The ShriekYear of the RosesFloral SeasonThe Hall, PalaceAltsasKyanI LEAVE Isla IN ROSA'S care asking the maid to get her out of the wet dress and tuck her in but the stubborn girl refuses and says that after her has changed, she will be back to the party.If Rosa thinks it is strange that Isla is wet and shivering and I brought her into the room in my arms, then she doesn't show or say it.She curtseys respectfully at our arrival and my departure. Now sitting next to my drunk sister, I wish I had remained in the orchard with Isla. I don't know what spell she placed on me at the river but I'll try to evade it next time, if there will be a next time. I told her w
The FigurinesYear of the RosesFloral SeasonLysia's bedroomAltsasLyzaTHE IVORY FIGURINES ARE A GIFT from Lud so I put them into the basket and push them under my bed. The figurines are very beautiful, each one with it's peculiar and intricate design. They are five of them; five nude females with different patterns craved into their skin. They all had huge breasts and fat thighs and wide empty eyes that stare at nothing. If my mother or Isla see anything wrong with my so-called fiance giving me such a gift, they don't utter a word about it. The figurines haunt me, their lifeless eyes taunt me that's why I hide them from my sight.My mother had delivered the figurines this morning after breakfast. She held the box w
The FallYear of the RosesFloral SeasonVillage of ByninAltsasMavliI HAVEN'T SLEPT in almost two weeks. Each time I close my eyes, I see him. Not the taskmaster, I've killed the bloody bastard in my dreams. But Cirok. It hurts and it's painful that I'll never get to see him again. I can't believe that our love was not given a chance to blossom.That night of our escape keeps swirling in my mind, tumbling over my thoughts. If only I had known that I would lose him I would have held on to him tighter, kiss him deeper. I won't have let him sit beside me on the horse. And when he fell I left him, I left him just like how that coward Cerric did.The ring gleams on my finger. I swear I feel it warm u
The FireYear of the RosesFloral SeasonVillage of ByninAltsasMavliI TUCK THE POUCH and matchbox Ghost gave me and mount the mare that Cirok stole for us. He didn't say what it was, just that it is a lethal concoction that can put a whole village on fire if used wisely. A shiver ran down my spine as he tossed it to me and grinned showing me yellow teeth. I wonder how Rhani knew this guy. And I wonder how he even got the 'lethal concoction'.The mare — Hijar, which means messenger of death in Kintilese — snorts as we reenter the forest. I pat her head, leaning on her neck and wrapping my hands around her. It took us mere hours to arrive at the village when we were making our escape and I wonder why the securit
The VialYear of the RosesFloral SeasonLysia's bedroomAltsasLyzaISLA BUSTLES INTO MY ROOM with a frantic look on her face. Her sandals slapping noisily on the floor and the skirt of the dress flouncing."Lyza! Lyza!"She runs to my bed. "Lyza you have to come now, Rosa asked me to call you. It's your father and Lud—""Lud?!" I jolt upright and push back the blankets. "What's going on, Isla?""I can't tell you, you have to come and see. Rosa has made a shocking discovery!" And she grabs me by the wrist and takes me out of my room. I don't mind tha
The BudYear of the RosesFloral SeasonThe OrchardAltsasIslaI DON'T KNOW why Lyza brought me here. She refuses to say a word to me about anything. I know the events of yesterday has taken a toll on her. She stands by the bank of the river and does nothing.I don't mention the hunger pangs that plagues me or the fact that I'm suffering from an insufferable headache, I don't want to bother her.She barged into my room this morning as she usually does and whisked me away before I could go to the dining room for breakfast.Spinning on her heels to look at me, she grins. "What is going on with you and my broth
The RoseYear of the RosesFloral SeasonThe OrchardAltsasIslaWORDS IN MY THROAT are trapped in a bubble. I struggle to form something coherent but all I come up with are stutters. Ross steps back, fright marring her features. "I was just—""Rosa isn't going to be my maid after we marrying because I'm going to be staying in your room, right?" The words come out in a jumble, I don't think it through.Kyan's eyes darts at Rosa's face and then mine. "I suppose," he says suspiciously."I have delivered the food, your Majesty." Rosa curtseys and turns to leave.
The ThunderYear of the RosesFloral SeasonThe OrchardAltsasIslaI TRY TO STEADY my breathing. And what if he knows what I'm doing? He was the one who suggested running to me only days ago. My fists clench and unclench at my sides. "What do you think I'm doing?"He shakes his head slowly not answering my question. "You are not coming with me, Isla.""Why do you care?" I hiss out. "Why shouldn't I come? You not wanting me to come is not a real reason.""It is," he licks his lip, "I don't want to be held responsible for what will happen." He hesitates, "the old man is looking forward to this, okay? We
EPILOGUE: THE SUNYear of the BougainvilleaFrigid SeasonThe PalaceAltsasIslaI AM SO EXCITED. Today, I'm expecting mother and father's visit as well as Mavli's. It's been ages since I saw them.Throwing off my blanket, I jump off the bed and to my feet. A shiver runs down my spine the second my feet touches the cold ground. I slip my feet into slippers and huff out a breath which floats as a thick cloud of fog in front of my face.I'm not surprised to see that Kyan isn't on the bed, he has always been an early riser. I'm sure he is already getting the orchard ready for my parents' arrival breakfast.
