They were standing in a tiled room. The walls were white and the floor a
deep blue. Mirana blinked water from her eyes. Looking down, she noticed
that her clothing was soaked and puddles were building puddles around her
feet. Next to her Queen Korala stretched and too looked down herself.
She sighed and said "This dress is ruined, what a shame, I was really fond
of it! Oh, well, life goes on!" Turning to Mirana she added "Welcome to
Aquas! We are standing in the Arrival Room. This is the only way to get to
the world we came from and back! But now, lets first change into dry
garments."
She opened the door and Don and Mirana followed her out.
As it turned out, the palace was big! Soon Mirana lost all sense of direction. One hallway lead into a different one. Rooms followed rooms. After climbing a staircase, the queen stoped and said to Don "You parents are waiting for you in the chambers! We'll meet in the throne room in half an hour!" Don bowed and said "Yes, your majesty!" he took the right hallway and Korala lead Mirana down the left one. Every one they passed bowed or curtsied to their ruler muttering greetings.
Finally Queen Korala opened a set of doors and conducted Mirana inside. Mirana gasped. With out being told, she knew she was in the royal wing. The place had a certain aura. All of a sudden, a little girl ran out of an adjoining room and through herself at the queen, shrieking "Mama, mama!" Korala picked her up and laughing spun her around. The child had red, curly hair like her mother and was wearing a dress which reached just below her knees. Korala introduced her to Mirana "This is my youngest daughter, Evie! She's eight, following Oceanic time. Evie, this is Mirana." At that moment another girl entered followed by a very tall, very handsome man. Korala gave the girl a hug and kissed the man who wrapped his arms around her. "Mirana, this is Sarisa and his majesty, King Neptune, my husband." Korala explained as Mirana bowed. To the girl's surprise, Neptune took her hands and kissed her on the brow saying "Welcome, Mirana, it is a pleasure!" His voice was loud and clear and it reminded Mirana of waves rolling onto shore. His black hair was short and his green eyes were piercing. His skin was tanned and he was thin, but muscular. He wore breeches, a blouse and a tunic all in different shades of green. His boots were black and looked well worn. Sarisa was, unlike her younger sister, a lady. Her black, straight hair was tucked up, she moved with grace and her posture was perfect. Her dress was long and very elegant. She's a beauty, thought Mirana, and she knows it!
Korala took her by the arm and said "You'll meet my son later, for now we must change before we catch our deaths." Turning to her family she said "Give us a while, than we have a lot to talk about!" She pulled Mirana into a hallway and lead her farther into the wing.
Queen Korala found Mirana a dress and a pair of slippers. After they had both swapped their wet garments for dry ones, Korala and Mirana went back into the labyrinth of hallways and rooms till they reached the throne room were the whole royal family plus Don and his family was waiting. A servant called them into the dining room where they ate lunch. Mirana couldn't absorb any of the things going on around her. She sat next to Don who was talking to a woman who turned out to be lady Margeta of Water Vale, his mother. On Mirana's other side sat Sarisa who wasn't very talkative and was manly focused on her plate. This was fine with Mirana, who was to confused to talk.
After the meal, Korala, Neptune, Sarisa and Evie took Mirana into a sitting room. Korala sat down in a arm chair and said "I am sure you have many questions, now is a good time to discuss an few things. Ask away!" Mirana didn't know where to start "You speak of Oceanic time and of airer's time. What is the difference?" The King answered "Time runs different here. It's slower. So if you are thirteen, airer's time, your only ten here! It doesn't make you less smart or premature, you get older here." "So three years, airer's time is only one year here?" Korala nodded. "Are we under the airer's ocean?" was Mirana's next question. "In a way! There's a layer between. No one can get across. It's been tried many times, but unsuccessfully." Korala responded "It can't leak either, we are completely safe!" Mirana didn't know what to think "Do you have a sun?" Neptune laughed "In a matter of speaking! The layer that separates the airer's world form this one is transparent. That is also why our 'sky' is a very dark blue. Our sun is a giant fish which shines as bright as the sun. He swims along the layer at the speed of the sun travelling over the sky in the airer's world, he can't die and we call him Suriko."
