Skies Over Tomorrow: Constellation (23 page)

“May the Creator and Her wisdom guide you and Lady Ayame,” the high priestess then said, bowing her head, prompting the others to mime her. Shen bowed his head in return. They all looked up and resumed the nine-course meal.

When all dishes on every table were void of food, the dining hall fell quiet with bowed heads. The high priestess led a chant of praise to the Creator for the fulfilling meal, and afterwards, she lifted her head and dismissed everyone.

The procession from the dinning hall disintegrated in the outside corridor, and Shen with Elder Akron, and a few others, left the temple and walked down to the mountain's lake for their second bath of the day.

The lake was clear, and the late afternoon sunlight penetrated its surface to reveal the inhabitants of its depth. Unbound by their clothing, the monks swam from the water's edge and gathered at the center of the lake and began to submerge themselves. The rippling of the water's surface subsided after they went and remained under one last time. They surfaced minutes later, holding hands in a loose circle, and floated with closed eyes. The aquatic prayer ritual not only cleansed the body, but also rejuvenated and harmonized the mind and spirit.

She opened her eyes after the cascading bath water over her face, which left the short mane of her crown smooth, slick and flat against her neck. The attending chambermaid dipped a pitcher into the bubble bath once more and poured the captured water over Lady Ayame, who smiled from the warmth gushing over her body. The maid set down the pitcher, lathered her hands, and began to massage the fragrant suds into her lady's skin at the neck, shoulders, and upper chest.

“Congratulations, milady.”

“Hmm. Thank you.” Ayame leaned back in the bath, relaxing at the touch of her servant.

“If I may be inquisitive,” said the chambermaid, standing behind and over her lady.

“Please, speak your tongue.”

“Why did you yield to the priest-monk? I understand that you could have countered his Equinox attack.”

“The arbiter called the hit before I could answer.”

“Your attendant-at-arms believes that you could have countered before he even made the tag.”

“My head squire? What does he know about fighting?” said Ayame. “He barely can wield a sword.”

“Please, milady, do not put Hieu down so harshly.”

“Hieu? Is that his name?”

“Aye, milady. He is the hardest working and most dedicated gentleman in this house. At least do not forget that you made him your head squire.”

“Indeed, I did.”

The maid took hold of Ayame's left arm, lifting it up to her, above her lady's head, and starting with the hand, began to knead every muscle down to the shoulder. “Milady, I still fail to see why you allowed yourself to be taken by the priest-monk. You have suitors aplenty and of nobility far greater. I also understand that he is part Shard.”

“His blood heritage is not important. I ask you, do you understand what it means to be a noble?”

“Nay, milady. I'm just a chambermaid.”

“A humble one at that,” Ayame said. “Lord Shen does not command respect, nor distinguishes himself from one individual of a different class. He is selfless and kind. His nobility is genuine because he seeks not recognition or standing. He is what we nobles were like before diplomacy and politics. Nobles of yesteryear were indeed much like the priest-monk—motivated by their compassion for all. Now, we act god-like and concern ourselves with the best interest of our houses. We have corrupted our honor and shamed our history. Being with Lord Shen reminds me of what it truly means to be of nobility.”

“I see you are very taken by him, milady. You are warm.”

“What is your name?”

The chambermaid stopped, and for a moment looked down at her lady, but then, releasing the arm of the noblewoman, she lowered her head and looked to the floor.

Ayame brought her arm down and shifted to look up to her attendant, and said, “I asked your name.”

“Milady, it's forbidden—it was a mistake for me to have even revealed to you the name of your head squire. Please—”

Lady Ayame stood and faced the maid; suds glided down over the curves of her form, back to the bath water. “My dear lass,” she said, “we are in the privacy of my quarters. You have nothing to fear. Please, look at me.”

The chambermaid lifted her head.

“What is your name?”

“Ume, milady.”

“Ume.” Ayame looked the maid over, and then said, “You have bathed me well, Ume.”

“Thank you, milady.”

“Allow me to return the courtesy. Undress and join me.”

