Disclaimer in Prologue
The Second Year
Copper Isles
A distant figure stood on top of a cliff. In one hand was a paintbrush and in the other, a set of paints. Her eyes were closed as her fingers flickered over the painting gracefully. She was painting the incoming storm; wind billowed around her and her straight shoulder length auburn hair blew around her face.
Biting another paintbrush in her teeth, she threw down the paintbrush she was holding and took the brush from her teeth. With a last flick the brush, she threw that down too. She stepped back from her painting and opened her eyes slowly and sighed, 'I don't like the clouds in that painting, it looks lifeless.'
'Stop criticizing your words, Milady, the painting is beautiful.' A nearby maid, Alina, said.
The lady sighed again, 'Well, it's going to rain soon. Can you pack the painting up? I'll see you at the house.'
'Yes, Milady.' Alina replied and set off to dismantle the easel.
With a last glance around, the lady turned and walked towards a chestnut mare that was tied to a nearby tree. She mounted swiftly and turned towards the palace. She trotted towards the palace, enjoying the lush scenery. She guided her horse the horse through the market square. Her shiny auburn hair brushed against her shoulders as she relaxed into a canter. Her dark blue eyes took over a dreamy cast, making it even more darker. Her naturally tanned skin was flattered by a simple sleeveless dress. The dress had a square neckline; the dresses' bodice flowed over her chest and ended just above her hips. A straight white skirt finished above her ankles. She drew a few appraising glances from males but was not interrupted.
Everyone knew her. Everyone knew Aikocho noh Kamaji, the Yamani noble. She had been living in the Copper Isles for nearly two years. Aiko had been training as an artist in the palace. She did not paint for money but for her own pleasure. She rarely gave her paintings to anyone and anyone who had received a painting from Aiko treasured her masterpieces. Aiko mainly painted scenery, though she sometimes painted portraits but her portraits were mainly flashes of moments. Lady Aiko had once painted an archer shooting at a target. The life-like painting was considered a very high priced piece of work, but Aiko did not sell it. Instead she gave it to the archer and apologized for painting him without permission. Her uniqueness intrigued many.
Aiko reached her house. She dismounted and let the servant take her horse. Aiko walked down the corridors. Reaching a door, she knocked. Her father opened the door. The once twinkling, eyes were now tired and dull. Eyes red from loss of sleep and black rings underneath the eyes, pronounced his gaunt cheeks. 'How is she?' Aiko whispered.
'The same. She's still raving.' Her father sighed.
Aiko closed her eyes. Her mother was now very ill, in a very frenzied mental illness. She sometimes would scream and yell. And sometimes she'll just stare into the distance, a blank expression. The healers could do nothing about it. Her mother always screamed at her, only her. Aiko thought bitterly. And she would look at other people with that blank look. Only Aiko was screamed at.
Aiko turned back to her rooms. Opening her door she flung herself on the bed, facedown. 'Why can't she try and love me? Why can't she try to at least pretend that she loved me?' Aiko whispered. Tears began to sting her eyes. She lifted her wrist and turned the charm bracelet around her wrist. 'At least I know people who'd love me no matter what talent I have.' Aiko murmured. Her mother was jealous of her talent, Aiko thought. Her mother had taste but she couldn't paint. Her mother knew which painting was of good quality and bad, but she couldn't paint. Sighing she looked at her bracelet. She laid her hand on it and started to activate the charm. Aiko pulsed with a soft pink glow; she closed her eyes and waited.
Tortall, Corus, the Palace, Training Courtyards
Kel raced towards the quintain with her lance in one hand and the other hand on Peachblossom's reins. She hit the mark and raced by as the pole swung pass. Kel trotted back to the start, where her friends were cheering. Neal was smiling and punching his hand in the air. Her stomach did a funny jolt as she saw him. 'Stop it.' Kel murmured to herself. Peachblossom gave a soft neigh. Kel leaned down and patted him.
Her other friends were either on the ground or on their horses. Kel smiled at them. Joren came up and said, 'Well done, fellow page.' Kel smiled at him. Joren had finally accepted her when she saved him from an attack from bandits, although they had a friendly rivalry. Her friends were still wary of him. She watched as Joren walked away. Her thoughts were interrupted by Roald's call, 'Kel! You're glowing! A very bright green!'
'Ok. Neal, if I fall asleep, get me back to my rooms alright?' Kel said. With that she slid off Peachblossoms' back and sat on the floor and started to meditate.
'Wait! How am I supposed to know you are asleep when you're meditating?' Neal demanded.
Kel smiled as she let the thoughts that were battering against her mind flow in.
Carthak. Academy of Dance and Fine Arts.
Chiko leaned her feet against the board and did a graceful flip backwards, arcing her back and stretching her arms to make a more dramatic movement, she landed gracefully. With a tired sigh, she slid down to the floor. Stretching her legs and rolling her ankles, she lay back.
Pulling her hair from its neat bun, her shoulder length of silky black hair spread acroos the floor. Dark eyes gazed the ceiling forlornly.
