Re: Chapter 2, Phase 1 Intermission - Ocean Mist Inn
Her mind worked around the things that were said, especially when Jadira spoke of the purpose behind the Cobalt Alliance. That sounded like something she wanted to be a part of...for personal reasons, as well as for the greater cause the Alliance. After all, she knew that she would need friends and allies of great strength if she were ever to become strong herself--and because she knew she would need the help if she was ever to return home. She didn't, however, expect to be spoken to directly. Or asked questions, for that matter!
She blushed, predictably, and took another sip of her water before responding. There was so much she could say, wasn't there? Of course, the biggest issue was whether or not she was going to tell the truth. Her past was rigorously guarded. Not even the Captain knew everything. Still, it wouldn't be prudent to be false with those who would freely embrace them. She gave an internal sigh as she decided.
"My name is Kiana." She said softly, setting the cup down and looking at them all, though Jadira specifically, as she was the one who requested the tale. "I come from the Crimson Isle. It is very close to the Realm, and has a passionate trade relationship as a result."
She paused, obviously uncomfortable speaking in front of so many people. She was raised to be silent by her mother, and speaking at the table was all but forbidden when her father was away. She reached for a small bowl of rice and, after plucking some chopsticks, went about stabbing at the rice, but not really eating, as she continued.
"My family was very powerful. Perhaps the most powerful. You see, my Father was a mighty warrior, and thus a magnificent general. The Crimson Isle is called so for a reason--it was won through blood and sacrifice. It's boarders are threatened constantly by those who desire it's rich lands, and so my Father was rarely home, as he was needed in the field." All this she said with her eyes down, focusing on the white rice as she prodded it too and fro. Finally she released the chopsticks into the bowl and pushed it away, looking up and again making eye contact with everyone there, one at a time. "When he was away, I was watched by my mother. As great as my father was...my mother was his opposite in most every way."
"She hated me, though I am not entirely sure why. Perhaps it was because I was no born a male, and thus made a poor heir for her husband. Maybe it was her shame. Regardless, she was cruel to me when he was away. I won't describe the horrors I faced as a child, but they were many. When my father returned, as he was wont to do, I tried to tell him about her actions, but I was either too young to describe it to him, or he refused to believe me. I want to think it was the former." She said. She took a longer drink of water this time, her throat already tired from what little she had spoken. It was not her place to use her tongue so, but now that she had begun, she was loathe to stop without finishing the tale.
"When he died, Mother became insufferable. Her suitors were many, and I became a pawn in her political games. I was used as a bargaining chip, and became the pleasure of any man who took her interest. I became a..." She paused, her lower lip trembling for a moment before a deep breath returned her control. "I became little more than a whore. Less, I believe, because a whore receives compensation...or at least have a choice in the matter. I did not. And those were the more gentle of my mother's doings.
"Then one night my misery ended." She said. She reached down and grabbed the leather pouch at her side, and began to untie the strings that held it closed. "Mother sent me to a chamber where three of her suitors waited. I was to be a contest that night, and they were quick to play. It was my practice to meditate during those awful nights, to clear my mind and block everything I could, but that night was different. As they began to ravage me, the Earth Dragon blessed me. As the Realm is fond of saying, I 'Hatched'. It was not pleasant for the suitors. My father had taught me well how to defend myself, but because of my mother, and my own smaller state, I had always been afraid to use what he had taught me--to defend myself. The power of the Earth surged through me...and such power cannot exist without a focus. They did not survive."
She reached into the pouch. "As you all can imagine, my mother was furious. Before she had time to find out, however, I fled out of fear. If I had lost my ability to entertain the men she fancied, then I had lost all value to her. I left everything I had known behind, save for these." She placed two large white Jade fighting gauntlets on the table, easily the match of the boots she wore. They were overly large, but were attuned to her, and thus fit perfectly. "These, with the boots on my feet, were all I had to remember my father by. They are the mark of his style of Martial Arts, and thus as mine as well." Unless someone showed interest in seeing the gauntlets, she would place them back into the pouch and tie the string, before finally finishing her tale.
"But as I said before--I left. There is only one way off the Isle, obviously, but those hatched of the earth are not so fond of large bodies of water...but I did what I had to to escape her. Not soon after my exodus, however, I ran into our Captain, who was kind enough to take me aboard in return for my services as an assistant to his craft. A role I fill proudly, and is, to my knowledge, my only position of importance on his fine vessel."
She paused then, looking around and blushing once more as she realized how long she had been speaking. "I...forgive me, I did not mean to prattle on. That is my tale, Jadira."