Snow stayed behind, not knowing what to do, until MenTar¹Literally men (lake) + tar (wind) approached him with a warm smile on his face.

“Don’t worry. Everything’s going to be all right,” he whispered and, as if she’d heard him, VinWei²Literally vin (hard) + wei (crystal) took the lead.

“Father, one of our guests hasn’t been feeling too well. I will take her to one of the inner rooms so that she may get some rest,” she informed and the Nai Calzai³Literally nai (transparent / translucent) plus cal (bright) + zai (blade), or Blade of Light. It can be translated in common language as Invisible General, one of military leaders of the Empire. Each Province has it’s own Calzai. To distinguish them they were given different colors. looked back for a brief moment, to ascertain the problem. Seeing the petite woman standing next to his older daughter he simply nodded his consent, leading the rest of the group inside.

“Come. This way,” VinWei told them and, instead of leading them up the stairs, guided them to a wooden walkway and across a small arched bridge built over a quiet lake.

At the sight of the red and gold fish swimming just beneath the crystal-clear water surface, Snow almost forgot where he was. He wished he could stay there and watch the fish silently swim back and forth, their metallic colors shining every time the golden light of the sun touched their smooth, elegant bodies. But MenTar’s hand on his shoulder reminded him of their present situation and he quickly hastened his pace to keep up with VinWei’s.

She led them to a much smaller pavilion, but that was still considerably big in Snow’s opinion. Inside, the floors were made of dark wood and to the left there was a large divan covered with golden pillows. In front of it a small table all made of purple crystal had been set. And around it large cushions had been placed on the floor, inviting one to engage in moments of leisure and enjoyable talk.

“Please make yourselves at home. I will ask them to prepare us some floral tea,” VinWei said with a short bow of her head and quickly disappeared through the tall, open doors.

Snow took a deep breath, looking around, having to actually turn his entire body since his scarf and the hood over his head didn’t allow him to see much more beyond what was right in front of his nose. The view from the open doors and tall windows showed the small garden they’d just crossed. And even though it wasn’t as big or as splendorous as the one in the Temple, it still gave the entire house a quiet, relaxing atmosphere.

“Come. Have a seat,” MenTar invited him, indicating the comfortable-looking divan, and Snow obeyed, even though he’d much rather remain standing.

“Relax. VinWei will make sure no one will disturb us. And we will be out of here in no time at all.”

Snow nodded but still couldn’t help feeling nervous.

“And I won’t let anything happen to you. You have my word.”

Looking up at him Snow was faced with another of those bright smiles. And yet he couldn’t force himself to really trust those words.

“Not to mention that you’re inside a Calzai⁴Literally cal (bright) + zai (blade), or Blade of Light. It can be translated in common language as General, one of military leaders of the Empire. Each Province has it’s own Calzai.’s Household. And not just any Calzai. The Nai Calzai is famous, and not only for his military achievements. He is well known for the irreproachable and fair way in which he has administrated the Wei Province thus far. Wei is, after all, one of the biggest, richest and most important Provinces of the Empire. No one would dare even dream to cause problems here.”

“Why thank you!” VinWei said, entering the room, startling the both of them. “Never thought you had such accurate, refined eyes,” she added and put a wishful expression on her face. “If only your dumb brother would be as intelligent as you.”

“It’s not an easy feat, you know? To be as intelligent as me,” MenTar replied, obviously amused, and she joined them, taking one of the pillows on the other side of the table.

“But tell me, MenMen. What have you all been up to?” she asked, her eyes showing the same astute glow that her father’s had shown when he'd welcomed them, and MenTar shrugged.

“Not much, really. There was this report about some large scale, illegal activities being held on one of Pon’s abandoned Fortresses. And since there was a high probability of some nobles being involved, the Calzai was asked to look into it and act accordingly.”

“I heard that Pon⁵Literally pon (mountain). Where Pon is the name of the Clan, also the name of a Province. is in really bad shape,” VinWei sighed sadly and MenTar nodded with a heavy expression.

“Hunger, disease, and that blazing sun all year round. With mountains everywhere, it has become the perfect hideout for slave-traders, murders and and thieves.”

“They should never have wiped out the entire Pon Clan. Sure, they were accused of treason, but there was no need to condemn the entire bloodline. And if they were going to do such a barbaric thing, at least they should have immediately placed someone else in charge of the land. As things stand it will be years before someone is able to claim that Province. Until then things will only get worse. Was it there that they found you?” she asked, suddenly talking to Snow, and he timidly nodded, not knowing how to answer that. “Poor thing. You should have contacted me immediately!” she complained to MenTar. “I would have left everything and come to you as soon as possible.”

“There was a lot we did not know, about the entire situation. And then we had orders to return to the Palace and report as soon as our mission was complete.”

