Sairia paced the confines of her cell as she did every afternoon. Well, maybe only she thought of it as a cell. Anyone else would say it was one of the most luxurious rooms in the country.
The bed was large and comfortable, with silk drapes hanging from its canopy. There was a fine collection of books on the other end of the wall that would make any scholar jealous.
The rugs were imported from Ys Akar—a land from which came no greater quality of wool. Stone carvings decorated most of the walls, etched by Dionite hands. Even the windows were made by the finest craftsmen in all of Rey Oben.
Rey Oben. Sairia owed her nation a great debt.
She should be glad the only thing The Council had done so far was confine her to her quarters in The Heart. After what she did, she couldn't blame her fellow countrymen for wanting her dead.
Yet all she could do now was wait—wait and contemplate her life. She thought of all the mistakes she had made and how she would have done things differently. Those thoughts had consumed her mind thousands of times before...
But there was no going back; time was always marching forward.
Sairia stopped pacing to pick up a letter an old friend had written her many years ago. It was a letter of congratulations—on the day she had first joined The Council—written by an old teacher.
A teacher, but mostly a friend. Nobol.
The letter spoke of all the grand things that Sairia would accomplish, ending with the hope that she would lead Rey Oben to greater heights.
What shame would Nobol feel if he saw her now? What pain would he feel for seeing what she did to their beloved nation?
Maybe it was a good thing he fled from the land over a decade ago, during The Imprisoning. Did he survive the trip?
Sairia felt a tear about to leave her eye when she heard a voice from outside her door.
"Alma Ni kami'a!" The watcher shouted as he ran down the hallway, repeating the phrase over and over.
Sairia knew exactly what that meant.
The Alma Ni has awakened!
Those words meant more to her than to anyone else in the world.
Her heart started racing. This was it. This was the beginning of the end. She paced around the room, faster than she had before.
Was it really time?
She thought she was prepared for this day, but her heart wouldn't stop pounding. Her nerves wouldn't stop quaking. Maybe there was more she should have thought about.
Maybe there was more she could have done to prepare for this day.
Or maybe... not.
Sairia tried to sit still on her bed and clear her mind. She knew what was going to happen next, and she wanted to look calm and composed when it did.
She had accepted her fate long ago; so why was she reacting this way?
Just then, she heard a knock at the door, and a beat later, it swung open. Abshak walked in and closed the door behind him. Sairia stood up.
"May I take a seat?" Abshak asked politely.
"Please, Great Head," Sairia responded formally.
Abshak sat down at the chair beside Sairia's writing desk and looked her dead in the eye.
"I'm sure you heard the watcher," he said.
"The Alma Ni has awakened. It's now time to fulfill your duty, Sairia. I have called an emergency council meeting to discuss the future for the boy, and you will accompany me."
It was just as Sairia had expected. "Yes, Great Head," she responded with a bow.
"Enough of this 'head' stuff. You know me, Sairia. Did all those years in my father's house mean nothing to you? Or all those years we trained under Master Nobol?"
"I meant no disrespect," Sairia said abashedly. "I cherish those memories fondly. I just thought that current circumstances called for more... submissiveness, Great Head."
He let out a long sigh. "I don't enjoy hearing you speak like this, Sairia. It's almost as if you've lost all hope. If you complete your duty well, I can more easily convince The Council—"
"No. I will complete my duties, and I will do it because I must. But I also intend to accept the punishment for my crimes. I must be redeemed, Absh— I mean, Great Head."
Abshak did nothing but look at Sairia pitifully. It seemed that even after over a decade of visitations, he still wasn't used to seeing this side of her. The humble side. She didn't blame him for his pity, but she wished that he could acknowledge what she did.
Abshak was always too nice. A man of medium build and broad shoulders. He had extremely curly hair that poked through from under his crown. The crown itself was rimmed with gold and dotted with rubies. The red cloth on top went over the back of his head, containing the rest of his dark orange curls.
Abshak had a freckled face, but it went well with his facial structure. Every time Sairia saw that face, she couldn't help but see the young boy she used to laugh with.
Abshak nodded impatiently. "Very well," he said. "Follow me... as long as you're ready to go, that is."
