A/N: Ok, so this is another very short story (would be one-shot except that its too long) and it deals with Arti from Loyalty! I know if you've been following White City you're probably pissed that this is not an update. And what's more this isn't even Yaoi. Its Yuri. Cause I need some Yuri in my life. Anyway. I think its really cute and I'll upload the second half when I have enough review on this. Also the next chapter of white City is coming soon...very very soon. maybe today, maybe tuesday. Who know? I have a final Monday soooo....anyway. Please, let me know you're reading this...It really helps the motivation.

The wind cut like ice through the sails, snapping the hanging cloth like a whip cracking against he mast. The sharp saltiness of the air dug into dry skin, open wounds, and raw flesh causing a perpetual burning sensation. Arti took a deep breath, relishing the sharp prick against her throat and lungs, the gray mass of land was visible on the horizon. They would dock by nightfall, and she would be home.

A shiver ran through her at the thought. She wasn’t expected home until the morrow, at earliest, and the surprise arrival, she hoped, spawned an equally exciting welcoming party. If Sir Charl wasn’t on a mission, that was. The moment of doubt was brief and she quickly pulled herself into rights and listened for the captain’s call to orders. It would be all hands on deck to maneuver the ship in with this strong wind at their backs.

It was pitch dark before they were done. The ship had been maneuvered in and registered with a grumbling shipyard master. Then a court was selected to stand guard for the night before the rest of the crew was dismissed. Artemis rode a sleepy disgruntled horse up to the gates. The guard there opened a small window, took one look at her, and shut it again with the metal click of a lock.

Frowning severely, she beat her fist against the door until the window opened again and a man stuck his head through it, “If yur wanting bed for the night I s’gest the barracks ‘round back. No need t’enter through the fr’nt.”

“I hold title in this court. Now let me in!”

“Title, ha! The only title you’ve got s’whore. Now git yourself away.”

Artemis ripped off her hat and scarf and let her long brown hair billow behind her, “Lady Antigua Artemis Burundi. If you don’t let me pass I will see your balls, k’bob style, on my desk in the morning. Do you hear me?”

The guard thought a second, looked at her again, and gave an imperceptible shrug before slamming the window shut and tugging open the door enough for her to squeeze through. Inside she left her borrowed horse at the stables and stripped her thick leather guards as she crept down the hallways barely lit by oil lamps. She had intended to go to her rooms upon arriving to the castle, but her feet carried her down the damp halls of the west wing where the knights held quarters.

As she moved slowly across the damp stone floor she heard the faint noises of grunts and cries and smiled as she tried to ignore the coupling lovers. The noises grew louder as she moved down the hall, soft by any means, certainly, but still audible. As she reached the room where Charl would sleep if he were in the castle she glanced a knowing look at the room opposite his. Some maid or lady would be walking limp tomorrow surely for the pounding it sounded like she was getting.

The heavy oak door of Charl’s chamber’s opened easily under the turn of a handle. As the door craked open the first inch a wave of hot sticky air billowed out along with the now loud screams and moans. Artemis was blind as she shifted from the lit hallway to the bedchamber. However when eh eyes adjusted she though she might as well be blind. In the faint glow of the long passed moon, two bodies rolled on the sheets. One was broad shouldered and reared back over another with a thin frame and long pale yellow hair splayed on the mattress. Charl thrust again and again, each time rocking the girl forward and backward on the mattress, her grunts and cries rhythmically in time with his thrusts.

Artemis watched calmly as they sped up, went at it will violent passion, and cried out seconds apart, their noises and musk flowing around her. Finally Charl noticed the increased light, the cool air, he turned and saw her, features dark, shoulder’s heavy from the day but straight and high. She shrugged and turned on her heel, leaving as quickly as she could without running. The grumble of sleepy knights wandering out to find the noise that had woke them so early trailed after her.

