Author's Preface
The seasons came and went. Shin’s letters arrived monthly on the dot and were never late. Jaziel and Iselle had a son, Caelis, a year younger than Shani. And the young princess grew at a rate that was quite remarkable for Gildan children. Some were in awe, others were disturbed.
And like that, time continued forward, stopping for no one. Before long... seven years had passed.
A soft wind rattled the window and the morning sun poured in, illuminating the room in a golden glow. Jamila groaned when the rays finally found her face. She needed to get up, but she had been up much too late last night preparing for the harvest festival in town. Sleep, she would sleep for a minute more.
She was sure Jaziel could handle things.
Unfortunately, her plans were thwarted as she felt someone crawling around the bed. No more sleep, she supposed.
“Mama…” Shani’s voice was a whisper as she poked a finger into her mother’s cheek. Jamila chanced opening one eye just enough to see her daughter.
Her lavender eyes were bright and much too energized. Her lovely warm almond skin was a stark contrast against her white nightgown. Pale, messy ringlets framed her face, her mouth pulled into an impatient frown. Jamila shut her eye once more and tried her best to stifle a laugh. Dead… she just had to pretend to be dead.
Shani pulled at her mother’s nightgown next. “Mama! The sun is up! Uncle will be upset if you are late to work again!”
A wry laugh escaped her lips. She truly wondered what the perks of being an empress were when she couldn’t even enjoy one morning to sleep in.
“Maaaaamaaaaa,” Shani whined. Jamila smiled. She supposed she had tormented her child enough. She opened her eyes slowly and reached up to stroke her daughter’s pointed ears.
“Good morning… lovely.” Her features softened, though a hint of sadness touched her gaze. His face was more blurred now, but she knew Shani looked so similar to him. She may have had Jamila’s lavender eyes, but the way her emotions shone through them was her father’s. His face may have been blurry, but she could never forget those eyes.
A bright smile crossed Shani’s features. Shani leaned into Jamila’s touch, her hands holding her mother’s wrist affectionately. She was truly like the dawn. Warm, reassuring, accommodating. Although Jamila sometimes worried about that part of her. She was sure Shani would become more selfish eventually.
Jamila groaned as she pulled herself out of bed. Shani was at her heels the whole time. As usual, Shani sat in front of her vanity as her mother wet her curls just enough for them to calm down. Jamila then reached for the bracelet. A frown crossed Shani’s features, and Jamila felt her heart drop, but Shani simply offered her mother her hand.
Jamila slipped the bangle into place. The change was immediate. Shani’s skin paled and her ears rounded, the concealment still perfect. But Shani’s face dimmed as she touched the mirror. Her lips formed a thin line as she looked away from her reflection and back towards Jamila.
“We can go outside now?” she asked excitedly. A smile was back on her face, but something in Jamila twisted at the sight of it. Before she could say anything, a knock sounded at the door.
“Come in, Nimue,” Jamila said, pulling her attention away from her daughter. Nimue walked in a moment later holding a couple robes.
“The bath is ready.”
Jamila nodded, and Shani jumped down from the vanity and rushed past Nimue, but waited just beyond the door. She was nearly vibrating with energy today. Sometimes Jamila wondered if Shani woke her early simply because she hated being locked in the suite.
She pushed the thought away and began walking towards the two. Nimue looked more and more impatient by the second. The older woman truly did not know how to handle Shani’s energy some days.
She took Shani’s hand in hers and the child led her through the palace towards the hot spring.
Warm steam wrapped around the bathing house like a living thing. Water flowed continuously through carved stone channels into the great central spring, its surface glowing gold beneath the lanternlight. Marble columns framed the chamber, softened by climbing ivy and sheer curtains that stirred whenever a breeze slipped through the high windows. Even in fall, the room remained warm enough to lull the body into sleep.
Shani moved through the warm water, using her hands to pull herself along the bottom. Jamila watched for a moment, a smile resting softly on her lips. Then she leaned her head back, letting the steam envelop her. She could feel her muscles relaxing as daydreams danced behind her eyes. A towering forest. The sound of laughter. Jaziel and his family eating with them at a wooden table, smiling. A scarred hand held out, waiting for her.
Her daydream was shattered by the sound of a squeal and Nimue’s gasp. A wave of hot water crashed over her, and she swore she heard the whole room go quiet. Then… Nimue’s lecturing tone filled the room once more. Jamila pulled her damp hair apart like curtains and looked over at the two.
Shani sat at the edge of the spring, her head down as she kicked her feet through the water while Nimue continued to berate her. Jamila recognized the gleam in the young girl’s eyes. She wasn’t listening to any of it.
“Shani,” Jamila called, her tone stern but soft. Shani froze and looked toward her mother, a sheepish smile crossing her face.
“No more jumping?” she asked as she wrung her hands together. Jamila smiled and nodded.
“No more. Now, come over here and let’s finish cleaning you up.” Jamila grabbed a cloth. Shani smiled brightly and, without hesitation, slipped back into the water and climbed into her mother’s lap to be scrubbed down. Nimue sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose while Shani giggled as Jamila found one of her ticklish spots.
The rest of the bath was rather peaceful.
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