Heart of a Leopard is book one of two, in a series I'm calling Snow Leopard's Mission. Book 1 is about a girl named Kerani (nicknamed Cat, which will show up in part 2) who is being forced to marry the Crown Prince Deven. But once she gets to the palace, she realizes the drought that has been plaguing the country for three years isn't entirely natural. The culture is loosely based of Mughul India, with some very notable exceptions. Even though chapter 1 has very little mention of magic, it does come into play later in the story. Chapter 1 is over double the 1,500 word limit so I have cut it in as close to half I as I could without cutting right in the middle of info. The PG-13 rating isn't exactly visible now, but it will be later.
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“A toast! To Lady Kerani’s upcoming marriage with the Prince!” The cheer was soon being echoed throughout the grand hall. Kerani of Shira cringed at the mention of her marriage. Sitting with a group of her eligible cousins, she was glad nobody noticed.
“I hear the Rajput of Teragot is looking for a bride for his eldest.” That was Chandra, her first cousin. Daughter of her mother’s brother she was allowed to have the Shira title, even if her family didn’t rule the province. “With Kerani being chosen by the emperor and Teragot looking to gain royal favour, it would only make sense to take the purest Shira they can.”
Ranya, a cousin on her father’s side, laughed. “Teragot? A possibility for you? Ha! They are looking for taste as well as rank. Even a Qulin could make it, if they’re related to a Shira. A Qulin like myself, for example…”
“I might get the Rajput of Mara’s son…” Meena, another Shira cousin said shrewdly. “He’s looking for one with royal connections and beauty.” Her cousins gasped; Kerani simply rolled her eyes. Didn’t they have anything else to think about?
She stood up, leaving her meal half-finished. Even though the food was her favourite, she wasn’t hungry. “I think I’m going to go to bed, since I have to get up so early tomorrow. Good luck in your marriage contracts.” They acknowledged her with an impatient wave and continued talking. Kerani quickly told a servant where she was going and headed down the corridors to her room. Even the sun glistening off the jewels in the walls didn’t brighten her mood. Didn’t her cousins realize they were pawns to gain political favour? She closed the door to her room and leaned against it.
She hadn’t even seen the Crown Prince. Nor had she seen his brother or the emperor. She knew their names, of course, everybody in Kemmer knew that Kerani of Shira was marrying Deven of Tijal, but other then that she knew hardly anything. Emperor Akmal had chosen her over a dozen other Rajput’s daughters. He had never seen a single girl, the oldest not more then thirteen at the time (Kerani herself had been eleven), just chosen the portrait that he had liked the best. Of course, position at Court had something to do with it. Her older brother, Hasin, was one of the best on the King’s Counsel even though he was only twenty-three. In the four years he had been gone, he’d been taken into the Emperor’s most private meetings and circles. He had told her as much as he could about Prince Deven and his younger brother, Natum, in his letters, but he’d always been to busy to talk to either of them much outside of Counsel. His wife, Sadhana, had barely had any contact with them at all. All she could say about them was they were good horsemen, Deven making quick progress in Counsel debates and Natum was on his way to becoming a top mage.
At least I won’t have a mother-in-law. The thought repeated in her mind for the hundred-thousandth time. She had heard in the market some mother-in-laws were out to get their son's wives. Akmal’s Empress had died over ten years ago. Since then he hadn’t shown any interest in re-marrying. Kerani chuckled bitterly. At least he didn’t want her for himself.
She took off her sari and put it in a trunk. Her things had been packed that afternoon. Stealthily she dug through her trunks until she found her oldest saris. Unfolding them she took out her key to freedom. The simple breeches, skirt, tunic and headscarf had aloud her to move freely in the market since she was ten. Over five years later they still served her well. One of her father’s weavers --she didn’t dare trust her mother’s-- made a new set for her whenever she needed it. The plain cotton with ruby trim made her look like any servant girl in the Shira household. It wouldn’t be acceptable for a noble lady to be in the market, but she had seen servants move in and out of the walled palace with ease. Soon after, Kerani discovered how she could do the same.
Everything Shira-owned was marked with ruby in one way or another. Every noble bloodline had a colour. Even younger sons were aloud to take a colour similar to their brother’s. Shira’s was ruby, Tijal’s sapphire blue.
Dressed in her servant’s outfit, her breeches hidden under her floor-length skirt, a purse and a dagger hidden between the two for safety she looked in the mirror. Her pale skin, a common trait in the north, was offset by her dark brown hair. She pulled the scarf over her head to cover the red tinge in her hair. The red tinge was almost exclusively a Shira trait and would give her away instantly. She was glad she didn’t have a nose button like her female relatives. It too would give her away as a noble.
She checked again that her braid was well hidden under her scarf before opening a secret panel in her room. It was near impossible to find the door, even though the jewel inlay went right over it.