The rest of the castle was quiet, a few lamps hung at hallway intersections but they burned too low for helpful light. She didn’t ring for a servant when she entered her chambers though a window had been cracked, probably to aerate for her return, and the sitting room was chilly with night air. Artemis stripped her leather vest and sword belt, leaving both on a stiff green chair, her boots she kicked over to the edge of the dead fireplace. Stretching out on the unfamiliar cream and gold stiff couch, she propped her arms behind her head and stared through the floor-to-ceiling windows that lined the wall. The moon was dark, a blur of light through the wavering glass. She cocked and curled her head until the moon was centered on the three ripples in one pane, intended to ward off witchcraft. There she fell asleep, her mind swimming through the latest voyage, and the scene of Sir Charl in bed with a trollop. Surprisingly, as exhaustion tugged her into sleep, she found she wasn’t hurt in more than her pride, and sleep claimed her before she bothered to analyze the though further.

The next morning a young maid woke her with a startled shriek and Artemis was on her feet reaching for her sword before she remembered where she was. The maid had a hand clamped over her mouth and her eyes watered as Artemis drug long brown hair out of her face and into a ponytail at the base of her neck and turned to the girl, “Sorry. I got in early this morning. Have a bath drawn, please.”

The maid executed a quick bouncing curtsey before scuttling back through the door she had entered. The room was still too chilly for Artemis’s comfort but she didn’t feel she had the energy to start a fire with the skinny bits of wood left in the pile. The most she could hope for was a hot bath.

The maid returned when the bells marked the first hour of the court day. Artemis stripped fully, dumping the soiled cotton and leather into a basket, which was carted away quickly to be cleaned and freshened. Artemis curled her toes as the hot water hit them, the difference in their temperatures making it feel like the skin was peeling off. But she managed to seat herself fully in the heavy ceramic tub – a gift from Brennus – the smell of vanilla nearly chocked her in it’s intensity. A smile tightened her face. Brennus had been leaving her gifts again. It was, frankly, the most sinfully delightful bath Artemis had experienced in the past six months. And she had taken rests at some very luxurious hotels in the Indies and the deep south seas.

She finally left and got dressed for court when the water began to cool around her. The maids had laid out a pair of brilliant white leather pants with silver embroidery and nearly-black knee-high boots with a whit silk shirt and a dark gray vest with a jacket to match her boots. She also added a gray silver-flecked neck tie and bound her hair with a long silver ribbon in a customary tail. Long loose bangs fluttered around her face and curled around her ears to high light the three diamond studs in one side and the two silver cuffs in the other. A bit of rouge to her lips and a fine scrub of lotion over her skin gave her the glow and elegance accustomed to court gentlemen.

The chamber was almost full when she entered the high balcony. A hulking figure in black near the farthest corner caught her eye and she made her way over to him delicately, talking the empty seat at his side. Gai glanced over and smiled a bit before focusing back on the room, below the council was milling about near their seats, some flipping through papers and others engaged in fierce arguments.

The King entered from the far doorway. He had regained much of his royal girth in Artemis’s absence and again made an imposing figure. He took the high seat and motioned for the bowing councilmen to take a seat. The king began addressing the hall and simple procedures of council.

Artemis leaned in to Gai and whispered, “You’re friend is a prick.”

Gai nodded but didn’t look at her so she continued, “I came back late last night to find him impaling a young lady of the quarters. I wonder how that reflects on knight-hood and whether I should be worried for Bren. After all, you’re all cut from the same cloth, yeah? And I’d hate to have to cut your balls off too.”

Artemis was surprised by her vehemently angry outburst, quiet though it was. She didn't feel that angry, but maybe she was just lonely and cranky after six months abroad with nothing was swarthy sailors for good company. Gai look at her, a storm brewing in his eyes. He didn’t, however, shout, and so Artemis gave up and reclined in her seat, kicking her feet up to prop on the railing.

She was nearly dozing again when a rustling and shifting of chairs had her looking down at the council. Prince Vos was entering through the same door his father had earlier. What was going on?

