I winced as I awkwardly stretched my back to the left side, slightly-- with great effort not to get noticed by anyone in front of me. The massive circular table sits in the middle of me, my brother, Ullinen and his father, and the rest of my brother's council of advisers, as they discuss about things like the reorganization of the first and second brigade in preparation just in case another war breaks out.
I jolted with the slight elbow from Tilus while still perfectly invested with the discussion. He's trying to make me not look uninterested which I couldn't help but show. He managed to keep a straight face and smile, but all I could do is yawn and space out, slouching like a tired cat beside him. However, I tried my best to fix my posture and fight the urge to scratch my itching scalp because of the hairpins poking at my head. I feel uncomfortable and I can't pray enough to ask the heavens to have this meeting over because I'm dying to take this darn dress off and change into my favorite armor.
"Behave, will you?" my brother whispered without looking at me.
"I can't help it, Tilus. May I go now?" I replied, half-annoyed.
I scanned the banquet hall. The guests are already drunk but the music still hadn't subsided. The entire hall is still filled with music and dances, but the food and drinks in this table's barely touched. My eyes then landed on the troop captain who's sitting comfortably with his back fully rested against the backrest of his seat, arms crossed. His head a stiff bow.
"This won't take long. Sit. Still." he silently growled and squeezed my knee.
I kept my eyes locked at Ullinen, trying to confirm if he's what I think he is.
"This meeting's been going on for almost two hours now, for fvck's sake!" I complained, still in a whisper, rolling my eyes at him. "Can I, at least, get out and take personal necessities? My bladder's about to burst anytime now."
I glanced at my brother shortly and by the time my eyes got back to the captain, he twitched his head a little and, yeah, he's asleep. In the middle of this darn meeting.
My brother sighed before taking his hand off my knee and nodding slightly. "just be back immediately. Don't make the council wait for too long."
"Fine!"
Then I stomped my feet as I rise and left.
Ullinen's just sleeping, what difference does my absence make when I wouldn't be given the authority to decide and directly participate in the matter anyway? I'm only there to observe, goodness! How am I gonna learn from that? I need proper education, and that is to face the matter myself.
I didn't throw another glance at them when I walked past the guards standing stiffly at the door. I can still hear their discussion even after when I made it past the aisle leading outside.
There was an intel that Guma and Iblan is currently on a heated dispute because the former is trying to get their hands on some certain part of Shiku. The trench is the border of Dag-Iw and Iblan, but most of its areas are within the jurisdiction of the latter. It is a common knowledge that the area have rich mines and rare plants with medicinal properties. Rumors says that Guma wants to claim its richness because they're planning of conquering the entire region, and the chances that it's true is not zero. Anytime, Guma and Gamu could make a move to flip even the world upside down and put all the northern tribes under their control.
I sneaked to my room and immediately took my dress off. I pulled the hairpins off and put them carelessly above the bed, letting my braids fall above my shoulders. I closed my eyes and moaned at the relief it had brought to my entire humanity.
My armor's been left unattended since dawn and I can't wait to put it on. I hurried to my attire, kicking the dress on the floor as I walk past it. I gathered my small, neatly sectioned braids and tied it up high on the crown of my head. And when I'm about to take my sword and leave, I jumped in surprise when a familiar deep, low voice spoke from behind.
"Going on a birthday adventure?"
I looked over my shoulders before fully turning to face his figure leaning sideways against the frame of my door, crossed arms.
"Zukii!" I exclaimed in excitement and ran towards him with arms spread.
He meet me halfway, wrapping his massive arms around my small body as I jumped to hug him with my arms around his neck. "You're here!"
Happiness is drawn all over my face as I tighten our embrace. He laughed quietly before slightly pulling away to smile at me.
Zukii is the troop captain of the second brigade in charge of the safekeeping of the coastal area. He is my personal guard appointed by my brother to keep me safe since I was 11. He's my best friend and ally-- the only person I trust aside from my brother.
"I'm so glad you're back," I giggled as he pat my head. "You'll stay for good, right?"
He pressed his lips together, wiping the smile off his face as he looked down and gently shook his head.
"I'm afraid, not, Mira," he started then took a step back. "I heard about your appointment as the sixth troop commander; I only came to congratulate you...and see you. The situation on shore's still at it's worst, and I better be back before sundown."
My shoulders dropped in disappointment. "That soon..."
"It's been quite a while since the first sight of Sukian vessels near the coastal border-- a year, to be exact. Having them around for that long means a serious matter-- this could mean an upcoming invasion, Mira. Or worst, another war." He tried to explain, holding and squeezing my hand as he continued. "Besides, you've grown as a strong and talented warrior, you won't be needing me much. I hate to be away from you and mother, but I have to protect the land you'll rule one day."
