“Hadn't planned on it, no,” I hear him chuckle under his breath. I've asked him since he began to call me by it, but he never reveals its meaning. I truly think it just means brat or pain in the ass. Burden might be the correct translation. I should go find a scholar and see if they can shine some light on the subject.
The sun is gleaming off the sea as it rises higher bringing the day with it. We walk in silence as servants shuffle down the halls, getting ready to clean our rooms. Like little doves, they flitter in and out of each room making quick work.
“I would like to venture into the markets today,” I mention, glancing over my shoulder. “Does that work for you?”
“As you wish,Nohæ.” He walks behind me, his boots thudding softly as he does. “Because why would you want to make my job easy and just go to the library or the gardens inside the castle walls, right?”
Ignoring him, I walk into the breakfast hall. The space is flooded with people grabbing food from the long golden breakfast table near the front of the room. My father isn't here, nor is Siphonie, but that's not unusual. My father usually wakes before everyone and Siphonie … well she wakes when she wants to.Bêlitssmile at Thylas and I watch as they try to subtly adjust their clothes or hair, blush crossing most of their faces. Thylas is not expected to have a twin drop since his blood is not Antalian but I have hope that the Goddess will bless him with one. It wasn't unheard of for those who fell in love with Antalians to be blessed as well, but now it’s a rarity to find your twin drop Antalian or not.
“If you want, go ahead and sit down and I'll grab your food.” Thylas motions toward the table with my friends, and I walk over. He knows what I eat, I've eaten the same thing most mornings since I was twelve. A piece of toasted bread with almond butter, a peach, and a glass of goats milk.
I sit beside some of the ladies that grew up alongside me in the castle. Marianna sits next to me. Her chocolate hair is tied up in a loose knot at the back of neck. The bright orange dress compliments her warm ivory skin and she smiles as she greets me, “Good morning, Carnaxa.”
“Good morning, what are your plans for the day?” Marianna just got married last week. Her father,BêlTaelic threw a wedding celebration to remember. She's one of the lucky ones who found her drop early in life. She's only eighteen but she told me when the matching flow to her ebb reverberated around her, it was like she could see their lives past, present, and future.
“Today … ” she sighs, “Fanon and I are going to survey the area that is to be ours on the outskirts of the rings. My father, you know, has an old home out there but it hasn't been used since he moved into the castle, years before I was born.”
“So you won't be here anymore?” My heart breaks at the news. Besides Siphonie, Marianna is one of my closest friends.
“Oh, we will come back every so often. I just want a place that's just mine and Fanon's. I grew up in the palace and he didn't. I think I'll like the change of scenery, and maybe even enjoy some of the silence that comes with living out there. I've heard it's a great place to bring up children. Less chaos, less stress … and with the deluc.”
She pauses. Everyone always pauses when the deluc is mentioned since it was Mother who was the first to succumb. Many blame her like she was the one to irritate the Goddess soliciting a curse be brought upon her. I know that's not true. Mother was a full believer in the Goddess. She spoke of her daily, even making up stories to help me feel more connected to her. She spoke as if the Goddess was a friend of hers, and in a way she was. I believe Mother was more spiritual than some of the priests or priestesses. We, as Antalians, know there is only the Goddess, but the way Mother told the stories and sang the songs had the Goddess feeling real to me when I was a child.
“Here you are,Nohæ.”Thylas sits the wooden plate in front of me with exactly what I wanted. His own plate overflowing with bacon and sausage and eggs. “A man's breakfast,” he used to callit when he was a kid. “I'll be over there. Do not even try to leave this hall without me.”
He turns and walks off, Marianna leans in close, whispering, “Are you sure he isn't your twin drop? Or even just a special one night? That man is absolutely gorgeous.”
“I'm positive. I have not experienced anything you’ve described and plus, he deals with me because he has to, not because he likes me.”
“Right, let's pretend that he can't switch positions, or ask for a change or just work as a sentry. He still doesn't have to bring you your breakfast.” She eyes the plate in front of me. My cheeks heat with embarrassment. I look around the hall and see other members of theKe Neyeand none of them are bringing their charges a plate, instead they are fixing their own and sitting down to eat, some with their charges, others not. Thylas is the only one who seems to serve the one he has vowed to protect, me.
“Are we going to the market today?” Siphonie asks, appearing out of nowhere. Her question draws me back from my thoughts as she plops down beside me, the ever-graceful one.
“Well good morning, Siphonie.” Marianna leans forward to look down the table from me. “Long night?” She smiles, knowingly.
A telling smile breeches Siphonie’s face. “It was.” She winks toward us as her husband, Rhenor, walks in. His eyes drift to Siphonie and a small smile twitches the corners of his thin lips. The man isn't bad to look at. He looms over most men of the palace, his broad shoulders stretching the fabric of his stark white tunic. His light green eyes, with a hint of yellow around the pupils, have small wrinkles at the corners, evidence of the full life he has had. He is often quiet, which is funny considering Siphonie is the complete opposite. His short-trimmed hair once was red as flames but now has white streaks throughout. Hekeeps his body in shape with rigorous routines of habit that being a soldier requires.
“And with your husband no doubt?” I laugh at her. “That's a happy look from a man who wears a scowl resembling the face of a dead fish most of the time.”
She smacks my arm lightly. “Shut it.”
Marianna snickers, “Don't worry we won't tell anyone your secret, imagine the horror of someone sleeping with their husband. The people would never stop talking about it.”
“I never said I didn't. I said we don't love each other, not that he's not good in the bedroom. I just prefer to have a taste of all that's out there. I'm sure he does the same.” She steals a piece of bread off my plate. “So are we going to the markets today?”
“We are. Thylas will be tagging along. We got into a bit of trouble yesterday after the whole fiasco you got me into.”
She runs her hand down her pale pink hair and sighs, “Oh, that's unfortunate. I didn’t think you would find yourself in trouble. I didn’t get you into anything.” She tosses a small piece of bread in her mouth. “Plus I thought you liked the trouble with Thylas. You normally love to irritate him.”
“I'd like to irritate him,” Marianna chortels. “I mean … if I wasn't already married, of course.”
“I'm serious. Ereon came to dinner and found out. Wanted to whip him for not being able to do his job, then when Father said that wouldn't be necessary – the Prince suggested I be punished.”
The two women fall silent, eyes looking down at their food. We know that Shaston's women aren't allowed to speak their minds freely, they are controlled by their husbands or fathers. We don't know to what extent this controlment is, and it’s probably something I should learn more about before leaving. Before Ereon's mother died, she was the only one who had traveled south to visit us. And even then, she remained shrouded andwas only allowed to speak when the representative from Shaston allowed her. Without her husband there, she was expected to submit to the judgment of the man sent with her, regardless of her royal status. To our knowledge, no other women have made the journey.
I change the subject to break the silence asking Siphonie, “Will you be ready to go to the markets after breakfast?”
Her face flushes as I notice her attention has drifted back to Rhenor. He's looking at her in a way I can only dream a man will look at me someday. She may not be his twin drop, but he does love her. That is plain across his face.
