She also pulled out her favorite bandeau top, something very simple to keep her breasts in check and modest. Her father used to hate when that's all she wore to crab, but it allowed so much movement and ease with lifting the heavy crab pots out of the water. It would be different today, though, since Imuchakk was so cold. So, she pulled out a soft and thin sweater that matched the material of her pants. It would be enough, she figured, since she knew she'd break a sweat.
She wrapped her headband around her forehead, holding most of her bangs in place, and she gathered the rest of her hair up into a high bun with strands that fell around her head. She couldn't contain all of it in this manner, but it was nice to get most of it out of her face without spending an hour braiding it. Barefoot, she opened the door and stepped out into the main hallway. Imuchakk girls who worked in the Chief's home walked up and down the halls, carrying linens and other necessities for the vast amount of guests staying there. They glanced at her then turned to talk among themselves, quietly. Some girls from Artemurya were sitting in the main foyer, fanning themselves lightly as they basked in the sunlight. They glanced at her as she walked by, and Naima heard them giggle. She wasn't sure why they were staring at her; Naima wore more clothes now than most of the women in Artemurya wore at all. Ignoring it, she continued on her way out through the main door and into the courtyard where the dinner table from the evening previously was still sitting, though bare and pristine now.
"Off to fish so early?" Rurumu, who was entering her family's home after a morning swim with Kikiriku and Hinahoho, paused outside the door. Hinahoho and Kikiriku said their good-mornings to her as they continued on, and Rurumu watched them disappear inside. "Are you always up when the sun rises?"
She looked up at the sky, seeing the bright blue dotted with fluffy white clouds. It was beautiful, and she was excited to get to the water. "I am! At least, most of the time. It's usually the best time to get out and drop the pots for the crabs. Did you have a good swim?"
Rurumu nodded and looked around at the many people who were already in the courtyard so early. "We did. It was very refreshing. I hope you have a lot of fun and get a good catch!" She waved, heading back inside. Most of the people who were awake now most likely hadn't slept after the celebration the evening before. It wasn't anything she wasn't used to after having grown up in the Imuchakk Chief's house. She was not overly impressed by the many different women of different countries and varying dress still lingering in the courtyard before her young son, but as the daughter of the Chief, she wasn't going to say anything. She continued on to shower and make herself and her family ready for the day.
Naima, on the other hand, padded onto the steps leading down toward the street after saying her farewells to Rurumu. As she descended, a girl from Heliohapt bumped into her. "So you're who King Sinbad chose this time?" She said, eyeing Naima from head to toe. Her dark skin and white hair were a beautiful combination, and Naima could tell this woman thought very highly of herself. She wore nothing to cover her breasts, as many women in Heliophapt did, regardless of how cold Imuchakk was. "Were you able to satisfy him?" She asked, crossing her arms over her chest. She held her arms beneath her breasts, successfully lifting them up and making them all the larger.
Naima was hardly impressed nor intimidated. Her brows furrowed and she glared at the woman who was drilling her. "I have no clue what you're talking about," she said, though she remained calm and kept her voice the same. "I came along with King Sinbad as the official fish trader for Sindria; I'm on my way to the docks now."
Some girls from Artemurya, who'd been inside and followed her out, giggled nearby and hid behind their fans. The Heliohapt woman glared back at Naima and shook her head. "Keep telling yourself that, little girl. When King Sinbad is tired of your baby face, tell him to come find me. A real woman can take care of that man, and I know just how to do it." She pushed passed Naima again, walking up toward the main entrance along with her attendants who trailed behind her. One paused to look at Naima, appearing unsure of the exchange her Lady had had with the fisher woman.
"What?" Naima snapped, feeling a pit in her stomach.
"Everyone saw you leave with King Sinbad last night," the attendant said quietly. "He didn't come back afterward." She turned and ran up the stairs after her Lady, leaving Naima alone in the center of the stairs.
'That bastard.' She grunted, continuing on her way toward the water. "What was he thinking!? I am no escort! Oh, Gods, what did we do?" She rubbed her forehead and shook her head. "I won't allow him to make me look bad." She was going to prove to all of them, all those giddy girls after Sinbad, that she was not his escort, his concubine, his entertainment. She was simply there to fish for snow and king crab. Damn it.
She jogged the rest of the way down to the water, and she found a simple boat similar to hers at home that was posted as "reserved for Sindria Trading Company." During their discussion regarding the journey to Imuchakk, Sinbad had informed her that a boat would be waiting for her once they arrived so she could crab. An ice house would also have space available for her catch, and Imuchakk would provide a second ship for their return to transport the frozen goods back to Sindria. Naima had been over the moon excited and couldn't wait to go. Now, she was here, staring at the simple boat in waters she'd been eager to be on. Papa, Mama…I wish you could see me now!