“Milady, servants cannot commingle with nobles.”

“Your coyness tires me, Ume. Lord Ogunsheye and Lord Orji have spoken of a chambermaid they particularly enjoy baths with.”

“There are several chambermaids in this house, milady. Surely you mistake me for someone else.”

“On the contrary. You are the only masseuse in this house.”

Ume turned her head downward, and then began to undress.

“Stop.” Ayame reached and caressed the left side of Ume's face, comforting her. In due course, the noble traced her fingers from the maid's hair, across her ear, along her jaw, and to her chin, and lifting her head, she said, “I am wrong to compel you to bathe with me. Understand that it was my intent to treat you as a comrade, but I cannot force my friendship onto you. When you are ready, you shall bathe with me.”

Ume was quiet, as the hand of her ladyship fell away from her face.

“You may go.”

Ume left the bath area with her eyes to the floor, exiting into her lady's chamber, and just as she opened its door to leave, Hieu rushed in.

“Stand aside!” he said, after bumping into her, and continued on to his lady, where crossing the threshold into the bath area, he knelt. “Pardon my intrusion, milady, but Madam Nariko demands your presence in court at once.”

“Rise,” said Ayame, standing with the pitcher in hand. She rinsed her body clean.

Hieu kept his head lowered after he stood, and said, “Milady, why has your chambermaid left?”

“She fell ill. Please hand me that towel.”

Hieu lifted his head enough to see the towel draped over its stand to his left. He reached and took hold of it, and gave it to his lady.

“Thank you. Why is it so urgent for our madam to see me?”

“You know, milady.”

“Of course.”

“The priest-monk should have asked Her Majesty's permission and performed the ritual in the court before all in this house to witness.”

“The noble, traditional way?”

“Aye, milady.”

“Does she intend to reject him?”

“Milady, please. It has been decreed that no one within or otherwise, no matter of class, shall question the matriarch of a house—unless issuing a challenge in the court to assume position as matriarch.”

“You shall not lecture me on such a petty statute,” Ayame said, stepping out of the sauna. “Answer my question. Surely at this point, Madam Nariko has voiced her opinion on me giving myself to Lord Shen, so you should know if she will reject him or not.”

The gentleman remained silent.

“Hieu, at least give me your thoughts on this matter.”

“That trollop told you my name?”

“That is of no consequence,” said Ayame. “Answer my question.”

“Milady, I cannot answer your question for Madam Nariko has yet to reveal her thoughts on the matter, though she is obviously riled by it. Still if you truly wish me to bare my thoughts unto you, then I shall look you in the eye and speak freely.”

Lady Ayame looked at her head squire with a sharp eye. “Please do,” she said.

Hieu lifted his head to see his lady wrapped in the towel, and looking her in the eye, he said, “If you regard laws as petty, then order will turn to anarchy. Everyone will do what they want when they want. You are a noble, milady, and I am honored to serve you, but my loyalty is to Madam Nariko and this house, and I shall do all that I can to preserve the integrity of both.”

Ayame chuckled, amused that it seemed the gentleman was more dutiful than her, and said, “How inane of me, I do apologize if I have affronted you, Hieu. Is there anything more you'd like to share?”

“Nay, milady,” he said and bowed his head. “The only thoughts that should concern you about your union with the priest-monk are to be your own, and those of Madam Nariko.”

Lady Ayame smiled in response to Hieu's intrepidness and choice words. “You shall make a fine noble,” she said. “Tell Madam Nariko I shall arrive shortly.”

“Aye, milady.” Hieu then left the quarters of his ladyship.

Thereafter, peeling the towel from her and tossing it to its stand, as it fell over its place in folds, Ayame left the bath area and went to her wardrobe. She slipped on only a panty girdle, and armed herself with a pair of sheathed katanas. Both were strapped on around her waist and tied to the lower part of her thighs, with one each resting at the left and right hip. She pulled an embroidered robe from the alcove to complete her attire, and with a loose knot, tied it on while she looked herself over in the mirror. She then left for the throne room, hiding her face with the cowl of the dressing gown. The bottom half of the housecoat fluffed and waved in her wake.

