Rise

Kira

After that night with Cal, I stayed in my room writing reports for Jasper. I won't let him get in trouble for my actions. Besides Calore he is my only friend in Soevia, many people don't like me due to my future position, believing it should be their own or someone more deserving. I don't care what they think my family fought tooth and nail for this opportunity and though soon it will be gone, I will stay by Adara's side as promised. It was what I was born to do, and it's what I will keep doing until my last breath. The notes state everything they probably know. Athena asking for a meeting at the border, Evelyn agreeing to said meeting, how much money are we really holding, the lords or ladies who are leaving the country for diplomatic affairs, the legions coming in and out of the fray. Anything I feel is necessary. Jasper sits on my bed, fiddling with his little beeper box while I write, he tells me is useless if you are in different countries. I guess Rise doesn't have the type of technology for long distance communication, that's why I write.

"You know Kira, if you didn't have to get all hot and bothered in that damn closet we could be getting coffee right now, or maybe be out for a stroll. I hear the weather's nice." 

"First of all. We couldn't go anywhere together, you're my servant, remember? Second of all my business with Calore is mine, I would prefer you to stay out of it." I grumble.

"Awe Ki, don't be all grumpy with me." He huffs and walks over to me, wrapping his long arms around my chest, squeezing me tightly. We both laugh as I grab onto his arm.

"Okay okay, I need to finish this Jasper, let me go." I protest and he squeezes me tighter.

"Not until you say were cool" He chuckles and I sigh.

"Were cool!" I yell and he lets go, falling back onto my bed once again. He blows a raspberry into the air and laces his fingers together, resting them on his stomach. Jasper pauses before speaking.

"So what did you and Calore do in that closet?" He questions.

"Jasper!" I yell warningly. My face becomes hot, almost scorching when touch it, trying to hide the forming blush. He laughs while I just shake my head. I finally look at the brown-haired boy for the first time today, he wears a servant's uniform, as always, but it doesn't quite fit him as it should. The area where the chest is at is tighter than the rest, the gold buttons strain, begging to be undone. Almost opposite to his chest are his shoulders and upper arms, the material pools over his lanky limbs. Being over 5'8, his body seems to be stretched, not as much muscle as there should be.

 "Okay fine fine ill let it go, for now," he smirks at me and I huff, letting my eyes wander around my room. When they land on my clock I groan. Two hours till dawn. Being up this early should be a crime. I spent all day writing over ten reports, going to sleep only to start working on the last five before I make my way to the western border. Two hours until I get to be back with Adara, where I can keep her safe. The ride to Fiross is slow, mostly taking back roads to avoid any crowds or things like that. Cal had to ride in a different transport with his mother. I haven't seen him since I left his room yesterday morning, both being too busy to talk. Jasper came to me before daybreak with good news. Adara and a small group of Rise soldiers are in Moris and are in charge of the oncoming raid. when they arrive it is their job to take the money and the deeds then take it back to the base in Ventus. I look at my aunt, who sits in front of me. She wears a healers uniform, not one for fighting but one for diplomatic meetings like this one. A regular red uniform with medals and crosses lined along her left breast, her hair done in a tight bun, keeping her forehead wrinkle free and her eyes open wide. I wear a uniform of my own, white jeans and a red motorbike jacket, across covering the back. Sirona suggested I wear a dress, something that shows nobility or peace, but she doesn't know what's coming, what I am preparing for, no one does.When we arrive at Fiross, the amount of military presence startles me. Ten soldiers on every street, watching the overpopulated city with a fervor they are paid to have. Some stay with the slow-moving machines, guarding us and the royal family from the people walking through the streets. We don't stop, rolling through the city without a second glance. The border wasn't too far off, a wall of red and black uniforms grabbing my attention. Where all these soldiers come from I do not know, but any chance of this being peaceful is gone with those soldiers present. On the other side of the invisible wall that keeps our countries separate, soldiers in their navy blue and grey line up almost perfectly with our own, mirroring us. Two transports of their own stand in front of the cavalry, one of them holding Queen Athena, along with Fin and Melanie. Our soldiers separate, making way for us to part though. When we finally go through the sea of fighters, the transports stop. Sirona exits first, with me not so far behind. The border wall isn't really a wall at all, it is a river. It runs along the Undan border, with the help of greenies and expert nymphs, bridges connect our countries together and seem to keep Unda from floating away. It also means if a fight does break down, we will be at a large disadvantage. My fighting skills have never been that good, it was also was never my top priority, too busy trying to keep up with the knowledge of four other countries to ever spend a fraction of time in the training room like Adara or even Cal. I eye the trees, looking for any sign of my best friend and her crew. Jasper told me they would be here but I don't see anything, no movement, no birds or other woodland creatures that usually decorate the trees. My aunt walks with her head high and her feet steady, it makes me think of the first time I saw her take on this position. It was in the dead of night, in the throne room after my mother was found dead. I was ripped from my bed, only eight years old to be told that my mother killed herself. There was no ceremony for my aunt, no party, nothing. My mother quickly swept aside like she was nothing. Sirona seemed strong enough on the outside, but when she was behind closed door she was a wreck, grieving for the loss of her sister. Every time she moves like this, headstrong and proud, I can tell on the inside she is in pain.The sound of a transport door closing behind me makes me turn. Cal stands behind Queen Evelyn, his face looking conflicted, like his head and heart are battling fiercely inside of him. His hair has been recently cut, cropped to the look of a soldier. He also wears a uniform, something he has never worn a day in his life, the look makes my insides churn. This isn't him.Cal stands close to his mother, moving behind me and Sirona with grace. We wait at the border, the queen and her son a few yards back. The second transport opens and an old man steps out. His hair is blond with bits of dusted grey at the roots, eyes that are a deep blue, ones that bore through your soul. He wears an Undan uniform, a high ranking one due to the two pins with the country's emblem on the front. The man strides towards us, stopping at the top of the arch bridge, a welcoming smile on his face.

