*Ana*
Only the sound of the insects brings me back from my thoughts, helping me notice my surroundings. It's going to be high noon soon, and it's already sweltering. I can feel sweat accumulate, underneath my shawl, making my hair stick to the back of my neck, and make it itchy.
It's going to be even hotter than yesterday. I swallow, my throat already dry, and it will only get worse. Soon it will be too hot to do anything.
I should end this quickly. It's going to be impossible soon, and waste no more time, getting my last piece of today's agenda.
"Rise, Admiral Nugen." I lift my hand, "Please,"
"Your Empress," Nugen rises, a slight sheen of sweat on his brow, but otherwise, he shows no other strain to the heat, keeping a surprising grace to his middle-aged features.
As a human, he carries himself rather well, I admit with a quick thought, but just as quickly, get back to the point. Nugen had waited for his turn, and I meant to give him his time.
"Admiral," I go again, but not before hearing the annoyed sigh follow in the room.
"What does the human want this time?" A few Nobles groan from below, "Must we stay for him?" Some turn to Mykhol as if for support, but their attempts fall on deaf ears.
Even Mykhol is distracted by the oppressive heat. He pulls at his gown collar, revealing a slight sheen of sweat glistening underneath. He smiles at me as always, but the switch is easy to see even from my throne. Mykhol grows rather stony when looking back at Nugen.
Likely want him to hurry, I assume. So I press on.
"What news do you have?" I ask to see Nugen straighten out.
"Your Empress," Nugen begins," The Bulgeons are-"
"Oh, not again with this!" Mykhol interrupts, doing an eye-roll, "Can't we talk of something else?" Mykhol complains, "Something more lively and less political?" He turns to me, "What say you, Anastasia?"
As if to help, Mykhol makes one of those smiles he likes to use, the one that usually makes the women and girls in court react. They coo and awe when he does.
"Cousin," I, however, just look back at him, slightly annoyed if anything. It is simply too hot to be dealing with his antics today. And His smile is brushed under the rug, like every other time.
"Court is for politics," I reply, "Not parties,"
"Ah, well-" Mykhol pulls in his lips, losing his smile a moment, and shuffles, as if correcting his stand. I can hear him mutter, low enough, just for me to hear after."I just thought you'd be bored, is all."
Bored? Me? I regard Mykhol, as astonished. What foolishness is he talking about? How can I be bored? This is my job.
Honestly, I can not understand him at times like this, and shake my head, Cousin is too much, but let it go. Now is not the time to fuss with him.
"Go on, Admiral Nugen." I prompt, getting back on track. "You were saying something about the Bulgeons?"
"Yes, Your Empress," Admiral Nugen picks back, "the Bulgeons are leaving the shores-"
"Who would have guessed that?" Mykhol scuffs, "The Bulgeons are leaving?" and makes a motion to the crowd, "Almost like we predicted this would happen?" This has the court laugh again, clearly agreeing with him, and acting as if this was the only reasonable choice.
"Everyone," I, however, am not in the mood, and raise my hand, gesturing for the room to quiet down again.
"The Bulgeons are leaving, you said?" I prompt again, after the room does finally quiet down, but not without the occasional giggle, which I work best to ignore, trying to stay on task.
"Is this not what they normally do?" I meet Nugen's eyes, stating the facts. "The Bulgeons will leave after pillaging, don't they? To return to their Dueick?"
"They are leaving, yes, Your Empress," Nugen went, but his face grew somber at the next part. "Only to come back with more people,"
"They're bringing more?" How? The idea baffles me, it's almost preposterous.
"But the Bulgeons are a simple people," I counter, "with boats meant to come and go quickly." Meaning they only hold so many at a time. "They would never have enough boats to bring the amounts reported back." It perplexes me to the point my stomach tightens, but just as it perplexes me, I can't help but feel myself asking.
"Is it… just men?" I ask, "Are only more men coming?" I go, hopeful if it's just men, then I shouldn't worry.
They only wish to take what they can and go. Yes, if it's just men…but my hope is quickly dashed, in an instant, when Nugen shakes his head.
"It's not just men, Your Empress." Nugen speaks lowly, "Women and children are being reported in the ships."
"That," even Mykhol's smirk falls." Is that true?"
"Yes," Nugen nods. "Women and children are brought along."
"Women and children?" I hear the room practically breathe the question, before growing still again,
"What does that mean?" Aunt Funda, meanwhile, not so quietly whispers, "I don't understand. Husband?" She reaches to hold his hand, but Uncle only sucks in his lip. "Mykhol?" she turns to her son, but Mykhol is looking over at Nugen, the smirk long gone for something serious.
Because this is serious, I already know, and feel my stomach tighten again. The more the reports, the more it looks certain what is happening here. I swallow, trying to stive back any show of nervousness, or uncertainty. Nothing can show, I know by now, how important it is to look like one is in control.
