The Tornado
Year of the Lilies
Torrid Season
Streets of Altsas
Altsas
Isla
I'VE NEVER BEEN MORE PETRIFIED IN MY LIFE. I can't believe that I'm in the middle of a wild mob. A hand flies through the air and lands on my jaw, giving me a teeth shattering blow. I taste blood.
Another hand slaps me hard across the face and my eyes sting with tears. Zaps sizzle in my veins reminding me of who I am; reminding me I've healed enough to unleash my power upon these people so I can be free again.
I will myself, probing inside me to allow the power inside me to break free. A sharp pain erupts in my stomach as someone punches me hard. Grunting, I fall to my knees and a hard blow sends me reeling as someone hits my back
The CellYear of the LiliesTorrid SeasonDungeonAltsasIslaMY HEAD THROBS AND MY BREATHE SMELLS FOUL. I'm totally disoriented and chained to the wall of this stone prison, this leaky cell of the dungeon. Though tomorrow is New Year's Eve, the new year marks the beginning of a new season — the Floral Season but the air is still thick with humidity of the Torrid and my skin is sticky and clammy with sweat.Next to me is a bowl of a creamy watery broth and though my tummy churns and grumbles, I won't give in and eat that disgusting looking broth. It has a sour stench, and it seems like it has been here since the last prisoner. The spoon that lodges in the broth is coated with white crusty something, just lo
The MakeoverYear of the LiliesTorrid SeasonSomewhere in the PalaceAltsasIslaTHOUGH I WON'T BE MEETING with the King till tomorrow (says Namir) I'll undergo a cleansing and makeover today. I stare at him blankly as he said the words. This most be a joke.Namir led me through various passages and corridors and a dozen flights of stairs to this room. I can hardly remember the way here. He gestures for me to sit on a human-sized cushion, the soft cushion sinks under my weight. I feel like I'm sitting on a cloud. I let my fleeting glance run around the four corners of the room; it is quite big, bigger than our hut back at home, it has a dresser, a cupboard, a ceramic bathtub in the middle of the room, drums of water, a stoo
The PresentationYear of the RosesFloral SeasonLysia's bedroomAltsasLyzaTHE GIRL THAT STARES BACK from the shiny surface of the mirror is plain. Behind her is the maid that gently combs her coily tresses into submission.I'm the plain girl staring back from the shiny surface of the mirror. I'm the only unattractive and undesirable princess. I'm the unpaired, unmarried princess of Altsas. I'm the albino daughter of King Tus III. I'm the little sister of Prince Kyan. I'm Princess Lyza."Lyza?" My maid, Rosa cuts into my thoughts. "What's going through your mind, dear?" She asks softly with a motherly tone. I've always regarded Rosa as
The DanceYear of the RosesFloral SeasonLysia's bedroomAltsasLyzaIT'S MIDNIGHT. I can already hear the hum of the happy crowd from the hall many floors beneath my bedroom. Rosa has managed to coax me into an ecru gown made out of satin. The hems are blood red and Rosa has fastened a matching blood red veil to my hair."What's the point?"'I moan. Rosa gives me a puzzled look. "What's the point of the kohl to line my eyes and the henna on my skin?"Rosa stares at me with something like pity in her eyes," Lyza—"I caught in immediately to stop her. "No one will ever want me, Rosa. I
The TrystYear of the RosesFloral SeasonThe Gardens, PalaceAltsasLyzaI DON'T WANT TO KNOW what Isla is thinking as I push and elbow my way through the crowd, not minding what the guests will think of the Princess running across the dancefloor and I suck in air as I make my way into the dark gardens.I can still hear the noise of the party as if I am still the hall. The only difference is the balmy air instead of the scorching heat and the faint scents of flowers and dew. I can hear crickets and distant hoots of owls. The moon is a glowing ball of light, it bathes everything under it — including me in it's ethereal shower.I know he'll be here.
The DealYear of the RosesFloral SeasonThe Gardens, the PalaceAltsasLyzaMY MOANS ARE THROATY and deep. They erupt from my mouth in pants. He kisses a trail down my throat, nibbling and licking as he goes.One of his hands are fondling my breast through my dress and the other is playing with my braid. He stops his trail at my cleavage and raises his head to look at me.I cup his face in my hands, pulling him down with me and I kiss his lips gently, teasing him with small bites as the kiss progresses. One of his hand finds my zip and he zips the dress down. He pushes the straps off my shoulders and I'm revealed to him.&
The RequestYear of the RosesFloral SeasonIsla's bedroomAltsasIslaMY EYES FLUTTER OPEN and I stare at the unfamiliar ceiling of white satin curtains. I blink.Jolting upright, I try to take in my surroundings. Stony walls, dresser, silver chandelier, wooden closet and the bed I'm lying on.Then all the events of the last few days comes crashing down on me. Sighing, I stretch and release an involuntary yawn.After the princess had pushed her empty cup into my hand and made a dash for the exit, I had also followed suit and retired for the night. The Duchess had given me a room just next t
The BridgeYear of the RosesFloral SeasonThe Dining RoomAltsas.IslaLYSIA'S BLUE EYES ARE PIERCING from across the table. Apparently, we were late for breakfast and the rest of the royal family had had theirs an hour ago.She is expertly stoic and her features are blank. I try not to let my eyes linger on her face for too long and busy myself with chewing my food.Before us are platters of boiled fish, brown rice, salad made up of dices of carrots and slices of lettuce, baskets of bread rolls, jugs of milk and mead. The array of food overwhelms me. I try not to seem greedy and limit my plate to two bread rolls, pieces of spicy fish and the salad.
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