Fireheart

Chapter 27

We woke early, with over an hour to spare until the meeting starts back.
"What do you mean you're skipping it?" Phoenix asked when I stepped out of the shower. We was in front of the mirror with a pair of scissors.
"I mean." I said, wrapping in a towel and sitting in the chair he was standing behind. "That I am skipping it because me and Rebecca are going dress shopping. Remember how you asked me to marry you?"
He shook his head and grabbed a comb out of a drawer next to the sink. He started combing my hair, which had now gotten back to half its old length.
"It's okay. I just didn't recall hearing these plans. I like having you near me, especially when I'm in a situation where I could blow up."
"I know." I replied. "But look at it this way: I am going to find a tight, short dress. And then I am going to marry you before we leave. Then I will enjoy you taking all night to take that dress off, meetings be damned."
Phoenix chuckled as he started cutting my hair.
"You know what? I like the way that sounds."
"You like the way what sounds?" I asked. "Marrying me or taking off the dress?"
He just smiled his reply.
I watched in the mirror as he cut just above my ear, giving me a short haircut. As short as Marie's hair was back home. I had a longing to ask Naomi and Garnet how things were working out.
"What are you thinking about?" Phoenix asked as he tilted my head.
"How do you know I'm thinking about something?" I asked.
"Your nose bunches up." He said.
I chuckled.
"I'm thinking about Naomi and Garnet. How they're doing."
"We've been gone 5 days. I'm sure they're okay."
"Who're Naomi and Garnet?" Rebecca asked, appearing in the doorway.
Phoenix jumped and the scissors cut my neck. I hissed as it burned, and laid my hand on the cut. It came back bloody.
"Shit, Fyre. I'm sorry." Rebecca said, glancing at my cut.
"It's okay. I'll heal in a moment." I could already feel the cut closing, and it would be a pink scab in just a few moments. Phoenix dabbed the blood off my neck before cutting some more.
"And to answer your question, Garnet and Naomi are good friends of ours back home." Phoenix said, returning to his cutting.
"Oh okay." Rebecca said, watching.
"I thought your hair was shorter, Fyre. When did you start wearing it like that?"
"About when I got to the Yong'in." I replied.
"I like it. It suits you."
"Do you want yours cut?" I asked.
She shook her head.
"No. I like it long. Besides, Aspen likes to grab it when we-"
"And done!" Phoenix said, cutting Rebecca off.
"Geez I was just gonna say when we play fight."
I laughed as I stood and looked at my new hair. It was cute, but wouldn't be easy to style. It did suit the shape of my face, though.
"Now I don't have anything to grab when we play fight." Phoenix said, mocking a pout.
"Aww. Wee lamb. Now go. I gotta get dressed. Shoo!"
I chased them out into the front room, then dug through my bags. I pulled out a black pair of pants made from a soft material that would work well in the heat, and a yellow tank top. I pulled them on and grinned into the mirror. I did look like a wealthy young woman. A wealthy Yong'in woman.
I grabbed my money, pulled on sandals, and walked back into the living room.
"Are you ready?" Rebecca asked.
"Yeah let's go." I said, walking to the door.
"Wait, Fyre." Phoenix said. He walked to me, and pulled me in his arms, giving me a deep kiss.
"Be safe." He said, pulling back.
"Yes, sir." I said, smiling at him.
"Have any thoughts on what we're looking for?" Rebecca asked when we were in the hallway.
"Hmm. No. What did you wear?" I asked her.
"I wore a sky blue dress with white accents. I have pictures at home. I'll have to show you when you visit."
"That sounds good." I said when we got to the stairs.
"So what dress shops do you know of?" I asked.
"A few cheep ones, but you're the Mistress of the Yong'in. You need something that screams that. So I think we'll go to the fabric district."
"Which is where?" I asked.
"Its close to the palace. It's where Aspen buys my clothes."
We walked out the palace, and turned right. I enjoyed the paved walkways.
"Why do you keep looking at the ground?" Rebecca asked, sounding amused.
"The roads in the Mountains aren't paved." I said, laughing.
"Oh." Rebecca said, chuckling. "They are back home, and in Jimmin's Clan I do believe. But if you ask me, I think the Yong'in are still closest to nature."
"Thanks, Rebecca." I said, smiling. Between Clan memebers, that was a huge compliment.
