Without Words, Without Sight

27: An Introduction to History

Iris found her fingertips sliding over the cloth that covered her abdomen. Indeed, her nurse had told her about how difficult it was for this people to reproduce... How rare a sight children were, and how unbelievable it had seemed to find an abandoned little girl in the middle of the forest. This was why these people yearned for a royal heir this much.

"And with the last breaths of the last dragon, the golden times of this kingdom also ebbed away. At the time, two brothers maintained the position of the mightiest warrior, equal in strength and cunning. But without dragons to hunt, the nation needed a new purpose, and the people turned to them for advise. The brothers, similar in all matters physical as they were, could not come to an agreement, and the more the people grew impatient, the deeper their hatred for each other. Not wanting to divide the nation, they finally agreed to fight each other and let Death impart judgement on their views – the victorious brother would henceforth lead the nation. They fought for three days and three nights, unforgiving and ready to take advantage of any opening, any inattentive moment. By the break of dawn of the fourth day, the founding of the Kingdom of Beithalgair was proclaimed by the victor, our first rightful king."

Here the vassal stopped for a moment.

"And ever since then, the crown has been given to the warrior who proved the strongest", Iris concluded.

"Male or female, yes. Regardless of social status as well. Although, of course, the court prefers a certain level of education", the vassal added.

"So our king's family is..."

"...rather exceptional, indeed."

"I see."

"We know of five other dynasties who have maintained the rule for more than two generations, to be precise."

"I am curious to learn about them", Iris smiled. "I hope it is not unbecoming of me to thank you for your efforts, honoured vassal."

"You flatter me."

Iris watched as the vassal executed a slightly deeper bow than in the past. His voice as his demeanour were always collected and rather unemotional. He seemed like a high-principled man, and his behaviour right now was, in all likelihood, merely a reflection of how the protocol required him to be. His office was so much part of his being, it did not even feel like a lie, maybe not even to himself. But Iris failed to believe that his opinion about her as a person had been altered in any way by the mere fact of her being married to Nyx now. The vassal interacted with her as he was supposed to in face of the queen. But the being that now held this position he honoured so much, the blind girl Iris from the woods, was probably no more suited in his eyes than before.

"It would be ridiculous to act as though I was anything else than a commoner in front of you, who escorted me to this castle", Iris openly stated to the surprise of her counterpart, and her thus far averted eyes met the vassal's with such sharp precision, he could not help but cringe. "But I do believe you firmly trust our king's decisions, just as much as I do."

"That is true", he admitted.

"Honoured vassal. You will have to bear with me for a while, I am afraid. But I am not going to disappoint neither you, nor him", Iris explained in a tone that radiated more authority than she herself would have expected. "Nor this kingdom."

Maybe Nyx' constant presence was beginning to exert a certain kind of influence on her.

"I will assist you in any way I can", the vassal then said and bowed again.

Iris smiled and nodded. "Thank you. But for now", she said and turned her face toward the window,"I think I have stolen enough of your time. The sun is almost gone completely." The vassal blinked. How could she know? "Although I have so many more questions", Iris added and smiled at him again.

"O-of course", he stammered to his own surprise. "Allow me, then, to excuse myself for thenight."

When the guards outside had firmly closed the doors behind the vassal, Daray rubbed his beak against Iris' cheek as if to say well done. She chuckled.

"In truth I would have loved to hear more, Daray", she told him and walked a few steps. The voluminous carpets tickled her feet through her new slippers. "But even more than that, I wanted to be alone in this room for a while!"

Daray croaked and flew across the king's extensive study, circling Iris' head like the rest of his mates did with the towers under the open sky.

"This room is even higher than the chambers I know", Iris whispered looking around. "And this is his desk." The polished surface felt like porcelain, cool and perfectly even. This was where he sat all day, controlling the affairs of a whole kingdom. Even now that no one else was here, the air felt heavy.

From here, the entire room could be overlooked, the only entrance under his vigilant eyes. From the walls hung heavy cloth and carpets, surely some of them were flags, with their pointed ends.

"It's funny", she mumbled."For more than 15 years, the only thing I could see has been an all-consuming, unchanging darkness. And yet the memory of it feels so far away already. I can see...", she said and rubbed Daray's tiny forehead with her finger. "And it brings me so much joy! ... But sometimes I feel that... I am being ungrateful. For wishing to still see more. For wishing to see things I know I will never again be ableto." She looked up at the large paintings between the carefully draped tapestry. "I am sure one or two of these must also show Nyx' parents."

Daray croaked affirmatively.

"But these paintings are nothing more than the sum of their surfaces to me. Just like books."

Iris let her head sink again.

„If I could read, Daray. If only I could. Maybe then, I--", she mused, but was interrupted by a mighty bang resounding from the door wings. They jerked open violently, pushing in so much air, Daray spread his wings for fear of being thrown off his perch. The fire in the grate crackled lively and a few embers fled the rough steel cage that had kept them. Hissing a last time, they burnt to ash in mid-air and tumbled towards the floor. Some of them stuck to Iris' hands and face.

The next thing she grew aware of were large pranks squeezing her chest, and how her feet were lifted from the ground.

A tournament!!

„W-what?!"

A tournament! In honour of the queen! The joys you bring me, my darling bride!, Nyx triumphed and spun around once.

„H-hold on, I still don't under—mph", she went as Nyx held her closer and pressed a kiss on her lips.

This morning, the representatives of the eleven districts requested an urgent meeting, Nyx explained enthusiastically and sat down on the armchair with her. It seems that already during the celebrations, there was a groundswell of support for the conduction of a tournament in your honour. The next morning,a popular vote was arranged and the idea won vast majorities in all districts! This hasn't happened in a while. And so quickly! You've really impressed them, he smiled. His aura was bright and his spirits high, it was almost blinding.

"I see! You seem happy", she said, tracing his smiling mouth with her fingers.

That's because my wife is aboundless source of joy, Nyx said cheerfully. And because there will be a brawl, he added in a deeper voice, grinning broadly.

Iris laughed. He was looking forward to it like a little boy!

"When will it take place?"

In three days. Let's have the tailor prepare a new dress for you right away.