***
On the morning of the nineteenth day of Monzen, Raidan lit the sacred fire and Keizo’s body burned atop a magnificent funeral pyre in the center of the vast parade ground fronting Sendai Castle.
To Jelena, it seemed as if the entire population of the city had crammed itself into the castle grounds, shoulder to shoulder, to witness the final rites for their king. As the flames shot higher and dense black smoke roiled into the sky, the wailing of the crowd grew louder. The castle guards struggled to keep the people back from the searing heat of the pyre, but finally, one man broke through.
Jelena gasped as the man raced up to the fire, clutching something in his hands. He halted then flung the object high into the air. The sunlight glinted off the blade of a dagger. It disappeared into the roaring inferno and after bowing to the pyre, the man turned and staggered back into the crowd.
Another man followed the first, then a woman, then another man, each one flinging some object onto the pyre. Finally, the guards melted aside and the people surged forward.
“Each person throws a possession of value on the pyre of the king, as a way to show his or her devotion,” Ashinji explained. “Now, the king’s soul can travel to heaven with tokens of love from his people.”
“Should we do the same, Ashi?”
“No. It’s a rite for the common people. It belongs to them.”
Jelena watched the hail of objects hit the pyre and the tear-stained faces of the people, and for the first time since she had come to Alasiri, she felt like a part of the larger nation, an outsider no longer.
The next day, the King’s Guard accompanied the royal family as they bore the urn of the king down to his grave. Jelena walked behind her uncle and aunt, leaning on Ashinji for support. She felt as if the weight of her grief would crush her.
Why was my father taken from me so soon? she raged. Who do I blame? The gods of my childhood, or the One Goddess of the elves? Can I really blame any god?
Just before Raidan placed the simple ceramic urn into the magnificent carved marble casket prepared for it, Jelena touched her fingers to her lips, brushed them against the cool clay, then turned and laid her head on Ashinji’s chest. As the heavy casket lid settled into place with grinding finality, Jelena wept.
***
Raidan and Taya ascended their thrones three days after Keizo’s official funeral. The new king, as one of his first official acts, granted Ashinji a promotion, then released him from his service to the regular army. As Sen’s Heir, Ashinji’s principle duty now lay with Kerala.
Sen and Amara were anxious to return home, not just to lay their eldest son to rest, but because they had been away for so long. Jelena, too, found herself longing to escape the bustle of Sendai for the peace of Kerala. She missed its verdant landscape of rolling hills and dense forest. Returning to the place where her life had changed for the better felt like the closest thing to a real homecoming. Before she could leave, though, she had one final thing she needed to do.
***
In the little garden known as the Dolphin Bower, so named for the fountain at its center, Jelena waited on a stone bench for a man whose heart she knew she had broken. As she sat clasping and unclasping her hands, she tried to summon up words that might take some of the hurt away, but in her own heart, she knew it was futile. Only time would ease the pain she had inflicted on so undeserving a man.
“Jelena.”
Jelena looked into the dark eyes of Mai Nohe and her breath caught in her throat. She had not seen Mai since the day they had said goodbye, just before the army marched south to Tono. On that day, Jelena had hoped and prayed her future would include a life with Mai.
How could either of us have known then that the life we’d planned would never happen?
Mai sat beside her and for several heartbeats, neither spoke. Overhead, amid the spreading branches of a fruitless cherry tree, a mourning dove cooed. The scent of lilacs hung heavy in the air. The stone dolphin poised in the fountain spat a stream of water from its mouth that glittered like a string of diamonds in the sun.
Jelena took a deep breath. “I’m so sorry, Mai,” she whispered.
“You have nothing to feel sorry for, Jelena,” he replied, looking at his hands. “You believed, as did we all, that your husband had died and you were free to give your heart to another. I knew full well you still loved him just as much as ever, but I counted myself lucky I had even a small piece of your heart.”
Jelena reached up to wipe away the tears on her cheeks. “Mai, I…” she began, but fell silent as Mai turned on the bench to face her. Pain and sadness filled his brown eyes, but she saw no reproach.
