Hello Dear Readers, it has been quite some time since I have updated anything at all. Finally I was able to sit down and type up and revise the next chapter, despite still being so sick. I know some of you have been waiting a long time for this chapter, so enjoy! Also, I'll be tweaking and editing the Prolouge and first chapter just a bit.
Ch.2 Contemplation
Razalude made his way past the gates and into the town surrounding the castle of Astelle, paying little attention to where he was headed. Soon enough he recognized the bustling market that the crowd had dragged him towards. Squinting against the sun he could have sworn that he had seen a patch of tan, and a very familiar turban, alas it was gone when he blinked. Berating himself for the whimsical notion he steeled his mind against any thoughts of depthless eyes drenched in shadows and headed fore castle.
If only he knew just how off some of his predictions and assumptions were in the past four days, he would think that maybe, just maybe he had been affected by the desert's heat. If he ever gained any answers, he would be sorely irritated by the many questions to follow that would puzzle him even more. Upon entering the palace, he brushed off a small crowd of maids, but let them make off with his traveling gear. Feeling even lighter for the loss, he sighed and let his feet guide him in the direction of the throne room.
Entering the hall from a side door, Raz stood in the shadow created by one of the large stone columns that supported the ceiling. The last audience was just ending as he arrived. 'Joy…' He thought and was about to make his presence known when a servant appeared to talk to the four seated at the end of the hall. Jeile and Nei sat side by side on their thrones, with Aram and Airi seated to the side of Jeile. Expecting to feel a twinge of the old depression rip into him, he was about to tear his gaze away from Airi when he realized that he didn't feel lost when he looked at her.
He watched quietly from his place as Jeile and Aram exchanged questioning glances while their wives spoke to each other and the servant that had appeared after the last audience of the day. Shrugs from both Jeile and Aram had the servant scurrying to the other end of the hall, where he opened the doors with a bow. Wondering why there would be an extra audience, Razalude decided that he would continue to watch from behind his column.
Shaking himself from his thoughts, he looked toward the monarchs and company who were all looking at something. Following their line of sight he did a triple take at a tan and cream colored something. It was gone after the second blink, but then no one was standing there; confused he searched for the person attending the extra audience, but saw no one other than the servant closing the doors. Golden eyes snapped towards the other end of the hall, concern for the wellbeing of his surrogate family making him wary of what he would find. Not that he would ever admit it.
There standing before Astelle's monarchs was the desert traveler that had intrigued him during the sandstorm. 'Am I still seeing things?' He wondered and noted the tan cloak that hung folded on a forearm, revealing loose cream pants, and a halter of the same canvas that was tied in place with a single length of dock line that crossed in front of the neck and wrapped around to tie in a knot at the bottom of mid-back. He smirked, the skin exposed by the open-backed shirt was only a shade or two lighter than his own, as he had predicted. Slender fingers deftly unwound the tan turban and draped it across the cloak as a shower of braids in all varying shades of brown and red fell to about the stranger's waist. Razalude arched a brow, not expecting the multitude of neatly secured braids.
Wondering why on earth a man would grow his hair out longer than Jeile's or the former king's, he looked at the facial profile that he could see and choked. He had been so sure that a pretty face of a man somewhere in his age bracket had been hidden beneath the turban; what he found left him breathless. An angular jaw, not too sharp, a wide forehead, and chocolate brows cluttered with bangs ranging to the bridge of a proud but soft nose, and down to the corners of the jaw as well as full pale pink lips that could only belong to a woman transfixed his gaze. As he watched her watch his monarchs, more particularly Nei and Airi, he wondered if her eyes were shifting. Letting out a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding, he let the revelation seep into his mind as he passed out from the desert fever he had been traveling with.
Multicolored eyes twitched only slightly in their focus on Airi and Nei as she noted the disappearance of the golden eyes from her peripheral and the muted thump. Ignoring the shocked expressions of Jeile and Aram, she waited solely for their wives to react. "So it really is you." Nei said softly breaking the silence; the traveler inclined her head slightly, sending braids into motion with the movement. "We weren't sure that you would come." Airi added just as quietly, a slight twitch of the lips betrayed her amusement at the very notion. Jeile and Aram were still trying to piece things together without success.
