Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: This is a slightly long update because I wanted to include the entire conversation. There was supposed to be a short scene at the end of this, but I'll include that in the next one along with a discovery that Karis makes. Anyway, enjoy!
Anne Iriel Devay – Thanks for reading! Glad I'm not the only one!
baou21 – And here I thought I was the only one that cared about this pairing too. Haha, now that there are more of us, we should give it a shipping name or something. Glad that they're in character! Thanks for the review!
XxXxX
A Different Kind of Storm
CHAPTER 4
The Nature of Wind
XxXxX
Karis followed Amiti down the halls. He was already dry despite having fallen into the water, which didn't surprise her. He was, after all, a Mercury Adept. She turned towards him as they walked, falling half a step behind him. He didn't look at her, but instead looked straight ahead of him, his expression slightly distant. Physically, he hadn't changed that much since she had last seen him. His hair was a little longer now, and he did look a little more grown up, but there weren't too many differences in that aspect. But he was different. He seemed older, even if he didn't look it. It didn't change who he was. He was still Amiti. He just wasn't entirely the same Amiti that she had left two years ago.
It wasn't a sudden change, she realized. Amiti had been changing ever since he first left Ayuthay to travel with them and help them activate the Alchemy Forge. What she was seeing now was only the finished product of the transformation. Amiti had left his kingdom a prince and had returned to it a king.
He glanced once at her, noticing her scrutiny of him, and Karis quickly looked away, examining a relief on the walls instead. The repairs to the palace had been extensive. The last time she had seen it—during the coronation ceremony—most of the pillars and statues had been broken or torn, although the carvings on the walls were mostly safe. Now those statues stood whole, although there were few of them, and the pillars had been reconstructed. The broken windows had been replaced by new ones, and late afternoon sunlight streamed in through them, bathing the hallway in orange.
"I'm impressed at how quickly things got fixed," she said, breaking the uncomfortable silence between them. That was one of the biggest changes. She hadn't expected Amiti to be so closed off from her. It was as if he remembered…
Her face flushed. She had told herself that she wouldn't think about coronation night.
Underneath that, however, she felt a slight pang of guilt. If he did remember…if he hadn't been as drunk as she assumed, had he been at least partly in control? Or was he just as embarrassed about the whole thing as she was? It was hard to tell.
He turned his head towards her briefly, nodding. "Ayuthay's stonecutters are the best, and they undertook the challenge eagerly. The windows are gifts from Passaj. Baghi [1] apparently felt he couldn't trust Ayuthay with delicate metal and glass."
"They're beautiful," said Karis. They were. The windows were clear glass—not stained glass like she had seen elsewhere—but the metal that the glass pieces had been set in had been painstakingly woven into intricate patterns, thin curls of silver separating the glass pieces. She looked away from the windows to study a painting that hung on one of the walls. The paints were so light that they reminded her of watercolor, and the paper was thin. She had seen art like this before, in Yamata. She walked over to it and he followed her, watching as she gently placed one hand on it.
"Himi?" [2] she asked.
He nodded. "A gift. All of our royal friends sent something."
"What did Sveta send?" asked Karis, looking up.
"Furs," replied Amiti offhandedly. Her eyes widened.
"You're kidding me!" she said.
He gave her a slight smile. "I made her swear to me that they came from actual animals."
Karis relaxed slightly. Morgal's beastmen had a reputation for brutality, especially during a full moon. It wasn't unfounded. Public execution was still considered a form of entertainment in Belinsk, despite Sveta's repeated attempts to change that.
They started walking again. Karis frowned, thinking back to what she had heard when they stopped in Carver's Camp. "…I've heard some things about the political situation in Ei-Jei…" she began.
"Kaocho?" [3] asked Amiti, looking back at her.
"Mostly," said Karis. "Is it true that King Wo survived?"
Amiti nodded. "He did, but they're still too weak from the Eclipse to pose a serious threat. They've taken to attempting to cripple us economically by sinking our trading ships."
"Piracy?" asked Karis, frowning.
"In theory," said Amiti. "Fortunately, it hasn't worked out well for them, so they've stopped."
"Oh?"
Amiti gave her a knowing smile. It seemed more like a smirk. "Unfortunately for them, any would-be pirate ship they send into Ayuthayan waters ends up getting pirated itself. Wo apparently claims Ayuthay's seas are infested with pirates, even though our merchant ships still leave the harbor and return untouched."
Karis grinned. "Eoleo?"
Amiti's smile—or smirk, she still wasn't sure what to call it—widened. "I'm required by my court to disavow any knowledge of our Champan friend's actions in public."
"Which is a yes."
"Let's put it this way," said Amiti, holding onto her elbow lightly to guide her away from the main hall and down a smaller corridor. "Trade vessels from Belinsk, Tonfon, and Yamata also manage to arrive unscathed, despite having to pass through Champan waters. It seems their legendary pirates have acquired a taste for Kaocho silk."