She bowed her head as an affirmative response and followed closely behind him out of the room, where they were joined by two guards who followed behind her just as closely.
This was the first time she had been outside her quarters since she was confined there about twelve years ago. It was a strange feeling. A dungeon would have been more fitting, but Sairia was once a member of The Council, so the law had to be bent.
While she was considered a criminal, members of The Council were the only ones who knew how to enter The Heart. If they kept her outside The Heart, she could possibly tell someone the secret out of spite or rebellion.
That was the reason Abshak gave The Council, anyway, to keep his friend out of a dark, wet, rat-infested prison cell. Sairia didn't know if she should thank him for that; part of her still felt she deserved a prison over the royal treatment she was receiving.
They walked through the corridors on the second floor around the center garden. The flowers were in full bloom this time of summer, and the few servants that lived in The Heart kept it well.
Sairia glanced at the rounded wall in the courtyard below, with a door that led to a room. The room where the Alma Ni slept—or rather—where he awakened.
Sairia's view was periodically obstructed by columns as she tried to catch a glimpse of her successor. The last time she saw the boy, he looked like a sleeping toddler bundled in a sack. What would he look like now?
She wondered, but saw nothing of him. It was as expected. After all, today was the Alma Ni's first day, and he wouldn't be awake for very long. The Council would probably want him bathed and groomed before the upcoming—more important—events.
The awakening of an Alma Ni was exciting for the whole nation. Sairia imagined that all of Rey Oben would be celebrating tonight. Or had too many things changed in the past decade?
She often wondered if her own failure changed the people's opinions about the Alma Ni. Would he still be treated with honor and respect? Would he still be loved by the goodfolk and adored by the children? Only time would tell, and it wasn't really any of her concern to begin with.
She had a very important responsibility with the new Alma Ni and intended to complete this final task with all determination. She only hoped the new Alma Ni would be easier to teach than she was at his age.
Their brief walk came to a halt outside another solid oak door on the other end of the courtyard. It was the councilroom, a room that sat right above the Alma Ni's sleeping chambers, and thus it was also circular.
Abshak stopped before the door, he looked back once more at Sairia, the pity still plain on his face. However, he put on a new face—one of collectedness.
He opened the door to the councilroom and Sairia followed behind, leaving the two guards in the corridor outside.
The Council was already in deep conversation, and the loudest of the bunch was a man with a mustache. Sairia had not met him, but based on the description Abshak gave her not many months ago, it must've been Sallion—the man that replaced Reorim a few months ago.
"That's three bodies, Member Mandiff! Three! Three of our capital's citizens have been found dead in the street!" Sallion said angrily.
"I'm not saying these deaths mustn't be brought to an end," Mandiff began his retort, "but they aren't the only dead that were found this morning. Four more were discovered. We must consider them all, Member Sallion. The oculists have gotten out of control—"
"But it was not the oculists that killed the three of which I speak," Sallion interrupted. "Their eyes were still intact, Mandiff! I am telling you these assassins are from Ma Nasan! They must be—" Sallion cut off when he heard Abshak clearing his throat loudly.
"Ahem!" Abshak exclaimed. "I'm happy you are so invested in the lives of our citizens, Member Sallion. But it's time we discuss the true purpose of this meeting, and so I have brought along Sairia to join in the discussion." He gestured toward Sairia.
Sallion spoke first. "So this is Sairia the Scorned," he said in feigned amazement.
"Member Sallion," Abshak said curtly. "There is no room for disrespect with an Alma Ni."
"Former Alma Ni," Sallion said under his breath, but loud enough to hear.
It seemed Abshak elected to ignore that last comment as he took his seat at the head of the table.
Sairia stood next to him and would remain standing. She was no longer a member of The Council and would not be given a seat.
"As you all know," Abshak said, "the Alma Ni has awakened. The ladies of The Heart have already put to getting him cleaned and ready for the ceremonies. On the morrow, he must eat. The First Feast, as you know. But I would like it to go a bit differently this time around."
"B-but how different would you like it to be, Great Head?" Olek asked. Olek was the oldest member of The Council and somewhat of a stickler for upholding traditions, Sairia remembered. The man stroked his frail white beard.
