About halfway to their destination, they came upon some Murasakian Merchants.
Strong, hard, weathered people that they were, the Murasakians usually kept to themselves. They showed up thrice in a year, if at all. The rest of the time they could be found fishing in the deep, stormy, clear purple seas that surrounded their island empire.
The largest body of water in the whole of the Nine Deceived Empires, Murasaki Ecery, a word which, in Murasaki, could be translated as 'Large Lake'.
Their women were the ones who did the fishing, gutting and catching of all the food. It was rare not to find a Murasakian woman selling the largest fish ever seen at the annual Market held in Center city.
Though multiple styles could be found of Murasakian designs, the most common was a simple tunic made of young seal hide and trousers made of woven magicked threads made of whale sinews. Through most women preferred this style, some would add beads and other nuisances to their otherwise rather dull brown clothing.
The group they passed was made up of ten women and one man. Most likely they were a mother and her daughters and the man was the father, or the man was simply one of the daughters many husbands.
In a culture where women ran everything from hunting to bedtime tells, a woman with multiple husbands was considered very honorable and highly prized in her family. A woman with multiple husbands and at least two secondary wives was valued above all others except for their present Empress, Lady Much Bonded Juli, or Lady Juli.
Their primary ware seemed to be what they would call 'over decorated clothing'. Trousers and tunics of seal and woven threads heavily sewn with beads and embroidery. They were many different colors it seemed.
Sitting on top of the pile of clothing was the youngest of the group, the young girl child who had given her the rose. She was dressed now in a stubborn gray riding dress. Her golden hair was now a sooty brown, her green eyes had lost most of their liveliness.
The head lady of the group stepped forward and beckoned to them.
"My charge here says you have a beautiful voice, Lady Queen. Would you mind sharing a tune or two, as you know it is dangerous at night on the roads." the woman who spoke had a rough voice.
She had the dark gray hair common of her people and the hard gray eyes to match. Her most prominent features were the high cheekbones and pointed ears. All Murasakians had these features, and along with the common fine arched eyebrows and determined jaw line, they could almost be said to look, delicate. Fragile was one way to describe it better though.
The girl looked startled at the thought that a Queen had accepted a gift from a peasant like her.
"Of-course I'll sing a tune or two. Shall it be a traditional song or one of my own design?" Asazin barely held back a pained gasp. Her illness was baring great consequences, especially considering the fact that she was injured and carrying Nolan's child.
"One of your own design please." the rest of the women chimed in.
She picked her flute, Cristal, a beautiful instrument of brandy colored mahogany wood. The simple tune she started was the beginnings of a rose based song.
*A wilted rose, clutched between hands of ice.
Controlled endeavors slightly out of touch.
Crystals form on lashes eyes frost over.
Slowly the freeze covers the land
War breaks free.
Closed hearts open between beats
Of the drum slowly clashing
With Cymbals clinking.
A tune of Life.
Grounded wings sliver
Shattered souls float in light.
Beyond forest floors.
Seas crash upon the beach.
Waves beckon me home.
The fresh leaves stir in summer.
Peaceful Forest I do Call Home.*
"You have an amazing voice. Lady Queen. My charge wishes to know your name. I am called Servane Reni Mak'lo. I know that my daughters will introduce themselves later." The Leader said bowing a little at the waist.
"I am Lady Asazin, Empress of Aka, Protector of the Great Birch of Tears and the Trees surrounding it. The child traveling with me is my niece Vera De Vis, second cousin to Prince Azelian, Heir to the throne of Ao. We are please to meet you and your daughters." Asazin said.
The very fact that a Servane, a powerful sect of noblewomen in Murasaki, would be so far from her home, would leave her with many thoughts that would no doubt keep her awake for the night. Obviously Vera had not known that she was closely related to the King of her homeland. The child was playing with Reni's charge, the rose girl.
"Oh, I nearly forgot to mention my charge. Her name is Genni, her mother handed her to me little more than an hour after sunset, hardly a few minutes after the inward houses of the Lower City in Ao burned. We had her brother, Geral, for hardly more than two hours before he died of a head wound. She hasn't moved from that spot since he was buried a whale length from the beginning of the forest." Reni motioned to the rose giving girl and her expression softened.
Genni looked up for a second at her brother's name and wiped her eyes. Vera tapped her shoulder and hugged her for several moments before they carried on playing with her dolls.
"Could we perhaps talk alone." Asazin asked, tilting her head to the shadows next to a small dogwood sapling. Reni raised her eyebrow but started in that direction.
"What is it Lady Queen?" Reni asked. She sounded worried but was careful in being subtle about it.
"I haven't told anyone. You have to promise not to mention this to anyone." She waited until the older woman had nodded her agreement before continuing, "I'm with child. It's due in a month and ... well let's just say I'm supposed to marry Prince Azelian. I don't know what to do. Could you help me?"
