Collaterals

No Better a Welcome

Four heads bobbed up and down as the carriage bumped over another cobblestone. Leila hardly noticed, staring at the red ink that stained her hands. They hadn't meant to assassinate her; one does not leave a note for someone who was to be dead. Which meant they'd wanted her rattled. Leila turned her hands around, following the trail of the ink through the back of her hand. If only she'd been able to snatch that note away.

"You don't seam very startled." Haitham spoke, in Aradian, from his spot ahead of her. The carriage was spacious, built specifically for the royal family's leisure, scenes of the flame's divinity and inheritance engraved upon the honey colored wood.

Leila looked up, blinking at her brother. She straightened, hands interlaced at the fingers as she pieced together his words, her Aradian having rusted over the years. It was in Tainish she responded, "More confused."

Haitham's hair was darker than any of the other siblings, eyes closer to a murky brown that, last Leila visited, had never once shone gold. He raised a brow, switching languages for her comfort, "Confused? At the attack of a hungry people upon the Hand of an Empire that has treated them as a breadbasket with a never ending supply?"

Leila stilled. To Haitham's side, Boody hadn't so much as looked up, making silly noises as he played with some doll or the other. His governess only glanced their way, timidly, before she turned her back to them, suddenly very engaged in Boody's game of pretend.

Leila looked to Haitham, younger by two years but having just begun to grow out of his boyish features. Leila was not the Empire. She was not to blame for the sanctions or the increased tariffs or the ships upon ships exporting the grain and the wheat and the cotton. But she'd come home with a few things to discuss with the King, and she'd likely return to Tain with a few things to discuss with the Emperor: perhaps it would work to better the situation. Leila took a breath, about to say as much as she met her brother's fiery eyes.

Only then he broke out into a lopsided smile, humor quick to seep into his gaze as he leaned forward, "I jest, sister."

Leila's brows rose and, for a moment, she stayed silent, shocked. Then she let out a chuckle, forced, at first, before making way to a genuine laugh. Soon, they calmed, Haitham putting his hands forward as he placed his elbows on his knees, "Would you show me?"

Leila looked at him as she scooted forward, placing the back of her hands into his palms. He squinted, "Red ink. Clever. Blood on your hands and such."

"Was it obvious? As I walked?"

"Not so much, I don't think. Good of you to hold the bouquet," he glanced up at her as he spoke.

Leila thought back to how Captain had told her to put her hands down. It was a lucky thing he'd seen it, then.

"Good," She nodded, sitting back. Her brother mimicked her, watching as she pulled the curtain back, the sun lighting up half her face.  "Are we heading to the palace?"

Haitham shook his head, "The Palace? No. Father thought you'd like a night of rest."

Leila smiled. "A Keep, then?"

They'd been going up in what felt like spirals, and Leila was hoping they were almost at wherever destination they were heading.

He frowned, "Do you not remember that last summer? I'm certain we'd taken you then. The summer home?"

Leila creased her brows. Summer home? Had they visited a—? Oh. Bits of her memory began to light up, coming together like peices of a blurred puzzle. "I think...something like that—"

The carriage halted to a stop, cutting her off as three knocks sounded from outside. A guard opened the door, and the Governess helped Boody out the carriage. Haitham stepped out, putting a hand out for her. Leila took it, watching as he winked, "Welcome to the Palace of Divine Flame, Sister. Or should I say: welcome home."