A Warrior's Dance

XVI – New Beginnings

The wind blew her face making her shiver. She forgot to close the windows again. The sun was about to rise when Sanne hurriedly headed to the small washroom at the corner of her private room, a white curtain enclosing it. She was supposed to be in the kitchen by now helping the others but she accidentally dozed off— again.

She’s in trouble.

It was her one-hundredth day from the moment she had stepped inside the Crimson palace walls. Since then, Madam Lariza was the one who took care of her, making her as one of the maidens. And as one of them, she vowed to keep herself pure, dedicated to serve the kingdom and the learners of the White Tower.

Looking at the square blurry mirror, Sanne couldn’t recognize her face any longer. The yellow scarf covering her red hair was pinned in place, her white dress robe with long sleeves made sure her skin wasn’t exposed. Her wound was well hidden but the memories never went away. She couldn’t tell how, but her face matured a little.

“Late again.” Madam Lariza shook her head, her hard eyes seemed to be poking the girl the moment she entered the kitchen. “You’ll have your punishment later, after work.”

Sanne let out a heavy sigh. Quietly, she picked up the tray and followed the madam. Lariza led the way to the west tower, gracefully navigating the steep staircase. When they reached the top, Sanne was breathing hard.

“Good morning, Lady Rainlee,” Lariza greeted, slightly bowing her head.

Rainlee glanced at their direction, her hand paused in midair, holding a paintbrush.

Sanne tried to hide her excitement. This was the first time she would be meeting a lady like her. The king’s sister. “Good morning!” she greeted chirpily.

Both women turned to her.

Lariza cleared out her throat. “I was told you’d be in here whereas you should be in bed, resting.”

“This is how I rest, madam,” Rainlee replied, putting down the paintbrush. Her eyes look tired, her lips pale.

Madam Lariza gestured for Sanne to bring the tray of foods and remedies for her headache.

“I brought you eucalyptus leaf for your headache, my lady,” Sanne said with a smile. She had never seen a face like an angel before, matched with long pretty hair. “In our trib- I mean,” she cleared her throat as she looked down. “In the books… The book says eucalyptus leaf promotes relaxing feeling and good breathing.”

Rainlee smiled at her, eyes narrowing. She felt like she had known her before. “Have we met before, little dove?”

“I’m afraid not, my lady” she replied, suddenly remembering Lady Avery.

Lariza explained as the princess turned to her. “I found her in Esmo town.”

Rainlee’s brows creased. “It seems there are many lost child in that town.”

The madam shrugged her shoulder. “It was the nearest in the front gates and the farthest in the kingdom. Royal guards rarely patrol the area.”

The princess shifted her attention back to the new child. “Tell me, little dove, what is your name?”

Sanne felt a tinge of pain pinched her chest. Little dove. That’s what her father used to call her. “Sanne. My name is Sanne.”

Rainlee repeated her name. “A beautiful name for a beautiful girl.” Sanne just smiled at her. “And how old are you?”

“I turned eleven today,” she replied. A hint of emptiness could be reflected in her eyes and she had never felt as lonely as she was now inside the palace walls.

She could run free in Barren island, could hunt boars or rabbits, dance in the shore, and come afternoon, she would help her father in house chores and watched him make swords. But now in her current state, she was forced to keep her old self hidden, her race forgotten and erase the things she had learned.

“Today’s your day of remembrance?” Rainlee asked for confirmation.

Sanne nodded her head.

Heartbreak seemed to register in her face but fought a smile on her pale lips. “May the Heavens grace you with gifts, Sanne.”

Rainlee continued to gaze at her eyes as she felt something in her gut. Sanne’s eyes reminded her of someone from her past. It was familiar but she couldn’t pin-point the resemblance.

“You should eat while it’s hot, Lady Rainlee,” Lariza said.

Sanne placed the foods properly in the round table and distanced herself. Seeing a kind royal lady like her was a good gift for her.

****

The White Tower gardens were filled with trees and shrubs, flowers and vines, a beautiful landscape for the people of the kingdom. Maidens were the one who maintained the area, making sure grasses were trimmed, plants had been watered, and harvest the fruits and vegetables.

Like always, Sanne had been sent to pick up the weeds and bring two baskets full of tomatoes on her way back to the kitchen. She was wearing new set of clothes, a gift from Madam Lariza, and felt satisfaction to finally get out of the white clothes even just for today. She found the white robes dull and boring, not like what she was used to wear back at the island.

“Well, I told you not to grow here,” she murmured as she pulled off the weeds. “But here you are. Stubborn as me, I see.”

She huffed as she looked around. Ladies and lads passed by, some had smiles on their faces, some had frowns, unaware of her presence. They were the learners of the White Tower, sent there to acquire skills and knowledge, to further the civilization.

Sanne smiled sadly, wishing she was one of them, hoping she could practice her sword again.

After she was done with the weeds, she carried the baskets to harvest the tomatoes. The chilly wind blew in her direction, taking her scarf from her head, swaying it away.

“Oh, no!” Sanne muttered in desperation. She jumped to reach for it but it continued to dance with the wind.

A hand reached it from the air, stopping the wind from playing with it. Sanne halted the moment she saw the lad.

His hair was tied in a ponytail, exposing a scar on his right cheek. His jaw line seemed to harden seeing her directly looking in his face. Sanne stepped forward as familiarity dawned on her.

“You… look like…” she stuttered. “Him.”

The lad’s brows creased but didn’t say a word. He handed her the scarf, noticing her wavy red hair. Hairs like hers were rare inside the walls.

“Thank you,” she said, carefully taking it from him and covered her stunning hair again, securing it with a pin. “You look familiar.”

He coked his head on the side, his interest suddenly peaking at what she said. “Really?”

Sanne nodded.

“Someone who has an ugly scar like this one,” he pointed at his cheek, angling it to her. “Someone like me.”

She felt conflicted. She never thought of Azaiah’s scar as ugly.

“And who might that be?” he asked.

Sanne remembered the sad look on his eyes as they parted ways. “Azaiah.”

The lad just looked at her with a poker face. Obviously, the name wasn’t familiar.

She forced a smile. For a brief moment, Sanne contemplated if it was okay extending her friendship with him, for after all, he was the first who noticed her. Her, the invisible.

“My name is Sanne,” she introduced.

Her genuineness seemed to calm his mood and he didn’t expect a little girl could do that. She was small but the easy way she handled herself made her stand out in the sea of people. Unexpectedly, a small smile crossed his lips. “I’m Raiden,” he said, extending his hand.

Sanne looked at his hand curiously.

“Well, according to our culture,” Raiden started as he took in her confused face. He gently lifted Sanne’s hand and softly kissed the back of her palm. “This is a proper greeting.”

She felt a kick on her stomach, a subtle shiver ran down her neck as his lips touched her skin.

Number one rule for the maidens: Any kind of kiss from opposite s*x is not allowed.