Collaterals

The Red Ink of the Abandoned Roses

Leila stared at the blood stain on the floor.

They'd scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed at it but the stain remained, faded but present. It was a lucky thing Leila was able to use her sword amidst the sway of the boat, and a luckier thing that she'd been able to strike true, straight through the snake's head so it'd split open like a pomegranate.

Djinn, the crewmen had muttered when she'd called them in to be rid of it. They'd insisted on decapitating its fragmented head from its body before they'd thrown it overboard. In fact, had it not been for the Captain's interference, Leila was certain the ship's crew would have placed a hand over her head and read their holy scripture.

A knock sounded at her door. Leila sighed, looking up from where she'd sat, dressed, for the better part of an hour.

"Yes?"

"It is time, your Highness." The Captain's voice was muffled through the wooden door. Leila gulped, waiting a moment before she hauled herself up. For the first time in days, Leila's feet were stable on the ground. The trip had proved to be...challenging: first the snake, then the storm, then the supposed pirates they'd somehow avoided. Leila wiped at the area below her eyes, moving to where she'd left the hand mirror.  She looked at her reflection, brushing strands of her hair so it framed her face, the rest up in a braided crown.

Three hard fast knocks sounded, "Your Highness."

Leila rolled her eyes. Of all the people they could have sent with her as an escort...
Leila opened her door with a frown.

Captain Gawain looked her over, quickly, eyes settling on the emblem that secured her Hand's Sash: white silk, with a bright blue lining its edges. He was dressed formally, Leila noticed, with the Tainish Emblem embroidered over his own chest. Then, he looked to the cylindrical cuffs around her forearms. He nodded to them, "Are those going to be a problem?"

"No," she said, pushing past him.

Three weeks had gone by quickly, the first two having been spent in the confinement of her quarters, which had been overtaken by maidservants she did not know. They'd made sure that she'd taken an ice bath every day, that the curtains were always drawn shut so that little to no sunlight made it to the room, and that the candles were lit just enough so she could see. In the meantime, Leila had adjusted to the cylindrical cuffs so that by the third week, she'd been able to join the Empress for their Monday dinner. Not that she had much say, having been called upon directly by the older woman. Leila shrugged away the memory of the dinner, the awkward, cringeworthy, and absolute silence they'd all sat in.

The Hands had all come to see her off— Davu, Vichama, Arun— the day she was to leave, after she'd met with the Emperor: Qadan hadn't.

Leila held herself straighter as she walked onto the deck, Captain Gawain a step behind her. The crew stood at attention in two parallel lines, forming a walkway for her. The Captain of the ship was at the end of the line, looking at her fondly in his crisp Aradian Uniform.

"I hope you enjoyed the trip with us, Your Highness."

Leila almost scoffed. Instead she leaned it, "Perhaps we can locate Bahamut on our trip back to Tain."'

He gave a wicked smile, "Only if you promise we'll sell its flesh tax free."

Leila laughed, "Thank you for your hospitality, Captain."

He straightened, bowing respectfully as he moved away. "A pleasure, Your Highness."

Leila looked ahead, taking a breath before she moved to where the ramp leading to land was. She stood just shy of it, looking at the docks of Diastrop. It was the biggest fishing city on the coast of Aradia. One of her father's greatest achievements was developing it so it was a true city, capable of receiving and, for a time, housing, Royals and Diplomats. Cheers sounded as people began to see her, waving excitedly, jumping up to get a better glimpse. The crowd had been parted beforehand, organized so that there was a direct pathway to a dais, built fancifully, in the colors of their nation, atop which were six chairs. She could just about make out her family, seated atop them, waiting.