It is the 25th day of the eight month of the year, my 26th birthday. My brother have prepared a banquet for a massive coming-of-age celebration because finally, today, I'll be announced as the next successor of Dagli-- a matter I could hardly agree only if it wasn't for his promise to let me hold an office to the military. I asked for the first brigade, hoping to be the captain, but he couldn't agree to more than the troop commander. I don't understand my brother, honestly. He knows more than anyone that I am more than capable of handling even the entire military force of Dagli, but he won't let me. And whether it is because he wanted to keep me safe as his only family and successor, or plainly because of lack of trust, I'm not sure. It's frustrating. I've spent my 20 years training to be worthy of becoming the next general, but given that he and I are the only remaining members of the ruler clan of this tribe, I cannot be one, because whether I like it or not, I am destined to be either the chief or a wife of someone worthy-- most likely a military leader, or someone of the same status as my brother. Either way, I don't care. As long as I could draw my sword, being a wife to someone or the chief won't mean anything to me. I want to remain a warrior of Dagli. I want to spend my days fighting for my home and people. I am a warrior; I am for the battlefield, and I'd die defending this land.
"The day is too pleasant for my dear sister to make such a face," my brother, the chief, commented.
I couldn't make more than a forced, straight-lip smile, to at least let him know that I am half-satisfied with how things turned out about this whole military position thing.
"Of course, it's my birthday," I plainly stated before dropping and letting myself sink on the soft, cotton mattress of my bed. "But honestly, Tilus, I don't see the necessity for a banquet. I'd like it better if you'd give me my horse today and let me rove around the marketplace. I want to work, for God's sake!"
Tilus just made a face before walking towards the edge of my massive bed and sitting next to me. He gently patted my head and smiled as he said, "You're such a hardworking young lady. But I'm afraid the banquet is not really for your birthday. It is actually for someone else. Knowing how much you dislike music, which you refer to as 'noise', I thought about using this special day to welcome a very important person back from a successful mission."
I side-eyed him. "What mission?"
I wasn't really intrigued by that "important person". I wasn't aware there was a mission, and I'm dying to know how significant it is to not let me know about it. Is it a secret? Is my brother working on something he doesn't want to share with me? I don't understand why I wasn't aware when he, himself, said that I must start learning every corner of Dagli and its affairs, as I am now second to him.
Tilus laughed as he stroke my hair as if he was petting a cat. "You're such a curious kid, Mira. Stop investing yourself too much about Dagli's affairs, the years are still long. You're still too young to know and master everything. Ruling a tribe as big as ours is not as simple as going into a battlefield and winning a war. Give yourself enough time to learn things one at a time. I know that you're smart, but please don't take my little sister away from me just yet. I still want to watch her grow up and enjoy her youth the way I wasn't able to do when I was her age. Relax, will you?"
I rolled my eyes and sighed. "But I like it, Tilus. I like how I learn things fast, and I like being with our people. Probably because I don't want the same fate to Dagli as the Mu--"
"I know," he interrupted. "And I understand, Mira."
"Thanks," I immediately submitted, dropping the topic we both don't want to talk about. "But may I ask what was that mission?"
Tilus kept his hands to himself and smiled as I sat up to face him. "Nothing grand, but something very commendable. Our people who have been captives of the barbarians in the South for nine months are back. They've been rescued."
"They're alive? All of them?"
My voice full of joy.
"Sadly, not all of them. But the guys buried the bodies somewhere East, and we can still give them proper burials."
My brother let out a bitter laugh when he looked down and added. "They sure are Northeans. Tough... as rock. Surviving for nine months. They were tortured, but was able to endure and come back. My loyal men... I feel so useless letting them suffer that long."
They were my brother's convoy nine months ago, after his visit to Batuan, a small, yet influential tribe in the South with close political ties to Dagli. It is where my brother's late wife, Alon, came from. She is the second princess who passed only a year after marrying my brother. My sister-in-law was four months pregnant at that time, making her death more painful for my brother.
There's noting more I could do except held his hand and smile at him half-assuring. "They're loyal because you're worthy of their loyalty. They won't try to survive if they don't think so, Tilus."
"Yeah, I guess so," he sighed. "God knows how much I thank the heavens for giving them back to me."
"I am as thankful as you. This day is indeed worthy of a celebration."