She glanced over to Gai, he had a tight angry look on his face. Artemis kept silent and watched the proceedings below. The King had an angry look on his face but when he spoke to the Prince his voice was calm and almost apologetic, “Prince Vos, the council has come to the decision that your worth as King must be tested against the realities of the world. Therefore you will be sent with a small contingent to the Kingdom of Belzebah. The ruler of that land is seeking to make relations with our own great kingdom and he would also like to entertain the prospect of a marriage between our countries. Emperor Taakain has agreed to have you as his guest for the space of a month, during which time you will observe and attend court and work to increase our relations with that area. You may choose your contingent to be approved by this council. You leave within the week.

Artemis stared down at the king in disbelief. He was obviously unhappy about the decision but the council held a powerful sway and if they were all in support of this he could not afford to go against their wishes. A quietly snarled curse drew her eyes to the hulking knight beside her. She understood, in a sense, his anger, for it was much like her own. And he had a feeling it would take more than the council to prevent either of them from being on the Prince’s ship when it sailed.

The rest of the court finished quickly with the Prince continuing to stand attendance beside his father. When the final business was conducted the King followed in the tradition his son had started and called for refreshments in the adjoining parlor rooms.

Artemis stormed down to the men’s parlor, followed quickly by a seething knight. However before they entered Gai gripped her elbow and tugged her into a side alcove, “I am sorry about Charl,” He said, “I could’ve told you it might happen. Charl is not the best partner, certainly, weak loyalty for all but his country.”

Artemis nodded and gripped Gai’s forearm, “I know, I wasn’t surprised, not really, and I’m not upset. I don’t know what came over me. I’m sorry. I know you won’t hurt Bren. I know you’re good for him.”

A moment passed then Gai felt a pressure against his pants and glanced down to see the silver glint of a short knife against his crotch. Artemis had a sweet smile on her face, “But my offer remains. If you do turn out anything like your friend, I’ll be happy to free you of your…burden.”

With that she stepped back and sheathed the knife before proceeding into the room. Already the men were gathered, lounging in tight groups on large winged-back chairs, whiskey and coffee on side table with thick smoke filling the air. Artemis accepted a steaming cup of black coffee from a waiter and sipped it as she wandered through the crowds. Finally she found the group she had been looking for. The prince was resplendent in his dark clothes with touches of bright yellow and blue. Artemis listened to the trail of the conversation before speaking up.

“Well, Prince, do you think you can hold the front lines so far from home?” This was an old military colonel and was followed up by a much younger soldier.

“I think that the key to success abroad is to show a firm hand, that you have an active and well-rounded understanding of government…and war.”

“Now now, don’t be hasty, boy,” this spoken by a governor of oversea relations, “a show of force is not always the best tactic. Cunning and diplomacy can be equally as great weapons when wielded by a master.”

A few more such comments and advice was traded before Artemis spoke up, “Prince Vos has certainly already proved his prowess as official and is certainly more cunning than the devious forces at work in our own lands. I suspect the foreign emperor will be far too impressed by our highness and may seek to keep him for his heir.”

“You speak with authority, Lady Burundi, may I ask on what grounds?”

“I was in the province hardly a year and half ago. Though of course I have not been in the company of the great Emperor himself, his people talk broadly of his conquests and power. I do not doubt the inside of his palace is as great as the outside.”

“Lady Artemis,” Brennus spoke with a hint of disapproval, “What were you doing in the south seas in…oh what would it be? Early summer? Yes, I think so. That is hardly the time for trading.”

Artemis gave a fluttering dismissal with her free hand, “Just testing the waters, there is more trading than you might think at that time of year, and certainly plenty of placed ripe for the visit. I believe we arrived in the Belzebah capitol just as their solstice festival began.”

Prince Vos rose with the grace expected of royalty and spoke to the table of nobility and councilors, “Gentlemen. I think the crown would benefit highly from hearing all of your opinions and I am glad you have come to such an important meeting. In view of my time limit, however, I feel I must move to absorb the rest of the court’s opinion in order to fulfill my duty to my country to the best of my ability. Lady Artemis, if you would accompany me I would greatly appreciate it.”

