34, The ship

Ayya felt like she was back to being a trainee. The amount of books to read and things to learn was staggering, even for her. Hinat was helping both her and Mikhalie, and Ayya didn’t know what she would do without her friend. She was happy to discover that Ne’xiss was easier to learn than she had anticipated. It had a lot in common with both Common and Salamis, which made it easier than the other languages Ayya had learned. Mikhalie didn’t have the same knack for learning languages as Ayya did and struggled. Besides the studying and the lessons with Hinat, there was the planning and making sure they had everything needed for the visit. They both got a set budget to buy three new dresses. One for the ball and two more formal everyday dresses that could be used during official events. Ayya didn’t hesitate to visit Cheara as soon as possible. The tailor had made every dress Ayya had owned since she came to Salmi, and she trusted her mother’s friend to know what would suit her. Cheara made some suggestions, and Ayya happily listened to her and made some decisions. For the first time, Ayya and Tenac would be joining the same mission. As it was a state affair, her father had made sure that his best riders would be forming the escort, that included Tenac that just had been promoted to major and was given the command over the riders that would be escorting Ayya and Mikhalie. It was a big step up, and Ayya was proud of him. It also meant that they got to spend hours planning the different activities. Ayya and Mikhalie both had five activities spread out over the two weeks that they were responsible for. Then there was the ball and another three activities that Tariana would hold. 

“I give up, this isn’t possible,” Mikhalie sighed and put down the book she had been reading. 

“You are doing great. You just need to elongate your vowels,” Hinat told her. 

“I’m not getting anywhere. We have a week left and I can’t seem to remember anything about this stupid language. Sorry, Hinat, I didn’t mean that,” Mikhalie said.

“No worries, you are frustrated, I get it. No offence taken. But you are doing good. It’s a whole new language. No one expects you to learn it in two months. Just focus on some phrases and words that will be good to know,” Hinat encouraged her. 

“But Ayya is almost fluent by now,” Mikhalie whined.

“Don’t compare yourself to her. She is some kind of savant when it comes to languages. I watched her learn Old Urundi at the same time as we were studying our first year and she had additional classes. I think she absorbs language through her skin or something,” Hinat said and laughed.

“Hm, what?” Ayya said, looking up from a book. She had been focused on its content, but felt like they were talking about her. 

“Nothing, I was just trying to describe your freakish ability to learn a language,” Hinat told her.

“Oh, yeah. It comes easy to me,” Ayya agreed. 

“And you know most of your information by heart,” Mikhalie reminded her.

“That is just hard work. I have read and reread all the recommended material and made lists of my own that I cram over. I will probably not remember most of it past the two weeks, but I’ll be happy if it stays in my mind for that long at least,” Ayya said. 

“You are much better at this than I am.”

“I don’t know about that. The way you talk about the irrigation systems, you will be an excellent guide and you have picked up the etiquette as well as I have. Even if I did have a slight advantage because of the language, this isn’t something the Lady does on a day-to-day basis. These events are important, but they don’t happen that often. I don’t think it will give me any advantages,” Ayya told her, shrugging. 

“Is she incapable of bragging?” Mikhalie asked Hinat.

“Yes, I think the gods took that ability away when they gave her those freakish language skills. Not even they can fit everything in to one person,” Hinat said with a nod. The two aari looked at each other and giggled.

“I don’t see what’s so funny,” Ayya said.

“That is what’s so funny,” Hinat told her.

Five days before the prince’s arrival, the group of aari with the Lady and the riders of the lady’s personal guard were set to leave for Archam. The evening before they would depart, Ayya stood on the roof of the sanctum that looked out towards the harbour. 

“What are you looking at?” Ayya jumped as Tenac came to stand beside her. He raised an eyebrow. “Do we need to start with the cumquat training again?” he asked.

“No! No. I was just deep in thoughts,” Ayya hurriedly said. Which made Tenac chuckle. 

“Fine. So what has got you so occupied?”

“I have never been on a boat as big as that,” Ayya told him as she looked towards the harbour.

“Don’t call it a boat, especially not around the sailors. It’s a ship. Are you worried?” he asked.

“No, just a little nervous.”

“Don’t be. It will be fine. The river is calm and steady, the ship won’t rock as it does on the open sea. And you’re a good swimmer. If something happens, you can make it to shore. And me and your father will be there as well,” he assured her.

“I know. It’s just the nerves that come from doing something new. How about you? How are you feeling about the coming two weeks?” she asked.

“I have done what I can to prepare. I think it will be as good of a state visit as they come. We are on good terms with them and no one wants to rock the boat. I agree with my mother. This is a good first mission of this kind for you,” he said. 

“Well, that makes me feel a little better. At least I know you will have things under control and can bail me out,” Ayya told him and laughed.

The next morning, Ayya walked beside Tariana as they boarded the ship. As soon as Ayya stepped foot on the deck, she could feel the difference as the floor under her feet gently swayed. It was a little disconcerting at first. Tariana smiled at her.

“You will get used to it,” she told Ayya. “When we disembark tomorrow evening, it will feel just as strange being back on solid land.” Ayya nodded, even if she didn’t believe it. It was impressive to watch the sailors work. It was like watching a well-coordinated dance that took place on multiple levels. 

“I don’t know how they don’t fall down,” Mikhalie said to Ayya as they both watched a set of sailor scamper up one of the masts. 

“I know. I don’t think I could do it on solid ground, and even less when the mast is swaying,” Ayya agreed. The journey was uneventful. But Ayya loved it. She spent hours on deck watching the landscape go by. At the end of the first day, they left the river for the large lake that was located in the middle of Salmisara. The water was rougher on the lake and the swaying got worse. Ayya had made sure to bring her mother’s tea for seasickness, and the galley staff made large batches of it for those needing it. Ayya found she wasn’t bothered by it. They made their way across the lake during the night and early in the morning, they transitioned back onto the river again. The grass land slowly disappeared from the shores and one side of the river now consisted of march lands, the other was farmland. Ayya had never seen march lands and stood watching them, trying to see as much as possible from the ship. 

“What are you looking at? There is just a big swamp on that side,” Tenac said as he came up to her. 

“I know. Isn’t it fascinating?” Ayya said. 

“Sometimes you are just plain weird,” he said with a chuckle. 

“How far does it go on for?” Ayya asked.

“All the way to the sea. The river forked a while back and the marsh is located between the two rivers,” Tenac explained. 

“You don’t find that fascinating?”

“Maybe on paper, or from the deck of a ship. But it isn’t fascinating when you have to wade through it,” he said. It sounded like he was talking from experience. 

“Maybe not,” Ayya agreed. 

It was late night on the second day when they spotted the lights of the city. Ayya took in the sight. It was hard to make out details in the darkness. The city was located between the river and the sea on the side of the river that wasn’t marsh land. The city didn’t have a traditional city wall. Instead, it was built against high cliffs that acted as a backdrop to the parts of the city that weren’t facing the river or the sea. It made sense in a way, but Ayya thought it made the city look vulnerable. While the ship docked, Ayya tried to get a better understanding of the city. From the maps she had looked at, she knew that the richer and more exclusive part of the city was the part closest to the cliff. She could now see that the city sloped from the cliffs to the sea and the river, like a huge amphitheatre. The roads were similar to those in Dermes. Like spokes in a wheel, they led from the harbour to the cliff. Ayya realised how used she had got to the spiral layout of Salmi. The spokes looked strange and harsh.

“Let’s go. We will head straight to the Orechal palace and go to bed. We have three days to get ready to receive our guests,” Tariana told them.