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Title: Talons and Tea Leaves

Inspired by: Chapter 23 of the Manga Akagami ni Shirayukihime

Character: Izana Wistalia, Garack Gazelt

Wordcount: 1150

Rating: General

The Sea Talons, or Talons as they are commonly known, are a band of thieves who arbitrarily exact toll fees in certain areas of the oceans hugging the continent. They evade landing inspections through backroom dealings.

Money is not the only way to deal with them. They also conduct illegal human trafficking, often selling exotic slaves to dubious characters willing to pay an exorbitant amount of money.

I let the paper flutter to the floor, no longer in the mood to continue reading. The shadow guards had given me a longer report as of late, given that it had been days since Shirayuki's disappearance. The window of opportunity was slowly getting smaller as days passed by. Shirayuki could be anywhere by now, especially if the Sea Talons were indeed behind her abduction.

I glanced out of the window, the feeling of restlessness slowly consuming my very being. I did not wish to think I had been helpless about this situation; the King of Tanbarun had graciously accepted my brother and continued to correspond to me on a regular basis to keep me abreast on the progress of investigations.

And yet, while I sat here pretending to go about my business of ruling the country in absence of Her Majesty, The Queen, there wasn't a single day that passed that I didn't wish I was there with my brother looking for Shirayuki. I wanted to share the pain he was feeling right now.

And while it was true that I made a painful decision of choosing my brother over her if and when the situation called for it, I was greatly torn between wanting to protect him personally and looking for Shirayuki myself. Would the time ever come when I could split myself into two and do all the things I could for the people I cherished most?

Restless and moody, I began my usual practice of pacing about my office. I knew for a fact that my aides, Miyoshi and Maruko, had been walking on eggshells ever since I received news of Shirayuki's abduction. I had been working nonstop, trying to distract myself by piling more paperwork than I usually handled, even foregoing my regular long afternoon walks outside. I chose to lock myself in the room and punish myself in seclusion.

I should be thankful at least that the Castle was subjected to some peace and quiet, and I could think clearly. Or so I hoped.

My aides were worried, probably after noting my pale complexion when I continued to refuse to go out in the sun every day. They had patiently tried to rouse my spirits by tempting me with various desserts during tea breaks. Unfortunately, I had no care for sweets. So when a knock came, signalling my time for some afternoon tea, I decided to pretend everything was normal and let the maids come in with the tea service.

But instead of uniformed maids, brightly mischievous blue-violet eyes met mine.

"I haven't seen you in a while, Your Highness." Garack's teasing voice greeted me. "Here I am thinking you have finally succumbed to the poisons. Imagine my disappointment now when I see you still looking as tough as a weed." She bustled about, wheeling a tray filled with suspicious-looking brown liquids swirling in ice. I felt a little ill now, thinking of those times when the Head Pharmacist was on the lookout for victims she would like to test her concoctions with. I bet those brown-looking drinks would prove fatal.

Garack was already placing a tall glass of the drink in front of me, a wide-toothed smile plastered on her face.

I forced a smile, and my jaw began to hurt as I took the drink and braced myself for the coughing.

However, I could only taste sweetness.

Like crisp apples.

A hint of cinnamon.

And even a pinch of Julia flower sugar.

I closed my eyes, savouring the delicious drink. "Makes me want to eat an apple," I commented unguardedly.

"…It's good for the eyes, and relaxes tense muscles. It even has the benefit of putting you in a good night's sleep," Garack added, bending a little to slice a piece of sweet treat and putting it on a plate. The Head Pharmacist sometimes acted like the older sister I never had, all bossy and irritable sometimes; nevertheless, she mothered me like the way she mothered little Ryuu, her prodigy assistant.

She placed the sweet in front of me with a small clatter, and I couldn't help but flinch a little at the thought of such fine china breaking. Garack was the type of woman who would break everyday porcelain but never her test tubes and crystal phials.

"Eat!" she told me.

I fingered the silverware and reluctantly took a small bite.

I eyed her warily when she took her own glass of drink and began to walk around, lifting papers and reading a little, pushing clutter with her foot while her immaculately white lab coat fluttered around her ankles. I had visions of a mother hen clucking about until her job of feeding the young was done.

Even as I watched her from the corner of my eye, I realized I finished what I was drinking and eating. I never noticed how hungry I was.

"Feeling better?" She looked up from a thick book resting on her lap.

I nodded.

She snapped the book shut and dropped it on the floor with a thud.

I kept quiet, reluctant to admit that it took one Garack Gazelt to come out of her cave and deal with me.

"Times like these, I feel a little restless and lonely when the Healing and Pharmacy ward feels a little too quiet."

I pursed my lips, pushed back the chair I was sitting on and stood up to face the window overlooking the courtyard. The late afternoon wind rustled the leaves and branches of the ancient apple tree below. I could see the roundish fruits, slowly growing. Garack reached my side and stood next to me, looking at the same apple tree.

"Little Ryuu concocted the drink so that it would help revitalize you, Your Highness. We are all happy that you have been working so hard," she murmured.

I nodded.

"Of course, the tea leaves smell slightly different according to what the drinker is currently desiring. One of those strange alchemical plants with good medicinal value…" Her voice had a mischievous ring to it.

I stiffened a little at what she is getting at. I turned around and began shuffling papers on my desk, stacking and re-stacking the parchment and almost spilling the bottle of ink at the side.

"Thank you for that small respite, Garack." I dismissed her.

"A pleasure, Your Highness. I hope you have been refreshed by this small break." She gave me a small wink and floated past me, leaving the tea tray and carefully closing the door behind her.

But as soon as she left, I found myself leaning against the desk, back to my brooding mood.