The World of Rhune

Sicera had closed her eyes, and listened rather than watched the sea. It always seemed to put a stop to her raging curiosity because it put things into a new perspective by hearing it. Even though she listened with her ears all day, it was always a different feeling without eyesight. But of course it fails you when you can’t hear someone tap you on the shoulder. Sicera flinched, and opened her eyes. She had definitely not been expecting anyone, especially Corron, to touch her. Her eyes flicked up to his, and she saw the momentary flash of fear that he’d done something out of protocol. But Sicera saw him blink and then it was gone. “Excuse me, Princess Sicera, would you like to walk down by the waves with me?” He asked, and Sicera was surprised about how fluid his speech was. She hadn’t heard him talk much besides a quick “Hello”, which was next to nothing. It took her less than a second to realize he was just one of those natural people who talk. Sicera smiled though, “I would love to, as long as…” She turned to her brother, not mentioning the word brother, but not mentioning the word King either. She met eyes with Seaku for a moment, registering his tiny head nod of ‘yes’, and continued paying attention to the Lord as he spoke about some cash trade growing in Corona City from a trade bargain with some merchant in Xirra. Sicera turned around quickly, she wasn’t a fan of Xirra, she’d been invited to go with her brother once, and the feminine racism had nearly killed all of her buzz of going. “Yes, yes I would love to go, Corron,” Sicera spoke up, setting her half-full glass. He stood up quickly, and helped Sicera up. She smiled, but felt slightly screwed up inside. His touch felt like Jaydius’, but sent a fizz from where he touched her.

Five minutes later, Sicera had taken Corron’s arm, and was walking down the beach. It was slightly cooler, the breeze picked up more spray, and the sand was wetter and evaporating in the sun, only to be drenched again by a wave. Sicera was smiling at the water. Maybe Seaku had ordered a tent to be brought? Then she could change, her suit was longer anyways. It had a skirt to her knee, and the neck line wasn’t dipping at all. Corron was talking of how lovely the water was. “It is so beautiful here, Sicera. And the ocean, I’ve never seen anything like it, not ever in Corona City. Must be wonderful to live here.” His voice trailed, and he grinned at Sicera. She smiled back, she liked Corron, he didn’t expect much from her. Yet. “It is truly a blessing, the ocean is my favorite thing in the world, well…actually…I…never mind.” Sicera ducked her head to the side, she’d been about to say her brother was the best thing in the world, but that would be really revealing the bond. Corron glanced at her, questioning, but she remained quiet. One perk of being a princess, you were never truly forced in situations like this to explain yourself. He shrugged nonchalantly, starting on another topic. “Do you like books? Or are you a light reader?” Sicera longed to roll her eyes, of course he would realize as a princess, she’d be forced to read from studies. Every good student read the works of ‘The Philosophers of the Ancients’ and ‘The History of Sien-ra: From Dawn to Dusk of the ages’. That had been the worst book, nearly a thousand pages. And she’d read it in ten days, a hundred pages to a day! Her tutor was insane, she was happy with her new one. “I like books, I understand their value, but ruining your eyes over some history would never be a favorite. But something more fictional may be an allowance,” Sicera breathed in, and realized how much she’d just told this boy she hardly knew. What was happening to her? But it seemed only natural to Corron, “I understand the feeling, all except for the fiction, I’m sorry its just, why bother with something fictional? That isn’t real?” Corron looked down on her, and Sicera frowned. “Why bother with fiction? Why not,” Fiction had gotten her through some of the pain of her parent’s death, a major crutch for her. She wasn’t one to read excessively, but she did read a lot. “It’s a gateway to another world, one that doesn’t have to exist here, or it can but have a good ending. It’s just a place that can be fixed to you, unlike non-fiction it’s already chalk-full of pre-made events you have no effect on.” Sicera looked out into the ocean, trying to cool her steam. Why was she arguing so heatedly about this? She turned to Corron, and saw a shocked expression. It was clear he hadn’t dreamed she’d have this type of opinion, or the gumption to say it. “I…am sorry to have…brought up the subject,” he spoke quietly, as if loud words would send her blood boiling again. It might have, if he said the wrong wording. Sicera could feel the heat pumping through her ears to her face. “I…me too, would you like to go back?” she asked, calming herself. “I’m sure there is a tent to change and maybe you can feel the water instead of just talking and looking at it.” Sicera glanced behind her, at the picnic, and thought she saw the long bag that carried the tent. Corron seemed slightly startled still, and Sicera mentally kicked herself. How would this look on Seaku? A King who can’t even keep his own sister under control? But after a moment he smiled, and laughed. “I distinctly remember that normally I’m supposed to ask, but thanks for saving me the words. I’d find it very refreshing,” Corron offered his arm to Sicera again, when she’d dropped it to make her point. She took it lightly, relieved that he didn’t seem upset, and they walked back quietly.