Chapter 60 Sound of the wind

Kyan
IT'S BEEN A WEEK since my marriage to the woman of my dreams. To the woman who's thoughts move the Earth. A whole week was kept aside for the wedding feast before I was permitted to take my bride away on the honeymoon.
Now, I sit under our favourite tree weaving a flower crown for my bride. The cold pendant, a gift from Isla which also happens to be the heirloom of her family is pressed to my chest underneath my shirt on a gold chain.
Osar flashes me a wide grin. "I have finished, Kyan. Let's see how Lyza will like it."
It wasn't hard tracking Osar down, he never left Altsas. He rented a house that was walking distance away from the Palace and worked as a goatherd for the Royal Chef.
He did not hold what I did against me and immediately treated me as a brother. Lyza was over the moon when Rakar and I returned with Osar in a carriage that she kissed him in our presence.
Seeing how much Osar loves her, I am glad that my plan did not work out and they are reunited.
"You can't do it as perfectly as I can, brother in-law," I say, "just because I'm a prince doesn't mean I didn't have a childhood."
Our chatter was cut short by the approaching voices of two of the most important women in my life. Lyza and Isla emerges carrying a basket full of fish.
Lyza runs into Osar's arms and he places the crown on her head.
Isla smiles at them. I push myself to my feet and saunter over to her. "I hope you like it, Princess," I say placing it carefully on her head.
She beams and pulls me into a kiss, her lips close over mine and tugs a little making me moan against her mouth. She giggles and cups my face in her palms, I drape my arms on her waist.
"Thanks for convincing your father to decree the release of all Kintilese slaves," she kisses my cheeks. This is the third time she is thanking me.
I smirk. "Spare me the politics, my Princess, we are on our honeymoon for God's sake." I earn a giggle from her and she sighs, "my family are coming for a visit, I got word just before the wedding. I hope they come soon as the ban is lifted."
"Great," I kiss her nose with a loud smack," I can't wait to meet them."
It was such a shame that they could not make it to our wedding because the King of Kintil had ordered restriction of movement from Kintil to Altsas, all the known routes were blocked. My father is currently in the process ofholding a peace treatywith the Kintilese King. I hope the ban is lifted soon.
"I'm sure they will love you," she rests her head on my chest and I rub her back.
"Isla, I'm so blessed to have you as my wife,"I sigh blissfully, "you are the most beautiful woman... The most amazing..."
"Don't blind the forest with your lovemaking!" Lyza calls out and Osar echoes with laughter.
Then I hear the thud of footsteps as Rakar appears from within the trees carrying Shyna in his arms who clings to him, they stare longingly into each other's eyes.
I knew Rakar had a thing for Shyna when he told me not to punish her for Isla leaving me. Rakar is usually not the type of person to defend anybody. I am glad that he has finally fallen in love after life of whirlwind romances.
"Kyan," Rakar says with a sly smirk on his face, "if want to make love to your bride just I have just done to mine, I would suggest the river."
"Seriously, you should try it," Shyna chimes breathlessly.
I roll my eyes and Isla smiles. We are happy, contented and blissful. I'm so happy things turned out right and Isla came back to me, I don't even want to think of what would have happened if she didn't.
"I love you, Kyan," She says without missing a beat. My heart soars, I can't be more happier.
"I love you, Isla." I have never said anything more true in my whole life.
EPILOGUE: THE SUN
Year of the Bougainvillea
Frigid Season
The Palace
Altsas
Isla
I AM SO EXCITED. Today, I'm expecting mother and father's visit as well as Mavli's. It's been ages since I saw them.
Throwing off my blanket, I jump off the bed and to my feet. A shiver runs down my spine the second my feet touches the cold ground. I slip my feet into slippers and huff out a breath which floats as a thick cloud of fog in front of my face.
I'm not surprised to see that Kyan isn't on the bed, he has always been an early riser. I'm sure he is already getting the orchard ready for my parents' arrival breakfast. Rosa had been instructed to make sure a feast is prepared for the event.