"Where are you going to miss?" A husky, quivering voice asked from behind her. Naima turned to see an elderly man walking with a cane pause by her boat. "There's a storm comping…you don't want to go out there today." He said, pointing his cane out toward the water. She turned and looked, seeing nothing but clear sky and crystal water.
"I think I might chance it," she said kindly, smiling at him. She shivered a bit in the breeze, but she shook it off, knowing she'd be warm soon. "Besides…I've been on the water since I was a kid. This is nothing new." She said, smiling kindly at him.
"I must insist, miss," he said, looking at the water. "It's not safe if you go out. A storm is brewing…I can feel it." He motioned toward his knees, and he started to walk away. "Please, miss, you need to stay ashore to be safe." He wandered on by, saying the same thing to each of the other fishers who were readying their boats to go out again.
Naima sighed, watching some of the fishers tie their boats off and return to shore. She knew she should probably listen, but the sun was so high and the sky was so blue. She couldn't resist. Besides, those damn girls didn't believe she was here on official business. She had to prove them wrong! She threw her sweater down onto the boat and untied it from the dock. She pushed it into the cold water, gasping at how cold it truly was, before she jumped in and started rowing herself out. She'd spoken with Rurumu on the ship during their journey as to where the best places to crab were, and so she headed out as she'd been instructed. Head out to the far side of the of port and around The Point. There, on the other side of The Point, a famous lookout spot that young Imuchakk couples often ventured to, would be open waters known for snow crab. She continued to row herself out, feeling her anger and frustration and all her concerns melting away. The water was her friend, the sea air her cleanser, the sun her medicine. She was where she was her best, out on the water.
Meanwhile, inside Chief Rametoto's conference room, the heads of the Allied Nations sat around the table discussing politics and trade. Sinbad was deep in conversation with Chief Rametoto himself, though not about politics. They were discussing Naima, but not at Sinbad's request. Chief Rametoto was still amused by Naima's inability to allow Sinbad to speak for her, and he had been teasing Sinbad about it all morning. He'd told Sinbad it was good for him, that Sinbad could see how strong-headed he'd been as a young merchant, too. And, Chief Rametoto even went on to say that if anyone could spot two young people in love, it was himself. He'd been the one to approve of so many Imuchakk marriages, and he told Sinbad how different he appeared when he was around Naima. Sinbad was trying not to agree or appear that he did, but it was difficult. He knew Naima made him act and feel differently, and he struggled to prevent it from being obvious.
"If you truly feel that she is the one, Sinbad," Chief Rametoto said, leaning back in his chief's chair. "You need to claim her before someone else does." He sipped the wine that was freshly poured and made a point to look directly at the young King. "She is one of a kind."
Sinbad nodded his head and sighed. "This is all foreign to me, Chief Rametoto," he said, his deep voice sure and unwavering. "It's more daunting than the wars and battles we've fought, or the many times I'd breached the topic of alliances with reluctant nations!" This made the chief laugh and nod his head.
"I understand, Sinbad," he said. "When I met Rurumu's mother, I was a young Imuchakk warrior who'd just received his warrior name. She was very much like Naima, and I think that might be why she intrigues me. She was a strong woman, independent, positively hardheaded, but the most beautiful and loving, loyal woman I could ask for. I was beside myself when she agreed to marry me. I'm grateful that my Rurumu is like her mother, and proud of the family she's created with Hinahoho. Is it that you feel you want the same thing in your life?"
The King looked around the table at the many Kings and Queens sitting nearby, and he saw Ja'far and Drakon standing by the window. "I've seen so much and done so much to create Sindria, and it has become the nation I've wanted it to be. So many years I've worked with this sole goal in mind. I simply wanted to make a nation where people can be free to love and live. I created the Seven Seas Alliance, and the mindset of do not invade and do not be invaded. My people are happy. My friends are happy. But I am not," he said softly. "I am…but I am not."
Chief Rametoto nodded again, and he looked at Sinbad. "You are lonely. It is time the King of the Seven Seas found himself a Queen! And who would have thought it would be in a young fisher woman from the village?" He chuckled, shaking his head. "I never would have thought that, Sinbad."
Before Sinbad could reply, the doors to the conference room burst open and Rurumu ran inside. "Sinbad!" Rurumu exclaimed, concern stricken on her face. "There's a huge storm heading for the coast!" She moved to the window where Drakon and Ja'far were watching dark black clouds rolling quickly toward the town.
Sinbad nodded his head, having seen the clouds from his chair. "Yes, it looks like it's going to be a strong one."
"No, you don't understand!" She said, turning back to look at the King, her long braids falling over her shoulder. Sinbad could see the panic in the eyes of the woman who'd raised him. She looked as though Kikiriku had been kidnapped. "Sinbad," she cried. "Naima is crabbing! She's going to get caught in the storm!"
Sinbad's eyes opened wide and he jumped from his chair, tearing out of the room as fast as he could, metal vessels in hand.
