Alternate Endings
Chapter Two
If Kel hadn't spent ten of her fifteen years in the Islands and being schooled not to show any facial emption, she wouldn't have been able to keep her eyes from widening and her jaw from dropping at the content of the letter.
Quickly as she could, Keladry excused herself from the game and her friends, and hurried home. She could hardly wait for her parent's explanation. She hoped it was pretty good.
Forgetting years of training at this time while she was just with her parents, she angrily shoved the letter at them, but her voice was calm when se said "I would be most obliged if you would be so kind as to explain this to me."
They just blinked at her with the practiced calm that was cultural in the Yamani Islands. Breathing deeply, the girl recalled the memory of a placid lake at sunset, sharing the picture with her body to calm it into a reflective passiveness.
"My apologies for my rash behavior." She told her parents.
Her mother nodded. "Your explanation," She offered as a beginning. "As you know, with the death of the princess that was to marry Prince Roald of Conte, we have had our hands full trying to get the emperor to decide on a new bride that would also appease their majesties Jonathan and Thayet. We thought for a long time that he might be satisfied with his niece that princess Shinkokami, but her family is too deeply in disgrace with him. He wants this treaty to last and hold firm. Therefore, he wants to send someone precious to him and the Yamani people. Someone who understands and could well represent their culture. You."
Keladry's father, Baron Piers, took over at this point. "It's mainly because of your mother here, saving the sacred swords and all. We really had not choice but to agree. To tell the truth, neither did the king and queen at home, really, since you are the only on the Emperor has been pleased enough with since the death of the other girl. They wanted the treaty to be fixed and in place soon, which leaves you, my dear. Truly, we hope that you do not mind. It just seemed the only way o solve our problems with everyone happy. You can only be so good of a diplomat for so long." Here the man grinned tiredly. "I want to go home. I want to see my daughter who had to be taken to Court by their brothers since I was tied up here and could not be there with them. I want to see my sons and nieces and nephews. I want to go home, Kel. This match doesn't just fulfill my interests, but that of two nations!" He became somber now, more so than before. "It would deeply wound me, but I would fully understand and not fault you if you never spoke to me or of me again."
Kel was silent for a few minutes, reigning in her anger, resentment, and nervousness like a wild stallion being calmed. "I do not hold you at fault. I shall marry the prince, as it pleases you, the emperor, and their majesties." She wasn't so sure what had prompted her answer. She didn't know how to be a queen! She hardly knew how to act like a proper Tortallan noblewoman! On the other hand, she would meet the present Queen Thayet, who wasn't exactly your typical noblewoman either. The queen was out fighting almost more often that her husband, King Jonathan the III of Conte. The monarchs were famous on a legendary level.
"Thank you, Keladry." Kel's mother smiled at her gently. "I hope that you are comfortable with this, my child. This means so much to us. It is a great honor as well as relief." She rose, brushing non-existent wrinkles from her crimson outer kimono. "We must ready our personal effects for the journey home."
Telling a maid to pack Kel's things, the noblewomen pointed out what they wanted to take and the maid packed it. Into the packs went Kel's best clothing and most prized possessions. The ladies would travel to Tortall first so that Kel could get to know the prince better and remember how things worked in Tortall.
Baron Piers would follow in about a month, ringing the rest of their belongings after tying up all loose ends in the Yamani Islands.
Lady Keladry's packs soon held several very fine kimonos that she had worn in the Yamani Court, her collection of lucky waving cats, shukusen, practice glaive, silk and leather slippers, boots, and two Tortallan, or 'Eastern' style dresses that she had during her stay in the Islands that still fit her, and were fit for Court.
Over the past five years, Kel had grown seven inches and had let her wavy brown hair tumble to her hips. She really was very pretty, but some people didn't take kindly to her stocky build at home. Less than kind remark had been made about her the whole time she had been in Tortall last. Kel had been called a cow among other things; none were flattering.
At the end of the week, Keladry and her mother, the Lady Ilane of Mindelan could be found boarding a Tortallan diplomatic ship bound for their homeland. As the sunset, they lost sight of the land where they had lives for so many valuable years of their lives. They knew they'd be back soon enough, but neither was sure how they felt about their futures.
