Kaija: Queen of Stone

8

A cold and unwelcomed hand touched my shoulder. I lashed upward, opening my eyes to Hona. His face shifted, hardening in its expression. He no longer appeared kind. He hardened like a stone. His gaze unwavering and heavy. The moment we shared in his Kaijan's room was gone.

"The queen has requested you," he gritted through his teeth. "Now." There was a hint of urgency in his voice.

I threw off the thin blanket and placed my feet on the cold ground. "Is everything okay?"

"I am not permitted to speak with you," he replied through gritted teeth. "Just giving orders." He turned, walked away, and up the stairs.

Before long, he was out of sight and away from me once more. I wasn't sure how long this was going to go on. I was getting sick of the back of forth in his tone, but I knew this must be Baria's hold on him. I don't know how she found out but she must have known we spoke to each other the other day.

I grumbled, fixing the dress I had slept in for days and nights. I was beginning to smell ripe and unwashed. I used my saliva to try and get some of the stench off, rubbing parts of my dress and skin with my hands, but it was hopeless. My skin still felt tacky under my fingers.

I looked to the crate hiding Qia and Tiroa. I wasn't sure just how long it had been since they got to bathe as well. At this point, the smells of the damp and molding cellar and us melded together. I wasn't sure which was which.

I headed up the stairs, thinking about the river. It was heavy on my mind, almost always a thought. I knew it had to have some kind of importance. The more I thought of it, the more it seemed like the current was calling me back. I feared it was death in disguise, trying to lure me back to Azali, but my past lingered with the river as well.

I knocked on her door, my stomach twisted and pulled. When she threw open the door, my anger spiked, itching to come out and manifest.

"It's about time," she growled, leaving the door. Baria donned a short white dress with ruffles at the top and bottom. The sleeves on the arms of the dress fell to the floor. It did not seem like something she would normally wear, though I had seen her wear one dress since my time here. She was not alone.

Jonga stood in the middle of the room with his hands respectively behind his back. He wasn't dressed in only trousers like he normally was, but wore a white blouse this time. It was odd not to see his dark chest. On his feet were boots. I thought him to be savage, but even a man like Jonga could clean up his appearance. His braided hair was thrown back, falling behind his shoulders. When our eyes met, his shoulders tensed, eyes hardening.

"Why is he here?" I hissed, not daring to step past the threshold. I didn't want to stand in a room with this monster. Not after all of the pain he caused me.

"I will not marry without him by my side. So you best learn to get along now." She turned around, showing the strings of the corset were loosened. "Tighten them," she ordered. I stayed my ground. Her voice shook with anger. "I do not have all day to waste!"

I walked past Jonga, footsteps louder than before. My heart pounded as I stood behind her and placed my hands on the strings. I pulled tight.

"Not so hard!" she spat, craning her neck to Jonga. "I want the front of the castle ready," she ordered. "Please make sure the flowers from the Hills of Gristle have arrived from Arawn's home."

He nodded, leaving the room. I was distracted by his motion, scared he would lash back and grab me. I pulled again harder than before. She lashed back, striking me. My cheek burned as I stared at her cold face.

"Not so hard!" she screeched again, pushing me away. "'I'll do it myself. I shouldn't have asked a servant to do something so simple."

My brows furrowed.