***
Alina paced her room. She feared the message would go astray, or that Senri would not be able to make it or be too afraid to. In truth, she hoped Senri would show up for more than just the reasons of talking to her. She missed the Warrior and her awkward shyness. Alina walked past her vanity and turned around for another pass. She almost yelped when Senri appeared before her, standing in trousers and tunic and staring with that longing gaze.
“Senri?” she asked.
The young woman approached her with silent steps, keeping her emerald eyes locked with Alina’s. Alina backed into her vanity, her legs bumping into the furniture. She breathed a little faster, trying to ignore the familiar sensations. This couldn’t be happening. Senri still approached her, her eyes fluttering shut. Alina could not help closing her eyes and leaning in toward the Warrior.
Her breath hitched and she opened her eyes. Senri had vanished. Alina stood alone in her room, her chest rising and falling in uneven gasps. She turned and studied herself in the vanity’s mirror. As her amber shade returned, Alina groaned and shook her head. The vision had been growing more incessant. She looked at herself again to check for her seer’s markings. The lines stayed hidden underneath the cream Nin had given her. A few moments later, a thump against the false wall panel startled her, and she turned to see Senri pushing it aside.
“Good, you’re here.” Alina went to Senri’s side and helped her up before replacing the wall paneling. She tried to push the recent vision from her mind. “No one noticed you coming?”
The Warrior shook her head and dusted herself off. “You asked for me, your Highness?”
“I…yes.” The formal manner caught her off guard. She missed the stumbling, misspeaking woman who had broken her way into the palace. “I thought you would be pleased to know I have a plan.”
“You do?” Senri’s face lit up.
Alina smiled. “I think I do. I need to work out some more details. Of course, I need you to agree with the whole thing first. It won’t work without you and your comrades.” Alina paused before continuing. “It…requires a certain amount of risk.”
Senri shifted her weight and looked at the floor. “I’d do anything to keep you…the kingdom safe, your Highness.”
Alina sighed and looked away. She walked over to the window and looked down on the palace grounds. Somehow, the idea of Senri giving her life for the throne did not sit well with her. “Don’t say things like that.”
“Like what, your Highness?”
Alina shook her head. “And stop calling me Highness, I’m asking everything of you. I think you’ve earned that right.”
“Yes, your…yes.” Senri kept her distance. She seemed to be thinking something over. She kept glancing around the room and then back to Alina. Finally, she said, “And what was your plan?”
Alina sighed. Close enough. “I want to make an alliance with the dragons.”
“What?” Senri backed away.
Alina knew that talking others into going with it would be a feat in itself. “The dragons have the ore we need to fortify our troops and they need food we have.”
“But that’s heresy! They’ll eat you alive.”
“I don’t think so,” said Alina. “I did some research, and before the Burning Times, no laws existed against the dragons. Osota did not interact directly with them, but there was no great stigma against them either. They were neutral.”
Senri folded her arms. “And what makes you think they’ll stay neutral when we cross into their mountains uninvited? They’ve terrorized my village!”
“Really?” asked Alina. She placed her hands on her hips, challenging Senri’s closed-off stance. “In your lifetime? Did they kill many?”
Senri paused at the prompt. She frowned and seemed to think it over. “No, I guess...the last one stole sheep.”
“See?” asked Alina. She let her hands drop from her side. “They need food.”
“How do you even propose we do this?” Senri began pacing the room. Alina found the behavior adorable. She had to stop herself from reaching out and grabbing Senri by the arm when she came within reach.
“A small team of Warriors takes me down to the Southern Pass and up to the nearest dragon city.”
Senri stopped and turned to glare at Alina. “You are not travelling that distance.”
“And why not? The last time an alliance was proposed, the dragons refused to speak with anyone other than the monarch.”
“And what happened to him?”
“A...misunderstanding,” Alina said. She felt somewhat guilty for leaving out the details, but she did not truly lie to Senri, only left out the lethal part. The knot forming in her gut tightened.
Senri looked at the carpet. “I don’t like it.” Alina liked how frankly Senri spoke with her. Perhaps she would steer their future conversations towards tactics and planning more often. Senri resumed her pacing. “But I don’t like the armies of Shedol more. And how would we even get you out of the palace? The Council would be up in arms if you went missing.”
Alina snorted. “I doubt they will care. Either way, they would not notice my absence if I were to extend a generous offer to Lady Cecile to come stay in the palace. You see, her parents just passed away and she is quite lonely in her estate.”
“The Council is not blind.”
“No, but it will give us time for me to leave the city and at least reach the kingdom borders without being noticed.” Alina smiled as Senri seemed to think this over. “And any other concerns you might have, don’t worry. I’ve thought of those too.”
“Will you come back alive?”
“What?” The question threw her. Senri stared at her, and even though she wore no armor, her gaze had never looked closer to that first vision Alina had of her standing in the market. Alina blinked, trying to reassure herself she was anchored in reality.
“Will you come back alive, Highness? Did you make a plan for that? Can you guarantee your safety?”
