Chapter 6: Two Lights, One Darkness

Meia stormed out of her room in the opposite direction of Shyana. What kind of queen was she to allow her general to speak to her in that manner? Even if it were her sister, there was a protocol to adhere to and that conduct was beyond unacceptable! If she were able to understand that, why couldn't Shyana?

But then it had always been that way, even when they were children- Meia always the obedient, desperate-to-please one and Shyana the troublemaker.

The queen stopped in the middle of the alabaster hallway, her eyes turning up to the tapestry, which held the image of their once happy family. Even with the pressures of royalty, they'd somehow managed to grasp a sense of peace amongst themselves. Meia focused on the kind expression in her father's dark eyes, as he looked down on his two princesses with pride.

Shyana must have been twelve when this was woven, which would have Meia at six winters. She reached her pale fingers up, trailing them along the edges of the tapestry by her older sister's image. How could it be that the two of them were so different? Even within the intricate weavings of a tapestry, Shyana's eyes expressed rebellion and mischief, her crimson hair just as rich and vibrant as their father's. She sat with her chin raised defiantly, her scowl piercing, as if she were already planning to become the general of the Xhaian army someday.

Beside her, Meia perched with her knees curled under her delicate frame, as if she were a luna flower, masterfully placed within a royal arrangement. She was the perfect example of refinement and innocence, her gentle features showing quiet respect to her position; just as a future queen was meant to look.

She remembered how her father would guffaw at Shyana's antics when they were children. When she hung upside down from the yellow wenik tree in the royal courtyard, the servants fussed and fretted, trying their best to corral her back to her studies.

Meia rested quietly in the shade, anxious to continue the lesson which had quickly bored her older sister into chasing a panicking rekon up the gnarled tree.

It's long, weasel-like body slithered from branch to branch, chirping furiously at the princess. Shyana gave up chasing it when it leapt from its perch, expanding its webbing and gliding to the ground. She swung down and hung from her knees, smiling wickedly at the disturbed faces which begged her to come down.

It wasn't until the smooth voice of their father interjected. "And this is what my children are learning?" that Shyana stopped her taunting.

Their exasperated tutor bowed to him. "Your Majesty, I cannot work like this anymore! I'm trying to teach and the princess simply refuses to comply."

The King smiled at Meia. "I see my princess sitting as quietly as a flower. Surely she isn't too rowdy for you to handle, Madam Tutor?"

Meia smiled at her father's praise, resting her face into his large hand.

Shyana giggled from her tree perch as the tutor stammered. "Not princess Meia, she is my best student; the other one, my Lord!"

The King looked around as if he were confused. "I see no other princess, but I do notice a rather large rekon hanging from the tree there. Honestly, I thought we had traps set up for a reason."

Shyana smirked before releasing her branch and flipping down to land in a cat-like position, much to the relief of the clearly flustered servants. This act, which should have resulted in a beating or at least a proper scolding, was brushed off as nothing more than Shyana's willful spirit.

Meia was often repelled by her elder sister's behavior and found the need to be even more well-behaved to make up for it. If Shyana wouldn't take her position seriously and show respect to their lineage, then it was up to Meia to do so.

The now grown queen narrowed her eyes. No more. Shyana needed to understand her place in this life. She wasn't the queen. She purposefully gave up her title and privilege, just to play soldier. It was high time Shyana started to treat Meia as more than just a figurehead.

Just as she had made the silent proclamation, an unnerved voice cried. "The General is gone! The General is missing!"

Meia closed her eyes and squeezed the bridge of her nose, feeling a familiar headache creeping in.

The servant who made the discovery came sprinting down the marble hallway, his shoes slipping, as he struggled to regain his footing, before bowing to his queen. "Your Majesty, I went to call the General for dinner and she's missing! What shall we do?"

Without bothering to comment, Meia glided down the hallway to Shyana's old room, which still displayed the paintings her advisor made for her when they were young. Meia's fingers brushed the canvass with a sigh.

Akiem showed sophisticated brush work even as a child when Shyana first discovered him. There were many a time when Meia found herself jealous of the way he doted on her and almost completely ignored the younger sister, who would have loved to walk the gardens with him, listening to his every word.

It seemed as if everyone in the kingdom was quick to dismiss Shyana's behavior and fawn on her. Meia's gaze scanned the room before resting on the open window where the makeshift rope still hung.

Jein followed the commotion, fluttering nervously behind her. "We should lock down the stables. She should be punished for leaving without the Queen's permission. I'll send word right away, your Grace, she won't…."

"That won't be necessary Jein." Meia replied absently, stopping the chamberlain mid-sentence.

His flustered gaze went to his queen. "But, with all dear respect, your Highness….why not?"

She didn't answer, keeping her eyes focused outside where the three suns had already begun to set.

Then, as if on cue, a servant girl came sliding into the room, her chest heaving as she bowed. "The stables have been made a trap, your Grace. If we open the doors, ropes will engage to tie off the entrance. We could see the set up through the cracks in the walls. It'll take hours to undo that mess."

Meia gave Jein a pointed look. "That's why."

His pale blue eyes searched around unsure of what just happened, but certain he was to be upset about it.

"What are your orders, your Majesty?" He asked, desperately seeking some direction to balance out the upset in his primly organized world, which only seemed to fall apart when Shyana was involved.

She glanced back to her servant, assuming the presence of royalty, her voice ringing with command. "Go to the falconry and compose a message to be sent to all the nearest villages. I want posters up within the night and everyone to be talking about it until word reaches the Xhaian army. General Makea has displeased her queen with desertion from this sacred place. She is to be captured and brought to Castle Xera for punishment immediately. Any with information of her whereabouts will be rewarded."

A pleased smile spread across the chamberlain's face. "Yes, my Lady."

When he left to accomplish his task, Meia stepped forward, clutching the tied-off silken sheets which still fluttered in the breeze.

She shook her head, balancing their weight in her hand. "You never change Shyee, but we'll see where your insolence will lead you. It is time to make some severe modifications to your behavior, my sister. One way or another."