"Jorri's troubles may slip through my father's hands, but my hands catch every little particle and turns them into an army. "- expert from Princess Lyka's diary, salvaged 7/24/20, found near the castle of the Zaherian Empire.
"Don't start," I protested while walking down the hall. "She's done a great job protecting our city so far. She hasn't missed any shifts, hasn't failed any of her tests, and she is the talk of the town," I said facing Cuxal.
"Yeah, but the general public hates her. She scares people. They're not ready to see a woman prancing around Fallen Zahere with a sword and so darts." Cuxal said as we rounded the corner.
"Getting rid of Kioni during a Zaherian uprising isn't your best battle plan," I said, as I nodded at passing guards. The delicate mood of the hall was disturbed by something. Guards tried to maintain their pose as I passed but their eyes lingered in the halls, their hands too close to their swords.
"It's more of a revolution," Cuxal whispered, her voice barely hovering over the dessert air.
"What do you mean?" I asked stopping in my tracks. Cuxal's jet black hair was filled with thousands of tightly coiled hair that hovered slightly over her brightly painted dress. She fiddled with her now six Jorrian bangles as she fumbled over her words.
"I'm just saying. If this was just a rebellion, it would have been put down now. Thirteen guards have died so far and they are more active outside of the Talmi." Cuxal said.
Her words came out soft, as if she were wrapping fresh glass in She definitely had her way with words. I guess she had too after dealing with both me and my brother for ten plus years. It
I reached over and gently touched the back of her shoulder as I said, " Some rebellions last a little longer than a week. Plus, all of the guards who did die were volunteers anyway. A real guard with training can't be beaten. We'll defeat the rebels by the end of the week." I quickly let go of her shoulder and walked ahead of her, trying to get a peak of the planning room before Cuxal dragged me away. The hallway's typical marble flooring turned gold as we walked into my father's wing. Pillars turned into polished brick walls, limiting the dying sunlight laying just beyond. Pictures of our lineage filled the walls, each photo highlighting Jorri's past royalty. Only immediate royalty including Queens,Kings, and their two oldest children can hold a space in the hall. Our lineage went back two thousands years to the very first ruler and founder of Zahere. A dozen or so yards down the hallway were my generation's photos. My father was situated first among us with a blank frame next to it for my mother. Even though I was born a minute and a half early, my brother was situated after my mother's and a few inches to the right was my photo. When I was little, I used to stare at the photos and look at the similarity between my brother, dad, and I. Like our noses, or our tautly coiled hair, or even our minute height was all thanks to my father's strong genes.
" Princess Lyka…" Cuxal called, "We're at the Eze's ploy room."
" Right," I mumbled. I tried desperately to scrape off some of the dust that spilled over into the halls earlier today in an attempt to freshen up my appearance. Four guards stood at a diamond studded door with hinges that kissed the top of the ceiling down to the very floor I walked on. The four guards slowly unlocked a few locks before shoving the door inward, revealing my fathers ploy room. My father sat at a large circular desk carved from some of the finest trees in Zahere. The walls were filled with maps and charts as well as documentation of our territory.
"Good evening dear," My father said as he ushered me to sit down. Pushing my knees together, I bowed in front of my father before taking my seat at his ploy table. His eyes were darker than normal. They seemed to stretch deep into the abyss, searching for something that was never quite there.
"I overheard your plan of incorporating more female guards into the corps. Is that correct?" My father asked. His arms smushed vital pieces of the war board preventing me from connecting any stray pieces.
"It's something I'm actively considering," I said, careful not to let my emotions dictate the tone.
" Why do you think that would be a good idea?" He asked as he watched my face for any signs of doubt. His question caught me off guard. I've been preparing to give him this proposal but only on my standards in my ideal circumstance. I should have been able to pull out the rehearsed speech from the front of my brain, but the urgency in his tone and the way he intently waited for my answer appalled me.
" I think.. adding more female guards could help the government better understand the needs and emergencies women face on a daily basis," I stated, desperately trying to pull out the thousands of reasons why Jorri could benefit from this.
" That isn't something that can realistically be executed," My father said as he poured Zaherian coconut juice into a glass carved cup.
"I understand that but I think this could really…" I started.
"Lyka. I believe it would be best for you to focus on your dresses and… hair. The Female guard and the wellbeing of Jorri are my concern. It would be in both of our best interests if you do not interfere with my work." Father said as he handed me the freshly juiced coconut juice. I reluctantly grabbed it out of his hands, careful not to spill the delicacy as I pushed it down my throat. It went down smooth; relinquishing every limb in my body as it traveled down to the souls of my feet, but my father's gaze burned the liquid and turned it into steam. The kind of steam that created holes to allow itself to exit and didn't care to fix up its patches once it did. It was the kind of steam that merged into the desert breeze, and wreaked havoc on citizens below.