The warm lights of the fire torches on the walls shined upon a woman's small figure and revealed her appearance to anyone who enters the hall. The young woman's body was athletic and slender built.
Her tunic and pants were made of the same materials, that had rips and tares. Her dirty skin shimmered almost bronze in the shine of the flames with how much mud and blood caked on her.
A long, scaly, exotic-looking serpent hung from around her neck, looking exactly as dangerous and beat up as her figure too. Her movements were those of a predator, very graceful and soundless. Even with the woman's fair features and her long tangled-wavy black and blue striped hair covered in dried mud and blood, she was still very alluring, but a dangerous gift to behold it is. Her face was youthful and she appeared to be no older than twenty-five years old.
As moments passed, her emotions finally calmed down enough once she was finished with the King of Ashia for her to break the silence. After all, she had a mission and there was no time to be wasted.
"How are your wounds, Soveliss? Is it severe?" She asked with a velvet voice towards the reptile. He seemed to be contemplating her question, squinting his eyes closed, but remained quiet. After a few moments of silence, he finally spoke.
"I will live," he replied and opened his eyes, "How are you?" Mailee let out a brief tired laugh and her eyes sparkled with amusement. She paused for a moment in her steps before continuing.
"I will live," she whispered with a small smile at him, repeating his words at him. He felt her small hand start to gently rub the top of his crown.
Once Mailee had finished with her father, she learned that he was going to throw a bit of a ball later that evening once she entered her chambers by the letter of the king. By that letter alone, in his handwriting, she didn't have a choice. So she placed Soveliss on the bed as she walked past it towards her personal bathhouse. Mailee decided that a change of style or more me should be best than the usual old same thing they want.
She went to her closet and pulled out a lovely red dress. It was rather detailed and the one they didn't find, she took it back to her bed next to Soveliss and smoothed out the bits of fold, orange, yellow, and red threads she'd watched her mother stitched on a long time ago to add a Phoenix to the gown. The Phoenix, an ancient one, started at the hem of the dress and roiled upward, its neck draped over the left shoulder and its head resting on the fabric over her chest.
It looked quite beautiful, and with it, she knew she'd live up to the name she held herself.
Mailee turned around to Soveliss, hoping that she had time to bathe before he reverse back. She stopped in her thoughts when she saw Soveliss standing a few feet away from her in normal size now.
She froze. "How did he...it only had been 2 hours." She thought but was stopped abruptly when he began to advance.
"Do you want to explain the rules of Teatira?" He questioned gazing into her eyes. "Or should I take you back to my home and hide you away forever?" He had made his point when he bared his canines in barely contained anger. She even watched as one of the corners of his eyes twitched. She gulped as she turned to take a seat on the corner of her bed before she began to explain.
"It is an old tradition here in Ashia to perform in a ceremonial duel once someone court someone else, especially for the royal families." She watched him take a seat in front of her on the floor. "It's supposed to be a symbol of respect and strength and it's usually part of a larger life ceremony later on that can last for several days, because of this during that time anyone or race can challenge the courting pair for the others' hand.
There are only two rules to Teatira." She held up one finger, "One must challenge the pair in a public place honorably." He watched her add one more finger up in the air. "And two, you are allowed to use whatever means necessary when fighting, but you can only use what you have on you during the fight." She swallowed hard before continuing the last part in a quieter voice, "The pair fight until one's surrender, and killing your opponent is...overlooked by the king during these fights...and Von has never lost a challenge before."
Soon a depressing silence had sat in, while Soveliss thought about the problem, she thought about a solution to the serious problem.
"Well...I guess I better give him his first time of losing a good fun then." He answered.
"I fear it isn't that easily done and a little bit more complicated than that when fighting him, Soveliss." Mailee paused briefly to think about the best possible explanation she could offer to an outsider of the courts. "When he fights he likes to--" Suddenly they became aware of a presence of another on the other side of the door and immediately became quiet. "Who has come and disturbed me at this time?" Mailee spoke with the authority of a royal that vibrated in her voice.
