Sea and Sky

Chapter 15: The Unkindness of Lies

Sea and Sky
Chapter 15: The Unkindness of Lies

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Feinging disinterest, Rana listened as the women spoke among themselves. Gentle, she held her hand out as one of Ceren's birds perched on her outstretched fingers. Bringing the bird close, she ran the tips of her fingers over the oriole's head, the bird's black and orange feathers glistening under the bright sunlight of the greenhouse.

Thoughts of the last dinner she'd had with her family flashed in her mind. Her father had crushed a small bird to death in her hands. Part of her was curious to see what happened if she tried the same thing with the bird she currently held. So tiny, so helpless. Entirely too fragile. She was all too aware of how delicate she and the bird both appeared to be.

She'd use this to her advantage, she thought as she released the bird back onto a waiting tree branch. 'Sing, little oriole, while you still can.'

"So, they're getting married tomorrow? What's the rush?" Katara questioned as she picked a few petals off of a small bloom, letting the petals waft onto the table top she leaned against.

Absently, Ceren drew a watering can over her cypress and orchid blooms. The thought that her son was rushing into marriage so quickly gnawed at her nerves, making her uneasy and on edge. While she was sure Rana sweet girl, she hadn't known the Earth Kingdom noblewoman long enough to draw certain conclusion. One thing Ceren was sure of, she did not trust Rana's family. They had expressed their abhorrence for the Fire Nation and her own family previously.

At one point, the arguments and nasty letters sent by hawk from the General and his wife had causes a slight rift between her and Kilic. Ceren wasn't ready to give up her son, but was practical in knowing that certain events had to happen to ensure the survival of her own family. If that meant accepting a stranger into the clan, she was going to accept whatever the spirits sent her way.

Letting out a concentrated breath, Ceren spoke. "My dear, if Kilic weds Rana, her family will no longer have claim to her. The moment she becomes Kha-Tarun she will be a Fire Nation citizen, with full rights."

Katara turned the words over in her mind. Kha-Tarun. Kilic's clan name. What did becoming a Fire Nation citizen have to do with anything?

Noticing the questioning look Katara gave, Ceren set the watering can onto the table top and looked at her. In a hushed tone, she spoke.

"Our family will claim her, meaning... her family's land, the Gao Ling compound, will be owed to us by law. If Zuko sends his garrisons against Kuyu, it will not be considered an act of war to claim what belongs to our family."

Ceren had a certain disdain for the archaic law of the land, especially the ones concerning marriage between noble families of other nations. The laws had been written in such a way to disuade the Fire Nation nobles from marrying outside the court, and for generations it had worked. There was little for the outside noble family to gain, in fact they often lost more than they expected.

"So, with a quick marriage all this can be accomplished?"

Ceren nodded her head to Katara's question, her thick braids falling over her shoulders as she picked up the watering can again.

Quirking her brows, Katara was glad she wasn't royal. Even with her involvement in the courts, she saw enough to take relief in that she wasn't anything more than an honored guest in their world. It seemed for her current situation with Aang, they didn't have any specific laws to consider regarding their own marriage.

Bringing her hand to her neck, she felt for the necklace hidden underneath the folds of her tunic. She's made a point to hide it, not ready to tell the world or her friend yet of the breakthrough she and Aang had experienced. Katara wanted to savor the glee for just a little while longer before being smothered with plans.