24. The Lady Ashura

Feeling her backside going numb, Ashura shifted position beneath the acacia tree in Tesiphon Castle's gardens. It felt strange to be sitting here without Shadow and Amaranth on the other side of the trunk, furtively holding hands beneath their cloaks.

Maybe they still could have been, had she not gone barging into that bedchamber like an overexcited hoglet. Amaranth wouldn't have had any royal duties to perform just yet. Those would only have come after her wedding.

Moreover, no one seemed to know if Prince Sonic would be attending this seasonal feast. It was meant to mark the passage of autumn into winter, but snow had already begun to fall. The lawn surrounding the acacia was covered in a thin layer of white.

Pulling her fur-lined cloak tighter around herself, she returned her attention to the book in her lap. Terios & Berenice, it was called. A tale of the forbidden love between a disfigured serf and the young noblewoman whose family he was bound to serve.

Her father Baron Mephiles hated her reading such stories, fearing they would confuse her young mind about the proper order of things. What he didn't seem to understand was that the book had become more a source of comfort than anything.

Before Shadow's exile, a pool of suitors had been vying for her hand in marriage. After the scandal, their interest had all but evaporated, meaning she might have to wait several more years for the wedding she'd long dreamt of.

Indeed, the stain on her family's honor was such that Mephiles had stayed away from this feast, leaving her mother Baroness Penumbra to face the king and other nobles alone.

"That wasn't fair, Pa," she muttered, turning the page.

"What isn't?"

Ashura snapped the book shut and looked up. A blue hedgehog had joined her beneath the acacia's boughs, wearing a fur-lined cloak and a warm smile.

"M-my prince?" she gibbered.

"Sorry," said Prince Sonic of Erinia, "Didn't mean to startle you."

She eyed him skeptically. "Then why were you being so quiet, my prince?"

His smile turned sheepish. "Well, I didn't mean to scare you—"

"I wasn't scared," she said quickly.

"No? You sure shut that book like you were."

She hugged the leatherbound tome. "I…wasn't really reading it anyway, my prince."

"Well, in that case…"

Sonic offered her his hand.

"Would you care to join us for a walk?"

Ashura blinked. "Us, my prince?"

The blue hedgehog pointed to a paved path across the snowy lawn. There, a teenaged fox and badger stood waiting. Ashura clambered to her feet as the fox came bounding towards them.

"Hello," he said brightly, stopping beside Sonic, "What's your name?"

"Ashura," said Ashura, trying her best to curtsy in her cumbersome cloak.

Any friend of the prince was sure to outrank her.

The newcomer smiled amiably. "I'm Miles. May I ask how old you are, my lady?"

"I'm fifteen, my lord."

The fox pouted. "Trogg's balls…that means I'm still the youngest."

"By a year," chuckled Sonic, playfully elbowing Miles, "And watch your language, would you? This isn't your father's hunting lodge."

"Could we get moving, my princes?" the badger called over from the path, "I'm fucking freezing!"

жЖж

"Well?" demanded Ashura, "Wasn't ten days long enough for you to make up an excuse?"

Sonic bit his lip, pulling his amber cloak tighter around himself. His wife narrowed her glassy blue eyes. She hadn't seen her husband look so uncomfortable without a crown on his head.

"Say something!" she snapped, taking a step forward.

Sonic recoiled, trapping the hem of his cloak under his heel.

"Trogg's balls," muttered Miles, watching the amber cloak fall to the floor.

"And the rest," added Bunnestra.

"Must you, Bunnie?" tutted Ashura, shooting a reproachful glance over her shoulder.

"Sorry, my lady," said the armor-clad rabbit.

Ashura looked back at Sonic. He hadn't moved, other than to cover himself with his hands.

Her glare eased slightly. On the walk here, Miles had said they'd only arrived back in Cilgarren that afternoon. If he'd been sleeping, that might explain why he was quite so tongue-tied. He'd always been slow to wake—

Just then, a furry brown face drifted into view over Sonic's right shoulder.

Ashura squinted. "That…that's not Fiona!"

Her gaze shot back to Sonic.

"Is that what you were doing all this time? While our daughter was crying herself to sleep?"

She lunged forward. Sonic drew back. Tripping over his dropped cloak, he landed on his back.

