Chapter 11
Heading out, the Aya and Bai watched out the side windows as they watched the people working happily in the fields. Hopefully, with their newfound abilities, they would be able to do much to help their aunt and uncle to the best of their abilities when the time came. They knew that they would have to get some much-needed practice in. But for now, they were overly excited to get some new clothes made up. The girls wondered what materials the tailor would have in stock now. It would not be long before they were in his store scouring over all the materials.
Finally reaching the gates, they were held open by the people smiling warmly at another visit from the lords and the queen. Stopping first and foremost at the tailor shop as promised to them. With their new status put in place, it was time to make sure they looked the part. Scouring the finer materials, Aya and Bai seemed to be drawn to a beautiful floral pattern that had flowers they were not familiar with on the fabric for a design. They decided to ask the tailor about the floral design. Who knows, maybe he had others similar to the design.
Bai Endo: (Picking up the corner edge of the fabric, she rubbed it between her fingers…) "This pattern here, this is beautiful. I have never seen flowers such as these before."
Tailor: "Oh yes, this is a design of a flower from one of the many lands from across the waters. The flowers were brought to our lands long ago, but they only managed to grow in certain places. They are called slipper orchids. A Rothschild slipper orchid is a rare flower. As you see, it is mainly done in drawings and patterns for the most part."
Aya Endo: "A Gold of Kinabalu orchid, I read about those in my studies. A rare flower. It is quite pretty. I do not know about Bai, but I want that fabric for some clothes."
Bai Endo: "Yes, that would be great, I would also like this one with the chocolate cosmos on it. It has a beautiful vine pattern attached to them and grass scene. These will work nicely; do you not agree Aya?"
Tailor: "Very good. I will have those reams taken to the back. I will have my assistant come out to do your measurements. She is quite good."
Kaida Endo: "That would be wonderful. I see that you got that ream of wisteria florals in, I would like one made up from that please."
Tailor: "Yes, very good."
Botan Date: "This is all for a special occasion. They have finally come of age and we are celebrating. Please do your best sir."
Tailor: "Yes sir. I will do my absolute best. With an order this big, it will take at least a week of me and my assistant working on them. Will that be fine?"
Botan Date: "Yes. That is more than fine. I understand that a large order can take a while. No need to rush anything."
With a nod of his head, he headed toward the back and within a few minutes, his assistant came out and had the measuring tape at the ready. Aya and Bai stood still as each of the measurements were taken and meticulously wrote down. After about an hour, the order was put in place and they left after thanking the shop owner. Their next stop would be, of course, a trip to the doctor's clinic. Might as well make sure they had all the stock they needed. Besides, a precursory check on the welfare of the people is always high up on the list. After making sure there was plenty of supplies and taking note of ones that need to be filled, they were met at the door with boxes of donations for the week. Smiling softly, Kaida expressed her thanks and gratitude as the boxes were loaded into the carriage. After saying their farewells, they all climbed into the carriage and headed out of the town back toward the mansion. Aya and Bai looked on out the windows once again as they surveyed the people in the fields working happily as they brought in the harvest.
Kaida sat in between Botan and Tsubasa once again. Her bad feeling seemed to keep creeping as she was unsure of the feeling she kept having. Thanks to the power of the queen's stone, her senses were a thousand times better than even Botan's. A storm seemed to be on the horizon so to speak and it was something only Kaida was going to see coming. Her only problem now, how to tell the others of her feeling. She knew already that she was going to have to touch Tsubasa to absorb the clairvoyance once again. Hopefully, with any luck, the feeling she was having would not be as bad as it seems to feel. Though that, in and of itself was a faint hope. She only hoped nothing bad would come to pass. Though so many calm and peaceful years have passed, there was always the possibility of danger at any given time. With all those signs, it was hard to ignore. She would have to tell everyone of the feelings she was getting from the stone at some point, her only thought, "will they believe me?"
After roughly an hour, they finally made it back to the mansion. Several soldiers came right away to help tend to the items that had been picked up during their day out and take in the fresh batch of donated blood. Once all the things were taken out, the carriage and horses were taken back by a small group of soldiers. Heading up the stairs, they were met at the entry to the mansion by several maids as they were handed a glass each as they entered the door. They all headed toward the main hall where Kaida took her seat upon the custom throne once again. Taking one last sip off her glass, she sat it down upon the little table and clapped her hands together to get the attention of all the other lords.
Kaida Endo: (Clapping her hands together, she stated her voice clearly…) "I wanted to discuss something with all of you. As you know, the power of the queen's stone gives me certain abilities as far as forthcoming knowledge."
Tsubasa Endo: "Why are you mentioning this sister? Has something happened that we will all need to be made aware of?"
Botan Date: "Has something happened, my queen?"
Kaida Endo: "The stone has been increasing my ability to sense things lately. It is almost as if it is letting me know of things beforehand. I may need your ability Tsubasa, to make sure of the specific issue. Though the strong feeling I have been getting, it will not bode well for us. We must prepare thoroughly."
Tsubasa Endo: "Is it that bad sister? Bad enough that you need my clairvoyance to try and sort it out?"
Kaida Endo: "Yes, yes, it is. I have a feeling that outsiders will be approaching at some point. The stone has been trying to warn me of it. I am more than sure of it."
The shocked look upon everyone's face said volumes. Perhaps they had taken the peaceful time for granted? In any case, preparation was going to be needed as Aya and Bai would need training in their abilities from Botan and Tsubasa. As the elemental wielders, their knowledge would be quite helpful in preparing them. The seven of them just looked at each other, then back and forth to Kaida several times. Bai was the first to speak up concerning her thoughts.
Bai Endo: "Are you quite certain aunty? Me and Aya have not practiced that much with our abilities. Will we be ready in time?"
Kaida Endo: "First of all, properly address me as my queen. And yes, I am more than certain we will be ready. I only have to absorb your uncle's ability to figure out some sort of time frame. Besides, with their help, Tsubasa and Botan can help you train."
Aya Endo: "That is right Bai. Do not worry so much. Our queen would not lead us astray. Besides, she knows things before even the other lords. That is the benefit of being the queen. Do not worry so much."
Bai Endo: "You are right. I am worrying to soon. Our queen's feelings are never wrong."
Botan Date: "Just how long has this been coming to you from the stone?"
Kaida Endo: "It only started about a week ago. It was not noticeably clear at first, it takes me a bit to work out the visions it sends me in my sleep. But I am more than certain that trouble will be coming soon. Please train the girls well. I will have to absorb Tsubasa's ability to sort it out better."
Botan Date: "Understood my queen. Then I will say no more till you have done so."
Smiling softly, Kaida downed the last of her glass and stood up. Walking over to Tsubasa, she placed her hand upon his chest. Her nieces watched as she absorbed their uncle's ability. To their absolute awe, she turned that brilliant shade of purple before their very eyes. Clearly letting them know she was now using his power. Her head jerked back slightly as she focused on what the stone had already been showing her. Images flooded her mind of things to come and it was never clear on a time frame. Hell, it took twelve years for the images of the ring to come into play, though that was not a pressing matter. This however, had a different and foreboding feel to it. This certainly would be in a much shorter time frame. The images of outsiders from other parts from across the waters was quite clear. The bad feeling, she had from the last ones they dealt with became quite clear now. They have killed all their food and were on the move.