She reached out to touch them. I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing. They were sensitive, and her feather light touch tickled.
“You’re actually...not joking” a soft response.
“It’s not something I’d declare if I wasn’t serious” I pulled out my make-up to hide them again. “From what it’s become, I don’t share it lightly. But, I knew you’d find out, sooner or later. So I thought I’d tell you, before you found out and took it the wrong way.” I looked up and met her crystal blue eye. Her ear frills flared slightly as our gazes locked. I relaxed my eyes, so they fell into their normal, slightly wider state. For several seconds, the air crackled with electricity. I ducked my head when I realized what was going on, focusing on narrowing my eyes again.
“Assane.” I looked up in surprise, she’d never used my name before. “You are my sister. Or, I want to become like sisters. I’m glad you shared your secret with me.” She moved beside me. For a few minutes, we were just two teenagers. There was a knock on the door, and we became the Princess and her Translator again.
“Come in.” I called in both languages, at a nod from Princess Enotuvra. The man from before entered. He nodded in my direction before conferring privately with the princess. I busied myself with exploring the suite. Bathroom, her room, dining room, this place had everything except a kitchen. I pushed open the last door, expecting to find a kitchen. Inside was a bedroom bigger then our apartment, with MY stuff in it.
“Do you like it?” The princess’s voice sound from behind me.
“I love it. The view is breathtaking” I responded. She smiled before returning to the conversation. I climbed onto the largest windowsill. The glittering bay lay beyond the city. I knew from Mamri’s stories that further out lay the capital where the princess came from. Having never been more then a day’s ride away from Krina, I knew very little even of the land I was supposed to be wholly of.
“Sister?” A quiet voice interrupted my thoughts.
“Come in.” I clicked, Enotuvra entered and climbed up beside me.
“It’s just us. I thought we should talk, get used to each other. Figure some stuff out”
“Shouldn’t we, I dunno, maintain a professional relationship?”
“In public, sure at first. But in private we can be close if you don’t mind” I shrugged. She followed my gaze out the window.
“Owlfish. It’s...what my mom’s call me.” I broke in quickly. Her gaze snapped back to me.
“Owlfish, huh? It suits you little sister.” She said as she shifted to wrap her arms around me. Until just before dinner, we stayed like that. Two sisters enjoying the view.
She climbed down first, going to get dressed. A few moments later, some maids entered my room.
“Excuse us, Miss Translator? You need to get dressed” The taller of the two said. I climbed down hesitantly.
“The translator must look nice as she is beside the princess all night” The other said, thrusting a soft purple dress at me. Before I could protest, They were getting me ready. Undressing, redressing, and adjusting. Then came my hair.
“There. That frames your beautiful hazel eyes.” The first said. My soft brown hair cascaded down my back in a series of braids and fishtails keeping it out of my face.
“Thank you!” I gasped as I saw myself in the mirror. My slender frame was highlighted by the dress, bringing out my subtle curves. They bowed and left as I reapplied the foundation on my neck. Once I was satisfied, I met the princess in the main room. She was regal in a light blue full length dress. Her pale hair was braided around a crown before sweeping up into a regal bun.
“My lady, lead the way.” I bowed to her. She smiled as she waved for me to straighten. Pushing open the door and walking to the elevator, she informed me completely business-like:
“We will be here until a few days before I get crowned. You are to stay by my side whenever we leave the room.” I dipped my head respectfully. We were lowered to a dining hall once we stepped into the elevator. The doors opened and the work began.
“My lady, you look stunning!” One Aquarisnian called
“Warm my bed!” A drunk teen called, to laughing and cat calling from his friends. I, wisely didn’t translate. Enotuvra was poised through every greeting, never loosing her cool. Finally, we were led away by an older man I recognized as the mayor. He attempted to speak directly to the princess, with some success. I helped filling in the few gaps. Then he was replaced with an official looking Aquarisni.
“Are you sure you want to use this girl? She’s so young and loyalties could be..elsewhere. Questionable, but yet you insist.” He spoke like one used to giving orders and being obeyed. “I have many capable-”
“She’s proven herself worthy, Uncle” Enotuvra interrupted. He moved off after discussing a few more matters. “My father’s brother. One of my advisers, not entirely by choice.” She spoke quietly into the break in people wishing to speak with her. The next few people were a blur. I was ignored, even when I had to relate the message to the soon-to-be queen. But she was always attentive, when I spoke to her. They seemed to hate my constant presence.
One woman watched me curiously, her companion speaking rapidly in Aquarisni. I looked away as he switched to insults and curses in Homori’kra. At a nod, I translated quietly. My shoulders tensed as Princess Enotuvra’s face turned stormy, her eyes a deep black. She started arguing with him when I saw a flash of silver out of the corner of my eye. I reacted without thought.
