Above the stuffy rooms and meeting halls was the high balcony. It was where festival processions were held because the closer to heaven, the easier it is to speak to the gods. Acrobats danced across the marble floors, throwing tinkling balls of silver between each other. Musicians played songs that sounded more like battle cries, and huge amounts of food was strewn along tables of ironwood. Generals stood in their open robes of red and gold, and my father was among the large group at the center. He was in battle dress, a long red robe with flames on the back and shoulders. His curly hair had peppered gray through the black locks.
At his side was none other than Malia, who was still in her monks robes. She smiled and bowed as the elders openly praised her. When she caught my gaze, her grin widened. That bald head glistening with sweat in the afternoon light. Mother and I approached as any would, to greet the king and his first born. We bowed deeply and my father nodded for us to rise.
He held one thick hand out for my mother to grab. When she took it I was reminded of how small she looked compared to him, like a mouse with a lion. Even with her platform sandals, he towered over her completely. He kissed the small of her wrist and placed her knuckles to his forehead, a sign of respect and greeting for all his wives.
"Leilani, you look well." He said, with a voice that boomed and reverberated through my chest like the war drums.
"Thank you honorable father, King Koa of the heavens."
And he placed his hand behind the nape of my neck, bending impossibly low to kiss my brow. His smallest daughter and even smaller wife. Again that insecurity ran wildly in my heart as I could feel that if he tried, snapping my spine would be an easy task.
When we were done with the customary greetings, Malia came and hugged me fiercely. Kissing my mothers wrist as she did for any she deeply respected. The fan my mother held was beating like the wing of a firebird, pushing away the heat. My sister's embrace felt as it always did, warm and generous. Perhaps a bit sweatier than usual.
"Those monk robes must certainly keep you hot on the coldest mountain nights." I whispered in her ear, and she chuckled.
"Let's eat, youngest sister and honorable mother." She announced, waving towards the great heap of food beyond.
I couldn't lie, I felt absolutely famished. Between my run along the beach and the hours of diligently dressing I hadn't the time to have a single meal. Great roasted pigs and chickens sat at the center of the table and sides of chilled pastas and rice wrapped in lotus leaves pilled high.
The monk diet was strict, no meats or fats at their holy tables. So my sister took a small bowl of vegetable broth and sipped it gratefully. I gorged myself on everything my hands could grab, and my mother looked on in disgust without touching a single morsel.
"I heard Hine waited for your arrival at the steps like a hound." Malia said with that look she always gave when she disapproved of one of our sister's actions.
I nodded, the sticky rice in my mouth turning to a bitter taste. Maila reached out to wipe away a stray grain on my cheek.
"She certainly waited, and I hope our entrance was exactly what she desired." I shoved a huge pork bao into my mouth ravenously.
"I wish to warn you wildcat, and honorable mother." Malia suddenly said, turning to face my mother. "There is an ambassador from Hon Lu at our table this fine festival day."
I felt the color drain from my cheeks in surprise, and I turned to see my mother's face. She looked calm as if it was to be expected, or she did not understand what Malia had said.
"Did you know about this?" I asked, and my mother nodded her head in slight confirmation.
"The Hon Lu dialect has always fascinated me." Added Malia, smiling, "I'd love to be taught it one day."
That made a bit of pride flourish in me. The idea of teaching my sister something new or unknown.
"The one who comes is not a man to be trifled with." My mother said in a harsh and discreet tone, "It is a prince, who wishes to build a bridge of friendship between the future of our two states."
It would have been nice if she had told me this sooner. Instead of vague warnings like she usually gave. But I nodded and faced Malia, who looked at my mother in wonder. It was unusual to hear the woman speak, and I had been told that to others her voice was like an ensemble of chiming bells. To me it sounded a bit more like breaking glass.
"What an unusual circumstance." I said, rubbing my shoulders in sudden exhaustion, feeling the knot that would soon form below my shoulder blades.
"Indeed." Malia added, putting her bowl down to be cleaned up by servants later. "My performance will be soon, you must excuse me to prepare. Though, I'd much rather hear more about our visitor from the honorable mother."
Her bow to my mother was as low as it was to my father. And she placed a hand on my aching shoulder before disappearing in the crowd.
Among the crowds of red and gold, I could have sworn I saw flashes of black silk. I ignored the observation and took my mother to the seats near my father's dais. The other mothers were gathered there, and their wrists of gold bangles clanged as they talked with great flourish.
I greeted Malia's mother first. A beautiful woman who sat straight and always glowed with abundance. I kissed her wrist and she stroked my cheek with great affection. It was said that she had been the childhood love of my father. The most beautiful in all six islands of the Isla, and her generosity was a river that never ran dry. Malia had taken that trait with stride, the two often bringing gifts of food and blankets to smaller villages across the Isla. In many ways she was the opposite of my own mother, who coldly turned away from any who approached. Lee had helped her to her seat and stood behind her in silence.
"It is always good to see you little Leilani." She said, those gold bangles moving along her arms. "Try to keep the fires controlled this year."
I blushed in embarrassment. To be corrected by the first wife of King Koa was a true shame, even if she had meant it in jest.
Hine's mother, a woman who resembled more of a man huffed in annoyance. I greeted her and the other mothers in respect as well before taking my place next to Lee.
I could see my other sisters milling about, talking to the elders and other high society people. There was really no point for me to do the same, knowing I would be confined to my mother's keep for the rest of my life. Shin suddenly brought two heated glasses of rice wine for my mother and I. A drink from Hon Lu that often made my head spin. I watched as mother took the cup behind her fan, and shot it down her throat in one long gulp. I sipped it as if it were a rank poison.