"I knew the moment you set foot in my camp that this was what was wrong. Your security with yourself was not present. Of-course I can help you. In fact my youngest daughter is also due to have a child next month. It is her third, she matured earlier than most of her sisters you see, and I am sure that she would understand that you wished her to guide you through it." Reni sounded very certain, all the worry had disappeared from her voice. "The father?"
Surprise flickered across Asazin's face. Nolan could be dead she realized, he could be dead and would never be able to see his own child. Tears brimmed in her eyes and she knew that if they fell she would have a fit. She couldn't have a fit, her wound would open and she would start bleeding again. If that wound didn't heal before the child was born, both of them would be sure to die.
"The Lord Nolan De Vis is the father. But he was called to arms when the Lower City men started conflicts with the guards. I don't know if he died. Vera's mother was held for treason, Vera was going to be held as inducement and be killed yesterday. I spelled her here. So she would be safe, and yes, before you ask, she does know." She said quickly, she could fill a fit coming on. If she didn't calm down it would take her down and she would drown in her own dark thoughts and blood. Quickly suppressing the urge to cough she cleared her throat before looking at Reni.
"Coral," she called, a young girl of about sixteen with dark silver hair that fell to her shoulders looked up and, when she saw them standing in the shadows, tilted her head with a question in her eyes, causing her hair to ripple like a still pond on a cloudy day.
"Come here, I have to speak with you." Coral stood and, after brushing off the dark man's assistance, walked, or ambled really, over to where they were standing.
When she was no more than a meter away, Asazin could clearly see that her enlarged belly strained against the soft sealskin tunic she wore. Her ice gray eyes stood out in her dark skin. Almost coal black, Murasakian skin was puzzled over in many of the nine kingdoms.
"You called Muma?" Coral stood close to them now. She held one dark hand to her belly and was slightly bent as if her back was in much pain.
"Yes. Lady Queen Asazin here is with child and is in need of your assistance for the next month. Her child should be born at-least a week after yours love. Will you stay with her in the Palace until the next Market Time? I know it will be a very long year, but she needs you." Reni knelt down some so that she could see into her daughter's eyes.
"Of-course I will. You know you can count on me Muma." Coral smiled. Her teeth were blinding white.
"You don't know how much I owe you. Thank you so much, Coral!" Asazin said. Her eyes teared up and she thought how wonderful it would be when they arrived at the Palace tomorrow. "Reni would it be okay if I spelled us to the Palace? You should have rooms there in thanks for allowing your daughter to stay behind.'
"It would be fine dear. We can go in the morning. Come, let us set the children to bed."
Asazin motioned to Vera to follow her and had her settle on top of the wagon with Genni.
:Would you make friends with young Genni? She needs your friendship Vera.:
:Of-course I shall Untie Asin. Goodnight.:
Asazin stayed awake all night. She could not sleep. By the time everyone was up and breakfast was ate, she had a spell up and was ready to do the travel spell for a large group. An hour after breakfast everyone was standing inside the main entrance of the Nesting Lounge for the hawks. Her youngest sister, the magnificent red haired, green eyed Wren, nearly crushed Asazin's ribcage, she hugged her so hard.
"Wren, will you tell Fern to select rooms on the second floor for our guests, please make sure they are all near each other." she asked of Wren. Wren nodded and skipped out of sight. The Murasakians followed wearily behind. Coral was the only one who stayed behind. Vera ran off somewhere with Genni and Coral stood slightly behind her as they walked towards her rooms.
The door to Asazin's main suite was beige that, to most Akaians, was the color of high noon. Inside were a couple gold chairs and forest tapestries. Her walls were bright orange and her floor a burgundy red.
Against the wall next to the desk which was under the main large window was a Golden Oak bed imported from Eighth City. The mattress was feather-filled and covered with magenta wine colored sheets, pillows and blankets. The rug near the large hot stone was an April blue sitting square. A sitting square was a rare rock that formed itself into a square perfectly so that it's owner had the comfort of sitting on anything they wanted too.
"You have a beautiful room Asazin. It is so... small though. Shouldn't you have a room that's somewhat I don't know bigger?" Coral said shaking her head.
Asazin didn't answer. She had to leave and take care of her realm. The next two weeks and five days past in a blur as she did her final courses and helped as Coral went in and out of labor to come up with a gorgeous boy named Giyl. On the nineteenth night Asazin fell into bed waiting for day break, she would be visiting her mother's grave then and needed a good sleep. She drifted into sleep with a smile.
*little snows do fall.
Little toes so small.
Quiet times on smiles and worries long forgotten.
Sad and happy memories flash by when their eyes first open their tiny eyes.
Don't forget their first steps.
Never miss their first words.
Love them until they grow old.
Love them until Love, itself turns cold.*