-India's POV-

Kiran emerged from the golden temple, her arms full of scrolls and scriptures that she had just finished translating into other languages of her home. She took great pride in her mother's work and wanted to share the philosophies and ideas with her people.

There were other temples for different Gods and Goddesses around, but the market was not too far off either. Kiran heard the calls of merchants, the laughter of children, and the chit chat between the women. She walked through, bowing to people as a form of greeting. The streets were full of people. Men, women, and children, bustled their way through the streets. Although it seemed quite hectic, it pleased Kiran. Guards wandered about and stood at different posts to keep the peace.

Kiran continued her walk toward her home near the beach. She took a moment to look at the beautiful Indian Sea. Suddenly, something caught her attention in the distance. It appeared to be a ship, but it wasn't like anything that she had ever seen before. She wasn't sure if she was supposed to be excited or scared. The light sea breeze blew her long hair to the right of her, puffing out the cloth of her sari as well. Seeing such a thing made her wonder.

Perhaps it was China, though the vessel didn't look like his usual style. 'Perhaps he is here to boast about his newest model of ship. Though he usually travels by land and brings a miniature.'Kiran thought to herself.

She shrugged and continued walking to her fairly large home. She proposed that the best thing to do was to put away the scrolls and hopefully hide from her neighboring nation. With any luck he wouldn't be able to find her and just go home. Kiran didn't much care about his latest and greatest inventions beyond what they traded.

After she put away the scrolls into their special cupboard and locked it up. It wasn't that she was afraid of them being stolen; she just didn't want to let any chance of animals getting in and defiling her sacred scriptures.

Kiran entered her meditation room. One thing that she actually liked about China was that he respected meditation and wouldn't disturb her when she was doing this.

Nobody interrupted her when she went into that room. Mostly because the room was almost so unbearably hot that no one wants to enter it. Kiran loved the heat. Massive bonfires circled around the room, plus the natural heat of the outside weather, it was like cooking one's self in an oven. That room was where Kiran did her yoga. The heat and the movement were just so wonderful. Plus afterwards she would have a nice long bath to cool herself.

-England's POV-

When the ship had docked, and the plank was lowered, Arthur assembled his men, and, in an orderly, almost military fashion, he and five crew members disembarked. Looking around, Arthur saw many dark-skinned people in odd clothes staring with mixed curiosity and fear. Colorful fabrics were everywhere, snatches of a strange language flying through the air. Exotic bird calls sounded from the trees, and all in all, it was a perfectly alien environment.

Purposely, Arthur strode forward, flanked by his men, stopping once on land. He scanned the growing crowd, searching for someone who might be in charge. Unable to find one, he simply raised his voice enough so all could hear, and said, "I am Sir Arthur Kirkland of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Captain of the ship Glorianna's Pride." Though when on his ship, he usually adopted the same method of speech as his crew, Arthur now spoke with English that sounded like something the Queen herself would speak. "I have come offering trade between our sovereign kingdom and your own land." He paused, seeing only blank stares, and frowned. "I wish to talk with your leaders," he said, speaking more slowly, enunciating his words clearly, as though to idiots. He only got more blank looks as a reward. "Look, does anyone hear speak English?"

Nothing.

"Español? ¿Alguien habla español?" he asked, growing frustrated. "Deutsch? Française?" He tried German, and even French, but only earned more stares. "Good Lord, does anyonehere speak any civilized languages?"

Still nothing.

Barely keeping hold of his temper, he said carefully, gesturing, "You find someone who talks-talks, see?-like me. Now!"

Finally, perhaps coincidental, perhaps because they actually understood, or perhaps simply because Arthur frightened them, one of them ran off into the woods somewhere. Arthur sighed wearily. It was far too warm to be dealing with these people... One of the men behind him muttered to another, "Right savages, aren' they? Can' speak a word..." Arthur gave them a look to quiet them, though he agreed inwardly. Well, it would make it easier to trade-these dullards would probably accept anything he gave them, regardless of worth!

-India's POV-

After a nice session of hot yoga and a nice cool bath, Kiran dressed herself in a blue sari, though kept her hair in the same braid as before. She wondered if China had been and gone not being able to see her.

Suddenly a young boy from the village came running to her. The child wore an expression on his face told her that clearly something was wrong. Kiran no longer suspected that China was the visitor.

In very fast Hindi, the boy spluttered about white men with funny clothing and a strange language. Kiran was confused. 'White men?' That was very strange. She followed the boy to the shore where a man, literally white, was speaking rather frustrated to her confused people.

Apanē gharōṁ mēṁ vāpasa jā'ō. Jō kucha bhī yaha hai, maiṁ isakē sātha saudā hōgā. She spoke to them in Hindi. Once the crowd dispersed, Kiran sighed and turned her attention to the new comer. She put on a polite smile, the same one she used with China, and bowed deeply to him and his men. Namastē. Welcome to India. How may I be helping you? She said in rough English with a thick accent. Kiran didn't know a lot of English, but she knew some Latin from when her mother and Rome did trading.

-England's POV-

The crowd before the Englishmen grew louder, as someone approached. A musical voice said something in that odd tongue, and then a woman moved through the group to stand in front of them.

The moment he saw her, he wanted her. The newcomer had skin like a copper statue come to life, her face angular and elegant. Almond-shaped gold eyes glittered on either side of a pretty nose, under which sat a mouth with a pair of full lips. A long, thick black braid of hair hung to her waist, and her figure (which was surely as lovely as the rest of her) was clothed in a fine robe of silk as blue as the ocean.

Arthur Kirkland was a man of many loves. Above all, he adored the sea, his ship, and anything related to them. He also loved his Queen and his people. And, although (as he often pointed out) privateering was perfectly legal, he was a pirate at heart: his other great loves were a good fight, good ale, and women. And this woman in particular...ah, he wanted her.

As such, he now smiled most charmingly, though a slightly predatory gleam was lighting his eyes. He bowed slightly, doffing his hat, and asked, "Dost thou speak English, madam?" he asked politely.

Miracle of miracles, she did! It wasn't very good English, but English it was. Arthur's smile widened. Perhaps this woman was even the Nation he sought... "Good day, madam!" he greeted, and introduced himself once more with, "I am Sir Arthur Kirkland, representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland," using 'of' instead of 'for' to hint at his identity, just in case she was India. "My countrymen and I wish to set up trading posts in thy beautiful land, to exchange goods with her citizens. We would like to speak with a leader of thine, if we may, Miss...?"