"Very different, Member Olek. Based on past experiences of The First Feast, I no longer find it prudent for the entire council to dine with the Alma Ni."
Olek gave a start at that, but Abshak raised his hand to mean silence.
"It just serves to cause more confusion and prevents the Alma Ni from feeling free to eat and sustain himself, which is the whole point of The First Feast. I remember when my father told me about Sairia's awakening, and it did not go well," Abshak said, starting to chuckle. "Apparently, she started throwing food at the members of The Council."
"I remember," Olek said. "She hit me in the nose with a sweet roll." He rubbed his nose.
Sairia started to blush but suppressed it.
Abshak stopped chuckling. "And so, I think it would be better if only Sairia were to be at this feast. After all, she is the only one in this room who is from The World Apart. I want this experience to relax the Alma Ni, not scare him or upset him. Am I understood?"
The members just nodded their heads.
Olek did not look happy, but he didn't say anything since Abshak put his hand up the first time. The old man always tried to be respectful toward The Head of The Council—whoever it happened to be at the time. Sairia remembered back in her days as a member, Olek was the exact same way with Abshak's father.
"Well, I'm glad that's agreed," Abshak said. "I understand that it's an important tradition for the Alma Ni to meet the members of The Council as soon as possible. So on the third day—his Name Day—we will greet him at the close of the ceremony.
"Sairia will be in charge of preparing him for that ceremony by briefing him on it tomorrow—during The First Feast." Abshak looked back at Sairia, to make sure she was in agreement.
Sairia nodded. She wasn't actually told any of these finer details before, so she felt a little unprepared. She thought about how to make sure the new Alma Ni had all the necessary information, but without overwhelming him.
Abshak continued. "A table should be brought to the boy's room in the meantime. The ladies will prepare his food, and on the morrow, everything will be ready. Sairia will be in the boy's quarters, waiting for him to wake up. Which brings me to another matter... I propose that Sairia be given free access to The Heart for the next few months while she trains the Alma Ni."
That did elicit a response. A big one. The other members of The Council went into an uproar. All except Mandiff, who looked down the whole time. Abshak silenced them again.
"She will not be allowed in anyone else's quarters, of course. Only her own room and the Alma Ni's room, as well as the other public areas. It should be no trouble at all to give her that freedom. And she will not leave The Heart." He turned to give Sairia a stern look before continuing. "Now, what say you?"
Jun spoke. "I can see the logic in your words, Great Head. I would be willing to accept your terms, but I want to know if there is more. Are we, the members, still allowed to visit the Alma Ni? Or will that privilege only be afforded to this woman?" Jun had never met Sairia, but obviously knew about her.
Everyone in Rey Oben knew about her—and most likely shared Jun's opinions.
"I would like to limit the visitations for at least the first week," Abshak said. "At the next council meeting we can discuss lifting those limitations. Is that alright with you, Member Jun?"
Jun gave a curt nod.
"Any other questions?" Abshak asked.
Sallion raised his hand and spoke. "How will the Name Day be done? Will we take the boy out of The Heart to the palace chapel? Will his mother join us? Excuse my ignorance, Great Head. This is all new to me."
"There is nothing to forgive, Member Sallion. We will be performing the ceremony here in the councilroom. And yes, his mother will be the one to name and bestow him."
"But how can we let a commoner into The Heart, Great Head?" Sallion protested. "Is that not against the law?"
Abshak raised both hands in an expression of calm. "Member Sallion, please. An exception had to be made in this case. You know that we are keeping the awakening a secret. What is the use if we were to take the Alma Ni outside The Heart and have the whole palace witness his Name Day?"
Sairia shifted in place, but tried to contain herself. She had no idea The Council was planning to keep the awakening a secret. That was not only breaking tradition, it was destroying it.
How could Abshak have possibly convinced Olek to go along with this plan? It must have taken an eternity to convince the old man.
But then, Abshak always did have a way of turning even the hardest of hearts. It would be admirable—if it wasn't so frustratingly effective. Sairia had spaced out in surprise for long enough, and she wanted to hear what else The Council had decided without her.
