Salīa sprung up. Her dagger was instantly in her hand. Yet there was no one to strike with it.
The sun had filtered through the curtains.
Neither twin was beside her, and her balcony was closed. No trace of their essence or that of the figure even faintly in the room.
Her robe was still on, yet her thighs were slick with wanting and her breathing jagged.
"Such a strange dream."
When she thought more about it, she'd had dreams like this before. Yet most of them rooted back to that lewd illustrated book she found in Magi Rai's library.
She could make sense of dreaming of the twins in her bed after what had happened. Though the hidden figure was a bit of an odd addition.
The only reasoning she could come to was that he was probably inspired by the lover in that book, for he also had hints of darkness.
Knock-knock!
It was the attendants bringing food to break her fast. One of the attendants had their birthday, and so Salīa had asked the others to prepare a dessert best fitting.
Salīa knew not to be too overly familiar, as her mother always advised, yet just as her mother, kindness was still not something to be given shallowly. And so, she made sure to record all the birthdays of each attendant, magi, and zazi who'd serve in the palace – as well as little bits of notes on each.
It was true that many of them had lost some close to them, and so she asked that they prepare enough food for them all to make a feast of the day, and gifted them small consolations.
They'd whispered praises for her, too, as some had seen or heard about her appearance at the Freedom Festival and thanked her for her promises.
She wasn't certain how many of the people she'd won over, yet all she could hope was that it was more than she lost.
Once her braids were undone – as was advised by Chief Raino to not have too many defining hints to her identity – she left the palace.
"I'll be home soon," she nodded to it. "Until then."
She arrived at the topmost part of Salazā, between Shumpa and Sando, leading outside the land.
In orderly parallel lines stood zazi all dressed as if ready to battle.
All of them shone in their black and gold, while others were cloaked intentionally.
Most wore the customary hand wraps and had their xiras out. Some had headcovers for the heat they were about to embrace, while others wore cone hats, which signified they were going somewhere colder, yet could also use them as a form of shield.
While most wore or hid some version of a helmet shaped to match some animal, mostly feline. And of course, most had markings, whether shown or not.
While Salīa would be travelling with but one, there was no chance Chief Raino would leave her without any access to other protection if needed.
And so many of them would be scattered throughout the realm to complete various missions, while the remainder would watch over the land.
She, too, appeared disguised, wearing no more than dark, baggy pants with plentiful pockets and a cinching waist-belt.
Above it was a sapphire-dyed tunic that fell mid-way of her waist. To cover was a slightly shimmering black coat that could become hooded if need be.
Her eyes cast to the brightened skies, then to the gleaming land of glistening grass and blooming plants, as all the dead bodies that coated it were cleared. Yet even with the grounds no longer being bathed in blood and ash, the stain of it remained, for the air still smelled faintly of iron and charcoal.
It was jarring, molding the present image of light with the image of dark she had seen less than a day before.
Each flower easily mistaken for bodies, each stream for blood, each mote for smoke.
"We hope you're thinking about us."
The dual voices woke her from her daze. She instantly spun to them, both stunned and surprised.
All the rest of the council were all the way in Senai, waiting for her uncle to arrive by harbor for proper greetings. And it's not as if Salīa really wanted anyone to stand on courtesy with her farewell anyway, it would've delayed her leaving. Yet she couldn't help but feel a slight warmth in their presence.
"You should be greeting another," she said formally.
"Who else would we rather greet but you?" they said in unison, their shameless eyes flickering to her.
She felt her face heat. It was hard for her to keep her own gaze on them, for her dream eddied back to her instantly.
"We look so pretty on you," Lefu traced over her neck without touching.
"Hmm," Letu grinned and did the same. "It'd be nice to leave a few more before you go."
"What do you—"
Salīa's mouth widened when they used a pocket mirror to show her.
So, this is why all the attendants were so bashful when helping me prepare? How could I have forgotten?
Seeming to read her thoughts, they both took out a small shimmery honey-colored bottle. She knew it to be one of Salazā's special trades of a shimmery spray for the skin. Upon her approval, they pointed it at her neck, but a figure instantly swooped in.
"What are you doing?" he boomed, then his eyes traced to where they pointed. "Are you mad?!"
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