Chapter Two
If Kel hadn't spent ten of her fifteen years in the Islands and being schooled not to show any facial emption, she wouldn't have been able to keep her eyes from widening and her jaw from dropping at the content of the letter.
Quickly as she could, Keladry excused herself from the game and her friends, and hurried home. She could hardly wait for her parent's explanation. She hoped it was pretty good.
Forgetting years of training at this time while she was just with her parents, she angrily shoved the letter at them, but her voice was calm when se said "I would be most obliged if you would be so kind as to explain this to me."
They just blinked at her with the practiced calm that was cultural in the Yamani Islands. Breathing deeply, the girl recalled the memory of a placid lake at sunset, sharing the picture with her body to calm it into a reflective passiveness.
"My apologies for my rash behavior." She told her parents.
Her mother nodded. "Your explanation," She offered as a beginning. "As you know, with the death of the princess that was to marry Prince Roald of Conte, we have had our hands full trying to get the emperor to decide on a new bride that would also appease their majesties Jonathan and Thayet. We thought for a long time that he might be satisfied with his niece that princess Shinkokami, but her family is too deeply in disgrace with him. He wants this treaty to last and hold firm. Therefore, he wants to send someone precious to him and the Yamani people. Someone who understands and could well represent their culture. You."
Keladry's father, Baron Piers, took over at this point. "It's mainly because of your mother here, saving the sacred swords and all. We really had not choice but to agree. To tell the truth, neither did the king and queen at home, really, since you are the only on the Emperor has been pleased enough with since the death of the other girl. They wanted the treaty to be fixed and in place soon, which leaves you, my dear. Truly, we hope that you do not mind. It just seemed the only way o solve our problems with everyone happy. You can only be so good of a diplomat for so long." Here the man grinned tiredly. "I want to go home. I want to see my daughter who had to be taken to Court by their brothers since I was tied up here and could not be there with them. I want to see my sons and nieces and nephews. I want to go home, Kel. This match doesn't just fulfill my interests, but that of two nations!" He became somber now, more so than before. "It would deeply wound me, but I would fully understand and not fault you if you never spoke to me or of me again."
Kel was silent for a few minutes, reigning in her anger, resentment, and nervousness like a wild stallion being calmed. "I do not hold you at fault. I shall marry the prince, as it pleases you, the emperor, and their majesties." She wasn't so sure what had prompted her answer. She didn't know how to be a queen! She hardly knew how to act like a proper Tortallan noblewoman! On the other hand, she would meet the present Queen Thayet, who wasn't exactly your typical noblewoman either. The queen was out fighting almost more often that her husband, King Jonathan the III of Conte. The monarchs were famous on a legendary level.
"Thank you, Keladry." Kel's mother smiled at her gently. "I hope that you are comfortable with this, my child. This means so much to us. It is a great honor as well as relief." She rose, brushing non-existent wrinkles from her crimson outer kimono. "We must ready our personal effects for the journey home."
Telling a maid to pack Kel's things, the noblewomen pointed out what they wanted to take and the maid packed it. Into the packs went Kel's best clothing and most prized possessions. The ladies would travel to Tortall first so that Kel could get to know the prince better and remember how things worked in Tortall.
Baron Piers would follow in about a month, ringing the rest of their belongings after tying up all loose ends in the Yamani Islands.
Lady Keladry's packs soon held several very fine kimonos that she had worn in the Yamani Court, her collection of lucky waving cats, shukusen, practice glaive, silk and leather slippers, boots, and two Tortallan, or 'Eastern' style dresses that she had during her stay in the Islands that still fit her, and were fit for Court.
Over the past five years, Kel had grown seven inches and had let her wavy brown hair tumble to her hips. She really was very pretty, but some people didn't take kindly to her stocky build at home. Less than kind remark had been made about her the whole time she had been in Tortall last. Kel had been called a cow among other things; none were flattering.
At the end of the week, Keladry and her mother, the Lady Ilane of Mindelan could be found boarding a Tortallan diplomatic ship bound for their homeland. As the sunset, they lost sight of the land where they had lives for so many valuable years of their lives. They knew they'd be back soon enough, but neither was sure how they felt about their futures.