For a strange reason every thing made sense to Mirana, no matter how crazy it seemed. She told them so
"I think that's all for the time being, I'll ask more as I get to know Aquas. Wait," she interrupted herself "one last question: What's going to happen to me?" Korala and Neptune exchanged looks before the queen answered "You have a choice. You can either become a noble lady or you can become a defender of this country!"
"At ten, which is your age in this dimension, really all noble girls go to the convent to learn proper lady behaviour, writing, reading and all those things a lady needs to know. At around 18 they come to the palace where their family chooses a husband for them. This is the life most parents want for the daughters, but if the ladies life doesn't suit you, you can become a knight, a defender of Aquas. Also at ten the boys and girls who wish to serve in this way leave their family to live in the palace during their learning. For the first year you are taught weapon work, horse riding, surviving in the country at the palace. Then you are chosen by a knight in the field as a squire. You serve them till they believe you ready, a minimum of 7 years. Than you are made into a defender and you work for the crown. "
Neptune interrupted his wife "Four years ago, the rules were changed, girls can be trained as defenders too. It used to be only the boys, for diverse reasons. Most families don't want their daughters to take up arms, so at the moment only one girl is in the training. She's in her second year. That's it! Because you don't have a family to give you pressure, it's entirely up to you! In one month the new semester starts. By than you must have decided!"
Mirana gulped. Such a choice! She would have to sleep on that and think it over. Korala seemed to read her thoughts "Too much to decide in such a short time! Come on, I'll show you around and introduce you." She got up and everyone followed suit. Mirana bowed to the king and the princesses and followed the queen like a lost puppy outside.
Korala showed Mirana, her room which was just down the hallway from the royal wing. After that she took Mirana to the tailor to get dresses, breeches, blouses and tunics made. "Am I aloud to wear breeches?" Mirana was surprised. Korala chuckled "Yes, child, we are moving into a new age of living; girls can wear what they want, but most parents are still too conservative to accept the changes."
At long last Korala showed Mirana the gardens. The first thing Mirana did was look up. The sky was a dark blue and had a green tinge to it, like the ocean. She searched for Suriko, the sun, but could only find a shinny, circular object high above which was radiating heat and light.
After a complete tour of the palace and surroundings, including the wall, training yards, ball rooms and servant's quarters, Korala and Mirana sat down in a shady spot in the garden and Korala pulled out a map. Together they poured over it and in the following hours, Mirana learned about Aquas and neighbouring countries. She saw that Fief Summer Reaches was far in the north of the country, close to Oceanica, the large ocean to the north-east of Aquas. Korala told her companion that after the death of Baron and Baroness of Summer Reaches, the Fief had gone to another family; Earl Karl of Leris was unmarried and if he didn't receive a heir the fief would return to Mirana.
Later on Don found them there. He bowed low and said "Good afternoon, your majesty, Mirana. I was wondering," he stopped unsure how to continue. "You were wondering if you could take Mirana? I was hoping you would ask, after all who would want to spend a wonderful afternoon like this one stuck with me?" Korala winked as Mirana told her that she thought it fantastic. "Bring Mirana back to the royal wing, I think she'll be lost and anyway she still needs to meet my son!" Korala said to Don. Don and Mirana bowed to the queen and left.
They took a path along the side of the palace while Don said "I want ya to meet my friends! Not all will be there, ya see, we've got a month of relaxation between terms and some of them went back to their fiefs, but I told some ta meet us at the yards." He opened a set of double doors and showed Mirana the way inside. Turning back to him she asked with raised eyebrows "Aren't they outside?" Don blushed "Yes, but there's a short-cut!" He lead the girl down a hallway which Mirana thought looked strangely familiar. She stopped in front of a door, her door!