Something about Senri’s gaze looked pained. Alina wanted to know why, but the current situation was no time for selfish desires. Alina thought about her response instead. Do I have a guarantee for Senri? The visions. They had increased in regularity and vividness recently, so many different ones, always a slew of untranslatable events...except for, perhaps, the visions of Senri. It seemed unfair to rest all their lives on frequent visions, however, when Alina worked to prevent a particular one. What determined the course of time for them if she could not even master this gift? She glanced back at Senri. “I wouldn’t ask if I did not think us capable of surviving.” Another half-truth.
This seemed good enough for Senri because she crossed her arms and nodded. “Very well. I trust you.”
Alina smiled and stepped forward, wanting to embrace Senri, then remembered her place and halted. She did not want to frighten her away. “Good, all that remains is to find a detachment of Warriors who we can trust.”
“I can talk to Nat and Lanan tonight,” said Senri. She glanced out the window. “Actually, I should go see them right now.”
Alina turned and glanced out the window. The sun barely touched the horizon. “Oh, you don’t need to leave so soon. I was actually hoping we could...”
Senri rubbed the back of her head. Her cheeks had picked up a faint blush. “I’d love to, your Highness, the problem is that Nat wants to take me to a tavern tonight seeing as it’s my birthday.”
“Oh.” Alina’s hopes fell even more. She looked away. “I understand, have fun.” She tried to offer Senri a smile, but failed.
“I will.” The Warrior slowly walked toward to the panel.
“And Senri, happy birthday,” Alina said. This time, she managed to hold her smile.
Senri paused. She grinned. “Thank you, your Highness.” She stooped down and pulled the false wall out of place. She went through the door left Alina alone once again in her bedchambers.
Alina frowned. For a moment, she had considered asking if she could come with to
the celebration. Then the absurdity of the thought hit her. Alina could not sneak out to a tavern. What if someone recognized her? What if someone did not recognized her and threatened her? Accompanying Senri anywhere would probably ruin any enjoyment for the Warrior. Senri would be a nervous wreck, snapping at anyone who looked at Alina the wrong way.
Anger coursed through her. She hated being isolated like this. The last time she had gone on an outing with friends had to have been when her parents both lived, before the visions had struck her. After, her parents had monitored all playtime with others. When Alina had complained, her mother explained the alternative, a life far away from others without parents or friends. Well, isn’t that what I have anyways? A kingdom that does not even want me and a handful of pawns who would rather be elsewhere.
Alina lay down on her bed, sighing. She closed her eyes and let herself get lost in the memories of her youth. She pictured her mother, her hair so similar to Alina’s, braided down her back in a way Alina tried to imitate. She always wore long-sleeved and high-necked gowns, to hide the seer’s blood in her veins. She remembered how her mother had pulled her aside one day after her music lessons. She looked worried, pale. “Alina, my dove,” she said. “I have something to tell you.” She brought her to one of the stone benches tucked away in the palace gardens. “Your Aunt Alaina had another miscarriage.”
Alina had not understood what a miscarriage was or why her aunt had several of them over the course of trying to conceive, so she had never been as devastated as the adults around her. Now that she thought back on it, she remembered whispers throughout the palace of bad omens. Everyone had been spooked by the events. But Alina had stared up at her mother, confused, and asked, “Will I ever have a cousin, then?”
Her mother shook her head. “I don’t know.” But perhaps she had always known her aunt and uncle would never conceive, because she leaned down to Alina and said, “You must promise me something.” Her mother glanced around to check for anyone nearby. Alina had been confused by it all. “Can you promise your father and me something and not tell anyone?”
Being nine at the time, Alina had been eager to prove she was just as mature as everyone else. She glanced around like her mother had and nodded.
“If anything should ever happen,” her mother began. She remembered her small hands being clasped in between two larger ones. “If your aunt and uncle decide not to have a child, if your father and I should pass on as well—”
“You won’t!” Alina had cried.
“If we should,” her mother said, holding Alina’s hands tighter. “Promise me that you will take care of Osota.”
“I will.” Alina had answered so quickly. She had been so blind to the struggles.
“Promise that you will do everything you can to make sure you rule this kingdom, and make sure that it prospers, my dove.”
“I promise, mother. I do.”
Alina had not had time to reflect on the implications on this promise. Her parents had died within the week and her resolve had strengthened even more. She had spent the funeral service thinking of travelling with her father to remote settlements, of the time they had spent together with the common folk. No, Osota would never suffer abuse. Her parents did not want that. The kingdom itself had become the last connection between her and her family. She would never forsake that.
Alina shook her head, trying to banish the memories. It was never wise to dwell on the past, but the present did not offer her much comfort. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out images of Senri going down to the tavern, perhaps even linking arms with a stranger and finding comfort for the night with someone else.
***
Nat dragged Senri into a fairly busy tavern and pressed a full mug of beer into her hands the first chance he got. She stared down at the drink and arched an eyebrow. “You really aren’t holding back, are you?”
Nat laughed and clapped her on the shoulder. “It’s your birthday! I want you to enjoy yourself.”
Senri stared at the drink. Her mind and heart ached from the recent encounter with the princess. Alina seemed to have that effect on her. Maybe she really did need a night away from the barracks. She took a sip.
