Griffin's Daughter

Brother and sister were deep in conversation. Occasionally, Misune would look up to stare boldly at Sadaiyo, as if taking his measure.

“ I see you staring at her, Ashi. What would that delicious little mongrel messenger say if she knew you were lusting after another woman, eh?”

Ashinji glared at his brother, struggling to control his fury, but Sadaiyo’s smirk made it all but impossible.

“ I understand your envy of me, little Brother. I will soon have a real woman in my bed, while you…” Sadaiyo’s lip curled, “you must content yourself with, um, tainted meat.”

Ashinji rose abruptly from his chair, tossed off the last of his wine, and excused himself with a muttered apology to his startled parents. Fuming, he stalked from the great hall out into the night, Sadaiyo’s mocking laughter ringing in his ears.

Ashinji walked quickly, unmindful of direction, his only thought to escape his brother’s toxic presence. He had come perilously close to losing control and had nearly smashed his fist into Sadaiyo’s face.

Eventually, his boiling anger cooled, and he found himself among the fragrant blooms of his mother’s private garden. He sat down on a wooden bench carved in the shape of two sea creatures entwined, their flukes upraised to form arm rests.

He wondered what Jelena was doing at this very moment. Was she thinking of him, longing for his embrace as much as he longed for hers? He knew that she could feel the tug of the undeniable connection between them. He could see it in her eyes whenever she looked at him. He loved her, and he felt certain that she loved him, but was love enough?

Could his desire to be with Jelena come from selfishness, considering all of the obstacles they would face? She had, by far, the most to lose. She had no family to protect her, and Lord Sen could cast her out with impunity if she became too much of an inconvenience.

No, Ashinji thought. Father would not do that, even if he thinks Jelena would be trouble for me. He’s not that kind of man.

Lord Sen did know how to take care of a problem, though. He would simply arrange to transfer Jelena’s service to another household, as far away from Kerala as possible.

Ashinji stood up from the bench, full of restless energy. He thought of going down to the barracks to see Jelena, but reluctantly dismissed the idea. No, not yet, he thought. After the wedding ceremony, he would speak to her, confess his love, and together, they could decide what to do. He spent the remainder of the evening walking the battlements, thinking about his future.

There are seven hundred and seventy seven faces of the Goddess.

All are manifestations of the One.

She has seven hundred and seventy seven names.

All are names of the One.

She who gave birth to the World.

Mother of us all.

The two priests intoned the sacred chant, their voices a steady drone. The bride and groom knelt before the altar, heads bowed, all but immobilized beneath the weight of their heavy, multi-layered wedding robes.

Ashinji knelt behind and to the left of Sadaiyo, clutching in his hand the gold bracelet that his brother would soon place on the wrist of his new wife. Ibeji knelt behind his sister, a similar bracelet in his hand. Ashinji felt hot and miserable in the close, incense-clouded chapel. He wished fervently for the entire affair to be over so that he could throw off his own stiff, heavy garments and go to Jelena. The image of her face-so beautiful and dear- bolstered his strength.

The priests anointed the heads of the bride and groom with sacred oil and intoned the chants of joining. The exchange of bracelets would come next, then the obeisance before the One, and finally, the official pronouncement. Ashinji went through the motions, only because he had to. He felt no happiness, love, or pride. He felt nothing but the desire to escape.

At last, the priests made the final pronouncement. The assembled guests rose and cheered loudly as the Heir and his new wife exited the chapel. The newlyweds headed toward the great hall; there, they would be enthroned in large, ornate chairs like two statues on display, while the guests lined up to present their wedding gifts. Only after all gifts had been received would they be released to return to separate chambers for a few hours of much needed rest before the big feast that evening.

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.