"M'Lady!"
Dilera entered my room and slammed the door behind herself.
I jumped at her entrance and nearly dropped the note from Altan that I had been reading over again. "What?!" I turned toward her and put the note behind my back.
"M'Lady, you need to get ready now!" Dilera nearly ran at me and began to strip my clothes off of my body.
"What is going on?!" I demanded.
"She's coming." Dilera answered, "I can't stop her." the gown I was wearing pooled at my feet and Dilera ran to my closet to fetch some clothing.
"Who's coming?"
"The Dukes sister!" Dilera yelled while shuffling through my clothing. "The Duke told me not to let her see you until after the wedding, But now that the Duke is gone, I don't have the power to stop her!"
Dilera exited my closet holding one of my blue sundresses, and I noticed for the first time how stressed she looked.
"Is the Duke's sister someone I should be afraid of?" I asked.
Nearly as soon as I asked this, the doors to my chambers flew open with such force that they slammed into the walls beside them. Dilera and I both jumped at the sound then turned to find a tall woman standing in the doorway.
"I am someone most people should be afraid of." The woman answered and my eyes widened as I realized that she must be Altan's sister. "But you," she stepped through the doorway and her black gown flew out behind her, giving view to orange and red skirts beneath, "My future sister, have no need to fear me." She crossed the room and put two hands on my face, "Now, let me look at you."
My eyes darted nervously to Dilera across the room who had become frozen to the floor and was still holding my blue dress.
It was then that I noticed that I was still...
~NAKED?! I'm still NAKED!~
"Oh uh I- I'm my clothes." I stuttered and attempted to pull my head from the woman's grasp.
She beamed at my embarrassment. And with her smile, I noticed for the first time her beauty. She was a Fire Mage too, her eyes gleamed similarly to Altan's and she had the same shaped nose as he did, although she wore an elaborate nose ring from her septum that was decorated with gold and tiny rubies. She had long straight black hair that went all the way down to her waist and she was taller even than me.
"Don't worry about your clothing." She said stepping back from me and looking at my naked body with no shame. "This way I can get a better look at you."
"oh....um..."
~How am I supposed to respond to that?~
"Now do a turn for me." she said twirling her pointer finger.
"Uh..." My eyes again darted to Dilera who only nodded her head implying I do as I was told.
~Fine.~
I turned in a small circle.
"Wow." she said when I finished, "My brother did I good job." she put her hands on her hips. "I mean, I heard the rumors that you were beautiful, but I didn't believe them." She tilted her head and I swear she was staring at my boobs. "Honestly, I thought my brother would bring back just any old Water Mage when he realized how hard it would be to get one... But I guess I underestimated him."
~Again... How am I supposed to respond to this?~
"What was your name again?" She asked, and the normal question took me off guard.
"Azul." I blinked.
"Azul?" She repeated the name, "That doesn't sound like a name from Pani Rastra."
~That's because Altan gave me that name. But I'm not going to tell her that.~
"But anyway," My lack of answer apparently didn't bother her, "I'm Altan's older sister, you can call me Rayana."
I blinked again, this time simply because it was the first time I had heard anyone besides myself refer to the Duke by his first name.
She looked around the room briefly then her eyes stopped when she saw Dilera. "Oh no." She said and Dilera looked so scared that I thought she might pee her pants.
"Wh-What's wrong M'Lady?" Dilera asked.
"Is that the dress you intend to put on the future Duchess of Kiziljer?" Rayana eyed the blue fabric my maid held.
"I was simply trying to get Lady Azul dress-"
"Enough." Rayana hushed her. "You'll put it on her for now, but then you'll immediately go find my Maid and get one of the dresses I have prepared for Lady Azul's wedding gifts."
~My wedding gifts?~
Dilera nodded then immediately began to dress me, which I was thankful for.
"My brother bought these dresses for you, didn't he?" Rayana asked after Dilera finished.
I nodded.
"Well, lucky for you, you probably look good in anything." she sighed and waved for me to join her on the balcony. "My bother only buys the most expensive things, he never pays attention to the trends."
"I don't mind." I spoke for the first time without stuttering, and feeling far more confident in myself now that I was clothed, "I know His Grace has good intentions."
Rayana laughed at my words, "Good intentions. Yes, that is all my brother has ever really had."
~What's that supposed to mean?~
"I suppose," she continued as I found my way to her side on the balcony, "That's why he wouldn't let me see you either... Because of his good intentions."
~That's right, Altan had assured me I wouldn't have to meet any of the guests for the wedding without him beside me...~
Rayana pointed out over the balcony to a single sand-stoned pillar that protruded from the Kiziljer skyline. "Do you see that pillar?" I nodded, "That's where I live."
I followed her gaze, "But isn't that a Temple for Vohan, the god of the Fire Mages?"
"Yes," She nodded, "I'm married to a Temple keeper."
~I wonder if that's like a priest?~
"He's alright." She continued as if I had asked about her marriage, "I only married him because I wanted to stay here in Kiziljer." she turned to me smiling, "I wanted to be here to take care of my baby brother."
"To take care of the Duke?" I asked.
She nodded, "Altan has many siblings, but I'm the only one older than him, and I'm also his only full sibling." my head turned to her with surprise, no wonder they looked so similar. "Our mother was the first wife, and therefore the only one eligible to bear the next Duke." She tilted her head and watched me, "Your son someday will also be the next Duke."
I felt my mouth dry at her words and decided to try to change the subject. "You must be very close to His Grace, then."
"Yes." she said and watched me closely, "And rumors have it that so are you."
"Wha-"
"Rumors have been flying all over the city about how infatuated our Duke is with his Water Mage Fiancé." She crossed her arms, "Even rumors that you have already slept together." My cheeks flushed, "more than once." she added.
~Seriously?? There are already rumors from last night?~
I had the sudden urge to face palm.
Rayana must have noticed my embarrassment and began to laugh. "So then why," her laugh subsided, "Do you not call him by his name?"
I averted my eyes.... It wasn't entirely true that I never called him by his name...
"I just don't feel that comfortable yet." I finally responded and had no idea how she would react to this response. From what little I knew about Rayana, I was fairly certain that I would not be able to predict her actions and reactions.
"I see..." She answered.
And when I said nothing more she must have decided to change the subject.
"Well, hopefully by the end of the day, you will feel comfortable enough to call me by my name." She smiled then linked her arm in mine.
"By the end of the day?"
"Yes!" she grinned and began to lead me from my room, "We are going to spend the whole day together! we are going to be sisters after all!"