“So you disobeyed the Palace’s orders?” she demanded, her eyes widening in alarm, and MenTar sighed.

“What else could we do? The Calzai didn’t want to deliver the Tien'Elhar⁶Literally tien (Heaven) + el (supreme) + har (girl child). The Heavenly Beings also known as Celestials in the common language. to the Palace’s Temple without knowing a bit more about her circumstances,” he declared, carefully choosing his words, obviously leaving a lot to be said, not even mentioning the imprisoned members of the Demon Clan.

“I also think he did the right thing,” she agreed. “But won’t that get him in trouble again?”

MenTar shrugged and was about to answer, when a flurry of pink stormed the room.

“Ah! Men are such a bore!” LanWei⁷Literally lan (white) + wei (crystal) declared, both hands on her hips, and a new pout took over her beautiful face. “Won’t you hear me out, sis? There I was, all happy about seeing ZaiWin⁸Literally zai (blade) + win (chaos). again after all this time, planing to take him out on a stroll, hoping to get some precious time alone, and father just took him away! Business matters, he said!”

VinWei rolled her eyes, refusing to pay her more attention than that, and MenTar smiled apologetically.

“Please don’t be too angry. Our honorable Calzai does have some important matters to discuss with the Nai Calzai.”

“As if I care! It’s ZaiWin’s fault to begin with! He never visits! Never writes! Never even sends us a message to let us know that he’s alive!”

“The Lun Calzai⁹Literally lun (black) plus cal (bright) + zai (blade), or Blade of Light. It can be translated in common language as Black General, one of military leaders of the Empire. Each Province has it’s own Calzai. To distinguish them they were given different colors. is always very busy …”

“Yeah! Serving the stuck-up royals can be a full-time service!” VinWei spat with despise, which her sister immediately applauded.

“That’s right! They should just find someone else to do their bidding!”

“Come now, ladies. Please don’t talk like that. Someone might overhear us,” MenTar reminded them with a pleading expression on his face, but VinWei shrugged nonchalantly and LanWei stuck her tongue out at him.

“Anyways! Who’s this?” LanWei finally asked, her purplish eyes falling on Snow, and he couldn’t help feeling even more nervous.

“Don’t be rude, Lan!” VinWei immediately warned but LanWei didn’t seemed to care.

So this was the woman that would marry that black monster, Snow thought, carefully studying her from the shadows of his hood.

She looked like she’d be an energetic, funny person, once she managed to stop complaining about everything. She was obviously as beautiful as her sister, and she seemed to be strong-willed and decisive. All traits that he could imagine agreeing with the monster’s impatient, cold personality. But had she any notion of the dark monster she was promised to marry?

“Where was I rude? I just asked a question,” LanWei declared and the purplish eyes that were staring at him took on a darker, colder, almost threatening shade. “She’s all covered up! I can’t even tell if she’s old or young, beautiful or ugly.”

“And what does that matter?” VinWei answered back, clearly annoyed with her sister, but MenTar laughed warmly, filling the entire room with the sound of his voice.

“Our lar-har¹⁰Literally lar (lady) + har, suffix meaning girl child, or a child of the female sex. An endearing form to call a child of noble blood. is afraid someone might steal her Calzai away,” he declared, sounding amused, and VinWei crossed her arms, averting her gaze.

“And that’s why I said she was being rude!” she grumbled but LanWei didn’t pay her any attention, rushing to sit beside MenTar, hugging his arm with an even bigger pout.

“Only you understand me, MenMen. Isn’t it unfair? That some other woman is allowed to travel with him who knows for how long, and I’m not even allowed to see him for three whole years?”

“Come now, don’t be like this,” MenTar told her softly, gently patting her hand. “We’re just escorting the lady to a safe place, nothing else.”

LanWei peered at Snow with a doubtful expression, forcing him to lower his head.

“Is it really like that? You’re sure she's not some lover he picked up on the road?”

“LanWei!!” VinWei scolded her angrily but MenTar was already laughing again, looking truly amused.

Under his hood Snow could only blush from embarrassment and pray to all the Gods that might exist that none of them would ever find out that he was far from being what they thought he was.

“I’m sure, I’m sure. You have nothing to worry about. Our Calzai hardly has time to breathe, much less to get himself a lover.”

“Humph! You never know. Women can be very deceiving,” she declared, sending threatening glares Snow’s way, and MenTar chuckled.

“Oh! That is something I would even pay to see. A woman bold enough to openly seduce him. Who knows? It might just work.”

LanWei hit him hard on the arm, pouting again, and two young girls appeared at the door, asking permission to serve them some tea.

Silvareiel

Eh! I kind of like LanWei ^_^