The King of Saminu

Chapter 19

 There was a long day ahead of me. I knew that for sure. My entire body recognized that, but seemed to do the opposite of what it should. I lay in bed, eyes closed and desperately trying to sleep, until the slight buzz in my hands faded, and the sun started to rise. Just as the last bit of power locked away, there was a knock on my bedroom door.
"Rensker? It's time to get ready for the wedding!" Sæoa- or Gozst for all I knew - announced as she opened my door. I peeled open my eyes and sat up. Exhaustion, nerves, and excitement all battled for dominance within me, and none of them seemed to be winning.

"Is Mams here yet?" I questioned, rubbing a hand over a tired eye. Both Sæoa and Gozst were present, but Mams wasn't in sight.
"Not yet, dearie. I think she's still on her way," I nodded. The women waited patiently for me to wake up, their hands intertwined and quiet conversation tossed around between the two. I was used to this by now - Brann had assigned the older women to care for me when needed. Now was one of those times.
"I'll go get bath ready. You finish waking up, yeah?" Sæoa said the beginning to Gozst, then looked to me to make sure I heard. I nodded, still blinking away the tiredness.

It was another fifteen minutes before the bath was filled, and much to my dismay, the maids were forcing me to relax.
"You cannot bathe yourself. It is your wedding day, you need to relax. Sleep in bath, you need it, yeah?" Gozst crossed her arms, and I sighed, relenting to allow the girls to do what they wanted. I sank to the bottom of the bath and rested my head against the edge of the basin. It had taken me two weeks to grow comfortable with hot baths. As much as I wanted to argue against both the heat of the bath and the lack of control, I knew that my words would get me nowhere. I had to learn quickly in the castle, relenting most of my control. That realization almost forced my eyes open, panic setting in stronger than everything else I was feeling. I'm turning into a woman.

That panic didn't subside until Mams walked through the bathroom door. I opened my eyes, and she could sense the realization.
"Are you okay?" She questioned, and the women still bathing me stopped. Sæoa placed down the razor she was using against my leg.
"She should be okay, she is getting pampered," The blonde purred the last word, mimicking a feline. I tried to nod, but Mams shook her head to stop me.
"My child isn't used to being pampered. And you shouldn't be answering for her," Mams chided, and Gozst grew upset at the harsh tone Mams used towards her wife.

I sighed, sitting up in the bath to the point where water almost left the tub.
"I'll be fine. Just have to get through the preparations," Mams tilted her head to the side, analyzing me in the way only a mother could.
"Are you sure you really want to go through with this? You can still back out," Mams offered once more. I shook my head, water droplets flying around the room as my hair flew.
"I'm sure there are people here who have come far for this wedding. I get to meet Brann's mother and sister, who live in 'the countryside', but I'm not sure how far that is. An-"
"It's about two and a half hours on horseback south from here," Gozst cut me off. I nodded.
"And," I emphasized, "I wouldn't want to leave Brann. We have a promising future together," Mams patted my shoulder while she kneeled down beside me, opposite of Sæoa and Gozst.
"I hope you're right," Her whisper seemed like a scream.

"Who might you be? I'm not sure I've seen you before," Mams looked across from me as she started to wash my hair. Sæoa shrugged and returned to shaving the hair off of my legs.
"I am Sæoa, former Sergeant of the Spennian army. This is my wife, Gozst, former Staff Sergeant of the Spennian army. We care for your daughter, and used to care for sweet Arrstir," Sæoa gave a sad smile. Mams nodded, though her brows furrowed a slight bit and confusion made itself known on her face.
"And you both were allowed to be high ranking members of the military? As female? Or were you pretending to be male as Rensker was?" Mams' question was of genuine curiosity, but both Gozst and Sæoa grew slightly upset.