Karis giggled. Amiti frowned, his expression suddenly serious as he let go of her. "However, that's not the only thing bothering Kaocho about our seas."
"Hmm?" asked Karis, looking up.
"Apparently, one of our islands is haunted."
"That's crazy," said Karis, immediately. "We've been all over those seas. There aren't any haunted islands."
"We say that, but Kaocho sailors swear that the island is haunted. They're starting to call it the Cursed Isle."
"Which one is it?" asked Karis.
"You've seen it," said Amiti. "It's the one immediately off the peninsula."
"That one? There's nothing there! Tyrell thought there might be a Djinni there, but there wasn't even one of those." [4]
"You know it and I know it," said Amiti. "But if it keeps Kaocho out of our waters…" He shrugged.
"I suppose that's a good point," said Karis, frowning. Amiti nodded, opening the door to show her the reconstructed library.
XxXxX
Looking back, it was probably not one of his better ideas to show her the library first. Karis had spent the better part of an hour looking through the shelves, and while he liked books, there were other rooms in the palace. She smiled sheepishly when he reminded her of this, her violet eyes lighting up as she placed one of the books back on the shelves and allowed him to lead her from the room.
"Sorry," she said. "I know you must be busy."
"Not today," said Amiti with a smile. "But you've taught me a valuable lesson, Karis. If I want to spend time with Rief at all when he gets here, I shouldn't show him the library."
Karis grinned. She had been excited to see the books, but reading and learning were hobbies for her. Rief would devour as many books as he could while he was here. Karis was sure of that.
"I'll come back later and look around," she said. "With your permission, of course."
"You have it, Karis. You can go anywhere you want inside my home." He paused for a moment, then smiled. "…Just remember to tell me before attempting to enter rooms that have guards posted outside of them."
"I'll do that," she said.
He frowned. "I might join you, actually," he said. "I'm in hiding from my court."
She turned towards him in surprise. "What?" she asked. "Why?"
Amiti winced. "They've recently taken up trying to get me betrothed again. Enthusiastically."
Karis blinked in surprise at that. She stopped walking. "You aren't already?" she asked. He stopped as well, a few feet ahead of her. "Betrothed?" he asked.
She nodded.
"I would have told you if I was," said Amiti, a slight hint of accusation in his tone. Karis flushed, shaking her head.
"I didn't mean that," she said. "I just…I thought…with the situation like it is…"
"That that would have been my court's first order of business," finished Amiti, a look of understanding on his face. She looked up at him, nodding. He nodded back. "It was. I managed to distract them for a while by focusing on the rebuilding, but that's almost done. I can be stubborn—." He pointedly ignored the way she snickered at that. "—but they're beginning to weary me."
"But with the current situation…" said Karis. Amiti was the last member of Ayuthay's royal line, and with politics as volatile as they were in Ei-Jei, an enemy nation would only have to kill Amiti to conquer Ayuthay and end the line for good.
Amiti nodded. "I know. It's been two years, and the court is starting to get nervous. Which is why I have to try extremely hard not to die." He smiled at her. "Shouldn't be too much of a challenge."
"Why don't you just pick someone and settle the court?" asked Karis.
"I considered it," admitted Amiti. "None of the candidates I was presented with were suitable."
"Why not?"
"I have high standards."
Karis laughed. He looked at her in surprise. "What?" he asked.
"Nothing," said Karis. "I used to wonder if there was anything you had low standards about. I guess that's my answer."
Amiti shot her an injured look. "I have high standards, not unreasonable expectations. There's a difference. I didn't complain when we had to sleep on leaves in the Champa Camp."
"No," said Karis with a smile. "You understand when it can't be helped, like on the ship. But you didn't like it much either, even though you didn't say anything, but you hated it when that lady in Kolima told us to sleep on the ground, and even on the ship, you used to get mad at Tyrell for leaving his things everywhere."
"Tyrell is a slob," retorted Amiti.
"There's that," acknowledged Karis.
"What about you?" asked Amiti, when they had walked in silence for some time.
"Me?" asked Karis.
"Anybody significant?" clarified Amiti. "…Matthew, perhaps?"
"Matthew?" repeated Karis. "What gave you that idea?"
Amiti shrugged gracefully. "You're old friends. Among all the members of our ragtag group, he seemed like the most likely option."
"Well, yes, compared to Tyrell, Rief and—." Karis paused as Amiti turned his head towards her, raising one blue-green eyebrow. "…Eoleo," she finished lamely. "But Matthew and I are just that. Old friends." [5]
Amiti 'hmm'ed in reply to that. "So, no one?" he asked.
"None," said Karis. "Tyrell says I scare them off."
"You've recently taken stock in what Tyrell says?" asked Amiti, looking back at her.
Karis flushed, scratching the back of her neck, beneath her ponytail. "…Well, I'm starting to think he might have a point. I guess I threaten most of the guys in Kalay, or something…"
"I'm not surprised," said Amiti, turning away from her.
