Capítulo 9: Balle, Day 11 (2)

Some measures afterward, when Shan, the lesser sun, sat by its setting point in the sky, Verinia readied herself for an excursion to the city by taking a hot bath with flower petals to flush and soften her skin.

The usual dresses she wore, made of the finest silks in ornate styles with elaborate embroidery, were left alone in favour of simpler works for someone of lower rank.

Her hair was also taken down from its high style and fashioned into a lower gathering at the back of her head.

Hair was a very important part of feminine culture in New Oalta. The higher the hair sat on the head, the higher the woman's rank.

Girls could begin tying half of their hair into high styles once they came of age, and they could completely tie it up or cut it short once they married.

Verinia had no prospects of a husband for herself, but her rank was the highest in the continent, second only to that of Su'Ailfi, the Sovereign's wife. Because of this, she always wore half of her hair up in intricate styles, and the other half would remain loose.

It was also why her hair was so long, coming down almost to her thighs. In her eighteen turns of the twin suns, she had never cut her hair, and if she had any say of the matter, she never would.

In this special occasion, though, she tied up her hair completely and tucked it into a decorative hair scarf to help conceal her identity.

If it weren't for the gold reflection produced by the light, she would look like any Hellfryne of the lower nobility.

"Halen," she called, crossing the hall to where her young brother was playing with his friends. "I'm going out for the evening. Tell your third sister when you see her that we will continue our selection tomorrow."

"Where are you going?" Halen turned away from the group of boys, though they were all looking at her anyway. "You look different."

"I'll be visiting the night market. This is my disguise." She pinched his fat little cheek as she passed by him. "Be good. I'll bring you sweets."

Sur Ka'iser met her by the awaiting carriage dressed in the unassuming clothing of a wealthy gentleman. His dark golden hair, blackened with cosmetic kohl, made him look like a completely different person.

The man absolutely towered over her like a column of brawn and muscle. Verinia remembered thinking him to be a giant when she was a child, but he only seemed to have grown with her since then.

She was much taller now than she had been during her ascension, but her head never seemed to go up past his shoulder.

"You don't have to accompany me, you know," she said once the knight had folded himself into the simple vehicle with her. "I could have come alone. I'm disguised."

Sur Ka'iser gave her a dark glare that said her choices of disguise were beyond pitiful. She scowled at him in turn, choosing to look out of the curtained window and ignore the distasteful man.

Their transport passed through the streets of the capital, where the final bustle of traffic came about as the citizens of Zanza were preparing to end their day.

The nearer they came to the centre of the mid-city square, the more people filled the streets. Merchants and purveyors and others busied themselves with constructing their stands, and those who were willing to spend coin lingered around to observe and hope they would be given the best barter later.

Verinia began to feel the flutter of excitement when the carriage drew to a stop before an eating house a ways from where the night market was being set up.

Sur Ka'iser descended the box and helped her disembark with a gentlemanly gesture that seemed most unnatural coming from him. Arm in arm, they entered the establishment and were immediately greeted by the scent of spiced foods and traditional peasant dishes.

It was custom for those attending the night market to visit eating houses first, as bartering and taking the first lot of coveted goods was consuming business.

Verinia always refrained from eating during the days she had agreed with Sur Ka'iser to visit the night market, because she would fill up in the eating houses. The knight himself denied such a practice, but she didn't believe him.

"How may I serve you this evening?" A spritely woman approached them once they'd sat, silver hairs knotted to the back of her head. She had a warm semblance about her that made Verinia feel very at ease.

"What are the day's specials?" The princess tried to tighten her voice, make her words sound more broken than the smooth lilt typical of the Su ranks. The end result was a round sound, both smooth and broken, the way a foreigner's speech would trill.

"We have a coastal ku-jed with local vegetables and summer rice cooked in oil," the old woman dictated easily. "With the day's specials comes also dessert; a frosted cream."

Verinia and her protector looked at each other for a moment until finally the knight said, "We'll have the specials."

"Certainly." The old woman disappeared into the kitchen, returning shortly with a full platter in her hands. "You are a very lovely couple."

Sur Ka'iser opened his mouth, no doubt to protest, but the princess quickly placed her hand on his arm and smiled at the lady fondly. "Thank you."

"Will this continue to be a habit of yours?" He asked sourly once the woman had left. Verinia gave her protector an innocent look and took the lid away from the clay pot of her ku-jed, releasing the scents held within.

"I don't know what you mean." She took up her utensil and began to mix the contents of the pot, which had been poured in layers. First, the mix of legumes cooked together and seasoned with local spices, then the boiled roots and finally, at the very bottom, the mix of sea foods.

"Lying." Sur Ka'iser had already begun to eat the crisp, steaming, seasonal rice. His face, stone-like as ever, made a stark contrast with the delight dancing in his near-red eyes.

"If it suits me." Verinia poured fire pepper flakes from the small plate on their serving platter into her clay pot and stirred five times.

Her protector grunted in response, too engrossed with his meal to pay her any mind.

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