"My friend, it is only I, Trish." Came a tiny quiet voice on the other side of the door. "I'm here to help you with getting ready." Mailee thought about how the maid and how trustworthy Trish was. Mailee soon decided that she was trustworthy and was fairly sure Trish would jump on board if it means her very own freedom was involved too.
Mailee turned to Soveliss and looked into his eyes. The two didn't even need words; they instantly knew that he wasn't going anywhere nor hiding, this time. "Come in Trish." Mailee's voice sounded very smoothly through the room. Once Trish opened and shuts the door, she looked on between Mailee and Soveliss with weariness and a hint of curiosity once the maid notice the silent man.
Trish had...the little pixie had a dirty mind. The laugh that had been building broke free, and it was in amusement from a partner in crime warm feeling Mailee had forgotten she got from the small pixie existed. Trish's outburst shocked the hell out of Soveliss, filling Mailee with emotions she thought were long gone dead.
Amusement.
Warmth.
Friendship.
A feeling of...contentment. And then Trish opened her mouth to speak, arching a brow,
"Oh sorry, I know I shouldn't be laughing, but..." Mailee's eyes narrowed on Trish as the pixie trailed off not continuing.
"You don't sound sorry." Trish bit down on her lower lip, but the corners of her mouth curved up. Not one but two stupid dimples appeared. "You're so annoying," Mailee muttered with a slow eye roll.
"Well, it's not every day I get to see a man twice your side on his knees before you, let alone looking uncomfortable." The pixie countered as she placed a hand on her hip, cocking it out a bit to the side. "Welcome to Ashia the kingdom of filthy devils. You're going to love it here." Trish winked at Soveliss as she walked over to stare down at the dress Mailee had chosen for the evening.
Trish was just reaching the age of adulthood of 1,000 years old for her race. Her green, shoulder-length hair clumsily hangs up away from a strong, friendly face. Round light green eyes, set gracefully within their sockets, staring thoughtfully over the two.
A black birthmark resembling a small butterfly is displayed on the side of her right eye corner and is a reminder of what tribe she came from. The Metulj (Butterfly) Tribe.
She stands shorter than most, despite her slim frame. She had beautiful olive green skin too. There's something extraordinary about her, Mailee just couldn't stop herself from saving the pixie all those years ago during the Dark Death outbreak among the wandering tribes. Mailee was able to save Trish all because of the tree called Màthair Airgid (Silver Mother).
"Oh just help me get ready and ignore him." Mailee gave Trish her hand to tug her up, and be pulled behind her towards the bathwater. Soveliss just sat down in a chair by the bed; waiting patiently looking over her things, obviously trying to figure certain things out about her.
"You will have to tell me more on how you required that piece of meat later," Trish commented with a spark in her eyes. "But first I have to warn you other males have already gathered into the capital for the Teatira and that some of them might be present at tonight's events."
"That's unfortunate." Mailee muttered, "I'll need a favor from you tonight then. I will need you to take care of my secret guest and keep him out of trouble the best as you can."
"Isn't it my job to help you with whatever you need to be done? Even if that means babysitting an overgrown male." Trish retorted, letting out a small chuckle and earning a small smile from Mailee. "He is at least housebroken right?"
"Yes, you won't have to worry about that, Trish. Just keep him here for the night until I can get back." Mailee replied, grinning at Trish's humor attempt. "You can even use whatever means you see fit to do so as well." Liking the idea, Trish's lips curved up into a huge grin,
"That I can do. Don't worry he won't leave this area." They reentered the bedroom and both walked past Soveliss to the changing screen in the corner. Mailee quickly changed into her dress and dumped her wet towel on the floor. With Trish's help, Mailee eased into the red Phoenix dress. It slid against her skin in a way feeling like extra skin.
Mailee then sat down at her veranda mirror and waited patiently for Trish's magic makeover.
"Don't you give a fuck about what is happening here?" Soveliss' hard tone broke the silence.