We walked several blocks away from the palace. I kept my eyes on the surroundings the entire time. Workers lined the walkways going both ways. I tried to give a smile to everyone I made contact with.
The Neutral City, getting its name from the palace where Clan Meetings were held, was supposed to be one of the most beautiful and populated cities in Mysida. It wasn't as grand as the capital city, The Villa, but it served as the land's buisness capital. It was were most of the Clan's wealth came from. I'm sure if I looked hard enough, I'd find a store selling Yong'in crops and blades that I myself exported.
It was certainly living up to its reputation. Huge palm trees sprouted out between rows of bushes that ran along the sidewalk. Sand and saltwater coated the air with a certainly unique scent.
"You ever been to the beach here?" I asked Rebecca.
"Yeah." She said, scanning the names of the boutiques we were passing. "Aspen took me and his Circle when I was still working in the Palace."
"Is it nice?" I sounded a little too excited.
"That's right! Your Wolf likes to swim. Yes it was very nice.  The water is warm and salty."
"Ugh, Rebecca. Let's skip this and go swimming."
"Skip your wedding? Excuse me, mam."
I rolled my eyes and followed her into a boutique with a name I couldn't begin to try to read.
"Rebecca!" Squealed an Eastern woman. She ran from behind a counter and ran to hug Rebecca. She was shorter than Rebecca, and had dark skin. She had wonderful hazel eyes and a smile that reached those eyes. She was wearing a sophisticated orange gown.
"How are you darling?" She asked.
"I'm doing great!" Rebecca replied. "Fyre, this is Vanessa. She helped me get the job at the Palace."
"Nice to meet you." I said to Vanessa.
"My friend, Fyre, is getting married, Vanessa!" Rebecca said, as excited as ever.
"Who are you marrying?" Vanessa asked me.
"Phoenix of the Yong'in." I replied. She let out a surprised gasp.
"The Yong'in Leader has selected a wife?" She said, staring at me. I smiled.
"Yes he has. We're getting married before the Meetings end."
"Oh I have the perfect dress!" Vanessa yelled, grabbing my hand and pulling me to the back.
"Come help, Rebecca dear!" She yelled.
"Yes mam!" Rebecca replied, giggling as she followed.
After some poking and proding, I saw myself standing in a sleeveless red dress. It fit my curves, but I couldn't see getting married in solid red.
"What is is dear?" She asked.
"I don't like the color." I replied.
"She's right." Rebecca said. "Doesn't match her eyes."
After a bit more poking and proding, I was standing in a deep purple gown. It had poofy sleeves, and spread out like a ball gown. I felt like a princess in a storybook I read as a kid.
"Fyre? Is this too poofy?" Rebecca asked as she played with my skirts. I simply nodded my head.
We went through red dresses, purple dresses, yelllow dresses, and even a couple blue dresses before Vanessa threw up her hands.
"Either it does not look good on you, or no one likes it. I do not know what to do."
"Well, neither do I." I said, staring at the orange monstrosity Vanessa had put me in.
Vanessa sighed, and laid back on a couch in the dressing room.
Rebecca started to ask if she was okay when Vanessa cut her off.
"Just give me a moment, Darling."
Vanessa's face bunched as if she was thinking.
"I may have one thing you'll like."
She stood up and left the dressing room. Rebecca only gave me a shrug when I looked to her for answers.
She came back in a moment holding a black bag.
"Come here, Fyre."
I walked over to her, and she pulled off the dress I was wearing. She pulled out a dress from the bag, and had me step into it. She pulled it up to my shoulders, and I pulled my arms through the sleeves. She zipped it up, and I went to stand in front of the mirror.
The dress was many shades of yellow, red, and orange. The top was tight and hugged my hips. The neckline was narrow around the hollow of my throat, but widened out and showed off the sides of my breasts before coming to a point above my navel. It hugged my legs, and spread out. It was a shiny material that shimmered when I moved, making it look like climbing flames. My favorite part were the the sleeves. They were long, and made of the same material as the bottom.
"Fyre. It's beautiful." Rebecca said. "It had to have been made just for you."
"You're right." I replied as I stared in the mirror. I looked like living flames.
"Let's take it off, Dear." Vanessa said smiling. "I think this is the one."
So we took off the dress, and carefully placed it back in the bag.
Vanessa helped Rebecca find a deep red dress to wear, and sold us the dresses.
We smiled like schoolgirls all the way back to the palace.