“I know now what true love is, Jelena, and I know only a fool would stand in its way. I am no fool.” He kissed her forehead. “I’m truly happy for you.” He stood up. “May you have all the joy and peace you deserve, Jelena.”
“And you as well, Mai.”
As she watched Mai walk away, Jelena fought the urge to get up and run after him, to beg again for his forgiveness. She knew with certainty the pain of this parting would haunt her until the end of her days.
***
“Goodbye, Uncle.”
Raidan took Jelena’s left hand and raised it to eye level. The thing that had kept strong her resolve, her father’s ring, sized now to fit her finger, flashed in the sun.
“You wear the White Griffin,” Raidan stated, tapping the ring with a forefinger. “The symbol of our House. Never forget that you are a true Onjara.”
“I won’t, Uncle,” Jelena replied.
Raidan let go of her hand, then gripped her shoulders. He stared into her eyes. “I can’t promise you things will change overnight, Niece. Okui prejudice is a fiendishly stubborn thing, but I can promise you this. I will work hard to win over the council in order to get their approval for full rights for all persons born in Alasiri, be they okui or hikui.”
“I know you will, Uncle. Thank you.” Raidan bent to kiss her cheek.
The king and queen, Prince Kaisik, and a small group of retainers had gathered before the main entrance of the castle to bid Lord Sen and his entourage farewell. Raidan had provided a large, comfortable carriage for Amara, Lani, and the children to travel in, along with Eikko, who had begged to be allowed to accompany Jelena and Hatora back to Kerala. Sen had agreed, and so Raidan had released the hikui girl from service at Sendai Castle.
“Goodbye, Cousin. Promise you won’t forget me,” Jelena said as she embraced Kaisik.
“I’ll never forget you, Jelena, not ever!” the young prince whispered.
“Kaisik, I know you think you’re not strong enough for the new role you must play,” Jelena murmured into the boy’s ear, “but you are, Cousin! You are exactly the kind of man Alasiri needs.” She paused, then added, “You are always welcome to come out to Kerala for a visit.” He bobbed his head against her shoulder and pulled away, scrubbing at his eyes with his sleeve.
“Come, Daughter. It’s time we were on our way,” Sen said.
“Not so fast, my lord,” Taya spoke up. “I’ve one last piece of business with my niece.” The queen reached into her sash, withdrew a small parchment scroll, then held it out to Jelena.
“This is an official writ, inducting you into the Kirian Society. Your bravery and sacrifice have proven many times over that you are a worthy addition to our number.”
“But…but, I’m not a mage!” Jelena protested. “I’m not even very Talented!”
Taya smiled. “Your Talent is a lot stronger than you think, child. With training, you could become a competent practitioner, but even if you decide never to study magic at all, you will still be one of us.”
“I don’t know what to say, Aunt,” Jelena replied, shaking her head.
“There is nothing you need to say.” Taya leaned in and kissed Jelena’s forehead. Jelena sputtered in surprise, for she never would have expected such a gesture from her imperious aunt. The queen smiled again and said, “Yes, child, I know. Now, go. Your hu
sband is waiting.”
Jelena looked over her shoulder at Ashinji, who stood a stone’s toss away between their two horses, a hand on each bridle. Seeing the pride and love in his eyes made her want to drag him off to a private corner somewhere so she could show him how beautiful and worthy he made her feel.
The whitewashed walls of Sendai Castle shimmered with the growing heat of the day. The royal retainers fidgeted beneath the sun’s glare; they lacked the discipline that kept Lord Sen’s troops motionless atop their mounts. Jelena gazed at the imposing walls, soaring towers, and swooping blue-tiled roofs of the castle and thought of her father. Even though Keizo had nothing to do with its making, the heartland fortress of the elves seemed very much like him—strong, solid and rooted in the bedrock of Alasiri.
If only we’d had more time together, Father! Jelena thought. She still found it hard to believe only a little more than a year and a half had passed since she had ridden through the gates of this place, a hikui girl whose only social standing came from her marriage to the second son of an important man.
