Ch 7: Awaited lies.
A cheery tune whistled upon the breeze as a tall male swung his satchel with a clear bounce in his step, a smile split his lips as he walked along the expanse of the main road whistling his happy tune while avoiding the hustle and bustle of various carriages housing goods and other finery. He was a handsome older male with hair spun of silver and a dull copper hue that threaded down into a long expanse of a braid that he wrapped around his throate and tucked into the dark cloak that hung off his broad shoulders. His violet eyes were soft as he watched the merchants touting goods and the weary travelers basking in the trees shadows, the approaching storm had the congregation moving swiftly and shortening the brakes under the shade. But not him he welcomed the turbulent winds and loud growl of thunder, it mirrored the hidden nature that lay in wait to spring forth like the impeding shower. A feral grin split his lips turning instantly soft as a weathered older women summoned his attention. He looked upon her small form seeing no hidden agenda, just a small granny with soft wrinkles and a wide smile, a yellow cowl wrapped over her wispy grey hair and a baby blue dress whispered across the dusty road, she perched a large pack upon her shoulder while a wooden cane tapped along her path.
"Why hello young man would you mind giving this old lady some company on this rather long trek?" Her voice cracked like parchment paper.
He gave a chuckle "It's been a long time since anyone has called me young man, but I would be delighted for some company."
She gave him a warm smile as they engaged in idle chatter about the oncoming storm and fell into a peaceful silence, her rapid tapping breaking the dim. She eyed him through the heavy droop of her lids.
"The seedling dances on the wind but stays silent as a tree." She replied in a cheery manner as the atmosphere turned icy like the snowy tundra, a dangerous air crackled around the male his forced smile looked cruel and grim.
"So she is here after all" he mused. The rest of the bustling people took no heed of the rising aggression or the subtle pulse of bloodlust that permeated the air, the elder women gave him a sly look as her insistent tapping along the hardened soil echoed dully within the confines of the man's mind. A sickening grin graced his face twisting the handsome visage into a grotesque demon, a manic expression reached the darkened purple depths of his eyes.
"Now now don't get too excited, I would hate to see that handsome face turn bloodthirsty already." she crooned, voice a low crackle as a large caravan rambled by them with a heavy wobble in its frame.
With a hiss he relaxed his features falling back into the handsome gentleman with becoming laugh lines creasing around those beguiling eyes.
"Are the Ravens tracking her, my dear Zubani?" He tugged at his braid feeling the pull at his scalp, relishing the sparks of pain.
Zubani clicked her tongue at him disapproving, feeling on edge for him using her name so nonchalantly. "Yes they are and she seems to have found a place within the palace."
He quirked a brow at that tidbit of information, a boom of thunder crackled across the land sending shivers down his spine as worried murmurs rose from various travelers and merchants, the spooked neighs pitched from young horses as they rose on hind legs to paw the air, cracks of whips pounded into their flanks to settle their sensitive nerves, older mares shook their manes shivering from the sound shaking their girth as their hoofbeats became a balm upon their senses. The moment of chaos quelled but produced an air of urgency to seek the shelter from the upcoming kingdom, the more amble travelers and wagons took on a swift pace with the sounds of conversation dying down and an air of determination to outrun the tumultuous gale thrummed through the crowd. Zubani gave a shuddering laugh that sounded like the low grumble of a fire. "A storm, a storm how fitting."
The man's expression turned thunderous as a revolting grin curled the corners of his lips.
"Why yes a storm is coming."
He held the dossier, his fingertips creasing the fine document as his pale glossimer blue eyes scanned and rescanned the fine script his ire growing with each scan. It couldn't be right why would a child of that land be here in Clarines. His calm expression betrayed none of the thoughts that started to form as he traveled down each possible outcome and reason; none reassured him of this blatant act. War was brewing upon their western border even Tanbarun was feeling the slow burn as that brute of a capital grazed its fangs along the two kingdoms, it was hungry like a wolf preying upon weaker settlements devouring the small towns that held no real militant training, targeting key points that both Kings were defenseless to protect. Wvyernia and Rotundria were lost to the hunger of said wolves, they were their own towns isolated from either kingdom independent from the Hierarchy through the respect of trade and lush crops, these thriving lands given such freedoms. The isolation left them weak points but the sheer numbers of townsfolk gave most raiders and marauders pause leaving the two strong towns to till their fields in peace. The people of each settlements are strong mountain folk with pride and strength to give birth to such fertile crops, the harsh lands welcomed the stubborn settlers of Wvyernia and Rotundria within its breast and protected them with its thick oaks and plummeting cliffs, but even the mother of the mountains could not bring this wolf to heel; her children were defeat upon their own soil. That monstrous wolfs shadow darken the fringes of both grand kingdoms putting their protectors on edge.
