What my mother must think of me. Her daughter she raised to be a queen, finding herself in the heat of the sand instead of the Goddess' seas. I just hope she's proud of me, maybe it wasn't what she wanted but maybe, someday, I can be more. I was raised by her caring heart. I was raised to be strong. I was raised exactly for this.
Ereon raises his hand once again, signaling us to halt, casting a long leg off the saddle to hop down. “We'll stop here.” He grabs a bag from his saddle, pulling out similar clothes to the ones he saved me in. Thylas has already dismounted and is putting on a matching outfit to Ereon's. They both look breathtaking in the black, loose attire, but I instantly miss the colors of home that were just on Thylas and I panic. I knew this was coming, but I don't have any Shastonian clothing. I didn't even have the horse riding clothes I'm wearing now. Quickly I scurry down from the horse, giving it a pat on the head as I walk over to Siphonie.
“Do you have clothes?”
She chuckles a response, “Obviously. You know I love shopping.”
“No” – I roll my eyes, gesturing to all the men exchanging short sleeves for those of long – “I mean Shastonian clothing.”
“Oh … no.” She looks around just as lost as I am. She pulls her hair up in a tight knot on the top of her head as she calls Rhenor over. “What are we” – she points to the two of us – “supposed to wear?”
“I have some items,” Ereon speaks up from behind, making us all jump. “I … wasn't sure what size you were when I left Shaston so I brought a few to choose from. I knew Antalian's don't usually make clothing like we do.” He holds out his hands, displaying heavy, cotton fabrics in a variety of neutral colors.
“Thank you.” Reaching out and grabbing them from his hands, a spark shoots up my arm from where our hands touch, and how I long to be back somewhere where it's just us … and Thylas. Just one more night, perhaps. I know he told us it could only be one, but I don't think I can accept that. “Do you mind if Siphonie tries on some pieces? She didn't bring appropriate attire either.”
He shakes his head. “They are yours to do with what you wish.” He starts to walk away before turning on his heel. “I almost forgot, here are your cuffs. I’ve already passed the others out to those in the entourage who need them, including the Captain andBêlRhenor.” He holds out two black leather cuffs with silver thread stitching.
Siphonie and I look at each other with quizzical looks before looking back at the bands in his grasp. I reach out and rub the smooth leather between my fingers as I take it from him. “Our cuffs?”
“Father’s rules to keep those of prestige distinguished from the others of our kingdom. It’s law to keep them on at all times.” He holds his arm up, showcasing his own cuff. “See, I have to haveone too. I didn’t wear it often in Antalis, the humidity gave me a rash where it rubbed my skin.”
Siphonie takes hers as well, and shrugs. “Well, it’s not the most beautiful bracelet I own. But I’ll make it work.” Fumbling with the fastenings, she huffs and holds her wrist out to me. “You’ll have to help me.”
I lace the cuff around her wrist and turn to Ereon, asking, “Do you mind?”
“Of course not.” He smiles and helps put the cuff on the opposite wrist that holds my bracelets my mother gave me. “There you go, a princess of two kingdoms now represented on your wrists. One to remember your past and one to symbolize your future.”
My wrist falls from his hold and I stare down, the cuff much heavier than I expected. It already itches, but I’ll do what I have to.
Siphonie is beautiful in the muted-orange fabric wrapped around her. She could make a fishing net look beautiful though. The dress is a bit large on her small frame. It took us forever to figure out how to wrap the scarves around our heads. Finally, we found a way to make each one stay. I decided to wear a white one, a bit of my hair framing my face. My long, flowy skirt twirls, but the boots I'm wearing underneath look odd. I already miss the sandals my feet have always known. The top is slightly fitted along the waist but has long sleeves that reach past my fingertips.
We walk back to our traveling companions, Rhenor with us as he kept watch while Siph and I changed. He remained ever the gentleman keeping his back turned, even though Siph tried hard to get him to turn when it was her turn to disrobe.
“Can you smell the difference?” she asks randomly.
“The difference in what?” I respond, trying to adjust the sleeves of the top. I don’t like these at all.
“The air. You can’t smell that? It smells like burnt food here.” She sniffs the air again. “Oh Goddess, is this a pregnant woman thing?”
We burst out in laughter together, and she links her arm with mine. “If it smells like burnt food,” I say trying to catch my breath, “I’m glad I’m not pregnant.”
We continue to laugh and she talks about how many other things she can smell, and I never realized grass had a scent until she said it was all she could smell in Midaeliea. I’ll miss this, our carefree laughter without fear, because soon, I know it will have to stop.
Ereon stands, talking to a soldier, and he glances at us. He stops, mid-sentence, and a smile spreads across his face as he greedily takes me in. He licks his lips before walking toward us, leaving the soldier looking confused.
“Well, he certainly likes what he sees,” Siphonie whispers. “I'll let you two talk.” I blush, one because of his unabashedly staring, but also because of everything else happening. I have yet to tell her what has happened between us. I smile and look down for a moment, she'll never believe me. I fidget with the hem of my sleeve as his eyes bore into me.
“Princess ... you look … beautiful.” He reaches forward, grabbing my hand and pulling me to him. “If I may.” He motions at the scarf and I nod.
“We don't want the sun getting jealous of your beautiful face. Even though the sun will be setting soon, the heat doesn’t disappear until the cold sweeps in with the darkness, and I don’t want you to burn.” He pushes the hair I had left out and pulls the cloth around the lower half of my face, securing it behind my ear. “There, now you look perfect. Go ahead and find yourcaptain, he's still mad and keeping his distance from me. We'll leave soon.” He leans down, kissing my cheek.
He walks back to his men, finding his own black scarf, wrapping it gracefully around him.
I walk clunkily back to Siphonie, still getting used to these boots. I hate them, but apparently, they help keep the burning sand from my feet. I put my dagger into my right boot. “I hate these boots, how can anyone wear these all the time?”
“I agree,Nohæ.” Thylas comes to stand beside me, his emerald eyes blaze against the fabric that covers his own face.
“You seemed to have a better idea of how all this cloth works than we did.” I laugh and twirl in front of him. I've never felt so weighed down.