"Great Head, is it really necessary for the mother to be present? The naming can be performed by any one of us," Sallion said. "The bestowing as well," he said almost as an afterthought.
"I believe Meshu is deserving of the honor," Abshak said. "After all, she has kept the boy's very existence a secret for all this time. My father promised she could be the one to name him, and I intend to uphold my father's promise. Even if it means bending a rule or two," Abshak said nonchalantly.
"However," he added. "My father never promised to let Meshu bestow the boy. So if you insist that it be one of us... Would you like the honor, Member Sallion?"
Sallion shook his head. "No, no, Great Head. I suppose his mother can do it..."
Sairia was surprised Sallion gave in so easily. She thought that discussion would go on for a while.
"Very well, then," Abshak said. "After his Name Day, the Alma Ni will be taught to speak our language, as well as learn our culture and history. As with most Alma Ni, one might expect this to take about six months. But considering a former Alma Ni will be in charge of the training, I believe it can be accomplished in two." Abshak looked back with a confident smile.
Two months? Sairia wasn't so sure it was possible to accomplish such a thing. It certainly took her about six months, though it was true she didn't have a former Alma Ni to rely on.
"We can now bring this meeting to a close," Abshak announced. "We will reconvene every week as usual. There will be other opportunities to discuss our plans with the Alma Ni, as well as... other matters. Are we in agreement?"
The four other council members voiced their agreement and began to collect any parchments and notes they brought to the meeting. One by one, they filed out of the room, leaving only Abshak and Sairia.
"Are you okay with what we discussed? You didn't say a word during the meeting," Abshak said.
"I saw no reason to speak, Great Head. I am here to listen and obey, am I not?"
"Not necessarily. You are central to the raising of the Alma Ni. I think you deserve as much a say in his development as anyone on The Council."
"Don't be so sure," Sairia said. "The members of The Council don't see it that way. They all despise me."
"Not true! Jun only knows you based on what he's read. Sallion doesn't know you at all. In fact, he never has anything to say in our discussions regarding your future.
"And Mandiff served under you. He knows the kind of strong leader you can be; I don't believe that he despises you! And me... well, you know that I don't despise you. I hope you do..."
Sairia didn't want to respond. There was a pretty obvious omission of Olek, but it didn't matter. She only bowed her head in silence.
Why couldn't Abshak just give up on trying to help her? It was no use; things couldn't go back to how they used to be.
She waited until Abshak finally stopped trying to reassure her. He left the room defeated, and Sairia followed behind him. Just as before, the two guards tailed them all the way around the second floor corridor and back to Sairia's quarters.
She entered alone.
She could hear Abshak talking to the guards outside her door. No doubt telling them she would be given freedom in The Heart, starting tomorrow.
Sairia didn't care. She was still going to stay in her quarters as much as possible—when she wasn't teaching the new Alma Ni, of course.
That thought brought Sairia to wonder. Could the new Alma Ni be from the United States? It would make things easier. Even Canada wouldn't be a problem. As long as they were able to communicate, it would make the teaching process a whole lot easier.
Sairia remembered her own awakening. She had no former Alma Ni to lean on. All she had were people around her, speaking some unknown language and showing her symbols she didn't understand.
It took her weeks to finally make an effort to learn what was being taught. And it took many months to grasp just what was happening. For years, she felt completely isolated from the other Alma Ni. The ones from the other clans. It wasn't until her assignment overseas that led Sairia to meet... someone like her.
The memories started flooding in before she could stop them. The trust—betrayed. The sweet—turned bitter. The beautiful—now ugly. Why couldn't she stop thinking about him?
After what he did, she wished with all her heart that she could forget him forever. It was because of him Sairia was where she was. It was because of him she did what she did. But... no.
She could not spend her life blaming others. She made those choices. She took those actions. It was her.
Sairia marched to the writing desk and opened her notebook, determined to ignore the thoughts of the past. It was time to look to the future. It was time to prepare for tomorrow, when the Alma Ni would need her instruction.
She wanted to make everything clear at the beginning, so that the boy might know exactly what was going on and what it was that was expected of him. She wanted her successor to be better than she ever was. She wanted him to know that he was not alone.
"I'll be ready," Sairia said aloud to herself.