The ban against transportation between Kintil and Altsas had just recently been lifted. I am glad that the two kingdoms have finally been able to reach an agreement.
A soft cooing makes my eyes flicker to the bed. A soft bundle writhes and kicks on the bed. "Darling," I croon gathering my bundle of joy in my arms and placing a light kiss on her small forehead, "good morning. How did you sleep? Did you have pleasant dreams?"
Irisa coos in response.
The door opens suddenly startling both Irisa and I.
"Isla!" Lyza calls out with a small run towards me.
"Slow down, Lyza," I scold softly, "you should know better than running like that especially since you are in your third trimester."
Lyza titters and rubs her bulging stomach sheepishly, "I know Isla, Orissa is fine," she says referring to her child. She keeps insisting that it must be a girl so Irisa will have a sister. "But I really have to tell you something serious," she adds.
"And what is it?" I ask with a raise of my brow.
Lyza bites her lip with a begrudging expression. "I don't think the outdoor breakfast for your parents will be a success."
"And why is that?"
She nods towards the window and I turn my gaze out through the window. Cold brittle wind starts to pick up and blows mercilessly making trees bend and leaves rustle and whistle. It's the frigid season which means that frequent rains and cold treacherous winds will be nothing strange but today seemed promising.
Lyza takes Irisa from me and holds her lovingly in her arms. "We can just take the breakfast feast inside, Isla," she suggests.
I shake my head. I'll like my parents to sit by the side of the river and under the sky than under lit chandeliers. "This is the first time my parents are coming to visit, Lyza. Mavli too. I want it to be special, you know."
Lyza nods in understanding. "So, what are you going to do?"
A small smile stretches across my lips. " The story of me making it rain in the Torrid is not just a story, Lyza."
Her eyes grow huge and her mouth forms a perfect O. "You want to stop the rain in the Frigid Season?"
I have no idea how I'm going to pull it off but I am determined to do it. I quickly take a bath and bath Irisa too then, I dress up in a lacy aqua-blue dress that sweeps the floors and Rosa dresses Irisa in a matching dress.
"Rosa, has the feast been prepared?" I ask while choosing diamond dangling earrings to go with my dress.
"Yes, your highness," she replies.
I turn to her with a glare. She sees my expression and smirks a little. "I mean, Isla."
I pick out stud earrings for Irisa and quickly clip them to her ears while Rosa holds the squirming five months old.
"We should get going," I tell Rosa who nods in agreement. She carries Irisa and we walk out of the room.
Thunder claps at a distance making me very anxious and Irisa starts to cry. I carry her humming under my breath whilst rubbing her back and in no time, she calms down and resumes cooing cheerfully.
We enter the orchard and find a full house in the hastilyconstructed pavilion by the river. A long table is set with coloured candles on golden candelabras, dishes covered in silver platters, gleaming glass cups and silver goblets. There is even a lone chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
Everyone's face is anything but cheerful. They are watching the sky for an abrupt change of weather. Cold breeze tousles my hair slapping it across my face and I watch dark clouds hide the rays of the sun.
Kyan's face lits up when he sees me approach the pavilion. "Mine," he grins and strides towards us stopping to take Irisa in his arms and planting a kiss on her chubby cheek. Behind us, everyone is murmuring about the incoming rain.
"It's a shame that we would have to move the feast inside," Kyan says to me. "Your parents are on their way so we have to move fast."
His lack of faith in me makes my heart sink. "Have you forgotten the kind of woman you are married to?"
"How can I forget?" He chuckles lightly and skims his knuckles on my lower lip. "You are a woman who's thoughts moves the Earth."
My heart beats faster at this, bloods courses through my veins in a race. "You shouldn't forget that, Kyan."