***
The loud noise made by the so called "musicians" welcomed me as I entered the banquet hall. I was wearing an elegant red dress with gold patterns embroidered to the hems and sides; my braids kept in a neat bun, decorated with flowery pins gifted by my brother's allies from Borneo.
I wasn't for parties like this, but I guess I would have to endure the annoying crowd for a few hours for the sake of formality and respect to the home comers. I hate sitting idly in front of my brother's circle of political people because they spend so much time discussing things. I prefer learning by observing matters myself and being a part of it rather than doing it academically with books.
"Young lady, the chief's been waiting for you since a while ago. He said to escort you to his chambers to meet with someone very important," a maid said upon my entrance.
The banquet hasn't started yet, but the guests are already having fun with music and liquor, perhaps to keep them entertained and occupied while I and my brother's still not around.
I nodded at the maid and followed her to my brother's chambers where I heard joyous laughter from meters far. Maybe it was the home comers. I can't help but get excited, so I half-run towards the massive hall where I found six men including my brother.
Agbu, my brother's guard and three of his men: Akung, Di-at, and Tau. The other one I am not familiar.
He's tall and lean, with a dashing posture of a great warrior. He has an exceptionally short hair with length just right above his ears and a scar under his left eye-- above the cheekbone, which made him look a little brute and scary. However, he's got a pair of pretty amber eyes with a slight bluish tint at the bottom of the right iris. I think it's heterochromia-- a beautiful one, as it resembles the crescent moon that rises days after and before a new moon. It was... I don't know, ...enchanting.
"Lady Mira!" Agbu cheerfully greeted as soon as I entered, running limping towards me to bow, but I caught his arms and did not permit him.
"Stop! Stop! I am not worthy of that," I said and helped him get up.
Agbu shook his head. "Don't you even think of starting the drama. We're back! On your birthday, at best, my lady! You have grown so much that I can barely recognize you."
I rolled my eyes. "It's the dress," I said.
He nodded. "Yeah. It's the... dress."
"You look perfect, though. It suits you more than your armor." Di-at also commented, making me roll my eyes more.
The guys were laughing like the usual and as if they weren't from a 9-month hell. I was surprised and glad at the same time that they were fine, despite some evident physical injuries like Agbu's broken leg and Akung's blinded left eye. They look happy. And so am I.
"Mira,"
My attention shifted to my brother as he called my name and walked towards the unfamiliar man beside him. He's wearing a blank, expressionless face as he stared at me. I stared back.
"This is the person who brought our men back. He is Ullinen, Gugurang's son, your troop captain."
My brother's introduction was clear, but I wasn't able to fully comprehend when our eyes locked, so I had to go through it one fact at a time.
First. I wasn't aware the position has already been assumed after the late Hitu's passing-- the former captain and one of my brother's convoy who passed during the encounter with the barbarians nine months ago. Second. I've spent most of my days training with Gugurang, the general and my brother's advisor, but never have I ever heard about his 'son'. And lastly, he was the important person my brother wanted me to meet.
"Gugurang have a son?" Tau asked with wide eyes. "I never heard he has one!"
"Me, too." Agreed Akung.
All of us looked at Ullinen and my brother, waiting for a more elaborate introduction and it wasn't that long when Tilus started explaining.
"Ullinen lives right outside the gates. He's the one in charge of the front line, and is doing a great job keeping enemies away from the border." The chief started. "I'm sorry for introducing him to you just now, but I trained with him before under his father."
"Yeah?" Akung looked at Ullinen from head to toe and asked, "Does that mean he's Gugurang's secret son?"
My brother let out a laugh and patted Ullinen's shoulder. The latter, however, didn't say anything at all.
"No, no," he said. "Gugurang just don't like mentioning unrelated things to work. He's not his secret son or anything; he's just plainly not introduced."
"Oh," the guys nodded.
I dragged my eyes back to Ullinen when my brother walked to my side and said, "Ullinen, this is Mira, my sister, and your troop commander. I hope you'll get along and that you'll teach her well."
Ullinen slightly bowed his head and looked at me under the perfect curve of his lashes; the crescent moon in his amber eyes peeking in between, and I can't help but notice how pretty they were.
"It's my pleasure to meet you, my lady," he said in a low and gentle voice. "I am Ullinen."