"Your father had to carry Bella into that temple, she was so distraught!" spat Ashura, "Not that I was there to watch. She begged me to keep a lookout on the castle walls, just in case you decided to show up after all!"

"Asha…I'm sorry—"

"No, you're not!"

She kicked out at him. To her surprise, he didn't try to dodge.

"Asha—"

"Stop it!" she snapped, "Sorry would be…I don't even know anymore."

With a sigh, she took off her sable cloak and threw it over her husband. His eyes widened at the sight of the sheathed shortsword at her hip.

"As if I would travel all this way unarmed," she muttered, stalking off across the anteroom.

"My lady Ashura?" Bunnestra called after her.

The black hedgehog ignored her. Stopping in the bedchamber's doorway, she found a brown bobcat standing naked amid discarded clothes and scattered feathers from the bed's shredded mattress.

"I'm sorry to have woken you," said Ashura evenly, "Would you kindly excuse us?"

"O-of course, my lady," mumbled Tiara, curtsying despite her state of undress.

Pulling on the first tunic that came to hand — one of Sonic's — the bobcat shuffled out of the bedchamber, trailing white feathers all the way to the door. She studiously avoided eye contact with Bunnestra and the princes as she exited.

"Thank you for all your help tonight, Prince Miles," said Ashura, closing the bedchamber's doors, "Would you kindly show Bunnestra back to our room?"

"My lady, I would sooner stand guard—"

"Don't be ridiculous, Bunnie," said the black hedgehog, turning around, "I'm quite sure my husband can look after me for a night."

Bunnestra reluctantly bowed her head.

"Goodnight, my lady," she said as Miles pulled the doors shut.

Ashura sauntered over and slid the bolt into place.

"Well?" she said, rounding on Sonic, "Do you plan on sitting there all night?"

"Asha…"

"Is there another bed in here?" she asked, glancing about at the six other doors lining the anteroom's walls.

"Over here," said Sonic, getting to his feet wrapped in her sable cloak.

"How kind," she muttered as he held a door open for her.

The bedchamber seemed intended for a slave's use. The walls were bare and the furniture sparse: a simple bed with a wooden chest at its foot. A small fire burned in the unornate hearth.

"That bed is smaller than Bella's," she remarked, unbuckling her sword-belt.

"I could have a replacement brought—"

"No," she snapped, looking over her shoulder, "Get in the bed."

Sonic lingered by the door.

"If you won't be a father, could you at least be a husband for once?"

Dropping the sable cloak, he obeyed. Unlacing her violet kirtle, Ashura climbed in beside him. She twitched as Sonic's arm slipped under her flowing green-tipped quills on its way around her shoulders. Suddenly tempted to kiss him, she looked down.

The parlor might have been a more sensible venue for this conversation, but seven years of marriage had taught her Sonic was never more open than with a pillow under his quills.

"I really am sorry, Asha."

"You don't have to keep apologizing, Sonic," she said, too comfortable to summon her previous anger, "I just want to know why."

The blue hedgehog pulled his wife closer, pressing her face against his solid chest.

"It's that damned Seat, Asha."

Ashura sighed. She should've known.

The ceremony he'd avoided had been Decibella's Enseatment, in which the seven-year-old princess had sat upon the Mercy Seat — the hallowed throne of stone inside the House of Balance — for the first time. It was there that Erinian monarchs passed judgement on subjects accused of treason and crimes of similar magnitude.

"Still, Sonic?" she said, "It's been ten years."

"And? It might as well be yesterday."

"I've forgiven myself for what happened that day. When will you?"

"When I can fix my father's mistake."

"But we've talked about this, Sonic. You'll be waiting until he dies."

"Then I will," said Sonic grimly, "And then, I'll smash that damned Seat to pieces."

Ashura's face snapped up. "You'll do what?"

"I don't care how rarely it get used, Asha. No one deserves the kind of power that Seat gives them. Not me, not my father…not Bella. It's not natural!"

"Would you stop and listen to yourself?" spluttered Ashura, pulling away from him, "You're talking about defiling a temple like it's a fucking garden you're remodeling!"

"Then I guess the wrong twin died, Asha," sneered Sonic.

жЖж

"There you go, Ma," said Sonic, reaching up to sweep snow off a statue's face, "And you, sis."

Ashura sighed glumly as she watched him do the same for a hoglet in the marble hedgehog's arms. This sculpture of the late Queen Alina and Princess Sonata — the centerpiece of a modest memorial in a secluded corner of Tesiphon Castle's gardens — never failed to sadden her.