Artemis bowed and gave her hand for him to tuck into his elbow. The moved away, indeed circling the room, but hardly speaking to anyone else.

“Don’t worry about this venture. It will be good for you to see a bit of the world. Besides, I’ll be with you and so will Sir Gai.”

“Arti, I don’t know that the council will approve of you accompanying me. They can’t control your actions, certainly, but they will be hard pressed to accept you as an ambassador.”

“I hardly propose to be an ambassador, Bren. I am merely going along as your translator of custom and assistant navigator. Given my latest example of world knowledge they can hardly refute my claim.”

Bren’s mouth quirked but he school his expression carefully before responding, “Ah, well, in that case I am glad to have you for the expedition, though perhaps piracy is not the best skill to advertise.”

“It’s not piracy, its business. Very professional.”

Bren let out a bark of laughter and quickly muffled his mouth with his hand. Artemis was glad to see him laugh, there had been a time not so long ago when such an expression of joy was ne’er in sight. Before their conversation continued Bren’s hulking knight intercepted them and Artemis readily acquiesced his company bowing out of the room to retreat to her rooms and then to the practice yard. Every nerve in her body seemed to burn and some exercise, whether it helped or not, was much needed.

“Lady Shalla, please, try again.” Though the words spoken were polite the tone was harsh and tried. Pinched eyes pressed closed then open, and closed again, behind small round spectacles.

A girl of twenty or so lifted the tea cup, a small candle, not bigger round than a coin and only as high as the tip of a thumb, rested on side of her wrist. Every shudder of her hand sent the flame flickering around the room. As she tilted her hand too much to drink hot wax spilled onto her smooth pale skin. The pain sent a ripple through her but she carefully lowered the cup before removing the candle and the hardening wax from her skin. The older lady frowned and flicked a dangling watch open and closed, open and closed, “Again!” The girl nodded and balanced the candle before reaching again for her cup.

A little while later they ended for the day. Shalla and the old lady were standing and facing each other. Lady Shalla kept her knees together and bent them until the top of her head was at level with the chin of the other lady. She was dismissed and made her way, slowly, gracefully, to her chambers. Her dress only allowed her separate her legs enough to walk which made the women of the court seem like drifting flowers, always moving slowly, carefully not to step long enough to show the tightening of the skirt. The upper half of the dress wrapped tight around the torso and chest, immobile, so that every breath had the curves of the breasts rising above the top hem.

Finally in the safety of her rooms, Elia Shalla settled in a carefully designed chair that would allow her to recline without tearing or straining her dress. Moment after arriving a maid came in and pressed cool, oil-laced water to her hands. Then a cold green paste was applied over the hot places the wax had fallen and were bound with long lengths of silk ribbon. A garden party was due to start in an hour so her maid began the arduous process of removing her morning dress and applying the fragrant amber oils to her skin to keep the skin soft and protected, before redressing her in the more elaborate but equally constraining dress for social functions.

Suddenly Elia felt tears well beneath her eyes but she bit the inside of her cheek to draw them back and carefully donned the thin silk and gold chocker proffered to her as well as the heavy gold drop earrings.

Their entourage was ready to leave exactly a week later. As they had suspected the court was not pleased at Artemis’s demands to travel with them but they could not cite against her and so both she and Gai were standing attendance to the farewell ceremonies. Artemis tapped her boot against the wood of the ship impatiently as speeches were made and Prince Vos was presented with the honorary documents and such to deliver on behalf of his country.

Gai let out a breathy laugh, keeping his face neutral, and nudged her carefully with his elbow. Below the sonofabitch Sir Charl was standing in attendance to the King. He gave a weak look up to the ship, but upon encountering the fierce gaze of Artemis quickly turned his sight back to his King. Artemis huffed and tilted her head towards Gai, “Perhaps after this venture I’ll think better of him and will not have to take him to duel to defend my ever precious honor.”

