Royal Intrigue

A Gift Worth More Than Words

Later that night, as Metori was preparing herself for bed, trying to distract herself from the day and from the growing feeling of dread in her soul, a knock came at the door and a woman's small but clear voice could be heard talking with the guards that were always stationed at the outer limits of her chambers. A few seconds later, the wooden frame of the inner door was lightly knocked upon, a firm but gentle hand requesting admittance. Before anyone else could move, Tsukimine found her way over to the door, kneeling down in the appropriate style and sliding open the door with one hand while the other guided it, a skill that she had been working to perfect for days.

She smiled as the soft tones of one of her brother's most trusted maids greeted her in her own language. "Little mouse who scurries to and fro, I have brought a gift for your mistress from your brother. What did you say to me as a child when I caught you in the larder, eating all of the snacks before they could be taken to the temple?"

"A little mouse may scurry to and fro, but it knows where home is, and where it is fed. Is it not unreasonable to expect such a small creature not to make itself at home when such a feast has been prepared?"

The maid's eyes twinkled and she hid her hand behind her shorter sleeves, an adorable image that reminded Tsukimine of their home, always light and airy and filled with the laughter that was so frowned upon within the court. "I see that you remember well my little mouse, see that you do not forget us. Your brother had me select the finest bundle of fabric for this gift. It seems that he is anxious to impress the princess. See that you make his anxiety well worth it please?"

"I will, thank you. Carry my love back to him. Make sure that he goes to bed before he falls asleep on his maps?"

After the maid agreed, she took the parcel that was offered, pulling it onto her lap and bowing her head slightly as the maid slid th door shut and shuffled away.

"Dearest princess, my brother has sent you a gift. Shall I open it for you?" Tsukimine's fingers traced over the soft white cloth she had been given. Pure and flawless, made from some of the toughest plants on her home islands. Not nearly as soft as the silk of the court, it was still much higher quality than any item she had ever owned. The craftsmanship that had gone into the weave would still be apparent to the princess and the quality was appropriate for a painting, something that the princess loved to do. The bundle was also tied with a finely twisted and colored cord, the tip of which was covered in the coveted skin of the most dangerous tree viper on the island. Her brother had truly gone out of his way to find the best gift for the woman he was hoping to woo.

"If you would bring it here please?" The princess was knelt beside her bed cushions, her hair being combed by one of her maids. She looked utterly at ease despite her earlier anxiety, it made Tsukimine feel blessed to witness such a simple pleasure from such a normally uptight woman. Shuffling her way over to the princess, she was careful not to let the package shift, keeping it steady so the wrappings and the letter above them in the same position. The presentation would have the same impact on the princess as it had on her, the desired impact she knew her brother would have wanted.

Settling the package before the princess, she pulled the card off the top after it had been seen. The simple flowers that called back to her own childhood showing her that her brother desired to show more than just one of his talents. Breaking the seal with her jewellery, she began to read; "Princess, from our past meeting and from the things my sister has told me, you treasure knowledge above all else. You have a desire to know not just about the world that you were born into, but the one that others have grown up in as well. This book is from my personal collection. A set of myths and legends that would be read to my sister and I every night by our nurses. They tell the story of how we believe our home was formed, how the oceans are there to welcome us all, and how we relate to the rest of the world. While it is not in your script, when I first began to prepare to join your court, I attempted a rudimentary translation within the pages themselves. With the help of my sister to clarify any words that you do not understand, I feel like it will be a good introduction to our language and our culture.

I have also included one of the finest pieces of cloth from our latest shipment. My sources have told me that you enjoy painting and thus, I hope that you will enjoy it for the beauty it provides and the potential of what it may become. Finally, I have included a cord created by my own hand, wrapped with the skin of a viper sent into our court to kill the members of the royal family that was instead captured and killed. In my culture, this skin is highly prized as the viper often claims lives and is notoriously rare. It symbolizes a willingness to thrive even within a den of enemies. I hope that the sentiment finds you well and safe, and that you too thrive, even in times of adversary."

As she finished speaking, Tsukimine unfurled the bundle, laying the cord out for the princess to see, the cloth across her lap so it was easy to reach, and offered the book to the princess with both of her hands. The small warped cover that had been part of her life for so long was cradled gently in royal hands for the first time since her grandfather's betrayal. She was barely able to keep a small sob from arising, choosing instead to bow her head deeply as she waited for the judgement of the princess.

When seconds later she felt a finger lift her chin, she dared to lift her eyes and look at the smiling face of her mistress. "Would you read some of it to me, Tsukimine? Your favorite story. In your language please, then in mine."

"It would be my pleasure, princess." In the space where strange bugs sang and loons called into the night, Tsukimine brought back to life the legends that had for so long been in her life, making the space feel just a little more magical and like home.