She couldn't begin to imagine how King Melodeon must've felt the day he lost them both. Her own father had taken to acting like Shadow was dead, but she knew her big brother was still out there. He and Amaranth were tougher than they looked.

"Your mother was very beautiful, my prince," she said as Sonic backed away from the statue.

"So everyone tells me," muttered the blue hedgehog, adjusting his heavy cloak.

Ashura frowned. Shadow was still on her mind.

"Did you ever get lonely, my prince, growing up here without your sister?"

She and Shadow had been inseparable as children. Forbidden from even talking to their serfs' children, that hadn't stopped them sneaking onto the battlements to watch the lowborn youngsters at play in the fields. They would always try to be the first to figure out the rules of the game being played.

"Lonely?" said Sonic quizzically, "Not with my brother around."

Ashura blinked. "You have a brother, my prince?"

The blue hedgehog nodded. "Miles."

"But…Prince Miles is a fox."

He grinned. "And?"

"It just sounds…unusual, my prince."

He shrugged. "Our fathers were even closer."

She frowned. He smiled knowingly.

"Closer than brothers, my prince? But what could possibly be closer than that—"

Just then, a rolling ululation rent the air.

"What was that?" blurted Ashura, glancing about as if she could see over the snowy bushes surrounding the memorial.

"Just Styx," groaned Sonic.

"It sounds like she's in pain!"

"Trust me, the only one in pain will be Miles."

Unconvinced, the black hedgehog went to go see for herself.

"Ashura, wait!" said Sonic, catching her by the hand.

She went to pull away, then remembered whose hand she was holding. She decided to resist anyway.

"Marry me, Ashura."

She froze, defying his efforts to turn her around.

"That…was a cruel joke, my prince," she said.

"No, it wasn't—"

"Yes, it was!" she snapped.

Green-tipped quills swirled as she whirled around.

"Do you have any idea how hard my mother worked trying to find me the right match?"

"I do, as a matter of fact."

"Huh?" she squeaked, "How?"

"Serjeant Salina was guarding my father when he received your mother in the throne room. She overheard everything that was said—"

"And she told you everything?" demanded Ashura.

"She told me enough," said Sonic evenly, "It wasn't a joke, Ashura. What happened to you isn't fair. You shouldn't have to suffer for Shadow's—"

"I'm not suffering," Ashura cut in, "I still have a home, servants, books…"

She blinked back tears.

"I'll…even be a baroness someday."

Sonic smiled warmly. "Wouldn't you rather be a queen?"

жЖж

Sonic grunted as a black hand slapped him across the face.

"Don't you dare say such a thing!" hissed Ashura, baring her teeth, "You gave me this life, Sonic, and you gave me Bella. So don't sit there and say the world would be better off without you…"

She paused, wiping away tears pooling beneath her eyes.

"Because I know for a fact that it wouldn't," she said, sitting back on her knees atop the bedcovers.

Watching her husband rub his slapped cheek, she idly rearranged her quills to cover her breasts.

"I hope that made those four days worth the trouble," said Sonic meekly.

"Actually, the ride here took six days."

"Six?" said Sonic, leaning forward, "Did Bunnie get lost?"

"No, she didn't…we came from Rosier Castle."

The blue hedgehog blinked. Rosier Castle was the home of Count Phlox and Countess Rhodanthe, his would-be parents-in-law.

"What were you doing there, Asha?"

"Rhodanthe came along to Bella's Enseatment. She…wasn't at her best."

Sonic frowned. "What happened?"

"Count Phlox passed recently."

Sonic bit his lip, leaning back against the headboard. Count Phlox had rarely been truly healthy. Never well enough to travel to Tesiphon, anyway, not even for his own daughter's betrothal ceremony.

"That wasn't really the issue, though," Ashura continued, "She just kept talking and talking about some story she claims an Agnian merchant told her. Something about an Erinian warrior called Blackblade slaying ruby-eyed jackals in a desert somewhere in the east."

"Black…blade?"

"Mmhmm," uttered Ashura, crawling towards him, "Rhodanthe's convinced the story was really about Shadow."

Sonic grimaced. "Asha, it sounds like something a bard made up."

"You mean like the Blue Prince?" countered Ashura, "Slain many dragons recently, my prince?"