Izana pinched the bridge of his nose stemming the coming migraine, his efforts to keep Zen in the dark has backfired on him in the worst way. the wolf's cub has wandered into their bubble of ignorance and breathing its putrid breath upon the vulnerable neck of their kingdoms second prince. With a tsk of disgust he threw the offending parchment down, feeling the phantom graze of fangs as his eyes narrowed. The memories of the Townsfolk they lost burned to the forefront of his mind, they were strong like the oak and imposing like the mountains but gentle like the wildflowers growing upon the moors they were the very definition of their lands a standing testimony of what forged these people into such strong and enduring settlements, and now they lay broken and marred by a nation that stalked them in the shadows and striked at their weak points, the battle was over before it even begun. He felt his hands clench, those people if they were under his rule he would never have let those fangs sink in so thoroughly; instead the hunters would've been his prey with a grimace he looked out upon the horizon seeing the brewing storm rolling in upon the land its greedy grasp smothered the the brilliant sunlight and choked his land with a thunderous boom, lighting splintered across the sky, the howling windows battered against his window sill like a demon clawing to get in; it's felt like an omen the wolf was at their doorstep sniffing around.
"The storm is upon but we shall not bend." He murmured, he watched the rolling grey of the skies as they smothered the last of the peaceful blue hues.
Fat raindrops rolled along the contours of her face as she looked out upon the rising storm, it was just starting its downpour when her and Obi finally made it to their post, she heaved a sigh at the lively morning she had even though Miss Shirayuki's remedy helped it did not completely erase the pulse of pain at her temples completely and that smug look in those golden eyes were grating on her last nerve. 'And I must somehow endure another bout, maybe this time only drink water to excess.' she felt her eye twitch, revealing more secrets was not in her top ten things to do sober but the aftereffects made the premises much, much more enjoyable. She watched as Obi spoke to a few guards, he was being his usual distant self but a small part of her felt she won a small boon last night, he was warm though briefly to her. He may tease or taunt her but she could feel the tension, today there was a more relaxed air around them and she felt she could let her guard ease. Naoki tilted her face back with closed eyes and felt the cooling drops seep into her skin as they roamed her face and throat with a ghosting of a touch, she felt at one with the storm as its thunder mimicked the race of her heart booming loudly with adrenaline, the tumultuous clouds racing across the clear ocean blue of the sky felt like the wash of her memories falling away like the raindrops to give birth to new ones. The storm felt like her rebirth, her shackles were becoming rusted and soon with a tug she would break free and become a resident of Clarines and personal guard to Shirayuki, she could almost taste the freedom just like the taste of the storm that danced upon her tongue, a smile creased her lips.
Obi looked over and felt the air evacuate his lungs as he looked upon the visage of the little assassin, she looked like the storm personified her violet locks plastered to her tilted face with a shimmer of a pearl as the rain raced down her delicate features like fairy dust, the dim of the clouds giving her pale skin a luminous glow and her dusty rose lips pursed in a becoming way. He felt the race of his heart as those large chocolate pools framed with ebony lashes opened in a slow appraisal to look upon him, they pulsed like the lightning that streaked through the sky. He felt the dusting of a blush upon his cheeks and forced all thoughts of her fairy-like appearance away , if he was to compare her to one he would deem her dangerous an ethereal seductress, whom would call him forth with wiles and tempting curves weaving her spell with fluttering lashes and the bow of her lips. Escorting him to the sea edge, white sand clinging to his toes before he's submerged in his watery coffin, a kiss being his parting embrace to drown in deadly desire. The toll of her braid swung like a hangman's noose with her lithe movements, a shattering reminder of her dual nature, beauty and demon warring within the tempting fairy glamour.
"We are already late for morning patrol." He said curtly, he blinked away a few stray raindrops that blurred his vision. "It feels like we are in for a volatile storm, so we are to help board up most of the entrances to weather this storm. And to help accept as many travelers before the eye hits."
He watched as she chewed her lip and nodded, their was a bubbling of energy around her that he couldn't seem to place, was she plotting something nefarious? He wasn't sure but a part of him whispered to keep his eye on her more closely on this day.
Shirayuki gave a sigh, not only was her sleep deprived brain fuzzy and void of all witty wordplay but she was bone deep exhausted and the turbulent weather seemed to increase her fatigue, her head was nested against Zens shoulder as he spoke in gentle tones about some of his more deviant misadventures that he lead Mitsuhide on, they were snuggled under a lush velvet throw the color of the deep bls sea, with a golden trim. She pulled the soft blanket to her chin as she pressed herself closer to Zen giving no mind how bold her action seemed, it did not go unnoticed by a sudden flustered prince that stuttered and scratched his chin absently as a deep red blush rose to his cheeks. She made a sound of contentment as she felt the pull of sleep tug at her addled mind, it was a siren's call she couldn't resist even as the fringes of her mind called to her to enjoy this rare moment with her love she soon succumbed to the call and fell into the void of dreams.