“Lady,” Gai said, muffling his laugh, “I think our Prince Vos took him to turn just a few days ago, I would not worry that your honor has suffered any more than what you have done to it.”

Artemis sighed and smiled slightly at the Prince still on the pulpit with the King. It didn’t take long, however, for her to grow anxious again. Finally she gave in to her urges and left the railing of the ship to stalk across to the crew and discuss with them the expected weather and what route they would take.

Finally the Prince boarded, the Captain right behind him, and they took off from the crowded harbor. Artemis thought, fleetingly, and a little wistfully, that the dock had never been so full when she left a shore, and she had departed from many. Still, she knew the importance and allure of the Prince, and loved him as a brother, so she could accept the hoopla over his leaving.

They weren’t a mile out, however, when everyone learned something knew about their Prince’s brave knight. He had yet to acquire sea legs or a sea stomach. With gentlest care Artemis helped Bren take their Knight to a room with a round window out which he could send the flying contents of his stomach and still be close to a bed for rest.

Gai was settled with a damp cloth on his forehead and Bren ushered Arti out of the room assuring her that he could handle one ill Knight.

Artemis nearly giggled at the thought of how Bren might distract his Knight from the rolling seas. Back on top she breathed in the hot sea air and smiled into the sharp wind. To be at sea was truly a paradise she would never grow tired of.

Two days on the rough seas and finally Gai could stand on the deck without turning green. Artemis smiled at him and settled him with a pouch of cool, mild wine to keep him settled. Their journey was expected to take a month, at the least. But the seas were tricky to navigate and a ship was as likely to be stalled by flat waters as it was by too rough of winds, making time a relative matter at sea. Artemis didn’t mind the roughness, but when the winds died as though cut off, and the water fell to a perfect flat, an uneasiness struck her deep in the belly and she paced and worried until the winds picked up again.

Such a day dawned on their third morning. The gulls were barely crying out then shouts of sailors filled the air and sails were quickly drawn in and tied down, masts secured, and lines drawn tight. Leaving sails up without wind was asking for a tear or other injury to happen on the ship.

Artemis paced the bow of the ship, back and forth, searching for clouds moving in swiftly from the horizon, a ripple in the water, anything to signify a wind coming through. There was nothing. Still and quiet as the dead, the water barely let of its normal salty air. They remained dead in the water for a full day and a half. Artemis kept vigil the whole time, never letting her eyes fall from the sea despite her current chore lest a gust or breeze be missed.

Finally as the heat of the second day dead on the water began to boil through the thick brown skin of the sailors a chilly northern breeze pricked their ears. The call went out for sails to be brought up and the men moved with miraculous speed but kept no eye on their horizon.

A boom and a thin wave of water drew attention to the dark ship now close behind them. Cannons peeked their round black noses from the small windows on the side. A black flag bearing the skull and bones of a pirate crew snapped in the wind above their mast.

Artemis drew her sword, a strong lithe thing made thin and light but near unbreakable, and met the first pirate hand to hand as he leapt to their ship’s stern. A moment hung in the air when their swords clashed before the other sailors could think to rush to their own stored weapons, and while Gai was shoving Bren down the stairs, his own broadsword held in unsteady hands. Then the pirates were among them, swarming like bees. For every sailor there was a pirate to hold him at the tip of a knife or sword. Gai had two, though he didn't fight when they stopped at him and didn’t try to proceed down to the lower levels. Artemis continued to cross swords with the men swarming her, only one managed to take out a slice from her forearm as she held it up to stop his sword from cleaving her skull.

Then her sword met a familiar one. The returning blow resounding with ease through her arm. She swiped a hand across her eyes to clear her vision and came face to face with a captain often called the harbinger of death by the name of Angra Mainyu.