Then Zukki gave me the most assuring smile before pulling out his dagger and breaking the band tied around my hair. My tiny braids fell lose, and I stayed still in confusion. He chuckled at my puzzled state as he put his dagger back on its sheath and pulling out a handspan-long, silver pin with an intricate sculpted pattern across its shaft and a beautiful purple aster hanging on its end, swaying gracefully as he gathers half of my braids and twisted them into a bun, leaving half of my hair flowing freely down my back.
He took a step back and stared at me for a moment with wide, satisfied smile as he said, "It's a binyeo I bought a few months back from a traveling merchant. I was hoping to see you wearing it with a dress, but I guess I'm a little late 'cause that beautiful weave's already on the floor. My gift still suits you well, though."
Zukii bowed in one knee-- the same formal shit he keeps on doing whenever around me or my brother. He then looked up to finally greet me, "Happy birthday, my lady."
Our brief reunion ended when Zukii got summoned to the meeting at the banquet hall by my brother, probably to demand report about that whole Sukian thing. They are the settlers of the sea, their chief a pirate barely met by anyone. They're feared as they're the infamous pirate group that invade and rob small communities, and there are rumors they're considering having a formal land settlement for good. Given how they're lingering around the coast means there's a possibility that Dagli is their chosen area, raising the chance of invasion and war.
However, I doubt their chief chose this tribe. Though feared, their military power is still in great disadvantage both in resources and number. Also, Dagli is not an easy target. No chief is stupid enough to make an enemy of Dagli. We have wide political ties with most of the neighboring tribes even extending to the nearby regions. Everyone knows we are not easy to harass.
Those were my thoughts while walking around the marketplace, scanning and roving the area, watching our busy people trading goods with other merchants. Though noisy, this place is harmonious and full of life, that is why I love being here and interacting with our people.
"Good Morning, lady Mira."
people greet as I walk past them, giving me their warmest smile as they go on with their businesses.
"Good morning," I greeted back.
My brother would probably throw a fit as soon as he realized I'm not anywhere near the palace, but I couldn't bring myself to regret this decision. Besides, Its my birthday, he'll probably let this one pass.
My feet brought me to a jewelry store. I've been planning to seek for a suitable gift for Zukii's mother since I hadn't visited her for quite a while now. I'm thinking of buying her a ring, but I reckon it would be much better to gift her expensive tea with medicinal properties instead. One that could help her improve her sleep. Chamomile, perhaps.
So, I decided to leave. However, two steps outside and a person wearing a worn-out cloak bumped into me, causing me to step back and support my sudden out balance. He, on the other hand fell to the floor on both knees.
"Hey! You okay?" I tried to check, but then he looked at me over his shoulder, one eye covered by the hood of his cloak, and the other staring directly at me.
I stopped as I stared at his gray and brown eye-- heterochromic, like that of the captain. I was about to help him when someone suddenly appeared and grabbed him by the clothes right in front of me.
"I told you to stop, what's so hard about that?" a familiar man angrily said before turning to look at me.
Eyes. It's the same pair of eyes I met this morning that looked at me-- amber, with the slight tint mimicking the image of a crescent moon at the bottom-- Ullinen's.
He's obviously surprised to see me in this place rather than the meeting hall despite showing no expression aside from a slightly furrowed eyebrows. My presence probably diverted his attention from the boy, making him loosen his grip on his clothes, and letting him escape in one, swift attempt.
We both looked at the boy who's running towards the far end of the crowded space-- towards the woods.
"Who is that?" I asked as I followed his disappearing image with my gaze.
"I also want to find out," Ullinen replied before running after the boy who now have disappeared completely in the deep forest.
Without anything to do, I absentmindedly followed him; running in full speed and trying to catch up. I wanted to ask the captain if the meeting's already over, but those senseless questions have already disappeared from my thoughts now.
I was panting, aggressively catching my breath when Ullinen and I halted right at the edge of a cliff. I didn't notice it at first, but the entire place is unfamiliar. Perhaps it is somewhere beyond the borders as I've never been here or heard about a place like this existing in Dagli. Ullinen stood still, gazing peculiarly at the far bottom.
"A river?" I murmured as I took a step closer behind him.
There was a river with a violent current right at the feet of the cliff, its waters flowing eastward. It has clear waters that I can vividly see the deep trench underneath, drawing a thick, deep-green line visible from above.
"Where are we?" I asked quietly.
Silence settled between the two of us for a moment before Ullinen answered in a low, embittered voice, "Shiku..."