by Claire Luana
“Always,” Bako said in his baritone voice.
“Is he taking care of himself?”
Bako snorted, tossing his head in a shake.
Takeo stopped brushing in mid-stroke, looking at the king inquisitively.
“You don’t seem yourself, my friend,” the king said.
Takeo’s blood chilled. Did the king know something about him and Azura? No. The look on the king’s face was light, puzzled.
“You don’t seem yourself either,” Takeo shot back. He didn’t want to talk about it.
“Ah, love,” the king said, spinning around in the stable. “It does a funny thing to a man.”
“You love her?” Takeo asked, surprised. He had known the king seemed pleased with Azura, but he had never known the king to love anyone but himself.
“Well,” Ozora said. “She is perfect. Beautiful, smart, witty. The perfect queen to sit beside me.”
“Ah,” Takeo said. “So she suits your plans.”
“Don’t make it sound so commercial,” Ozora said, with mock pain in his voice. “It is every king’s dream to earn fame and renown, to earn more glory than the kings that came before him. Azura is a big piece falling into place.”
It took all of Takeo’s strength to keep himself from punching his friend in the face. Azura was a sparkling diamond of a woman in a world of mute pebbles. She deserved to be worshipped. Cherished. She deserved better than to be a stair for the king to step upon on his path to glory.
“Perhaps,” the king said, changing the subject. “Your distress comes from my beloved’s sister? I see the way she looks at you.”
Takeo sighed, grasping upon the king’s offered reason for his malaise. “She’s been throwing herself at me since the night we arrived. She followed me into the woods today while I went to piss and tried to kiss me!”
The king roared with laughter, and Takeo couldn’t help the rueful smile that crept onto his face.
“Serves you right, you handsome devil,” Ozora said. “You don’t fancy her? She is quite pretty, and a princess. It would further cement our peace treaty if you married her.”
Takeo rolled his eyes. “She is a spoiled child playing at adulthood. Not the kind of woman I want to be with. No, I do not fancy her.”
“You’re far too picky when it comes to women,” the king said. “Remember when those twins approached us at my birthday feast last year? Had you ever seen flaming-red hair like that? Or bosoms like those?”
Takeo chuckled. “They were quite lovely.”
“And yet you turned them down! I was forced to entertain them both after your rudeness.”
“A terribly unpleasant task, I’m sure,” Takeo said. “I am fortunate to have a friend who makes such sacrifices.”
“Well, it was a sacrifice. Remember that glass of juice I got in my face at breakfast the next day?”
Takeo burst out laughing, despite his mood. “That’s right! Who were you courting at the time? Rosali? She was furious!”
“It wasn’t my finest moment, I’ll admit,” the king said. “But we’re not talking about me. All I’m saying is, if those beauties were not enough for you, I don’t know what you’re looking for.”
“Something meaningful?” Takeo said.
“And Airi couldn’t be meaningful?” Ozora questioned.
“No,” Takeo said vehemently.
“All right,” Ozora said, holding up his hands. “I won’t make you marry anyone you don’t want to. I value your counsel too much to make you unhappy.”
“Thank you,” Takeo said, relieved. In all of the horrible futures he had imagined, Ozora forcing him to marry Airi had not even come to mind. A chilling thought.
The king continued. “You know, do not dismiss Airi so quickly. Perhaps she will grow on you. We know she is…willing,” the king waggled his eyebrows. “Perhaps you should sample the dish before you decide the taste doesn’t suit you.”
Takeo shook his head, unable to keep the disgust from his face. “She’s a child, Ozora.”
The king laughed and clapped him on the back. “Up to you. Cheer up my friend. There are worse things than the attention of a pretty girl.” With that, Ozora turned and walked from the stable.
“Takeo,” Bako said with a tone of warning, and tossed his head, motioning behind Takeo.
Takeo turned, and caught a flash of silver near the rafters of the stable, disappearing out the door.
“Is that what I think was?” he asked.
“Airi’s seishen,” Bako said.
