Ang Alamat ng Sunflower (Descending Fire 15, Realm Year 768)

What would you do when you wake up, and there's a flower on your pillow?

I'd show it to a friend.

"So where'd you get it?" Cema inquires.

"Well," I reply, "remember last night, when Valen bundled me in a blanket, and brought me out of the gathering?"

"I remember," Cema says.

"He carried me all the way to headquarters," I continue. "When he released me, we were in my room."

"He placed me on the bed, and he said,

'I don't mean to presume, my lady, but your behaviour was inappropriate for someone of your stature.'

'Oh Valen, you're such a prude! Its a party!' I giggled. 'The Cynis do it all the time. You should know, you're a Cynis.'"

"Hey, I'm a Cynis!" Cema interrupts. "I don't act wild in parties!"

"Only when you're stoned." I flash her a grin. "Now will you let me continue?"

"Anyway,

'My House isn't exactly the best example on how the Princes of the Earth should conduct themselves,' he chided. 'I believe it would serve you well if you were to refrain from emulating their actions, my lady.'

I gave him a little pout. 'Why would a mortal care so much how a Princess of the Earth behaves herself?'

'Because,' he said, as he sat next to me, 'mortals need you to guide them down the path that will lead them closer to the Elemental Dragons. And because...'

He took my hand.

'Because I don't like anyone to think wrongly of you.'

We held each other for a while. Then he said,

'I just want you for myself. But how could a Princess of the Earth love someone such as I?'

'Why shouldn't I? I can love any mortal I want,' I replied.

'But I'm not just any mortal, Cathak Shima.'

'Oh?' I smiled. My fingers traveled to the fastenings of my dress, then I said, 'Show me how different you are, Cynis Valen.'

He didn't sieze me, like I expected him to. Instead, he played his fingers on my skin, like a master musician strumming his sanxian, and my sighs were the sweetest melody to his ears.

And just as I thought I couldn't take any more, he climbed atop me, and..."

"So how's he different from Tor?" Cema, not able to contain her excitement, interrupts again.

"Tor was... urgent, like he finally had something he's always wanted, and he's not going to let anyone take it from him," I answer. "Valen was a lot gentler, like I was the most precious thing in Creation... It was like he was whispering a promise in my ear, that he'll take care of me forever."

"Oh." Cema stares at her feet. "I wish I was as pretty as you, Shima, then maybe Eran would..." She blushes furiously.

"What are you talking about?" Rae appears out of nowhere.

"Cema thinks I'm prettier than her," I reply.

"Nonsense, dear!" Rae puts her arm around Cema. "You're much much prettier than Shima! But you're not prettier than me, however..."

I chuckle at them as they walk away. I look at the flower in my hand, and remember last night...

Last night, when we were satisfied, while I was floating in the soft, warm place between waking and sleep, he said to me,

"'There will come a time in which you will have to decide between me, or your destiny as a Dynast of the Realm. I will not ask you to choose now, but when someday, I'm going to have to.'"

When I woke up, daylight was streaming through the windows, and there was a flower on my pillow. It was as round and golden as the sun, surrounded with petals that look like rays.

Descending Fire 14, Realm Year 768

Vermilion Legion temporary HQ / pleasure house formerly known as The House of Sighs
Great Forks

"I'm sorry for bothering you, my ladies," the messenger says, "but there is a woman in the reception area who insists on seeing the young lady Cathak today."

Rae and I are in my quarters, preparing for tonight's gathering. I was helping Rae with her hair when the messenger came.

"Which young lady Cathak?" asks Rae.

"That would be me." I run out the door, before Rae could ask any questions.

Thoughts race through my head as I race down the stairs. Somehow, I already know who's waiting for me, but why is she here? To see me, of course, obviously, but why here? Why couldn't she send me a message first, at least?

"Shima," I hear her say.

All the questions melted from my mind as I let myself sink into her arms.

"Hush now, Shima, I am here," she whispers into my ear.

I didn't realize that I have started crying. All I know is that I'm hugging my mother, and I haven't done so in seven years.

She leads me to a couch where she holds me, stroking my hair. She waits for the tears to stop flowing, before speaking again.

"Shima?" she asks, "Are you happy here?"

"Why... shouldn't I be happy?" Why would she ask me that?

"My little Shima..." She shakes her head. "Do you like serving in the Imperial Army?"

"I don't know... I don't dislike it, I, uhm..." I never really thought about it... "Mother? Why are you here?"

"Your general has called a gathering for a number of local business people to discuss financial aid for your extremely underfunded campaign."

"I know that, Mother, I mean, I thought you'd be invited but... why are you here?"

"Because," my mother says, looking right into my eyes, "I wish to take you home."

I pull away from her. "Mother, you know you can't. The verdict..."

"To Nexus, Shima. The verdict doesn't hold in Nexus."

"Its not that easy, Mother, I can't just leave. I'd love to, but..." I stare at my lap. "I have responsibilities now."

"To what? To the Realm?" She holds my shoulders, firmly. "Shima, listen. The Realm is run by the most devious, most selfish people in Creation. Did you not stop to think why they sent the most talented young officers in a war they don't have a good chance of winning? Did you not wonder why the Realm, wealthy and in possession of the most powerful weapons, sent you here under-equipped? Because you're a threat, Shima, you're a threat to their power, and they want to crush you while you're young and foolish."

She stops, and massages her temples.

"I'm not going to die," I reassure her.

"Cedric said something like that, when we last spoke," she says softly.

"Mother..." I hug her again. She hugs me back.

"Shima, I am old. I will not bear any more children. If you die, everything I've worked so hard for will no longer matter."

"I know."

She strokes my hair some more.

"I just wish I can take you home," she says, after a brief silence. "Teach you how to run the businesses, introduce you to the staff. Choose your husband."

"You will. When Grandfather thinks the time is appropriate. And I'm sure he'll find me a nice fiance."

"You would call that man grandfather?"

"He only did what he thought was best for me, Mother."

"He doesn't do what's best for you, Shima. He only does what's best for House Cathak."

"If you would prefer to think so."

"You're really not my daughter anymore, are you?" she says, her voice tinged with sadness.

"I still am, Mother, just... not according to the legal documents," I reply.

"I thought something like this will happen on this meeting." She sighs. "Very well then, I didn't come unprepared."

She opens her purse, and pulls out a folded piece of paper. "This is a map of an old manse your father was excavating." She hands it to me. "He left some items down there. I'm sure he'd want you to have those."

"This manse is right under Talat's Howe," I tell her, while studying the map.

"Yes. The monks who live there should be friendly, but still, if you're planning to retrieve them, please be careful."

"I will." I re-fold the map and put it in my pocket.

And from the corner of my eye, I see Rae peeking at us from behind the staircase.

I stand up, and say, loudly, "Thank you, Lady Ledaal. The general will be pleased that you could come tonight."

Taking my cue, she stands up as well. I bow to her.

"I will see you at the gathering tonight, then," she says.

And she leaves.

I walk back to the staircase, where Rae asks me, "Who was that?"

"Just a businesswoman from Nexus," I answer.

I climb back to my quarters, suddenly feeling tired.