"So," I start again, regaining my composure, voice steady. "They've indeed started to settle like it was thought." And feared, but I keep that part to myself.
Instead, I take this chance to spy the room, expecting the haggle to begin. The usual nay-sayers or refuters to start, to counter me. But perhaps, the evidence is too heavy, to push away, the situation finally taking hold on them. Indeed, I find no one mocks an expression or makes a crude joke. I only see worry. Worry, like a low hum of whispers and concerns finally rising between them.
So they finally understand. I would be happy at the revelation, having everyone at last, on the same page, but the sensation of sweat dripping down my neck and under my top, crawling down my spine, cuts the feeling short. The bitter sound of a cicada ringing through the windows will have to act as my sole congratulations.
Because it's getting hotter. And it will be hard to think soon, even now, I can feel my head grow heavy, exhaustion overwhelming me, even at such an important time. If I wait any longer, I won't be any good, no one will.
But this is not a decision that should be made quickly. I need my mind to be sharp, and to consider everything from every angle. What I do next will be crucial.
And more importantly, I need to be alone to think.
"Court is dismissed for today." I rise, explaining "It is almost noon, this matter will be dealt with later." I turn to lift my hand, "Everyone, rest now." I go, but see I didn't need to.
Everyone quickly moves to half bow, more worried about getting back to their rooms to bathe and nap before it gets unbearable. Some look anxious, as others are already exhausted by the heat. But no one delays. On the contrary, they want to leave the room as soon as possible.
Save for those on the platform, that is.
To my side, Aunt Funda is leaning in to whisper to Uncle Charles. Whatever it is, must be important as he seriously nods, keenly listening with focus. It's a first for me, I don't think I've seen him regard her so well.
Mykhol, meanwhile, is a stark difference. He looks forward, eyes unfocused, something switched off from the inside. He must have been so out of sorts, that he didn't even notice I turn to leave. Not that I mind.
It's hot. I can feel the sweat tacky and thick with matted hair underneath my shawl. I will have to wash my hair once again, another horrible process. But I try to highlight it with the thought of the nap, how nice it will feel just to lie down, and,
"Your Empress?" A voice pipes out then, from behind me, making me stop mid-step. I lost in my own thoughts of rest, did not notice him, having assumed he had left as well. Everyone else did.
"Admiral Nugen?"I am more surprised to see him go back to kneel, shaking my head immediately, "No- I've dismissed the court." I explain. "You can go-"
"No, I have more to say." Nugen moves to rise, his brown eyes eager on me, "There is something else we found."
"Something else?" I find myself lingering more, before realizing the time is drawing short, "And you need to tell me now?" Can it not wait?
But Admiral Nugen solemnly shakes his head, making my stomach twist at the gesture, he means it that important. I must know.
"Aunt, Uncle, You can-" Go, was the word in my mouth, but again find I didn't need to say anything, Aunt Funda and Uncle Charles were long gone. Having left without so much as a goodbye, or bow. Mykhol, too, is gone.
Even the handmaids, I look over to see even Naska has slipped away. Leaving no one but us in the room. If it weren't so hot, I would frown at that, but see there no point, what with the time.
"Speak then," I turn back, and find Nugen, "What can not wait for a better time?"
"It's about their homeland," Admiral Nugen says.
"Dueick?" I prompt, What of it?"
"Your Empress, are you aware that Dueick, has been in drought for years?" Nugen goes on. " They have no harvest, and their storage has run bare." Nugen pauses, letting a sweat drop fall down the side of his face, but still, he keeps his eyes on me, a serious look unbroken. "Bulgeons are starving to death in Dueick."
"They," I stop, as the realization makes me only smile grimly." Then They're settling because they have nothing else." I go, more to myself.
"Starvation marks a man more desperate," The words fall out of my mouth, something I read once, from a story.
And it didn't end well. I remember, before sighing, my head suddenly much heavier. Was it the heat or this? What was the difference?
I need to think, but not now.
"Thank you, Admiral Nugen." I manage and turn, walking out to find Naska waiting. At the sight of her, I feel a slight smile of relief, not being completely alone.
"Your Empress," Naska bows, giving me a clear view of the new bite mark on her neck. It's still red, the blood not even dried yet.
That bite- I see it, but suddenly find it too taxing to ask who gave it to her. Not that she ever answered. And for now, I can't care. There is just too much to consider, more serious matters at hand.
What am I going to do? The Bulgeons are settling? Do I force them out? Use violence? Is that the only way? I wish I knew the answer, but I can't think, the heat weighing down my head. I can do anything now, but rest.
"Naska," I return and move past her, finding the only thing on my mind right now be the cold water of the bath, and the nap that will follow.
After that, I will have to think of something. But what that will be, I don't know. I will have to come up with something soon though. The problem is going to get worse.
And It's not like I have anyone to turn to and ask for help.