Now she departed Sendai as a full member of the royal family, a princess, and yet, as long as her fellow hikui were denied justice, she would consider her rank a sham and an affront to them. Had she not promised her friend Sateyuka that she would see to it things changed?
With one last, lingering look at the castle, Jelena turned on her heel and strode to where Ashinji waited, holding her dear Willow. He dropped his horse’s reins to give her a leg up into the saddle then helped to adjust her stirrups. Only when she was settled did he then mount his own horse.
“What are you thinking, love?” he asked, his head dropped to the side as he gazed at her face. “You look a bit sad.”
“I said goodbye to Sateyuka this morning. I never properly thanked her for taking care of Hatora while we were…away.” She glanced over to where the carriage stood, hitched behind two placid, shaggy-footed draft horses. “I promised her my uncle will see to it that the hikui receive justice. I hope my promise won’t prove to be an empty one.”
Ashinji looked away, his face troubled. After a few moments, he said, “Your uncle is an honorable man, just as your father was, but…it’s going to take a lot of convincing to get most okui to accept hikui as their equals. Old bigotry dies very, very hard, my love.”
“My uncle said something very much like that,” Jelena replied.
“I’m giving the estate your father deeded me to Misune’s son,” Ashinji stated.
Jelena glanced at Sadaiyo’s widow, who, though she sat her horse as straight and proud as ever, still could not hide the desolation that cast a pall over her spirit. She had spoken very little since their return to the city, and had spent most of her waking hours standing vigil over her husband’s corpse.
“It’s the least I can do for the boy,” Ashinji continued. “He’s been disinherited now that my brother’s dead and my father’s made me his Heir. At least he’ll have land and an income of his own.”
“Have you told Misune?” Jelena asked.
“Not yet. With everything that’s happened, I just haven’t found the right moment.”
“I hope she appreciates your generosity. It surprises me, but I feel very sorry for her.”
“It doesn’t surprise me. You have a generous and loving heart,” Ashinji replied. “Hmm, I think Father is ready to go.”
After checking on Amara and the children, Sen swung aboard his sturdy chestnut stallion and raised a gloved hand, signaling his troops. Amid the clatter of a large mounted force preparing to move, his voice rose above the noise. “I’ll be back for the spring council, Your Majesty!” he shouted.
Raidan inclined his head. “Safe journey, my friend!”
As the Kerala entourage wound its way down the castle hill and through the busy streets of the town, Jelena felt all of her senses engaged as never before. Every sight, smell, and sound she captured and collected like a precious gem, then stored them away in her vault of memory for safekeeping, for she had no idea when she would return.
She reflected on how different her life and circumstances had become. The uncertain, untried girl who’d entered the capital city of Alasiri with only a ring to guide her and hope to sustain her now departed as a strong woman, confident and sure of her place in the world.
She and Ashinji rode beside Lord Sen at the head of the party. As they passed beneath the massive outer gates of the city, a voice called out.
“May the One bless and keep you, Princess Jelena!”
Jelena stared at the swirl of people, expecting to see a hikui face, but to her amazement, a young okui woman waved back at her. Jelena smiled.
Perhaps hearts can be changed sooner than we think!
The road out of Sendai ran southward toward Meizi. The main east-west crossroads lay a day’s ride away. The sky glowed bright blue and cloudless overhead, but off to the northeast, thunderclouds rose in dark gray piles over the foothills of the Kesen Numai Mountains. From behind the wagons, a soldier raised his voice in song—a rough, cheerful sound—and soon, most of the troop had joined their voices with his.
“It’ll be good to get back home, children,” Sen said.
“Yes, Father,” Jelena agreed. “It will.”
Epilogue
Misune writes that she’ll bring our grandson for a visit at the end of the month,” Amara said. The letter from their daughter-in-law had come by post rider that morning.
“Hmmm, good news,” Sen replied. “We don’t get to see Sentashi nearly enough since Misune decided to move back to her father’s house. Perhaps you can persuade her to stay. She and our grandson belong here, with us.”
“You know I’ve tried, Husband. Misune is proud. She’s made up her mind.”
