Part one: The Floryynias Begins
Leaves stirred in a dervish of orange and brown, hissing softly over the marble tiles of the courtyard. A pair of cloaks billowed in the breeze, the ends of the rich jewel toned fabric draping and whipping over the steps as the figures confidently ascended. The larger of the two glanced over at his charge, his large watery grey eyes regarding her with uncertainty. "You aren't Actovan. No one will think less of you for not participating."
A lock of ravenesque hair floated out from under the hood upon the autumn breeze as the woman replied, though she did not turn to look at her companion. "The Actovan's have been gracious enough to give me political sanctum. The least I can do is participate in the most important celebration of the Florynias."
The man licked at his lips then nodded with a weary sigh. "Very well, My Lady. I am still sworn to protect you, so I shall watch over you...if at any time you want to leave--"
"Eulos, enough. I am not a child anymore." The olive skinned woman's face peeked from under her hood, large green eyes sparkling at him as she smiled. "I am well aware of what the Florynias Festival is...what tonight's celebration entails. We Castacean's are not so aloof as to believe that it is merely a wanton, hedonistic perpetuation of a barbaric tradition."
"You aren't, perhaps." The man's tone was salty as he lifted his grey eyes to the Actovan Temple again. A large marble archway marked their entrance, deeply engraved with the ancient language of Actova. The words translated easily for him, well educated in his life-long enemies' ways.
'Florynia holds all to her bosom to suckle freely of eternal bliss.'
Everything about the Actovans seemed to revolve around sexuality. They dressed scandalously. They copulated openly and freely. Although they had marital arrangements, many were mostly legal and financial in nature as it was quite common for either spouse to still engage in rampant fornication. Eulos found it disgusting. Actovans were no better than animals and it repulsed him that his charge had sought out the protection of the Actovan people when her father, King Orentoah Whitespear had been assassinated by the mutual enemy of Actova and Castacea. Isana had always been headstrong, however, and far too accepting of others. Even now as an adult, when she should know far better, the girl would waste her time in the presence of the lesser castes, behave as if with the deliberate intention of shocking her elders. Eulos was not her mentor, however, and was in no position to scold her or refuse her wishes. He was merely a legionnaire charged with her safety.
Once at the doors to the temple, Eulos stopped the young woman and turned her to face him. "Isana, we can still leave. What will your people think when you return to them if the Actovans should lack discretion?"
Isana smiled and pat Eulos' face, rough with stubble and the scars of a soldier's life. His black hair was peppering with hints of grey to match his eyes though he was younger than he looked at only thirty-six. "My people will respect the sacrifices I make in the name of peace. If Castacea is to hold off the invading Sibilines, then we will need the Actovan army at our back. By showing that we have respect for their culture and beliefs, that we Castaceans do not think ourselves their better then we are far more likely to secure Actovan support."
"Already a Queen...you are your father's daughter," Eulos sighed.
Gesturing to the door open wide and inviting as the heavy scent of spices and incense wafted out to them, Isana fixed her emerald eyes on Eulos. "The Actovan King and Queen are waiting, as is their son. Arao is five years my elder and knowing his parents King Tellam and Queen Raine they will attempt to negotiate a marriage into their offer of support."
"You can't accept an Actovan husband," Eulos was reviled by the thought.
Isana lifted her brows at him and stated firmly, "I'll do what is necessary to secure the safety of my people. Arao...if I recall has little or no political aspirations. His elder sister is already named as Heiress to Actova and she has already born two heirs. YOU will keep your mouth shut and not do anything to jeopardize whatever political treaties I must make. Understood?"
"Aye, my lady," the man grimaced and looked away. Marry an Actovan. Her father was likely turning in his grave. Perhaps with luck no such proposition would be laid upon the table.
Smoothing her cloak and silky black locks once inside, Isana looked to see that Eulos was with her then proceeded down the lengthy Hall of Titans to the main Temple hall where they would be received. As they drew nearer there were little pockets of people gathered in alcoves whispering, in shadows kissing, and Actovan guard positioned amidst the frighteningly realistic life size statues of the Titan Gods of Actova. As they reached the large doors, brutishly muscled men drew on silk wrapped ropes thicker than Isana's wrists which caused the massive wooden doors to slide open. The sight within was breathtaking.