Suddenly she felt a sharp prickling in her mind. She lifted her bracelet. Around her charm bracelet there was a pink glow. 'Okay, Aiko. Bring it on.' With that, she sat up and folded herself into the resting Buddha position. Controlling her breathing, Chiko let the battering thoughts in.
Yamani Islands
Angel sat in her window seat, looking out over the city. She caressed the flute in her lap. Sighing, she let her eyes close tiredly. Her perfectly arced eyebrows relaxed from its tense position. Her pale cheeks, undecorated, deeply contrasted her raven hair; which flowed freely down her back. Opening her eyes, a colour flitting hazel eyes looked tired yet patient.
Angel felt a sharp prickling in her head; she glanced down at her charm bracelet. Around it was a pink glow. With another sigh, she settled to meditate. Angel steadily glowed in a red and gold radiance.
In all four of the sister's minds
'Are all of you here?' Aiko asked. The other three replied.
'Are you alright Aiko?' Chiko asked.
'I'm fine. I just need some company.' Aiko replied.
'What happened?' Kel asked. Aiko sent images of her mother's illness.
After the images flashed through their minds, Angel asked, 'Is she getting better?'
'No. The healers said that this summer will be her last.' Aiko replied sadly.
The sisters murmured their sympathies.
'Well, life is like that; full of unexpected surprises.' Aiko said. 'Let's not talk about my mother. Hows your training going, Angel?'
Angel winced mentally, 'Its going all right. I'm learning how to play several other instruments.'
'How many do you already know?' Chiko asked exasperatingly.
Angel paused before answering. 'I think nine…or was it ten?'
'Mithros, how do you handle it when you have so music floating around your brain?' Kel demanded.
'I don't know. Music just comes naturally.' Angel answered before asking, 'Hows your training Kel?'
'It's alright I guess. But not as tough as the training in the Yamani Islands.' Kel replied. The training for warriors were much more rigorous than the training in Tortall.
'Met any handsome men?' Chiko asked cheekily.
Kel smiled, blushing. 'There is a few I suppose. He used to really hate me but now we're friends. There's another one, he's my best friend.'
'Ooh… do I hear affection?' teased Aiko. Kel blushed even more.
'How is your training Aiko?' Angel asked.
'Its doing well I suppose.' Aiko said dryly. 'I'm doing a lot of still life work.'
'It must be fun painting fruits.' Kel said. They laughed.
'I think I'm doing naked people next month.' Aiko said. The sisters looked at each other and then laughed.
'Fine…be like that. Hows your training going Chiko?' Kel asked.
'It's fine. A lot of leaping at the moment.' Chiko replied. The chattering subdued a moment.
Then Angel suddenly said, 'I miss all of you.'
'I miss you girls too.' Kel said sadly.
'Me too.' Chiko said.
'Me three.' Aiko said tearfully.
They all laughed and hugged each other mentally.
'Till next time then,' Chiko said ruefully.
'Till next time.' Assured Angel.
They hugged each other again and their connection started to fade.
Chiko jolted back into reality. She untangled herself from her sitting position and lies back on the ground. Chiko sighed as she thought back on her conversation with her sisters. Sitting up, she started her dance routine again.
Angel opened her eyes, as her mind flew back to reality. She gazed out the window and gave another heavy sigh. Standing up, she brushed invisible crumbs off her light yellow kimono. Adjusting her dark green obi and checking her shukusen was in place. Angel walked daintily towards the sliding doors, and stepped out onto the wide corridors. Servants bowed as she went passed. Angel reached her lesson room and went in to resume her training.
Aiko woke up, a little dazed on her bed. Wiping tears away, she stood up and turned towards her mother's chambers.
'Do you think she's sleeping?' Neal whispered as they crowded around Kel.
'How do I know?' Prosper demanded.
'Look, she's crying and smiling and then crying again. What do you think is wrong with her?' whispered Cleon.
'How do I know?' Seaver demanded.
'Oh for Mithro's sake. Stop arguing!' yelled Merric.
'That's it. I'm done with waiting.' Neal said firmly.
As Kel opened her eyes, Neal was about to hack through the small shield. Disoriented, Kel gripped the offending arm and threw him over her shoulder.
'Oomph….' Neal yelped as he skidded across the ground.
Kel stood up, smiling. 'Oops.'
'Well, sorry! Just trying to help.' Neal muttered.
'Sorry.' Kel said as she helped Neal up.
'What happened when you were meditating? You were covered in a green glow and there was a shield. The shield kept us from reaching you but it dissolved just before you woke up.' Seaver said.
'Oh…I was talking to my sisters. I forgot about the shield, sorry.' Kel said absentmindly.
'Why were you crying?' Merric asked curiously.
'Oh… we were talking about something sad.' Kel replied, brushing off dirt from her breeches.
'What was it?' Neal asked.
Kel did a mock glare and said, 'Stop being nosy.'
Neal wrinkled his nose and said meekly, 'Yes mother.'
Kel laughed and said, 'Come on boys, let's go have lunch.'
They walked towards the mess hall, all laughing and making jokes.
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