Basilisk's Gambit

Chapter 6: Momentous Occasions | Xin Li Min Focus

Aponia has raided Illyria, I recieved word from Ixtezuman and Lejuani officials that there were Aponian fleets in the western seas, the eastern coast wasn't as heavily fortified due to reinforcing western borders out of fear of another invasion. It would seem we are not the unlikely targets this time.

I've also heard whispers of escaped dragons roaming the skies and settling into new environments all around Primordia, it won't be long before they're completely eradicated. A shame, really.

Even more peculiar however is the person I'm going to meet right now. Elysia Terragon, princess of Illyria. Her dragon's tired wings gave out during the night and she was found incapacitated near Jiangxi Province. I look forward to hearing her account of events, we've yet to prepare any retaliation against Aponia, most of what happened on the anniversary is quite the mystery as of now.

"Miss Xin Li Min?"

I redirect my gaze from my vanity mirror to the miniscule servant girl standing in the doorway meekly, my handmaidens are such pathetic little fledglings...

"Yes dear?"

I reply, turning back to continue applying intricate strokes of ornamental makeup with perfect precision. The Loong Festival continues through the next 3 days and it's Guyunese custom to paint yourself in vibrant colors and don extravagant silks in honor of the Primordian War victory. Although dragons are outlawed outside of Illyria, they are still revered throughout much of the Eastern nations, praised as the saviors of the war effort one hundred years ago.

"The princess and her beasts will be arriving shortly, my lady."

I roll my eyes and turn to the servant girl once more. "Would you be a doll and come brush my hair? It would appear I'm terribly off schedule."

The girl visibly gulps down her nerves and nods gently before approaching me cautiously.

"They aren't beasts." I mutter, leaning into her hand as she strokes sections of my hair carefully with a comb, I've always loved being brushed...

"Pardon?" She asks, I peer up at her reflection in the mirror, an expression of confusion across her grubby face.

"The princess and her 'beasts'... They are not beasts, they are dragons. It would do you well to respect them, especially during such festivities." I scold, glaring through her and investigating the many foreign features of her face.

"Where are you from? You do not strike me as eastern, never mind Guyunese."

She pauses brushing my hair for a moment, presumably surprised at such an inquisition. "Uhm.. I'm from Lumenshire, my lady." She says extremely softly, clearly ashamed of her background.

"Ah..." I reach over my shoulder and grasp her wrist, looking her in the eyes with great ferocity. "You needn't be ashamed of your identity." I release her hand and close my eyes, gently purring under my breath as she continues brushing through my long silken hair.

"But my lady, Aponian's are filthy scum, I'm nothing more than a handma-"

I hold up my hand as to halt her from finishing her sentence. "It does not matter where you came from dear, where you are and where you are going is much more important." I say, smiling at her gently. "How did you manage to get so far east anyhow?"

"My grandfather was a war general one hundred years ago..." She says softly, beginning to braid my hair into intricate patterns. "He fell in love with my grandmother and gave birth to my father. My grandma was from a small village outside of Chengyang."

I tilt my head curiously, pondering how such a thing could or would have happened... A forbidden romance during the times of war, almost like out of a novel. "You're not full blooded Aponian?.."