Siphonie finishes the prayer we've memorized since we were children, the one for protection and strength. She turns toward me and gives a half smile.
“I feel a bit better,” she sighs, “I'll tell him tonight, I promise. What better night than the Festival ofTähtandMar?” She kisses me on the cheek. “It's our favorite night of the year.”
seven
EREON
This kingdom is something else. It feels like my sweat is sweating. The humidity in the air is something I don't think I can handle for the rest of my life, and the stink of fish that wafts through the air, I know I can't. Antalis is a beautiful kingdom, its women even more beautiful than the land itself. Soon though, I'll be returning home. Home to my father, my one-day kingdom, and then I'll finally be back in her embrace.
The people seem alive today as they hustle and bustle around me as I make my way toward the docks. I'm still looking to hire more men to accompany us to Shaston. When the day finally came that I needed to travel to Antalis and meet my bride, I didn't waste any time gathering a small party to get me down here. The return trip, however, will need more soldiers. We will have those from Antalis, but that’s not why I need more people. Most of the time I have been here I have been acquiring people for my father, and it’s getting hard. Shaston’s life is not for those who are weak, and admittedly, that doesn’t always get the best people.
“How many men are you looking for, Prince?” the dock master asks as he sees me approaching. I've been here a few times when new crews come in. His sunburnt skin shows the signs of spending days on the water as the sun beats down on him, his missing teeth show his lack of nutrients while also on those seas.
“As many as anyone can spare and as many as will come,” I respond in kind, smiling at him. The sea is truly beautiful, even I can't deny that. The waves create a song all on their own that makes even the hardest hearts want to dance. Thepitongibirds move across the sky as the sun sends its glow across the reflective blue.
“Having a hard time finding those who want to make the trek?” He smiles smugly. He knows who I am. It's only the cutthroats, thieves, and rapists who usually choose to willingly travel to Shaston. Who would want to leave their homes for what we have to offer?
“Something like that … ” I answer, tossing him a bag of silver. “If you find anyone worthy of my time and you think they can make it, send them my way, I'll be around.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Tonight is the big festival, I'm sure I'll have more men coming in this afternoon who will be happy tojoin your caravan. Just be sure you remember who sent them your way.”
Antalis and their festivals, it seems they are always having some celebration or another. It could be for their goddess, their marriage ceremonies, death rituals ... whatever it is, they have a lot.
“What is today?”
“It’s the Festival ofTähtandMar,” he states with a grin.
“Is that supposed to mean something to me?” I glance at the ship, about to make berth, I don't have much more time with him before he'll have to get to work.
“I guess not to aMyesh Kechnifrom Shaston, no. But you'll see why it's well attended. The celebration starts in the afternoon, the real festivities start after that. I wouldn't recommend missing it.” He nods his head toward the ship. “There's my cue to leave. I'll spread the word. These people are from Lidiens; they won’t care about where you’re headed since I’m under orders from King Clennom to send them back to the Southern Continent – that is the last place they want to go.”
I tilt my head in his direction as he walks off. This festival, I might just have to attend. See what has everyone stirred up about. I shake my head, walking away from the docks. The rumors of Shaston are going to be the death of our kingdom, although if I'm particularly honest they aren't rumors.
The heat is dry, life is hard, and more than likely people will be sent up north to the ice caps to fight monsters. The monsters that the beautiful Kingdom of Antalis doesn't have to worry about because they are safe inside their little rings of a kingdom. Safe from the life that I had to grow up with because they aregoddess blessed. That is a luxury Shaston never had, but it doesn’t matter. We don't celebrate their goddess simply because in our stories, she's the villain.
eight
CARNAXA
The Festival ofTähtandMaris one of our favorite celebrations in Antalis. It always coincides with the gathering of theshæmifish and is a time for us to give thanks to the Goddess. It is a time of enjoyment for all those of age. It’s a time of feasting and drinking, of love and sex – a celebration of all, for all.
I gaze at my reflection in the silver-edged mirror. I have a round face, but my chin is sharp. My breasts are round and fulland my hips are even more so. I'm not as thin as Siphonie, but not as robust as Illias. I'm just who I am, pieces of my mother and father and generations past coming together to create me.
The skirt of my dress is paneled with teal and gold fabric that flows all the way to the floor, with thigh-high slits. Diamond cutouts trim my waist. The strapless top has crystals of blue and white all the way around. Turning, the skirt billows around me. I love the way the fabric clings to my voluptuous hips. I waited until the last minute to pick out my outfit for tonight, but this couldn’t have been more perfect. I've let my hair hang long in its wavy form, half of it tied up at the top of my head with trident pins keeping it in place. I’ve let thin cerulean strands frame my face.
My mother's frame, that's what I have. A body that resembles the hourglasses we have to keep track of time. A body as thick as the waves that crash the shores, but tapered at the waist. She was told she resembled the Goddess because of the few engraved images we have of the Goddess — her full hips and large breasts, as she raises her hands toward the sky above.
Siphonie knocks on my door before entering. Her salmon hair is high on top of her head and curls hang beside her ears enhancing her heart-shaped face. Her cheekbones are high, like mine, thanks to the familial genes we share. She wears a sheer dress of bright yellow, leaving little to the imagination. Her nipples have been covered with a small bra made of sea shells and a similarly-styled undergarment rests low on her hips, never one to shy away, I love her confidence. I smile at her. “You look lovely, Siph!”
“Thank you.” She smiles back and twirls around, making sure to show off her whole outfit. “Are you ready to go? You look ravishing as usual ... you'll be certain to find someone tonight.”
“Psh ... you know I can't.”
“Says who?”
“Tradition … ” My eyebrow raises as I look at her. She knows once a person is betrothed they aren't supposed to seek out the affections of others until the ceremony is complete and both agree to theNoko Maki. “You know this, you were betrothed once upon a time.”
“Those are details. Not to mention, that is Antalis' tradition, but Ereon isn't Antalian, maybe he does not know that tradition.” She smiles surreptitiously, and I see the corners of her lips tilt up ever so slightly. She mumbles under her breath, “I'm sure Thylas would be more than happy to be yours for the night.”
