|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2017 3:25 pm
 |
|
|
|
"They're part of your old home...but you didn't see anyone you really wanted to talk with??'
The Lady of the West was in the middle of confronting her husband on how little he seemed to interact with the visiting pride that was his birth pride. She had known that he had almost no rank when she picked him as her husband, but it still seemed odd to her that he wasn't completely jumping for joy when the visit began.
"It was a different life, Ria. So many years ago." Alizeti had complex feelings on seeing familiar bodies, but few familiar faces. It sounded like Mwezi'Johari had changed a lot from when he left, and he didn't have much interest in reconnecting with it.
Ria wasn't thrilled with the answer she got, but she decided to just let it drop. He wasn't going anywhere, anyway. Even if he wanted to go back to Mwezi, she would have dragged him back to the west by his ears.
A guard appeared before the lady, informing her that it appeared the visiting royalty was looking for her. Or at least looking for something. As hostess, it was only polite to go find the Queen and see what it is she needed. With Alizeti following to her left, the Lady stepped out to look for Kimondo....only to see her already drawing close!
"Ah, Queen Kimondo," Ria called out, offering a soft bow of her head. "Did you need something?" |
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2017 3:48 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2017 4:19 pm
|
|
|
|
Ria felt the pit of her stomach twist, just a bit. She wasn't an idiot; if she was, her father would have passed her over to have someone else take the reins of the house. She glanced towards Alizeti, who seemed to look just past Kimondo's head.
"Well, certainly this is something we can help with,' Ria replied. "How about we go within my quarters and you can let us know exactly who it is you're looking for?"
As Ria led the way (really, she was just returning from where they just were), she knew that she wasn't doing a great job masking the fact she had a good idea who the queen was looking for. Still, it was a private matter, and thus why she was withdrawing them to her private area.
Thick trees helped to block out much sound, guarding making sure that no prying eyes could get this deep within the forest. It was littered with pretty jewels, trinkets, and gifts from various members of Tianxia.
"What can we help you with, Kimondo?" Alizeti asked, being bold enough to drop her title; bold enough to emphasize that he kept his loyalty with Tianxia.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2017 4:30 pm
|
|
|
 |
Despite herself, she was surprised when Alizeti addressed her informally. It was altogether the most hostile incident after their sons glaring at the crowd of Mwezi'Johari from the edges when they had just arrived.. but she had to make peace with that. She had to be above it.
It brought her out of her curious glances around her at the trinkets and gifts kept safely away from the every day areas of the pride, and she focused back on what she had to do.
"I know Princess Selene and Lord Fuu survived Shangyue's attack," she said simply, her gaze starting on Alizeti but moving to rest on Ria, "There are only a few who know that, and that they live here now. I would like the opportunity to speak to them."
Was she shaking? Kimondo wasn't sure. She was nervous, though. At home, the Shaman could overrule her on certain matters but at the end of the night, she was the Queen and that came first. Politics at home could be annoying and stressful, but this was another beast. Selene clearly wanted to remain hidden, though Fuu could well have been hiding in plain sight for all Kimondo knew. So many of the Nobles fit what she imagined he looked like.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2017 5:08 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2017 5:27 pm
|
|
|
|
Alizeti's evident distrust was a complete surprise and Kimondo didn't immediately know how to deal with it. She had such high expectations of Kamia's uncle.. but they deserved this. This was Shangyue's fault, and they had allowed Shangyue to reign for years before they finally came together to overthrow him.. and Selene and Fuu were here the whole time, so they knew just how long it took. And what viciousness the pride was dealing with.
"Sir Meshach visited once, but he's not the one who told me first," Kimondo answered, looking at Alizeti and addressing what she guessed might be his first thought, "Our rebellion leaders have known for some time, too. Ota, my mother, is the one who told me. Kamia, your sister Sarhna's daughter, is the other. They're both seers."
Faced with such an accusation, she was surprised to find standing her ground was suddenly easier.
"Believe me, we have not forgotten," she said, "Shangyue died for what he did. As hard as it may be for you to see us, Lord Alizeti, it's hard for some of us to see them."
She glanced at Ria. The Tianxia would naturally blame the Mwezi for what happened to Fuu, but there would always be some part of every Mwezi who wondered what Fuu had brought to them. His son looked so much like him, like these West House Nobles.
"I don't mean them any harm," she said, "But, if they are willing, I would like to speak privately with them."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2017 6:10 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2017 6:27 pm
|
|
|
|
Kimondo could feel the tension rise the moment she mentioned that the Mwezi were struggling in their own way, too. It was too late to take it back and considering how poorly prepared for this she now felt, she doubted there was much she could say to smooth it over. She was simply trying to be honest but the real truth was that she was still young and still learning. Unlike Ria, she hadn't been doing this since she was small and unlike both Lord and Lady, she hadn't been doing this very long.
There was no time to respond to the remark about hiding her family, so Kimondo simply had to let it go. She meant what she said, seeing so much of Shangyue's family here was strange and somewhat unnerving.. but they lived with it every day at home. Yueyun, Shida, Antara and Nketa were all evidence of that, but they were not here. They may not even have really been noticed yet.
Thinking of Antara and Nketa made her stomach twist painfully.
"Thank you," she said, "Please tell them I will respect their wishes if they don't want to talk to me, and .. that their secret is safe with those of us who know."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2017 6:41 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2017 6:50 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