Zen felt the weight of his beloved shift against his side, her body pressed firmly into his as her muscles relaxed and became heavy, he looked down upon her face to watch in awe as her features soften under the lullaby of sleep her soft lips murmured gentle sounds as she was pulled deeper into the thrall. His princess was a sight to behold, beautiful and fierce; a women that forged her own destiny with those delicate hands that healed, hands that created such complex potions for the sick and weary, hands that soothed the nightmares of his past. He was in disbelief even now that such a fierce creature loved him and cradled his soul within her breast, his heart beat with hers as he laid his head upon her hair of flames. He once told her red was the color of fate, no words held true for she was his fate and he thanked every star in the sky that he happened upon her in that little house nested in the forest. He was at peace, and even as he felt mindless to enjoy the gentle moment, the owl like wisdom of her reaction this morning stilled his breath even now.
"Why are you on morning patrol with Obi? And how do you know Zen?" the question was without mirth and jealousy it simply curiosity to the newest addition to the ragtag band of misfits, she titled her head to the side assessing the young girl that couldn't erase the traces of a blush that stained her cheeks from her earlier embarrassment. Shirayuki looked up into the guilty looking eyes of Zen, he rubbed the nape of his neck looking for the right words to speak.
"She is a candidate to be apart of your personal guard." Obi said with his classic mischievous grin as he held out his hands in an unassuming pose.
"OBI!" Zen barked red marring his face once more, with an exasperated sigh he scrubbed his fingers through his platinum hair.
Shirayuki nodded with a sage expression. "I see." The two words traced down Zens spine like cold fingertips. 'Oh no please don't let her be mad, please don't let her be mad.' he prayed to every deity under the sun as apprehension ran along his skin like a cold sweat, with a cough into his fist he used his deepest authoritative voice.
"Now Shira-"
"I am so happy to meet you Naoki, it is a pleasure I hope you are being treated well." She smiled beaming at the girl as she caught the two males off guard both gave a look of shock as a single syllable left their lips.
"EH!?"
Zen chuckled at the memory as the females became animated in talk, pursuing several subjects that left him and his loyal servant spinning he remembered the shared look him and Obi had, it was utter surrender as the two ladies swept the conversations to their preferred subjects. It gave him a modicum of assurance that Naoki may very well fit within the little group, the soft snore that whispered through Shirayuki's lips roused him from his mussing, with a smile reserved for her he relaxed into the comfortable embrace and allowed his mind to follow his love's into the land of dreams.
Mitsuhide thumbed through the pile of paperwork Zen finished at a lightening fast pace leaving him speechless. 'When he is determined to spend time with Miss Shirayuki nothing can stop the prince.' He thought with amusement. He looked up as a presence called forth his attention to the open door of Zens office, the upturned look and the smothering air of importance welcomed Lord Haruka into the room.
"Where is prince Zen?" He asked his voice laced with authoritative demand.
Mitsuhide arched a brow and gave the man a strained smile. "He is enjoying time with his fiancee Lord Haruka." He felt his eye twitch as the older man gave a grunt of disapproval.
"First Prince Izana has a private matter he must address with the prince at once!" He barked
"Now now Haruka, let Zen enjoy his time with his bride to be." Said the first Prince of Clarines in a soft but firm voice.
Haruka gave a small jolt as he turned, he felt shame cover him like a film of sweat for not noticing the presence of the prince he bowed with words of apologies on his lips, Mitsuhide gave a deep bow welcoming the prince into the room. Izana looked at the two with little interest as he scanned his younger brothers inner sanctum noting the various volumes and the towering pile of paper that held Zen's elegant script, he felt pride at how his brother upheld the family honor and became a prince of the people with his own hands. But a fear that his brothers naive path may be his downfall ate at Izanas conscious, he has given his younger brother many freedoms and allowed him to choose his own bride but now they stood at the prepice with an enemy upon their doorstep, what will his brother do now. Will his naive path blaze a trail of success or will it crumble under this new threat. A threat that was closer then he realized.
"When he is free, have Prince Zen come to my office I have matters that need his attention." Izana gave a final perusal of the second Prince's office, a lead weight settled low in his gut it was unsettling but none was the wiser as he kept a calm air about his person, with his decree voiced he walked away with a flourished flick of his ivory cape that trailed his elegant stature.
Lord Haruka gave a gruff nod to Mitsuhide as he took took his leave, a feeling of unease crept into Mitsuhide like the icy breath of winter, it gave him a chill that he couldn't shake. There was an air of foreboding penetrating the calm of the castle, he couldn't pinpoint the source but he felt it in his bones something was just beginning 'I better find Zen.'