"Wait!" she called to Don. She opened the door and stepped inside and closed the door. A couple of minutes later Mirana stepped back outside. She had changed from a tight, red dress into brown breeches, white blouse, brown tunic and black boots. Answering his questioning look with "More practical!" they continued down the corridor.
As it turned out, the palace was big! Soon Mirana lost all sense of direction. One hallway lead into a different one. Rooms followed rooms. After climbing a staircase, the queen stoped and said to Don "You parents are waiting for you in the chambers! We'll meet in the throne room in half an hour!" Don bowed and said "Yes, your majesty!" he took the right hallway and Korala lead Mirana down the left one. Every one they passed bowed or curtsied to their ruler muttering greetings.
Finally Queen Korala opened a set of doors and conducted Mirana inside. Mirana gasped. With out being told, she knew she was in the royal wing. The place had a certain aura. All of a sudden, a little girl ran out of an adjoining room and through herself at the queen, shrieking "Mama, mama!" Korala picked her up and laughing spun her around. The child had red, curly hair like her mother and was wearing a dress which reached just below her knees. Korala introduced her to Mirana "This is my youngest daughter, Evie! She's eight, following Oceanic time. Evie, this is Mirana." At that moment another girl entered followed by a very tall, very handsome man. Korala gave the girl a hug and kissed the man who wrapped his arms around her. "Mirana, this is Sarisa and his majesty, King Neptune, my husband." Korala explained as Mirana bowed. To the girl's surprise, Neptune took her hands and kissed her on the brow saying "Welcome, Mirana, it is a pleasure!" His voice was loud and clear and it reminded Mirana of waves rolling onto shore. His black hair was short and his green eyes were piercing. His skin was tanned and he was thin, but muscular. He wore breeches, a blouse and a tunic all in different shades of green. His boots were black and looked well worn. Sarisa was, unlike her younger sister, a lady. Her black, straight hair was tucked up, she moved with grace and her posture was perfect. Her dress was long and very elegant. She's a beauty, thought Mirana, and she knows it!
Korala took her by the arm and said "You'll meet my son later, for now we must change before we catch our deaths." Turning to her family she said "Give us a while, than we have a lot to talk about!" She pulled Mirana into a hallway and lead her farther into the wing.
Queen Korala found Mirana a dress and a pair of slippers. After they had both swapped their wet garments for dry ones, Korala and Mirana went back into the labyrinth of hallways and rooms till they reached the throne room were the whole royal family plus Don and his family was waiting. A servant called them into the dining room where they ate lunch. Mirana couldn't absorb any of the things going on around her. She sat next to Don who was talking to a woman who turned out to be lady Margeta of Water Vale, his mother. On Mirana's other side sat Sarisa who wasn't very talkative and was manly focused on her plate. This was fine with Mirana, who was to confused to talk.
After the meal, Korala, Neptune, Sarisa and Evie took Mirana into a sitting room. Korala sat down in a arm chair and said "I am sure you have many questions, now is a good time to discuss an few things. Ask away!" Mirana didn't know where to start "You speak of Oceanic time and of airer's time. What is the difference?" The King answered "Time runs different here. It's slower. So if you are thirteen, airer's time, your only ten here! It doesn't make you less smart or premature, you get older here." "So three years, airer's time is only one year here?" Korala nodded. "Are we under the airer's ocean?" was Mirana's next question. "In a way! There's a layer between. No one can get across. It's been tried many times, but unsuccessfully." Korala responded "It can't leak either, we are completely safe!" Mirana didn't know what to think "Do you have a sun?" Neptune laughed "In a matter of speaking! The layer that separates the airer's world form this one is transparent. That is also why our 'sky' is a very dark blue. Our sun is a giant fish which shines as bright as the sun. He swims along the layer at the speed of the sun travelling over the sky in the airer's world, he can't die and we call him Suriko."