Outside the palace walls the air was cool. Wind blew down from the mountains, brining with it the scent of ice and herbs. Out of everything in Hurime, she would miss the mountains the most.
Kerani quickly made her way to the market, keeping an eye out for people hiding in the shadows. She knew all to well how predators hid in the shadows. Deftly, she wove her way through the crowds leaving the open-air market. She didn’t need to buy anything, but living outside the palace walls had become a habit for her. Trapped in a noble’s life, she had always valued escaping.
She saw one of her friends from her daily visits. She waved before trotting over. “Ajia! Getting the last of the shopping done as usual. How are things?”
Ajia put a package down between her feet. “As good as it can be, Chahna. My Lady is getting her new wardrobe ready for winter. She insists on getting a new wardrobe every season like the Empress used to do, Phoenix rest her soul. I was just getting the cloth the tailors need.”
Kerani didn’t flinch at the mention of her second name. It had become as natural as her birth one. “I know the feeling. Lady Kerani’s wardrobe has just been redone for court fashion.”
Ajia shifted a roll of cloth under her arm. “That must have been torture!”
Kerani chuckled. “For her or me? Don’t bother answering. Yes, it was. She hadn’t gone riding that day either, so she was especially fidgety.”
Ajia winced. “A fidgety fifteen year old? Ouch. Is she still—tense about her marriage?”
Kerani flinched. That was the one thing she couldn’t hide her reaction to. “Yes. I don’t blame her. She’s never met him or been to Shenora. She’s never even left the province!” Silently she added, I shouldn’t even leave the palace alone.
Ajia rolled her eyes. “Nobles. They think they’re doing their girls a favour by keeping them at home. Has she even seen him?”
Kerani shook her head. “Not so much as a portrait. I keep telling her that he probably hasn’t seen the portrait of her either, but it doesn’t help.”
Ajia shook her head. “At least she’s allowed out of the palace. I’ve heard some girls aren’t that lucky.”
Kerani kept her shoulders from dropping. If only she were allowed out of the palace more often. “Yes, I’ve heard that too. Poor things aren’t allowed to feel the wind should it ‘chafe their delicate skin.’ Ugh! As we're delicate!”
Ajia snorted. “If girls are cooped up like that, they would be!” She shook her head and changed the subject. “D’you have some time free? I still need to go to the smiths. The workmen need more raw gold to make the new jewellery. I know how much you like that aria of the market.”
Kerani smiled and took the offered package. “You know me all to well. Let’s go!” Together they made their way to the quarter of the market that sold metals and gems. She idly looked at the prices while Ajia haggled. Gold had gone up again. It seemed the local vein was beginning to dry up. The same could be said about copper, iron and silver. Steel was still the most expensive, twice the price of bronze and still over the price of gold. She turned to look at the jewel shop next door. The stones for sale were also expensive but stunning. Hurime gems tended to be the finest. Merchants came from all over Kemmer to buy them. It also meant that the prices could be unnaturally high. She sighed at the sight of a topaz pendent. The yellow would go so well with her finest sari… but she was only allowed to wear rubies in public. Soon it would be only sapphires and maybe some dark blue topazes. If she ever had any power as Empress, she would get rid of the law that allowed upper-class nobles to only wear their bloodline’s colour! She didn’t wear jewels when she played servant; she didn’t want to attract attention.
The haggling done they made their way back to Ajia’s residence. It was only a few blocks away that Ajia started talking again.
“Are you leaving tomorrow with Lady Kerani?”
Kerani nodded sadly. “Yes. It’ll be better then working for her mother or some other noble, but this is my home just as much as it’s hers.”
Silence followed until they reached the servant’s door. “I guess this is goodbye.” Ajia sounded close to tears. She put her packages down and clasped Kerani’s shoulder. “Give Lady Kerani my regards, if you’ve told her about me. And tell her that the Prince really is wonderful. I’ve heard nothing but good about him from my brother when he comes to visit. He might even let you stay after they’re married.” Ajia hugged her fiercely, her voice becoming even more strained. “Phoenix bless, Chahna.”
Kerani returned the hug. “Phoenix bless, Ajia.” Had Ajia been a noble she would have offered to write. As it was, servants didn’t learn to read. She pulled away, tears in her eyes. “Good luck in your marriage to Nehru.” She couldn’t believe she had just remembered her friend’s marriage. She had even put on her belt purse for that reason.
Ajia wiped her eyes. “I think he’ll be good to me. And her should be able to provide well, being one of the best with the palace horses.”
“Listen, I told Lady Kerani about your marriage and she wanted to give you something.” Kerani reached into her belt purse and pulled out a ruby pendant. She took Ajia’s hand placed the stone on it, wrapping her friend’s fingers around the gem. “She also wishes you luck.”
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To be continued.