Takeo groaned and let his head drop to Bako’s warm shoulder. “I’m in trouble now,” he said.
“You have been in trouble for quite some time,” Bako said.
Though the room was dark, rays of sunlight found their way through the cracks in the opaque curtains, laying stripes of gold on the plush carpet. Takeo stared at the patterns of sunlight, unable to sleep. His mind was filled with thoughts of Azura. The smooth curve where her waist met her hips, the delicate feel of her sweet lips, the way her ears poked out playfully when she pulled her hair back.
Two days ago, they had snuck out of the citadel to explore Kyuden, and the day felt like a dream. His mind flashed vignettes of their adventure before him, the flush of Azura’s cheeks as they darted down a side alley to avoid a patrol of moonburner guards, the wrinkle of her nose as she tasted the glass of sun whiskey he bought her at the tavern, how she clapped her hands to the beat of a street musician’s tune. Being with Azura infused even the most mundane activities with new life and vibrancy. He wanted a lifetime of these simple moments with her. At best, he had a few more days.
Takeo awoke slowly, his senses groggy. There was a weight and a warmth next to him in bed. A soft body pressed against him.
“Azura?” he asked, squinting in the darkness.
“Shhh,” came the response, and she shifted on top of him, kissing any further words away.
Takeo pulled her close, tangling his fingers in her silver hair, roving his hands over her body. Her kisses were forceful, almost violent. She had never kissed him with this sort of aggression before, her passion always soft and yielding. She smelled different, too, a spicy scent of sandalwood. As his brain made its sluggish ascent out of sleep, alarm bells began ringing in his mind.
“Wait,” Takeo said, pushing her back, holding her face above his in the darkness. Ice-blue eyes gleamed from a small round face, its mouth twisted in triumph.
“Airi!” he swore like an oath, scrambling out from under her and out of the bed. He stood back, across the room, his chest heaving. “What are you doing? Are you mad?”
“You didn’t seem to have a problem when you thought it was my sister,” she said, standing up from the bed and stalking across the room towards him.
He backed up against the far wall, holding his hands out between them. “I thought it was a dream,” he said, searching for an excuse.
“Why dream of her when you can have real flesh and blood in your bed?” Airi said, pressing herself up against him once more.
“Airi, no,” he said, scooting around her to put distance between them. “I am flattered, but I cannot be with you. My duties…” he trailed off lamely.
Fire flashed in her eyes. “You’d happily give up your duties for Azura!” she laughed harshly. “I see how you look at her. Always Azura! I’m sick of it!” Her voice took on a hysterical edge.
“I don’t have feelings for her. She is to marry the king. I won’t marry anyone, it’s not just you. Be reasonable.” He was babbling now, unsure how to get this wild-eyed girl from his room. How would it look if he put her out in the hallway in her nightgown? How did she even get in here? Merciful Taiyo, he would rather fight a hundred men than deal with this predicament.
“You’re a liar,” Airi said. “I see how you look at her. She always gets everything I want! But not anymore.” With those ominous words, Airi tore the neck of her nightgown, ripping the fabric and revealing her pale collarbones beneath. She picked up a ornamental vase f
rom the nearby table and smashed it over the side of her own head.
His shock at what she had done paralyzed him. He stood like a statue, mouth open and hands outstretched, as blood began running down the side of Airi’s face.
“Guards!” she screamed. She ran to the door and threw it open. “Guards! Help me! Rape!”
CHAPTER 11
Azura
Azura’s maid flew through the door, rushing to Azura’s bedside.
Azura sat up quickly. Her mind had been too filled with thoughts of Takeo to let her sleep.
“My lady,” the maid said, “There’s a commotion in the guest wing. One of the servants said your sister is injured.”
“Airi?” Azura asked, tossing off the covers.
The maid grabbed Azura’s navy blue robe from the folding screen where it hung as Azura found her slippers. Azura tied the robe tight and flew down the stairs, Lyra on her heels. What was Airi doing in the guest wing? Azura’s heart thudded unhappily. It couldn’t be good.