Both brothers questioned the trio of women at the same time. "Who is she? You know her?" The queen of Astelle and her sister-in-law giggled softly for a moment at a note that had appeared in Nei's hand. "We believe that we should allow her to introduce herself and answer questions about herself." They replied as equally in unison as their husbands had been. They nodded to her, and she blinked in response before shifting to a slightly more formal but comfortable stance, flashing silver and gold in the process. "Your MajestyAstale Ei Daemonia Eucharistia Jeile and his brother Astale Ei Daemonia Eucharistia Aram, I apologize for appearing so unexpectedly in your audience hall." Pausing a moment to allow the jingling to subside completely, she continued.
"I am Belladone Lendoron O'Toole Inochi Lysander; traveling warrior, smith, musician, bard, and sorceress. I hail from the other side, despite that the even the far lands in which I appeared, there has been constant talk of the trials that Airi and Nei have been facing with you both in years past. We've been a triangle of magical pen pals, if you would." She explained in an almost monotone, her voice was deeper than most women's but the dark musical tone still held the Celtic lilt that definitely determined that it was indeed a woman.
Jeile was fighting to hide a nose bleed that had his wife grinning like a child, while Aram glanced at his own wife so that he could focus on the woman's words. "Why choose now to travel so far?" Jeile managed to ask, "Especially at this time of year through the desert." Aram added curious as well. "That My Lords is a tale for another time." She said rather simply but bemusement flickered in her eyes as Nei and Airi both rushed towards her, each securing an arm and steering her off to some place else inside the castle while King Jeile and Prince Aram watched them go blinking owlishly.
They looked at each other but didn't say anything both analyzing the new situation. "That's a bit of a nose bleed brother." Aram said jovially, and watched as Jeile stuttered. Saved by the magical note that appeared in the air next to them, the King made a snatch for it and nearly ripped it as Aram tried to take hold of it as well. "It would be helpful if you took care of Raz, he's passed out in the hall behind one of the columns." Aram said reading after his brother unfolded it. "At least I didn't pass out." The King argued as they went to move Raz into his own chambers. "It's going to be a long night." Jeile sighed, "It's going to be a long week." Aram corrected with a groan.
Elsewhere in Astelle's castle Inochi was being examined from head to toe. "Did you make these bangles?" "Did you do all those piercings yourself?" "Do you make your own clothes?" "Would you design something for each of us?" "Can we play with you hair?" "You simply must let us dress you up!" She laughed at the barrage of questions and would eventually concede to the last demand. "Yes I made them," She said referring to the gold and silver swirled band around her left bicep, and the similar bracelet around her right wrist, as well as the bangles around her ankles, three on the left and four on the right.
"And I made the rings, cuffs and studs as well as pierced them myself." She added pointing at the multiple studs, cuffs and thin rings that lined the cartilage of both ears, one cuff held the end of a small silver chain that draped beneath a high cheekbone attached to a small crimson gem in the right side of her nose. As she brushed her bangs from her eyes a double pointed stud piercing that adorned the outer edge of her left eyebrow became visible.
They 'oohed' and 'ahhed' at each one, both were proclaiming a different favorite, soon after they were asking if they could get a piercing of their own. Laughing again she held up her hands. "I think you should think about that one, and maybe ask your husbands." They grinned sheepishly but nodded still ecstatic, and waited for her to answer the other questions. "Yes I make my own clothes, and when I settle, I will make you both something…And yes you may dress me up to a degree. Though I would appreciate if you would leave my hair until the next time I redo it." She said making them grin maniacally.
Both Jeile and Aram had brought Raz to his quarters, and waited as his fever broke. "Good evening Raz." Jeile said, and instantly the sick man became wary of him and Aram. "What do you want?" He growled at them. They both grinned, eerily and unknowingly resembling their better halves. "What do you know about Belladone Lendoron O'Toole Inochi Lysander?" Aram questioned. "Don't try and tell us all you know about her is that she's a jack-of-all trades and that she's from the other side. We already know that much." Jeile said, not realizing that he had informed Raz more than he had been formerly. "Why are you asking me?" "Why did you pass out?" "I had a fever." He deadpanned, "Touché." Jeile ceded and dragged Aram out behind him, to allow Razalude to get some much needed rest.
I already have ideas for the next chapter. Though it might take me a few days, since I'm in the process of moving back into my room after a year or so of rennovations. It will not take nearly as long to update as I have this chapter. I promise. Thanks again for reading, and review if you will. It's great encouragement to keep me writing.
~Chocolate-san