A terse moment suspended the movement around them. The very air seemed to buzz and somewhere in the distance water still crashed along the sides of the ships. Then suddenly Artemis grinned, her gleaming teeth making her tanned skin seem darker still and faint dimples etched on each cheek. Mainyu lowered his sword, taking Artemis’s too.

“Damn, Cap’n, thought I’d gotten rid of you some time ago!”

“Ah, lily of the sea, it has been a barren wasteland, a desert, without your sweet voice harking the men.”

“Fuckin right! Knew you’d miss me too much. Come to rescue me from my bloody formal life escorting his highness?”

“Ah, t’would do it in half a heart beat.”

They laughed at the ridiculous conversation, some pirates easing their stance, others, new to the crew, still taught with battle and eager for pillage. Finally the captain make a sharp movement with his arm and a tall elegant man, dressed in black and cream, stepped easily from the pirate ship to the royal one. His shirt’s ruffled sleeves poked out from under his fine jacket, buttoned from neck to waist with wide thick cuffs on the sleeves and around the neck. His hair was long, to his shoulders, and tied back with a pale blue ribbon. Even his features were soft, and matching his shirt in its creamy complexion. Next to the captain he looked fairly pretty, though the strong cheek bones and broad shoulders were clearly masculine.

Artemis extended a hand and as he accepted it she jerked him forward and pressed up kiss his cheek soundly before rocking back, “Tilly! I’m glad to see the sea hasn’t taken you yet.”

“Au contraire! Tillamonk is our first mate, now. He’s proved apt at giving orders and far less successful at taking them, so after you skipped out, he was promoted.”

“I think it is more punishment than making me scullery boy. I prefer the dishes, they are quieter, and less able to fuss and complain.”

“Tilly, I am proud of you, though certainly you have whipped this group into shape. Now if you would, please release my friends.”

“Ah, of course.” Then with a quick shout and a long stream of orders the pirates had sheathed their weapons and some transferred back to their own ship while others moved to the sides. As this was happening the Prince shoved hard against Gai’s back and the Knight stumbled forward, unprepared for the movement. Bren rushed out of his hidey hole and up to Artemis, his hand closed over a shoulder and she glanced to him but he was focused on the two extreme specimens of Pirate before him.

One fine gloved hand extended out, “Please to make your acquaintance. I am Brennus. Brennus Vos.”

“Ah, Bren, I’m surprised Gai let you out, actually.” At this she glanced back and saw Gai frowning nearby, but not approaching. His shoulders were drooped and her wasn’t fingering his sword as usual.

Bren didn’t notice as he shook hands with both the Pirate Captain and the First mate.

“I picked up little Artie when I thought she was some pretty little boy, had a mind to keep some entertainment aboard.”

“Why would a little boy be entertainment?” Bren was watching the Captain earnestly and the Captain suddenly flushed down to his fingertips.

Eventually Tilly answered him, “Its superstition that a woman on board a ship will incur the wrath of the Lord of the Sea. So seamen often take pretty boys as substitutes for women on long journeys.”

“Hm…so what did you think when you found out she wasn’t a boy?”

Tilly continued on smoothly while Mainyu gave Arti a strange cock-headed look. Arti shrugged in response and relatively quickly Tilly had conveyed the skeleton of Arti’s story with the pirates.

Satisfied for the moment Bren turned back to his knight who was not sulking in the shade of the doorway. Bren went to him and with gentle hands drew him out to stand with the group. Despite the excitement of the moment, Bren felt calmer, sounder, when that heavy, hot hand rested against his hip.

Arti noticed out of the corner of her eye and a pleased warmth blossomed in her chest. But it was a shallow feeling. Rather than dwell on it Arti worked to embarrass the stuffy First Mate by relating how they acquired him in the first place.

“Tilly here, was a scrawny wisp of a thing when I first met him,” this she said with a side smirk to Tillamonk though she faced Bren and his surly Knight, “In fact, when I first saw him, he was curled around a sack of potatoes in the bottom of a crate, trying to be silent. Naturally we couldn’t have a stowaway, so I suggested to the Captain that we truss him up as a statue to the bow of the ship.”

