The World of Rhune

Sicera stepped from the carriage, her hair fluttering about in the beach wind, as if the wind was giving Sicera a kiss of greeting. She looked out, the waves beating the shore to a dark brown, then retreating back into it’s depths. “Lovely day for the beach, isn’t my dear?” Seaku was commenting to Neriku, who was on his elbow. Sicera watched as her sister-in-law smiled, her teeth perfect and white. It made Sicera’s heart ache, Neriku seemed so perfect, why couldn’t she herself be as perfect? The princess tucked a loose strand behind her ear, and looked down the beach. There were people there, but…why? “Seaku, who are they?” Sicera asked, it had been a while since Seaku had surprised her with company that he would say nothing about, and that included Neriku. “Well they are the Lord and Lordess of Corona City, along with their son Corron, whom is fifteen, soon to be sixteen. And I have graciously asked them to visit our great city, and you are to offer the same, or more, amount of graciousness and generosity as a host. Sister, understood?” Seaku turned on Sicera, and she sighed. “Yes, Seaku I understand. And I’m not stupid,” Sicera dragged the last part, “I’m not allowed to let them know that our relationship is much more than princess and King, besides that we are related,”. Seaku smiled. “Yes, thank you for reminding me actually, but I like Corron, and I’ve heard good things from him. Shall we, my Queen?” Seaku and Neriku started off, no, I’m sorry, my brother the King and his Queen, Neriku. Sicera shook her head, annoyed. She hated lying, especially this way, but that was the life of a princess; as she’d been lectured upon too many times. She quickly hurried to catch up to the parade of servants and guards.

“Lord and Lordess of Corona City, thank you so much for being here today, it is a great gift to be in your company. On behalf of my wife, Queen Neriku, my sister, Princess Sicera, and myself, I welcome you to our home.” Seaku introduced, and Sicera and Neriku curtsied slowly and (for Sicera) as gracefully as they could manage. The guests smiled, “My family and I, my wife Pricilla, and son Corron, are deeply grateful to have accepted your invitation and be in your company.” The family bowed, and Seaku smiled. “Well a picnic has been prepared, and I would like to say it’s time to enjoy it, though of course the beach is to anyone’s disposal.” Sicera longed to roll her eyes, as if Seaku hadn’t noticed, no one was in appropriate beach wear, maybe Corron could get away with something, but hardly that. Sicera sighed, and stepped over to where the large blanket and dozens of mini-tables were sitting, stock-piled with food. Sicera waited to find a seat. She knew she’d been about fourth to be seated. Seaku, the Lord, Neriku, then herself, the Lordess, and Corron. Sicera waited, Seaku took a seat in the middle, Neriku on his left and the Lord on his right. Sicera sat a little further to Neriku’s left, slightly excluded from the ring of adults. The Lordess was on her husband’s right and the Corron was also seated out of the conversation, closer to Sicera than the other adults, which surprised Sicera. Corron was almost sixteen, so he was an adult. The thought bothered Sicera slightly, but she figured it was her curiosity. “Hello,” Corron nodded to her, and Sicera nodded back. “Well, giving thanks to our gods that we are here and for our feast, let us begin toasting, to the health of our guests—” “And to the health of our generous host,” The Lord cut in, and Seaku looked slightly surprised, but recovered and smiled, “Thank you, let us all toast!” Seaku tipped and touched his glass to the Lord’s, and continued. Sicera smiled, but wasn’t exactly into it. Too many picnic toasts, too many toasts at all for her. She touched her glass to Corron’s, and glanced at the ocean. It seemed to cling glasses with the sand, yet much more roughly and with a different sound. Much unlike the high ‘cling’ of the glass, with its powerful crash. The reminder made Sicera tap her glass even lighter, lest it crash and shatter.