When my father took his throne at the dais, the room fell silent and the acrobats became still. The chair could probably fit about four of myself, but he filled it comfortably.
"People of the Isla," he announced, his voice reaching every corner of the room, "I thank you for celebrating what is a holy day with me and my family. This day represents an eternal flame, the fire that was lit and has been kept through every generation of our people. The first king of Isla set an ironwood tree to blaze on his first day of reign and since then, we have kept it glowing to honor what he had accomplished."
Four monks came through the great entry doors pushing a huge cauldron of fire to the center of the room. I could feel the heat of it on my skin from where I sat, and beads of sweat pooled at my temple.
"Usually it would be I who added to the great pillar of flames, but to honor my oldest daughter she will take this responsibility." The crowd let out a small gasp at his words, and my sister appeared in her fine monk robes carrying a small bundle of ironwood. "She has taken the title of high monk in the temple of light, and it is with great pride that I see her contribute to our eternal fire."
At that, my sister bowed to the King of the Isla and to the fire before her, tossing the wood into the gaping mouth of flame. It roared in response, growing bigger and brighter. And she began the dance of the first king.
Her movements were that of practice and strength. Taking a wide stance and twisting around the fire like an ember gone awry. I sat in awe, at her skill and the meaning behind her dance.
My father had finally chosen his successor.
Her robes made her blend into the dancing light, and I could see that like my father she was born from ironwood.
When she was done, the oldest of the monks swiped a long line of ash across her forehead. Pride was welling from deep within me, and I wanted to sob at the beauty and ferocity of it all. The future queen of the Isla, in her monks robes with the long line of ash across her brow.
The crowd cheered in a vicious and deep grumble of voices, and again my sister bowed. To the king, the monk, the fire, and finally to the mothers who were all wiping tears from their cheeks. My own mother was now beating her fan more ferociously.
"Thank you Malia of Natia, first daughter," my father said, the image of a proud father "and for my final surprise, a guest."
A young man appeared from the crowds in robes of the blackest silk. His hair was long and so black it blended with the folds of his clothes. Wide pants, similar to my own, swished below the long shirt and I could see at the highest point of his head was a small band of silver holding a slip of hair in place. A long black sword was at his place on his side, and I instinctively placed my hands on my two sabres.
His face was a work of art, angled and handsome. The long lashes created little shadows that danced on his high cheekbones, and his eyes were that of a curious fox. He was tall, not nearly as large as my father but could easily tower above many of the skilled soldiers that stood nearby. I noticed that his hands were wrapped in clean white gauze, before he folded them into his sleeves and bowed to the king in the Hon Lu style. From the way he moved, I knew that he had worked in swordplay from a young age and I was astonished at his grace and beauty.
My mothers fan stopped its fluttering, and she lowered it to her lap and bowed from her seat. Folding her arms in her sleeves as the man had done, I noticed Lee and Shin do the same. I held still as I could see the prince's eyes dance among us and land on me. They were darker than any I had ever met in gaze, black as night. I bowed slightly, in the Isla way and one side of his mouth twitched.
"It is a great honor to have a prince of Hon Lu sit at our table on the night of fire." Continued my father, who's frown had deepened. "We are grateful that Ryu Tae-Ho could make the journey here to celebrate with us on this auspicious day."
My father nodded to the man and he pushed across the hall, straight to where my mother was seated. There she was still bowing with our servants, and the chatter of the crowd began again.
"Peace be with you." He said, and his voice was smooth as the rivers that ran through the mountains.
"Peace be with you." My mother replied, rising from her seat still bowing. "My daughter, Lia, is at your service. As am I, and our servants. Anything you need, prince of my people."
I felt rage. At her dismissal of the Isla, and her great respect towards this random man from Hon Lu, and giving out my service at her own will.
"You need not bow to me sister of Hon Lu, I am thankful for your consideration." And his smile was small and polite. "Please rise."
The other mothers were looking at mine with absolute disgust, as she stood tall but kept her eyes on the floor.
Lee and Shin stayed in their bow, not moving a single inch. Prince Ryu did not acknowledge them in the slightest and kept his focus on me.
I squirmed, his gaze felt like daggers through my rib cage.
"It is nice to meet you." The prince said in Isla tongue, and his accent was just barely at the edge of his words.
"She speaks Hon Lu tongue." My mother snapped, a bit more aggressive than I expected.
"I am in the lands of the Isla, and I will respect their language and people. It is good practice, you should take care to do the same." The prince responded, his eyes traveling to the other wives who relaxed at his words.
"Of course." My mother responded with her Hon Lu accent thick in Isla words. Hine's mother had lost her jaw on the floor. Shocked at my mother's sudden use of the Isla language. "Our home will be comfortable for the duration of your stay, Prince Ryu."
"Thank you, as long as the princess does not mind my company." Prince Ryu said, holding out a bandaged hand towards me.
It was a Hon Lu formality to receive the blessing of unwed women to stay in their homes, and though I wanted to say no the option was not actually presented.
"It would be a great honor to have Prince Ryu Tae-Ho in our humble home." I said, ignoring his desire for Isla words, and using my best dictation to sound a bit more like my mother.
Her fan snapped a single time at my disrespect, but she rested back into her chair. Prince Ryu came to stand next to me, and I could smell sandalwood incense on his clothing. He made me nervous in a way I had never felt, butterflies of fire danced in my belly.