“That’s a good girl,” Nat said. “Now what was it that kept you in the first place? You weren’t on the training fields.”
Senri took an even longer gulp from the beer, trying to stall for time. Nat raised an eyebrow. She looked around for Lanan, but the other Warrior had disappeared. “I was visiting with someone,” she said. Even though she tried to relax her posture, the corner of Nat’s mouth twitched. She squirmed. “Not like a friendly meeting or anything, business, actually.”
This proved too much for Nat, and he snorted into his mug of beer, spittle escaping with the laughter. “Is that what they’re calling it? Because there are several items of business I need to address tonight.” Senri punched him in the shoulder. He winced and rubbed the spot on his arm. No armor to protect him that night. “Since when could you throw a punch?”
Senri shrugged. “That training has to do something.”
“Yeah, I guess it does.” Nat rubbed his arm a bit more. “So, this ‘business’ is actually serious then?”
“It is.” Senri thought back to the princess’s request. She could not bring up the subject in a crowded tavern, obviously, but she had to let Nat know something was going on. “There’s an important mission we’ve been offered,” she said. Nat nodded for her to continue. “She…uh…the master said there was a high factor of risk involved.”
Nat frowned. “Tell me when you don’t have to enjoy yourself. I want you to have fun for at least one night.”
Before Senri could press the matter anymore, someone mounted a table. Lanan.
“Can I have everyone’s attention?” Lanan yelled. The tavern quieted and turned to her. She looked a little nervous, but swallowed and continued, “We have a special guest here tonight. In fact, there’s a song about her that I think we’re all familiar with. A song about a certain hero, a savior. I think we could honor her by singing it tonight.” Lanan winked at Senri, who bit back a groan and tried to escape, but Nat caught her and held her in place. A chorus of chuckles and shouts of approval rang through the audience. Lanan stepped down from the table. Someone pulled out a lute and strummed a chord, humming along with it.
“By the Almighty,” groaned Senri. She rubbed her forehead and looked down at the floor, preferring not to be mocked for her blush. The lute-player sang the first few lines solo, but people joined in as soon as he hit the refrain. Tavern patrons clapped and stomped their feet in rhythm as it picked up pace to a suitable drinking song.
Lanan slipped between Senri and Nat and hung an arm over either shoulder. “Happy birthday,” she said. Senri stared at her beer. “Care for a dance?”
Before she could protest, Lanan yanked her beer out of her hand and swept her onto a newly cleared area of the tavern. People whistled and howled while other couples joined them. Lanan would not let her go. She blushed as she let the other Warrior maneuver her into the proper position before bounding around the dance floor with her. As they moved to the intricate steps, Senri’s shyness slipped away, and she laughed as one of the verses claimed she had slept with over twenty women and men.
“You like that one, hm?” asked Lanan.
Senri yelped as Lanan twirled her around. “It couldn’t be more false.”
“Oh, we know,” said Lanan. “That’s the point of the song though. It’s serves to lighten people’s spirits more than to inform.”
“Happy to be of service then,” said Senri. More and more people joined. They traded partners back and forth. The tune eventually ran out of verses declaring Senri’s feats and jumped to another song.
When Lanan caught her arm again, she leaned in and asked, “So, have you seen enough young city-folk to be convinced there’s more than that one girl in the whole village?”
At first, Senri did not know who Lanan referred to. Then, her eyebrows ros
e as she remembered one of their first conversations. “Oh, Vella,” she said. Lanan laughed. They parted momentarily in a step of a different peasant dance and rejoined hands. “I suppose you’re right.”
“Are you still caught up on her?” Lanan asked. “Because more than one person has been watching you this night. We could orchestrate a collision.”
Senri shook her head. “No, that’s fine, thank you though.”
Lanan sighed dramatically. “Very well then,” she said. The weeks had lightened her spirits from the sorrow-ridden person who had been rescued. She spun Senri around one more time. “Though I think I should stop hogging you.”
She stepped away only to be replaced by Nat, who pulled Senri boisterously onto the dance floor one more. “You know, it’s good luck to dance with the birthday girl.”
Senri rolled her eyes. “It’s good luck no matter who you get a dance with.”
“I’m wounded,” declared Nat, adopting his familiar false bravado. Senri tried to punch his arm, but he caught the fist and forced her into a dip. Senri shrieked and he pulled her up again. “No trust,” he sniffed. After a few minutes of hysterical attempts to dance, the two friends disentangled themselves. They stood on the sidelines, panting and leaning against a wall. “You know, I think that girl there has been eyeing you the whole night.”
“Really?” asked Senri. Her voice held no hint of interest. She wasn’t anyways.
“Yeah, right next to the bar. She’s holding the two mugs.”
Senri pretended to search. The young woman clearly studied Senri. She looked away. “I don’t see her.”
Nat grabbed her arm. “I’ll just have to introduce you two.”
Senri pulled her arm away and leaned against the wall once more. “No, I’d rather not.”
“What?” asked Nat. He turned to Senri and frowned. “You’re not still trying to stay noble and pure for Vella, are you?”
“Not really,” said Senri.
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