“You did, I believe, for that first day,” Tilly interrupted with ill-disguised spite at the memory.

“Sorry, Tilly, but we are pirates. So anyway, after that little incident we put him to work in the scullery. The crew was eager to put me there for being a woman and Tilly provided the perfect scapegoat! Thankfully he wasn’t much trouble, and after a few weeks of filling meals and hard work we found out he wasn’t quite as young as we had all supposed. As you can see now he cuts quite the figure, in fact I believe there a was a little incident on the Isle Croisus with a lovely native girl…”

“Don’t you dare, Arti. I will cut your tongue out.” Despite his harsh words a blush had crept around Tilly’s ears and down his neck.

Captain Mainyu glanced at him, then away, and cleared his throat before saying, “Arti, why not keep you ship with ours through this night. We can dine together and part way in the morrow. I should like to hear more of your tales and perhaps we can find a few to entertain your esteemed prince.” With this, Mainyu extended on large gloved hand to the prince, “M’lord, would you care for some tea now and a rakishly good meal this evening? I promise great entertainment and we would not be opposed to any stories of court life you might wish to offer up.”

Brent pressed his hand into Mainyu’s and allowed the Pirate Captain to kiss the top skin of it, as though he were a girl, as he said, “Certainly we can spare such time for your good company. Perhaps, too, we might contribute something to this meal. A lovely wine was packed for the trip and I think this a fitting occasion to ration it out.”

“Delightful! Now, if you will excuse me, I must put my ship to rights. Please board us in an hour or so. I will provide a personal tour of my grand vessel, fiercest ship in these seas.”

As he slipped his hand from the prince’s and made a handsome leap between the ships Arti feared Gai might follow him with sword drawn and ready to defend his delicate noble. And in fact is was only through the gentle teasing of Bren that Gai was ushered back into their quarters to dress from appropriately.

The Emperor of Belzebub gloried in the richness of his court. Like brilliantly colored moths the noble men and women pranced across the dance floor. Light feet kept the women in swinging motion while strong arms lifted them round in perfect patterns. Still one smudge remained in his heart. The last of his children, a girl who had barely seen her twentieth birthday, now dressed in vibrant gold and green with a fine head-dress of diamonds and emeralds. Though she appeared composed and gracious, her face light and smiling, and her movements were done with exceeding grace and economy of movement, she was a great disappointment. She had no skill with fine needle and despite her skills for parties and appearance, she fell painfully short in maintaining pleasant talk or peace between men. Even her grace dissipated when put in close quarters with her. More than once had the Emperor found his bed frustrated by her blatant sexuality exposed in so many small ways when they dined together. Her wrist, bare and white, exposed and open as she poured tea, her waist, tucked small between the swell of her hips and her breast tortured him as she tripped over her shoes, and when she spoke, particularly when she stumbled for words, her pink tongue would dart like a shy serpent behind her perfect teeth. It was all he could do at those dinners not to pin her to a wall and teach her proper manners.

Elia shivered under her heavy ball gown. Her feet were swollen from dancing and her head throbbed from exhaustion. Her torturous lessons had doubled in the last week and would go on at the same headlong pace in anticipation of visit from the Purusian Kingdom. Her hand stung from long hours at the needlepoint and etiquette practice. Now she was held daintily in yet another pair of sweaty palms, and prancing about the room while champagne scrambled her balance and stuck like warm taffy behind her eyes.

When she finally fell into bed early in the morning, free of her stuffy dresses and sinking into the swaths of silk and cotton, her mind drifted off, as it was want to do, and drew out an old dream of soft skin, strong arms, and a kiss. It was that kiss that burned through her alcohol-induced numbness. It seared her lips into a blush, heated her cheeks and her breast, then sunk down to her belly and around her thighs. The kiss carried her into oblivion until the next morning when another day of practice and routine would tether her painfully to reality.