"Sirona Curae, Kira Curae, such a pleasure to meet the two of you. I'm Colonel Kennedy" The colonel's voice booms through the still field. His voice is surprisingly quiet. Some of the soldiers must be using their ability to quiet down the river. He clasps his hands together, creating an echo that startles half of the birds in the trees, making them scatter. I furrow my eyebrows in confusion, the birds seem to appear out of thin air.

 "Colonel, the pleasure is mine," Sirona replies, quaintly nodding. Something moves behind the colonel that draws my eye. The queen and her children step out of the first transport, moving a few yards behind the colonel, just like Queen Evelyn and Cal. 

"Well then, we did not request this meeting. Please present us our earnings and we will call this successful." 

"Please tell me lady Curae, I see Prince Calore is here but there is so sign of Princess Adara." The colonel eyes the royal family intensely, not even bothering to pay us any mind.

"The princess is tucked safely away at Soevia, just like Princess Alana, I presume" My aunt retorts quickly, eyeing a royal family of their own. The colonel pauses, his eyes boring into both me and her simultaneously. He then turns, waving some soldiers forward. The first nine soldiers closest to the queen surge forward, flanking the royal family, three to a person. Sirona does the same, waving only six to guard Cal and his mother. They seem to be moving at the same time, both mighty and leisurely, neither of them wavering.I stare at the Umor family as they make their way up the stone bridge. First, I look at Fin, and unlike Cal he either hasn't had the time to cut his hair or hasn't bothered at all, giving him a boyish look. He also isn't wearing a uniform, but a suit. A white button down and navy blue tie, and topping it off with a matching grey jacket and pants. I then turn to his younger sister, Melanie. She also wears something on the fancier side. A grey cap sleeve dress, grey sheer below the waist, all connected by a navy belt with sapphire gems. I guess they never got the memo about how things may get dirty. Finally, my eyes move to Queen Athena. Though Melanie is quite small, the queen is smaller, more subdued than her daughter. Unlike her children she wears mostly navy, her halter top mostly studded with moonstones. They stop behind the colonel and I can feel Cal's heat behind me. 

"Queen Athena." Evelyn's chilling voice sends shivers down my spine, I try my best to stay still. 

"Queen Evelyn" Athena replies, nodding in the woman's direction before continuing. 

"I hope Princess Adara is well. Or maybe she hasn't come home at all" she watches and waits for Evelyn's reaction. The amber-eyed woman laughs.

"I did not come all this way, in such short notice, to speak of rumors involving my daughter . I would appreciate it greatly if we would just get on with our deal and go our separate ways, you're son coming with us to rule by my daughter's side."

 The mention of Fin makes him tense up, snapping into focus.

 "If you wish." With a turn of Athena's head, two more guards march their way to us, carrying a giant chest between them. All those crowns are worth more than the almost all peoples lives in the Fiross, more than my life or Sironas, all tossed to one person then another like old clothes. "One million crowns, as promised." Fin speaks plainly, scanning me before blinking slowly. He also has a battle going on between his heart and his mind, over what I do not know, it makes me think of Calore. I look back at the prince, but he stares forward, a look of determination on his face.

"The deeds, Athena" Evelyn states, completely ignoring Fin. He huffs, clenching his jaw as his eye flash hot anger. His hatred for the fire queen isn't subtle and I don't think it will ever be. Melanie's look isn't filled with hatred, but focus. She is prepared for something, but not for the raid, something else flickers in her eyes, excitement maybe. It makes me nervous.