"Oh, I give a fuck. Hell, I'm the mother of all prostitutes of giving a fuck. But at this moment it's about survival and buying my time." Mailee tried to hold still as Trish put the final touches on her hair. "Right now I must play nice." The different texture and slight curl to Mailee's hair had given Trish a fit until she had finally settled on an intricate braid around her head, laced with a few power gems. Some hair strands had been plaited together into the crown that was placed upon her head, complete with her Phoenix necklace.
"I understand, I will wait for your call to challenge Von." Soveliss gave in to reason, well at least for now.
"Thank you, Soveliss." Mailee let out a sigh of relief. Trish stood beside her staring at her masterpiece. "Trish?" Trish finally met Mailee's eyes. A sad knowing smile graced her pink lips.
"It's time," Trish whispered as she looked towards the door. Without a glance in their direction, Mailee clapped her hands together before her and walked out of the room.
By the time she reached the ballroom, the sun was beginning to set, and the surrounding area was growing dark. Mailee stood at the double doors, her face turning into a beautiful mask of indifference.
Two royal guards opened the double doors into the hall. Mailee kept her head high as she entered the grand hall. Stepping into the room she was immediately approached by her father. Immediately on guard with him.
"Well, you certainly do clean up well, Mailee. But what happened to the dress that was sent to your chambers?" King Lucifer was glancing from Mailee to the dress as if trying to remember where he had seen the dress before. Mailee hadn't thought that her father would have paid enough attention to her choice of dress tonight. Her mother's dress.
"Thank you for the compliment, Father. The dress you sent...never made it to my living quarters I'm afraid nor did I know about it." Mailee never made eye contact with her father as she was too busy scoping the guests at the bottom of the grand staircase.
"I see," he pondered, "Well, I'll let it slide tonight. Come and I have a surprise for you too." Lucifer joined his arm with hers and walked down into the room together.
"His Royal Majesty, King Lucifer, Elder of the Kings of old." The chatter had stopped at this point into dead silence. "Royal Crown Princess Mailee, the Great Divine of the Sun, The Untamed Flame." All eyes were now on her and followed her every move. She tried to ignore them the best as she could.
"Welcome to my home!" Lucifer called, addressing the large crowd of guests. "It gives me great pleasure to see all of you here tonight. Here by my side is my firstborn, Mailee, and yes most of the rumors are true. But tonight I would like to announce that she and Von will start the Teatira tomorrow!"
She could not help but let her eyes widen slightly in dread that he went ahead of schedule to announce the Teatira. "Now then, Mailee, it is beginning to grow rather dark here in my hall. Do you think you could light the torches for us?" Lucifer decided that he would make her feel uncomfortable as much as possible during the night.
"Certainly," Mailee forced a smile onto her lips as she lets go of his arm. She raised her hands, a hundred little phoenixes, each the size of her fist, made entirely of flame, flew out of her glowing ruby hands. They flew glowing brightly over and some through the crowd and flew into the torches, exploding and sending a sparkling shower of harmless sparks from all of the now-lit torches.
It was the kind of display her father would expected from her. Everyone clapped and then a small band started playing. Soon everyone was either dancing or talking on the side.
"Enjoy yourself," he whispered and left her side once he saw his queen enter the grand hall.
"Not likely..." Mailee stood off to the side in the far back, avoiding anyone who may be interested in the Teatira. Two males finally approached her and halted in front of Mailee.
Mailee's expression was annoyingly blank to one of them, her eyes hard and unreadable. They bowed, and then the more cocky one introduced them both to her.
"Crown Princess Mailee, I am honored to have your grace in my presence. My name is lord Duke, a high lord of house Bèist (Beast), of the Sadira (Lotus Tree) tribe. And this man here is Sir Toshi, a high-ranking Knight of the house of Sgiath (Shield), of the Sadira (Lotus Tree) Tribe."
"Intesting..." she pondered before giving them a small smile, letting her eyes wander over them from head to toes and then back up.