The General's Daughter

Chapter 1: A Name

My father's face has not changed one bit. His eyes are still amber as I remembered, his hair is cleanly shaved on the crown of his head which symbolized his rank in the Asterian army. He still did not smile.

It has been seven years in fact, since the last I saw my father, since the last time I was known Aldia Yvanna Rosia of the great warrior clan 'el-Mejihie. And now, my father visits me in the orphanage he threw me in.

"Yvanna." His voice is still hard and as commanding as ever.

"I have no name." I answer, "I am no one."

He considers my reply for a moment and breaks a little smile. A proud smile. I want to choke.

"You have learned well." He says.

I do not answer, since I do not know what to say. My father is a stranger to me now. He is but someone of my past who shall not be remembered. He is just a memory.

The silence continues as my face do not show any emotion. He trained me to be resilient, to show no remorse, to be a doll with no emotion. It took years to perfect this.

"You are well-aware of the peace treaty that is to be signed by both kingdoms, aren't you?"

How could I not be well-aware? Since I was ten years old, I have been subjected to a profession that I did not want, to a job my father pushed upon me.

The Asterian society has always believed that blood determines who you are. The Great Desert Kingdom upholds upon its people the value of becoming you are destined to be. We were divided into five: the royal clan--of which is the bloodline of the ruling high priestess, the noble clans--the bloodline of the leaders of the state, the warrior clans--the bloodline of my family and others who concern themselves with the art of war, the commonfolk, and the exiles.

And for the warrior families, it is customary that every child has a role to play in the army. My older brothers are already high-ranking officers in the army, my older sister is a military chemist just like my mother, my other older sister, trained in the feminine arts, is already on her way to becoming the bride of another powerful warrior clan, and then there is me--an information-gatherer.

When a child reaches the age of ten, a role is assigned by the head of the family, as he sees it fit. And each role has a price to pay. Being an information-gatherer means losing oneself. Losing my name, my home, my family, my friends. Being an information-gatherer means blending and not standing out.

Being an information-gatherer means abandonment of myself, with only the interest of the kingdom in mind. And in a mission where something goes wrong, it is my responsiblity to the people and to my kingdom, that I kill myself. And I will be awarded for its honor.

"Yes, I am aware." I answer in a polite language, as I am not answering my father, but my superior.

My father eyes me and stops talking for a moment. Then he looks at me straight in the eye. As a daughter, it is inappropriate to look back. As an information-gatherer, it is a must to look for messages are not only conveyed by the mouth, but also by the eyes.

"Your exemplary service to the crown has been noticed, and the High Priestess has ordered for your presence in the Moon Hall by two hours after the Hour of Sancrea. You are to enter the palace discreetly. She has already informed the night guards about your visit."

"Consider the message received," I say.

"Very well then." He stands up and looks at me for a while then he walks away.

"It is nice to see you too, Appa." I whisper.

***

Sneaking into the palace is very tricky, but not impossible. In my years of experience, I have used my childhood training in various ways possible. From farmhouses to noble manors, I can become whoever I need to be.