Leslie Moore - Griffin's Daughter

For Ashinji, the painful ordeal had come to an end.

He returned to his chambers and stripped out of his heavy robes, leaving the exquisite garments in a colorful heap on the floor. Redressed in a plain unbleached cotton tunic, breeches and sandals, he hurried down a back staircase and out a side door into the upper yard.

A crowd of people, most richly dressed, some not so, milled about the yard, sweating beneath the late summer sun. The castle swarmed with guests. Every noble family in the district had been invited, and Lord Sen had made it known that any Kerala citizen, be they noble or common, was to be made welcome.

Ashinji avoided the crowd by ducking through the front garden and sticking close to the wall. He made it through the upper gate without being seen and jogged downhill into the lower yard. The barracks area was quiet. Most of the castle staff who weren’t directly involved in the logistics of the wedding had been given the day off so they could enjoy the festivities.

Ashinji climbed the stairs up to the second floor barracks where Jelena now lived with the unmarried female castle guards. He stuck his head into the open door and looked around. The common room stood empty.

“ Hello? Is anyone here?” he called out.

Silence.

“ Hello?” he repeated.

This time, a sleepy voice answered. “Lord Ashinji. I’m sorry. I was asleep and didn’t hear you the first time.” Aneko appeared in the far doorway and came out into the common room. “I was on guard duty ‘til first light,” she said, rubbing her eyes.

“ I should be sorry, for disturbing your rest, Aneko. I’m looking for Jelena.”

“ Jelena’s not here, my lord. She rode out this morning.”

Ashinji bit his lower lip in consternation. “Surely my father didn’t send her out with a message,” he said.

“ No, I don’t think so. She said she wanted to go out to the old stone circle for a while. She should be back soon, my lord.” Aneko smiled sympathetically.

Ashinji felt himself blushing. Am I that obvious? “Aneko, please tell her…tell her that I’ll come looking for her during the feast tonight. I have something very important that I must say to her. Promise me you’ll tell her.”

“ You have my promise, Lord Ashinji.”

Ashinji left Aneko to her rest and returned to his rooms, successfully avoiding any guests. Fatigued, he sought his bed, where he lay down on the soft feather mattress with a weary sigh. He knew he would not be missed for several hours. Before he dozed off, he vowed that tonight, he and Jelena would be together at last.

The wedding feast was well underway by the time Ashinji slipped into an empty chair beside Lani.

“ Where have you been, Ashi? Mother was just about to send someone out to look for you,” Lani said, eyeing her brother curiously.

“ I was tired, so I lay down to rest, and I overslept.”

“ Will you look at them?” Lani indicated the newly married couple who occupied pride of place at the center of the table. “They can’t seem to keep their hands off each other. Why don’t they just leave right now and go get started?”

Ashinji turned to look at his sister, eyebrows raised in mild shock. “Lani!” he exclaimed.

“ Oh, don’t look at me like that, big Brother. I’m not a child anymore. I’m practically old enough to be married myself soon. I do know all about sex, you realize.” Ashinji just shook his head. It seemed like only yesterday that he cradled baby Lani in his arms and laughed at her comical, infant expressions.

Sadaiyo and Misune did seem quite taken with each other already. They sat with their heads pressed together, whispering earnestly. If Ashinji had not known otherwise, he could believe that they were already lovers.

“ Aren’t you going to eat anything?” Lani asked. Until that moment, Ashinji had not been hungry, but Lani’s question prompted a rumbling response in his stomach.

The castle kitchen had outdone itself. Never had Ashinji seen such a display of the culinary arts presented before in Kerala’s great hall. Platters of roasted game, fish, and fowl vied for attention alongside tureens of soups and stews. Mounds of boiled vegetables, breads, cheeses, pies, and fruits rounded out the feast. Ashinji helped himself to a dish of jellied eels. A servant stepped forward to fill his wine goblet.

“ Ashi, do you think Mother and Father would consider Lord Dai’s son as a prospect for me?” Lani asked thoughtfully.

“ Do you like him?” Ashinji responded. “Have you even spoken to him?” He looked over to where Ibeji Dai sat beside his father, his quick, amber eyes darting around the room as if he were trying to memorize every detail.

“ He’s very handsome. He did look at me and smile, a little.”

“ You’re still too young, little Sister. Enjoy what’s left of your girlhood. There’ll be plenty of time to think of marriage.”

Lani rolled her eyes. “I’m old enough to wonder what it’s like,” she said.

“ What what’s like?” Ashinji innocently inquired.

Lani reached over and rapped him on the forehead with her knuckles.

“ What it’s like to be with a man!” she replied, rolling her eyes with exasperation. Ashinji sighed, suddenly feeling very old. Lani abruptly changed the subject. “Is it true what Sadaiyo says about you and the new messenger girl?”

“ I don’t know. What is he saying?” Ashinji kept his voice neutral.

“ That you’re in love with her, but you can’t ever have her because she’s a half-breed and she’s got no family.”

“ Has he said any of this to Father?” Ashinji asked, trying to remain calm.

Lani shrugged. “I don’t know,” she replied.

Ashinji pushed aside his plate and rose from his chair. “I have to go. I’ll be back in a little while.”

Lani looked startled. “You can’t leave now! Father is about to make his speech,” she exclaimed.

“ I promised…I need to go.”

He hurried toward the open doors of the great hall, hugging the wall and trying to be as unobtrusive as possible, but he caught the puzzled looks on Lord and Lady Dai’s faces and the annoyed expressions on his parents’ as he slipped out into the evening air.

The upper yard had been set up as an outdoor overflow area for the feast. Those common people of the district that had come for the celebration, as well as the off-duty castle staff and their families sat at trestle tables under the stars, enjoying the magnificent repast. Ashinji found Jelena sitting at a table on the periphery, surrounded by her guard friends. He stood in the shadows for a while, content just to watch her laugh and talk. She seemed so happy. He thought his heart would burst with love.

He approached and quietly called out her name.

She turned around and their eyes met. Wordlessly, she rose to her feet and walked over to where he waited, her eyes never leaving his face.

“ Walk with me,” he murmured and held out his hand. A hush fell over the table. Jelena slipped her hand into his and allowed him to lead her away from her friends into the darkness. He could hear their voices start up behind him, like the buzz of excited bees.

They walked side by side, hands clasped tightly, toward Lady Amara’s private garden, where Ashinji knew that they would not be disturbed. Having Jelena’s body so close was a torment. He wanted to sweep her up into his arms and cover her face and neck with kisses. He could sense the tense expectancy flowing from her, and it only inflamed his desire.

They reached the garden, and he led her over to the sea-creature bench and sat her down beside him. The slivered moon, ensnared in the tree branches overhead, cast very little light; nevertheless, Ashinji could see Jelena’s face with perfect clarity.