Karis blinked. "Wait, what?" she asked angrily. Amiti raised his hand to placate her.
"You're a highly intelligent woman with a strong personality who isn't afraid to tell it like it is," he said. "You're the daughter of one of the most respected—and controversial—people alive. Your adoptive grandfather is the ruler of what is quite possibly the richest region in Angara. On top of that, you're a powerful Adept and a skilled fencer and archer in your own right. You count among your friends the other children of the Warriors of Vale, the famed sage Kraden, the royal prince and princess of Sana, the princess of Yamata, the queen of Morgal, the current leader of Champa, and, possibly, the king of Ayuthay." He smiled faintly. "You were instrumental in stopping the Grave Eclipse, and are considered a distinguished guest of the Emperor of Sana and the elders of Passaj."
He paused and turned towards her, understanding reflected in his green eyes. "…Surely you can see how all of that can be at least a little terrifying."
"Are you saying I need to tone it down?" asked Karis.
Amiti shook his head. "It's who you are, Karis. Whoever you're meant for should be smart enough to realize that."
Karis frowned, staring down at the ground. "Honestly?" she asked. "I don't really think I'm meant for anyone."
Amiti paused for a moment, as if he was collecting his thoughts. "…I've been thinking about the nature of the elements lately," he admitted.
Karis looked up. "The elements?" she asked.
He nodded. "I think that Adepts, to a certain extent, emulate the qualities of their own element. Not fully, otherwise we would have groups of people that act the same, but to a degree."
She frowned, tapping her cheek thoughtfully. "It's possible," she said. "Fire Adepts all tend to be…well…fiery."
He nodded. "That's what started me thinking," he said. "We still don't know the link between elements and Adepts, although we do know that each Adept only has one element, without the added influence of Djinn. We also know that even if two Adepts of different elements have a child, such as Isaac and Jenna, the child will only possess one of the parents' elements."
"But what does it have to do with me?" asked Karis. "Dad and Aunt Hama can read minds, and are both a little quiet and distant, which is kind of like the wind, I guess. And Sveta's the same way. I'm…"
"I was getting there," said Amiti. "While I was thinking about that, I noticed something. There are two sides to each element. Venus governs earth, which includes both dead rocks and living plants. Mars controls fire, including both actual flames and flameless heat. Mercury manifests as water and ice. Jupiter makes use of both wind and lightning."
"I'd be more like lightning then," said Karis. "…Explains a lot."
"Does it?" asked Amiti.
"Yeah," said Karis. "It's what nobody wants to get too close to."
"I wouldn't say that," said Amiti, frowning. "Lightning can be exciting under the right circumstances."
"If by exciting, you mean shocking, then yes, I agree with you."
"And there's also the fact that rocks don't conduct electricity."
"Here we go again with the Matthew thing?" asked Karis, raising an eyebrow. Amiti offered her a teasing smile.
"You're the one that brought it up," he said, chuckling, "I was making an observation."
"If by observation, you mean well-disguised attack…"
"Come now, Karis, don't toss around baseless accusations."
"I'm going to get them to betroth you to Himi and see how you like it," threatened Karis, although she was grinning as she followed him down the hallway.
"That's not the same," said Amiti. "I'm not a Jupiter Adept."
"Water makes plants grow."
"And ice kills them."
"Doesn't matter," said Karis. "They grow back."
Amiti frowned down at her. "That's a bit of an abusive relationship, isn't it?" he asked.
"Don't ask me," said Karis with a shrug. "You're the one going out there killing plants."
"Karis…?" began Amiti. Karis looked up at him. "What are we talking about again?" he asked.
She frowned. "…I have no idea, but I think I just disproved your entire analogy."
"This is true," said Amiti. "I'll have to think of a new one, then."
"Get back to me when you figure it out," said Karis, laughing. Amiti looked down at her and smiled.
XxXxX
[1] Baghi – Grandson of Bogho, the elder of Passaj. Friend of Amiti.
[2] Himi – Princess of Yamata, which is where the people of Izumo ended up settling. A Venus Adept, she traveled with Matthew and the others to stop the Grave Eclipse.
[3] Kaocho – Off-shoot of Sana. Kaocho was ruled by King Wo in the game whose dream was to control the entire region of Ei-Jei. He was at war with Ayuthay immediately before the Eclipse.
[4] Djinni – Nope, there isn't one. Spent forever walking around that island thinking that there HAD to be one there. Chalk it up to the Empty Room Psych *sigh*. (Check TVTropes for the definition of that. But check it after you read this. I was stupid enough to check it while I was writing this, and ended up delaying the release of this update by TWO HOURS.)
[5] Karis's Options – Probably a case of Don't Explain The Joke here (again, TVTropes), but Eoleo wasn't originally supposed to be included on that list, because he's over 30.