The Sound of the WindYear of the RosesFloral SeasonThe HighlandsAltsasKyanIT'S BEEN A WEEK since my marriage to the woman of my dreams. To the woman who's thoughts move the Earth. A whole week was kept aside for the wedding feast before I was permitted to take my bride away on the honeymoon.Now, I sit under our favourite tree weaving a flower crown for my bride. The cold pendant, a gift from Isla which also happens to be the heirloom of her family is pressed to my chest underneath my shirt on a gold chain.Osar flashes me a wide grin. "I have finished, Kyan. Let's see how Lyza will like it."It wasn't
The EndYear of the RosesFloral SeasonThe HutKintilIslaI'M OUTSIDE WITH MOTHER and Mavli plucking pumpkin leaves for soup when a deafening thumping of hooves against the Earth is heard. Frightened, we rush inside and hide only peeping out through the windows."It could be them again!" Mavli's lower lip starts to quaver.Mother's lips move wordlessly with silent prayer.Carriages come in view, hundreds of them. Some of the carriages speed by and some stop near our hut. Valri is bleating with fright outside, Mother is whimpering with tears and Mavli clutches my arm, her nails digging into my flesh.
The ReturnYear of the RosesFloral SeasonThe MarketKintilIslaIT'S BEEN HOURS.It's been hours since we laid Nadhat to rest among the reeds but still Mavli hasn't said a single word. I'm afraid for her but I know better than to say anything that might upset her more. Let her grieve, she deserves some time to grieve.Our mares trot carefully into the extensive land that was once our market. I take in all the destruction, the broken and burnt stalls. And far away,,I see a rotting corpse, I shut my eyes and turn away not wanting to see another body having seen Nadhat's.Nadhat.
The ArrowYear of the RosesFloral SeasonRoad to KintilRoad to KintilMavliTHE SUN HAS RISEN.We are almost there.Almost.We have been riding all night and day. The sun rays are peering through the clouds and threatening to end the cover of night, we dismount the horses and trot side by side with them. The smell of livestock and vegetables is over powering as we enter the Altsas market. Even if it is so early in the morning, the market is already as bustling as a bee hive. We have to elbow, duck and push our way through. My stomach churns loudly when my eyes dart to a stall of a fruit seller; the pyramid
The GirlYear of the RosesFloral SeasonThe throne roomAltsasKyanMY FATHER'S EYES grows dark with ire. A large vein throbs frantically at his temple, his large hands form fists on the arms of the throne and he snarls bestially. Lyza chokes a sob, large tears pooling in her eyes. My mother doesn't say a word, she is the most collected of us. My Aunt and Rakar pace up and down the throne room. It is Rakar that breaks the silence with a growl."That harlot left you? You let that harlot escape?" He walks towards me with a glare, "I don't believe that you let a mere woman outsmart you!" He yells pointing a finger at me.I'm not angry, not at all. I'm heartbroken, for
The ReunionYear of the RosesFloral SeasonBynin VillageAltsasIslaTHE WORLD FREEZES. I'm consumed by something strong, something strange. It's happiness. It's shock. It's tension. It's tears.And I start to cry. I cry so hard it comes out in choking gasps. The woman appears at my side instantly and rubs my shoulders, concern mares her face. "What's the matter? Did you know her?"I nod, my face is dredged by the salty waterfall from my stinging eyes. "Mavli... Is my sister."The woman gasps, her hand flies to her mouth. "It's you. She mentioned looking for you!"
The RunYear of the RosesFloral SeasonBynin VillageAltsasIslaI'M STARVING and tired. I've been riding since yesternight and sunset is near. I can already see the tease of light at the horizon. Lady Gin-Gin whines softly probably as hungry and as tired as I am. I do my best to ignore her. Our pace has slowed down greatly and now, we are trotting down and unfamiliar road.But I have hope because at a distance, I can see a small flicker of light. I'm approaching a village and that gives me hope so I go on. No matter how hard my belly groans or how heavy my eyelids are or how painfully my heart aches, I'll continue. And if Lady Gin-Gin decides to stop, I'll walk.I see ad
The Promise and the HurricaneYear of the RosesFloral SeasonThe HighlandsAltsasIslaWHEN THE SUN SITS high up in the sky and the fullness in my stomach I got from eating the rabbit dissipates, I lose my patience and turn to Kyan who is lying face up on the ground. "I want to have a bath." I jump up from my favourite spot under the tree. I grab my bag and start tramping through trees, leaving footprints in the soft earth and scaring of birds from their perches as I go.Kyan's heavy footsteps follows closely behind, he doesn't say anything but follows humbly which I'm utterly surprised at. When I stop confused on which path to take, he drapes his arm around my waist making me flinch and he steers me to the right path