Her husband gulped as she straddled his lap.

"As far as everyone at court is concerned, I'm helping Rhodanthe get her castle in order," she said, gently massaging the cheek she'd slapped, "As far as Rhodanthe's concerned, Bunnie and I are somewhere in Agnia by now—"

"Asha, please don't say what I think you're about to—"

"Why not?" she snapped, "What's the use in sitting here talking about what you'll after you pardon Shadow and Amie when we don't even they're alive?"

Sonic stayed silent quiet as Ashura clutched his hand to her breast.

"I'm not asking you to help me bring them home, Sonic," she said, blinking back tears, "I just want to see my big brother again, so I know he's alright…so I can tell Rhodanthe that Amie is, too."

A tear slipped down Sonic's anguished face. "But Asha…what about Bella?"

"She knows where I am, Sonic."

"You told her—"

"I told her Ma was going on an adventure with the Blue Prince. She's a good girl. She knows not to tell Grandma. Her only condition was I come back with a good story to tell."

Sonic smiled ruefully. "This isn't something by ourselves, Asha. We'll need to speak—"

Ashura silenced him with a kiss.

жЖж

Prince Miles of Cambria winced as the swivel on his telescope-stand squeaked just a little too loudly. Tiptoeing away from the open window, he peered over the mezzanine's railing. To his relief, Zoë was still sound asleep in the bed below, as she had been when he'd finally returned to his room at the top of Cilgarren Castle's south tower.

Physically, he was tired enough to be down there curled up with her. Mentally…was another story.

Free from the distraction of Ashura's arrival, the small matter of Fiona being his half-sister had risen back to the fore. He'd sworn himself to silence (at least until he heard the full story) so there was no sense in waking Zoë.

Suppressing a sigh, he tiptoed back across the mezzanine to a table beside his telescope. Upon it lay an unfurled star chart. According to his calculations, he should be able to see the constellation Kumiho — The Nine-Tailed Fox — in its entirety tonight. Thus far, though, it had eluded him.

Some foxes would say the constellation was hiding itself from him out of spite. Many of the same foxes believed kitsunes like him could do something similar. Nonsense like that had driven his cubhood interest in what his eccentric tutors called 'science'.

He dreamed of the day he could debunk every weird superstition anyone had ever held about foxes who happened to be born with two tails. If his own situation was anything to go by, the life prospects of his own cub might depend on it.

Suppressing another sigh, he leaned in for another look through his telescope.

Knock-knock!

"What now?" he groaned, stalking across the mezzanine and down the spiral staircase.

"Miles?" said Zoë, sitting up in bed, "When did you get back?"

"A while ago, I, uh…didn't want to wake you."

He stumbled midsentence as something between Zoë's breasts caught his eye. Glancing down, the vixen held up a jade amulet carved in the shape of Cosmo.

"Where did that come from?" asked Miles.

"Marjoram gave it to me with your mother's old dresses. She said the queen wore it while she was carrying you, my prince."

"Did she?"

Zoë nodded vigorously. "Marjoram said the goddess watches over seeds of all kinds."

Miles broke out in a smile as the vixen rubbed her belly.

Knock-knock!

"Trogg's balls," he grumbled, glaring at the door.

"Would you like me to answer—"

"What? No, you stay there," he said, wrapping himself in a cloak, "This'll only take a second, I promise."

Trudging over to the door, he yanked it open to find Styx standing on the narrow landing.

"Captain?"

"Did I wake you?"

"You woke Zoë."

The badger grimaced and peered over Miles' shoulder. The vixen gave her a shy wave.

"How did the talk go?" asked Styx.

"Badly," replied Miles flatly, "Where did you disappear to?"

"Morain asked me to show her around the city, so I took her to a tavern. A few of her old rejects recognized her and wouldn't back off, so I made them. The, uh, street wardens let us go after Errol came and found us."

"I…see," said the fox, "Is that why you're banging on my door in the middle of the night?"

"No," said the badger, holding out her hand, "This is."

Miles looked down. A tree-shaped emerald brooch — the Captain of the Jade Forest Company's badge of office — rested in Styx's palm.

"You'll need to find someone else to fill in for Fiona."

"What? Why?"

"I've had two hedgehogs in my room trying to talk me into some kind of quest for the last hour," said Styx, "I don't trust them not to get themselves killed."