Lady Ayame entered the regal square, removing her hood as the congregation of commoners at its entrance parted and made way for her; she walked toward the elevated throne upon which sat Madam Nariko. Along the walls to either side, beyond the masses, were house subjects, then the families of nobles, and then the nobles themselves, closest to the queen. She bowed before her madam and took her place along the right wall.

From a position off to the side, below the throne, the secretariat of the monarch walked out and centered himself before all. “This court comes into session, this the four hundred and third day of the Lunar New Year,” he said. “Our madam, Queen Nariko, calls Lady Ayame to stand and explain why she has taken a mate without the common consent of Her Majesty and the House of Sarauniya.”

Lady Ayame stood, and as the queen's aide resumed his post, she moved to the center of the court. She knelt and said, “Madam Nariko, I throw myself on your mercy. I meant no disrespect of your authority or this house.”

“Then explain why you allowed yourself to be taken by a priest-monk who I understand carries the blood of a Sharizardian. It is one thing to bring someone into this house, but it is another to introduce tainted blood into this family.”

“My mistress, I ask that you not be cynical in judging Lord Shen. Please, at least meet with him before you take to any bitter reasoning.”

“It would seem that this house has no choice in the matter of meeting this priest-monk, but I say this: Your wanton disregard of the marital traditions of this house not only warrants his rejection, but also calls for you to be castigated.”

“You are Mistress of the House of Sarauniya from which I was born. I am at your mercy, and I shall not go against your wishes, or the wishes of this house.”

“Lady Ayame, you have with no doubt an honest tongue, but I hardly believe if I should reject him, and strip you of your position and condemn you to confinement, then that will be the end of this matter.”

“Your doubt holds weight, my mistress. No matter what decision you make, my heart will forever be open to him.”

Madam Nariko stood from her throne and descended to the floor. “Look at me,” she said when she stood over her gallant subject, and Lady Ayame lifted her head. “As First Knight of the House of Sarauniya, are you sure of this priest-monk? Is he the one?”

“As sure as you stand before me, Your Majesty, he is the one.”

Madam Nariko stared into the black, pearlized eyes of her champion. “Very well, then,” she said. “I shall go against my better judgment and infringe upon the diktats governing the houses of Nousalons, as set forth by the Council, and be blind to your infraction upon the traditions of this house. You will send for your priest-monk. He shall have breakfast with us before you both depart for Maraknus tomorrow.”

“Head Squire,” said Lady Ayame.

Hieu walked to the center of the court and knelt behind his lady, to her right, and he said with a lowered head, “You have beckoned, milady?”

“You will ride to the temple and summon Lord Shen to breakfast with Madam Nariko and our house. You shall advise him that instead of meeting and departing from there to Khonshu, we shall leave for it from here.”

“Yes, milady,” he said. “I shall leave at first light.”

“Leave at dusk, so that you may return with him after midnight.”

“Yes, milady.”

“I hold it upon you to return with Lord Shen well before first light, though, so that he may have rest for tomorrow's long day.”

“Yes, milady.”

“Then be on your way.”

Hieu stood and took a few steps backward with his head down, and turning about, he lifted his head and left the throne room.

“Rise,” said Madam Nariko.

Lady Ayame stood.

“Let us feast,” the queen then said. “Let us feast!”

The court emptied, as Madam Nariko, on the right arm of Lady Ayame, led the house to the banquet hall. The matriarch smiled in conversation with her knight, prying the champion of details about Shen and her feelings. Though their age difference was three years, and the younger was queen of the house, the two chatted as they did when they were children. Class distinctions and formalities never created animosity between the sisters.

The evening wore on with the sun yielding to the many stars of night. Under a watchful eye, the understudy of Lady Ayame's head squire surveyed the celestial sky, as it moved with the seconds. The hours of twilight seemed eternal. He withdrew from the open window to awaken his mentor. The gentleman stirred from the shoving of the low ranking attendant. “Brother, it's time.”