“Well, she can un-make it,” Sen grumbled.
“A runner has just come up from the main gates,” Ashinji announced as he entered the day room. “There’re two people in a cart waiting at the bridge.”
“Visitors!” exclaimed Sen. “This’ll give me a chance to break out that new cask of fancy Jagai red your uncle sent me, Jelena.”
Jelena smiled. She knew how much her father-in-law loved playing host to their neighbors. It had been a long cold winter, and company would be a welcome diversion.
The family had gathered, as they did every afternoon, in the large sitting room at the top of Kerala Castle to drink tea and chat. Jena and Mariso sprawled on the mats amidst their doll collection, engrossed in a private adventure. Eikko perched in a window seat, amusing Hatora with a game of peek-a-boo. Jelena shared the room’s only couch with Amara. Sen and Lani sat on stools beside a small table, a game of mikat in progress between them.
“Oh dear, it looks like we’ll have to quit our game, Lani my sweet,” Sen said.
Lani pushed out her lower lip in a mock frown. “Father, you only wish to quit because I’m winning, as usual.”
Sen’s eyebrows shot up. “What? You…beat me…at mikat?” he sputtered.
“Yes, Father. You know you haven’t won against me in ages.”
“You’d think an old soldier like me could beat an untried girl at a military strategy game,” he growled, but Jelena saw the twinkle of humor in his eyes. “I think you’re aiming to take my place some day as Commanding General!”
Lani cocked her head to the side and said, “Perhaps.”
Amara lowered Misune’s letter to her lap. “I think you and Ashi should go down to greet our guests, Husband,” she said.
“Perhaps I’ll come as well. That is, if I can lift my enormous body off this couch!” Jelena had just entered her tenth and final month of pregnancy. The large, active child—a boy—had allowed his mother precious little rest these last few weeks.
“Are you sure, love?” Ashinji asked.
“Oh, yes, I’m sure. It’ll do me good to get out and walk. I’m tired of sitting.” Jelena grimaced as she got her feet beneath her and pushed off. Ashinji stepped forward to assist and, arm in arm, the two of them followed Sen do
wnstairs to the yard. Together, they all made their way down to the main gate of the castle.
The day had turned overcast and blustery, where only yesterday it had been fine and warm—the typical, unstable weather of early spring in Kerala. Jelena shivered, despite her wool tunic and trousers.
Ashinji wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. “You should have put on a coat,” he scolded in a gentle tone.
“I’m fine, Ashi. Don’t fuss,” Jelena shot back, then kissed his wind-chilled cheek.
“Not a good day for traveling, no, no!” Sen muttered, peering at the darkening sky. “Our visitors beat the storm, but only just.” Jelena breathed in the cold air, heavy with the smell of rain, and nodded in agreement.
A brace of castle guards had detained the visitors at the landward end of the bridge. One of the guards spotted Sen and trotted back across the bridge to the gate.
“My lord, it’s two humans, a man and an old woman,” the guard reported. “Says he’s been here before…claims to know the family.” The guard’s voice rang with sarcastic disbelief. He was new to the Kerala guards, having been in service for less than six months.
Humans! Jelena’s heart fluttered with excitement. Could it be?
She pushed past the guardsman to get a better look. “Ai, Goddess, Ashi!” she cried, recognizing the tall, dark-haired figure seated on the driver’s bench of the cart. “It’s Magnes!”
“Let them cross,” Sen ordered. The guard touched his forehead then turned to wave to his fellow on the other side. Magnes snapped the reins and the horse leaned into the harness. As the cart drew closer, Jelena spotted a small figure huddled in the back. Even at a distance and swathed in a heavy cloak, Jelena recognized the woman who had raised her.
“Heartmother,” she whispered. She spun around to look at Ashinji, eyes overflowing with tears. “Ashi! Magnes has brought my mother here from Amsara!”
Ashinji moved to stand beside her. “This is truly a wonderful gift,” he said.
“Magnes Preseren, my young human friend!” Sen called out in Soldaran. “You have returned for long overdue visit!”
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