At the fore of the Temple reclined a mountainous statue of Florynia back arched in ecstasy. Firelight flickered over the gold-inlay designs that twisted over the Goddess' body like vines, curling around the erect marble nipples and seeming to sprout from the exquisitely forged Tree of Life that the Goddess straddled. The branches reaching out over her hips and between Florynia's upraised knees. The Temple itself had a ceiling as high as the Cathedrals of Castacea, a round dome at its apex with an open circle of sky. Directly below was a small circular garden the center of which was the very Tree of Life depicted in the Temple Homage. Unlike the trees outside the temple this one was still vibrantly green, still bore plump crimson fruits and showed no sign of the season.
Isana's eyes traveled around the room. Chaises and cushioned alcoves broke up the space, low lying walls radiating from the center garden in wavy lines that led to small rooms positioned around the outer walls of the temple. One room was built into the base of the altar upon which Florynia reclined. A vast room cordoned off by sheer curtains of burgundy and gold, the colors of Florynia and Actova. It was within this room that Isana was certain she would find King Tellam and Queen Raine.
As she and Eulos stepped into the great hall, a small flock of nubile girls surrounded them, their state of undress causing the older legionnaire to blush. They offered up baskets filed with fruits and candies. The eldest of the girls leaning forward to whisper, "you must accept a fruit of the Tree and eat a Pearl of Florynia's Tears."
"Do as they say," Isana instructed Eulos as she accepted one of the swollen fruits and a pearl-drop candy. The Actovans believed that their Goddess wept for the dying and lonely. The 'candies' however, were in fact the seeds dropped by the Tree of Life and they had the strange quality of rendering one voiceless for a time. Castaceans, being science minded and intellectual, knew that the seeds merely contained a mildly paralytic toxin that weakened the vocal cords thereby making the eater unable to do anything more than whisper. However, because of this aspect of the Actovan faith, the activities of the Florynian Festival were conducted in silence.
The seed had a citrus flavor with a hint of almond and Isana smiled at the pleasant taste and the slight tingle she felt in her throat. The girls watched them ingest the seeds with delight before swarming around them to greet the next arriving guests. Leaning closer to Eulos, Isana pointed toward the altar. "The royal celebration party is there," she whispered, her voice already having left her. "Come."
As they drifted through the Temple to the far side, Isana and Eulos let their eyes wander. It seemed that while many people were embracing, most were doing little more than talking and occasionally kissing. Eulos leaned toward her and hissed, "I'm amazed they aren't rutting like dogs in heat."
"Behave," Isana jabbed a finger toward his face.
"Lady Isana Whitespear...we are so honored that you chose to join us." A man adorned in a draping of burgundy fabric bowed before her, his shaved head tattooed with the vine-like markings of the Goddess. Although he spoke low, his voice was clear and obviously unaffected by the seeds. The priest straightened and smiled. He was an old man, but his eyes were bright and lucid with the clarity of an astute scholar. "I imagine it is Queen Isana now, however?" His question was polite.
"Lady Isana, until my people accept my leadership," she smiled magnanimously. She gestured to Eulos, "this is my personal guard, Eulos Estimus." Both men inclined their heads with respect.
"King Tellam has been awaiting your arrival before beginning the festivities. He wished you to be present for the Selection." The priest folded his hands and politely added, "Although I do not think he expects you to participate--"
"Of course I will. I am here as a friend of Actova and I would not dishonor your Goddess by neglecting her most honored celebration." Isana smiled widely and ignored Eulos' stern grip on her arm.
"Excellent," the priest beamed a smile. "I shall inform him at once. Please, this way..."
Isana jerked her arm out of Eulos' grip as the legionnaire growled, "do you have any idea what you just agreed to?"
"Not really, but does it matter?— you know my purpose here." Isana lifted her chin slightly and strode boldly along behind the priest as he slipped between the sheer drapes and guided them to a dais upon which the King and Queen were seated in their thrones.
The outer edges of the room were lined with wide cushioned seats and hundreds of pillows spilling onto the floor where many people were seated and talking over goblets of wine and trays of rich finger foods. Isana gracefully maneuvered around them and came to a graceful curtsey before the Royals. "Majesties," she spoke as loudly as her silenced voice would allow. She watched as the priest whispered in the King's ear causing the man, an exceptionally fit man in his fifties, to lift his brows with pleasant surprise. He conveyed his approval to the Queen who also smiled with delight then waved a hand toward a wisp of a boy carrying a water urn.