As she made it out the front doors into the late afternoon sunshine Azura pulled up short. Azura’s mother and Ozora were faced off in the courtyard, looking daggers at each other.
“I demand to know what is going on,” Ozora practically shouted. “Why did moonburners take my captain into custody?”
Azura’s blood froze in her veins. Takeo arrested?
“What’s going on?” she said loudly, interrupting them both.
“Airi’s in the sunburner captain’s rooms, being looked after by one of our healers,” Isia said. “Azura, please see that she is all right. The king and I will be there shortly.” Her mother’s words were calm, but her voice was laced with barely-unrestrained fury. Azura had only heard that tone once or twice in her childhood, and had learned quickly to stay out of the way of whatever wrath was coming.
With a sinking feeling, Azura set off to the guest wing. She burst through the front doors and took the stairs two-by-two, holding her robe above her feet as she ran. Lyra followed like a silver shadow. Guards were clustered around a room at the end of the hallway. It was Takeo’s room, like her mother had said. Why was Airi in Takeo’s room?
Azura burst through the open door and saw Airi sitting at the little table next to the window, her face tear-streaked, her nightgown torn. A wound on her temple was being tended to by Treta, the citadel’s chief moonburner healer.
“Thank you Treta,” Azura said, as she strode to her sister’s side and inspected the wound. “Would you please find a servant and ask them to bring Airi a robe to wear? We don’t want her to catch a chill.”
“Of course,” Treta said, moving quickly to follow Azura’s instructions.
When they were alone, Azura pulled up the other chair in front of her sister. “Are you all right?”
“Yes,” Airi sniffled, suddenly looking very young.
“What happened?” Azura asked, smoothing her sister’s silver hair.
“He…he tried to force himself on me!” Airi hiccuped, tears coming anew.
Azura froze, her hand poised to stroke her sister’s hair once more. She drew it back like from a hot fire. She sat back.
“Who tried to force himself on you?” Azura asked with a calm she did not feel. A wave of nausea washed over her.
“Takeo!” her sister wailed, drawing her legs up before her and wrapping her arms around them. She buried her face in her knees and sobbed.
Azura sat woodenly, her mind racing. Azura knew Takeo. She knew his gentle kisses and soft caresses. She knew his dreams for the future, his childhood growing up in playful competition with Ozora. She knew his sense of honor and duty, the high standards he held his men to. She knew there was no other woman for him. She knew there was no way he did this.
But for a moment, her certainty wavered. Did she know him? Could he have been playing her for a fool this entire time? Could he be a rogue and a liar?
As soon as the thoughts manifested, Azura’s very self rebelled against them. No. She knew that he loved her. She felt it all the way to her soul. Takeo forcing himself on Airi? It just…could not be.
Which meant Airi was lying. Azura grew cold. She would have to tread carefully.
“Tell me everything,” Azura heard herself saying. “Start from the beginning.”
Airi didn’t look at her, keeping her face buried in her knees. “We were talking late…he invited me…to play goa in his room. I thought he was honorable and kind. When I got to his room… he threw me onto the bed and he…he tried to rape me! I said no, and when I tried to escape, he hit me across the head with a vase!” Her voice went up in pitch until it was almost a wail, before she dissolved into sobs once again.
“Where were you talking?” Azura asked, her mind working through the story. “Before he invited you up?”
“The…library,” she said.
“Did anyone see you in the library?” Azura asked. “Master Vita?”
“No,” Airi said. “It was deserted.”
“Uh-huh.” Azura said. “There is a goa board in the library. Why didn’t you play there?”
Silence. “I…don’t know. I presumed his board was special, he said he wanted me to see it.”
“Uh-huh.” Azura said. “And why are you in your nightgown, instead of normal clothes?”
Airi looked up a fraction from where her face was buried in her knees. Her eyes glittered dangerously as they met Azura’s. “He took my gown. When he tried to rape me.”