For a strange reason every thing made sense to Mirana, no matter how crazy it seemed. She told them so
"I think that's all for the time being, I'll ask more as I get to know Aquas. Wait," she interrupted herself "one last question: What's going to happen to me?" Korala and Neptune exchanged looks before the queen answered "You have a choice. You can either become a noble lady or you can become a defender of this country!"
"At ten, which is your age in this dimension, really all noble girls go to the convent to learn proper lady behaviour, writing, reading and all those things a lady needs to know. At around 18 they come to the palace where their family chooses a husband for them. This is the life most parents want for the daughters, but if the ladies life doesn't suit you, you can become a knight, a defender of Aquas. Also at ten the boys and girls who wish to serve in this way leave their family to live in the palace during their learning. For the first year you are taught weapon work, horse riding, surviving in the country at the palace. Then you are chosen by a knight in the field as a squire. You serve them till they believe you ready, a minimum of 7 years. Than you are made into a defender and you work for the crown. "
Neptune interrupted his wife "Four years ago, the rules were changed, girls can be trained as defenders too. It used to be only the boys, for diverse reasons. Most families don't want their daughters to take up arms, so at the moment only one girl is in the training. She's in her second year. That's it! Because you don't have a family to give you pressure, it's entirely up to you! In one month the new semester starts. By than you must have decided!"
Mirana gulped. Such a choice! She would have to sleep on that and think it over. Korala seemed to read her thoughts "Too much to decide in such a short time! Come on, I'll show you around and introduce you." She got up and everyone followed suit. Mirana bowed to the king and the princesses and followed the queen like a lost puppy outside.
Korala showed Mirana, her room which was just down the hallway from the royal wing. After that she took Mirana to the tailor to get dresses, breeches, blouses and tunics made. "Am I aloud to wear breeches?" Mirana was surprised. Korala chuckled "Yes, child, we are moving into a new age of living; girls can wear what they want, but most parents are still too conservative to accept the changes."
At long last Korala showed Mirana the gardens. The first thing Mirana did was look up. The sky was a dark blue and had a green tinge to it, like the ocean. She searched for Suriko, the sun, but could only find a shinny, circular object high above which was radiating heat and light.
After a complete tour of the palace and surroundings, including the wall, training yards, ball rooms and servant's quarters, Korala and Mirana sat down in a shady spot in the garden and Korala pulled out a map. Together they poured over it and in the following hours, Mirana learned about Aquas and neighbouring countries. She saw that Fief Summer Reaches was far in the north of the country, close to Oceanica, the large ocean to the north-east of Aquas. Korala told her companion that after the death of Baron and Baroness of Summer Reaches, the Fief had gone to another family; Earl Karl of Leris was unmarried and if he didn't receive a heir the fief would return to Mirana.
Later on Don found them there. He bowed low and said "Good afternoon, your majesty, Mirana. I was wondering," he stopped unsure how to continue. "You were wondering if you could take Mirana? I was hoping you would ask, after all who would want to spend a wonderful afternoon like this one stuck with me?" Korala winked as Mirana told her that she thought it fantastic. "Bring Mirana back to the royal wing, I think she'll be lost and anyway she still needs to meet my son!" Korala said to Don. Don and Mirana bowed to the queen and left.
They took a path along the side of the palace while Don said "I want ya to meet my friends! Not all will be there, ya see, we've got a month of relaxation between terms and some of them went back to their fiefs, but I told some ta meet us at the yards." He opened a set of double doors and showed Mirana the way inside. Turning back to him she asked with raised eyebrows "Aren't they outside?" Don blushed "Yes, but there's a short-cut!" He lead the girl down a hallway which Mirana thought looked strangely familiar. She stopped in front of a door, her door!
"Wait!" she called to Don. She opened the door and stepped inside and closed the door. A couple of minutes later Mirana stepped back outside. She had changed from a tight, red dress into brown breeches, white blouse, brown tunic and black boots. Answering his questioning look with "More practical!" they continued down the corridor.