Irisa giggles showing pink gums as if she understands what's going on. She is the perfect combination of Kyan and I; she has perfect dark curly hair, emerald eyes, a small button nose and full pink lips. I fall in love with her everyday.
"Are you going to do what I think, love?" Kyan asks.
I smile, "I love challenges, Kyan. I challenged the Torrid and now it's time that I challenge the Frigid." With this, I saunter into the pavilion.
The King and Queen sit next to each other and are conversing in soft tones. A robust child sits fidgeting on the King's laps.
"Farie," Shyna chides softly, "sit still!" The naughty boy sticks his tongue at his mother which makes her gasp. The King and Queen laugh at the year old child's antics but Rakar glares at him which makes him behave almost immediately.
Farie looks exactly like Rakar but has Shyna's dark mop of hair.
Osar sits next to Lyza with his head bent obviously busy rubbing his wife's stomach than to care about the weather. Lyza looks absolutely stunning in sunset yellow gown and topaz earrings to match and Osar seems totally besotted by her and their unborn child.
Alira stands next to a band of musicians probably giving orders on the kind of music to play. She is clad in a crimson tulle dress and gold jewellery at her earlobes, wrists and neck. She beams at me and gestures for Kyan to give Irisa to her.
"She's a very pretty baby," Duchess Alira says to Kyan who nods in agreement, "just like her mother. And she's well behaved too, not like my naughty grandson."
A distant rumble of thunder claims everybody's attention. The Queen turns to me with a slight frown. "I can see you are thinking of intervening, Isla."
I smile, the Queen knows me well. "Yes, mother."
She nods. "Go ahead."
I suck in a breath and release it with a sigh.
Turning I face the horizon, I focus my gaze at the brewing dark clouds and the feel of the cold winds. Rain, rainI think with lots of concentration, the winds become more violent and starts blowing sand and dirt into the air. I clench my fingers into a tight fist and continue with relent; go away come again another day.
The strong winds howl like wounded wolves and I can hear gasps and mutters behind me. I feel a hand rest on my shoulder and it gives me a light squeeze. I know it's Kyan even before he leans in and whispers into my ear, his light breath tickling my neck.
"You are doing it, Love. I believe in you."
And I hear Irisa's supporting coos.
I feel power surge through my veins, travelling through me at the speed of light.
Rain rain go away
Come again another day
So we can have the feast today
And the biting cold disappears, the loud howls dissipates into the air and everything becomes still. The silence is deafening, almost as deafening as the roar of thunder promising rain. I feel the pleasant warmth of the sun and I open my eyes — ever so slowly afraid to ruin the moment — to see the dark clouds parting until the disappear letting the rays of sun shine out.
I heave a sigh of relief, happy that the day won't be ruined by rain. Pride swells inside me as loud cheers echoes through the orchard.
Kyan pulls me towards him and crushes me to his chest. I wrap my arms around his neck and claim his delectable lips in a kiss not minding that the whole family is watching.
"Your Majesties!" A panting servant interrupts as he runs to the pavilion and lowers his gaze in a bow, "Princess Isla's parents are here."
I gasp and my gaze lands on the approaching figures who are escorted by guards.
"Mother! Father! Mavli!" I can't help running towards them. I throw myself into mother's arms and we all pull ourselves into one big family hug.
"I've missed you so much, Isla," mother says with big tears in her eyes. I wipe them away.
"I've missed you too." I reply
"I can't believe my little girl is a princess!" Father gushes with a boisterous laughter.
"You look stunning,"Mavli beams at me.
"Thank you," I reply.
"Now, where's our granddaughter?" Father asks.
"Right here," I hear Kyan reply and in no time, Irisa is placed in his arms.
"She's perfect," mother says with awe in her eyes. She dabs at tears at flow out of her eyes with a sigh.
And I can't be anymore happy. I have all I could ever wish for; a loving family, a loyal husbands who loves me fiercely and my own child who is a seed of the love between my husband and I, a part of us. Things can only get better.