Azura knew at that moment that her sister was lying. Airi knew that Azura knew, too. “Where is your dress then?” Azura asked, standing, looking about the room. “Perhaps under the bed? Perhaps he tossed it out the window?”
“I don’t know,” Airi said coldly, raising her face to meet Azura’s gaze. “I wasn’t thinking clearly, what with Takeo forcing himself on me.”
Azura’s fury swelled. “This is a man’s life we are talking about, Airi. I’m sick of your games and your ploys for attention. Have you even thought about what your accusation might mean for Takeo? Tell mother that it was all a joke in poor taste.”
Airi stood, menacingly, her hands on her hips. “What is he to you, Azura? Just another sunburner? Nothing like your sweet king. Your future husband.”
“This is not about me,” Azura said, her heart pounding. She shoved her hands in the pockets of her robe to stop them from shaking. “Tell mother the truth. Or I will.”
“Will you?” Airi asked. “Because if you tell her I’m lying, then maybe I’ll tell her what you and he have been doing in that old classroom. And then no one would believe you. Everyone would know that you’re not the perfect little Azura after all. That you’re just a whore. And if he’s capable of taking advantage of one Miinan princess, why not two?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Azura said, her words sounding hollow in her own ears. “But this is about more than you or me or even Takeo. This could ruin the peace accord! Throw us back into war! You would do that because…why? You’re mad at me?”
“I’m not mad at you,” Airi screamed. “I hate you! You get everything and I get nothing! You get to be queen. You get to marry the king. But that’s not enough for you. You have to have Takeo, too! The one man I love! And of course he doesn’t want me. He wants you. Everyone wants you. So yes, Azura, I don’t care about what this means for Takeo, or the war, or the peace treaty. I just want to see you suffer.” She hissed the last words, and Azura recoiled before her sister’s fury.
At that moment, a maid entered the room with Airi’s robe. She faltered a step when she saw the sisters squared off against each other. “Your mother and the king will be here in a moment,” the maid said.
Airi moved first, striding across the room and grabbing the robe from the servant’s outstretched hand. “Let them come,” she said.
“My daughter,” the queen said, as she entered the room, wrapping her arms protectively around Airi and leading her to sit in the chair by the window once again.
Airi’s mask slid ba
ck into place and she sniffled and sat, looking dully at King Ozora.
Queen Isia sat in the other chair like a throne, her quilted robe pulled tight around her. Four moonburner guards fell in behind her. King Ozora, flanked by his sunburners, swept into the room and took up a stiff stance by the fireplace, his arms folded across his chest. Takeo’s absence left a conspicuous hole in their group.
Azura shifted uneasily into a corner where she could survey the scene. The tension in the crowded room was as thick as tar.
“My daughter Airi has been attacked by your captain, Takeo,” the queen said, crossing her arms before her chest. “For an assault on the body and virtue of a member of the Miinan royal family, the punishment is death.”
“The charge is outrageous,” King Ozora said. “Takeo and I grew up together. He is a man of virtue. There is no way he did what Princess Airi claims.”
“You accuse my daughter of lying?” The queen asked, her voice shrill.
“Yes,” Ozora said, looking pointedly at Airi. “I do. The girl has been hanging all over Takeo, we’ve all seen it. Takeo and I spoke just yesterday about this, and he told me he was not interested in Airi. Besides. You have no authority over my men. If Takeo did something wrong, it is up to me to punish him.”
“You are on Miinan soil,” the queen said. “I most certainly do have authority to punish crimes that occur in my citadel. And I have four master moonburners here that agree with me.” The threat was not subtle.
“I have three sunburners that would disagree with you, your majesty,” the king said, emphasizing the last word. “Plus, it’s daytime.” He smiled coldly.
All of a sudden, the air in the room began to crackle, filled with the charge of electricity. It was a telltale sign that one of the sunburners had pulled in sunlight and was preparing to burn. The moonburner guards in the room unsheathed their swords, though there was hardly room for it.
This was getting out of hand. If they didn’t kill each other outright, someone was going to get accidentally stabbed.