Chapter 4
Anzu
The girl Serenity had seen talking with the prince earlier, instantly appeared at his sighed. Dressed in a black skirt that stopped at her knees (a new fashion in the western part of the world) with a frilly, white cotton apron. She had a dark blue shirt on that had a high collar clasped around her neck by a golden pin.
The girl was quite pretty. Pale skin, large, cerulean eyes; her chestnut brown hair was cut to her chin. "Yes, lord," she said, voice musical.
"Anzu, this is Prince Joseph of Sekina," Seto said, Anzu curtsied, "and this is his younger sister, Princess Serenity."
Anzu murmured softly, curtsying again, "A pleasure to meet you Prince and Princess."
Joey nodded curtly at Anzu, eyes still on the Arilea prince. Serenity smiled and curtsied herself. She already liked this girl. Seto spoke again, "Anzu, I am leaving Arilea to accompany these two on a…royal trip. Please tell my brother Mokuba…"
"SETO!"
Serenity turned and searched for the speaker. The doors were thrown open and a boy that looked a little younger than she was, maybe 14 (she herself was only 16). He had elbow-length ebony hair and large gray/violet eyes. He was about 5'8", wearing practice armor over brown shirt and breeches. Serenity noticed that he only had wool socks on and in his hand was a wooden practice sword. "Mokuba," the prince said.
Wait, was that…? Did the prince have affection in his eyes? Who was Mokuba? A friend? "Brother, when did you get back from the south? I thought you were supposed to come next week!" Mokuba said, jogging the distance to the throne where his older brother sat.
Oh. This was the other prince.
"Mokuba," Seto said (Serenity noticed that his voice wasn't that cold when he spoke to Mokuba), "I had some business with the capitol. I had to come back immediately. I thought you were told. I arrived this morning."
Mokuba shook his head, bangs falling into his face, "No one said a word. I missed you."
"I have to go."
"What?"
"This is Prince Joseph of Sekina," Joey and Mokuba traded nods, "and his sister Princess Serenity."
Mokuba took her hand and kissed it, Serenity blushing. "A pleasure," he said.
"Their father, the king of Sekina, has died. Do you remember that legend I told you about when we were little? The six elements?"
Mokuba nodded.
"Remember how I told you I might have something to do with it?"
Mokuba nodded again.
"They say they have something to do with it too, so we're headed to Crishan. It's important that we find those six elements fast. We're leaving in a hour."
"We're what?" Joey said, glaring at Seto.
"But Prince, our things are an hour away!" Serenity cried.
"Don't worry Princess, Anzu will help you with the proper dress. Crishan is only a day and a half's ride from here. You won't need anything else, except maybe a cloak." Seto replied, only glancing at her.
"But…but…!" Joey stuttered.
"Mutt," Seto said, "Your riding clothes are in the hall."
In an hour's time the five of them (Seto, Joey, Serenity, Mokuba, and Anzu) are standing outside the castle. Mokuba is out of his armor now, standing by the doors talking with his brother. Seto is dressed in a black shirt and black breeches. Black boots finish of the appearance. He wore a dark blue long coat that swept behind him gracefully.
Joey glared at the man. He didn't like this Prince at all. Something about him…Joey shook his head. The second he had seen Seto he knew he had something to do with the elements. Why did he agree so quickly? Was…was he an element?
Well, he thought, at least I got new clothes. He was dressed in a green tunic with golden brown breeches and dark brown boots. He put his hand on the golden sword hilt on his side for reassurance.
Serenity talked with Anzu about Sekina. It seemed that Anzu had never been to another kingdom before, or out of this city for that matter. Serenity hadn't either. She had been stuck in Sekina her whole life. Anzu complimented her and Serenity smiled. "You picked it out," she said.
She wore a light gold gown with silver embroideries long the collar and hem. She liked it a lot. Anzu had good taste. She turned and smiled. The horses had come.
Anzu bounced on her gray horse's back. Her long black skirt billowed softly in the breeze. The day was winding down. It would be night in an hour. She looked down at her black-gloved hands and then at her bellowing blue shirt sleeves. Her eyes drooped slightly. She was tired. It wasn't every day she got a field assignment with royalty!
Memories were welling up inside of her, ready to burst. She sighed. She was to tired to fight them today. Like a broken dam, the memories flooded her mind.
"Mama," said Anzu, tugging on a raggedy skirt, belonging a tall women, her mother.
"Yes, Anzu," the women said, staring at her daughter with eyes darker then hers.
"Mama, where are we going? We passed the market already!"
"Dear," her mother said slowly, "I'm showing you this little clearing a found for you. A new place for you to live."
"A new home!" Anzu clapped her hands excitedly, "Mother, are you going to live with me?"
"I'll come and visit everyday and I'll tuck you in."
"Why won't you live with me?"
"Here we are," her mother said, pushing back the thrush to reveal a small clearing that was surrounded by wood. Beside it was a wise river with reeds.
"Oh look! A frog!" Anzu shrieked and ran into the reeds.
"Aren't you going to come and see?" Anzu asked, sticking her head out of the bushes.
No one was there.
"Mama? Mama?" Anzu searched the bushes around her new 'home'. "Well, Mama has work to do. She said she'd be back to tuck me in."
Anzu cheerfully turned and went back to the river and sat on stone. She always felt better when water was near. It was Anzu's dream to see the ocean one day. "And I will," she said.
A few hours later, in the dark, Anzu held her rag (blanket) tightly. Where was Mama?
A few years later, she sat by the stream, fishing. Her clothes were ripped and torn. They didn't really fir her any more. Her long skirt that had dragged as a bride's dress she had once seen now was up to her knees, torn and ripped. Her shirt, which had been baggy, had no sleeves and was two inches above her belly button.
As she reeled in her fish, she heard rustling and grabbed the sharp stone next to her. She listened to a few minutes of rustling before she saw a man in maroon robes and a golden crown embedded with sapphires and opals on his head.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice cracked. She hadn't talked in a while.
"I am King Gozaburo, young lady. You're coming with me," the man said and she felt herself being lifted of her stone. She turned to see a huge men decked out in a complete set of armor, chain mail and all.
After they had walked for a good half hour she said, "King, where are you taking me?"
Without looking at her he said, "To the castle. We need more…servant girls."
After that Anzu served the older prince and baby sitted the younger. Two questions still burned in her mind. The first one was why did King Gozaburo go to all that trouble just to get her as a servant girl. She knew girls in Evankay that would die just to serve his royal highness. She turned her head and looked back.
While she was riding next to Lady Serenity (who continued to tell her just to call her Serenity) the men, Prince Joseph and Prince Seto, rode side-by-side. The Sekina Prince was secretly glaring at her prince while Prince Seto was looking at her and Serenity. He turned his eyes to her and she quickly turned back.
She still didn't know why those girls wanted to serve a human icicle.
The other question almost made her burst into tears when she thought about it was…why did her mother…abandon her? Had she done something wrong? Maybe she was taking up to much room in their flat. Had she been eating too much?
Whatever the reason was, she just hoped she would figure it out so it would stop bugging her.
Serenity yawned, hand flying to her face in embarrassment. They stopped. The girls turned to the boys. Seto's eyes watched Serenity yawn again. "Maybe we should-"he started.
"-Turn in?" Joey finished. He glared at Seto who returned it with twice the loath. He turned to Anzu and she nodded in approval. Serenity smiled.
"I think there's a tavern that has rooms we could use for the night," Anzu said, "If that's okay with you my lord."
"Fine," he said.
Urging her horse forward she lead the way to tavern.
Hope you guys like it! Read and Review!
-Em