Maylin/Maylin's Life
Zenleigha licked her lips as she approached the city gates of Lookshy. It had been over a year since she had seen her best friend, the Queen Maylin. To say that she was proud of her friend would be an understatement. Because of Maylin, Lookshy was a leader in beating back the Abyssal cause, and was a safe haven for other Solar Exalted. She had used her influence both from her husband, and her own profitable jewel business, to accomplish her goals. Now she had two sons, and a third child had just been recently announced. Zenleigha smiled, pleased that Maylin had turned herself one hundred and eighty degrees from the spoiled, selfish, girl she had been in their home village. She was now a name that was recognized, and when she joined for old friends on their journeys, they were never questioned when they realized the Queen of Lookshy was demanding to enter.
Still, a lot can happen in a year and Zenleigha worried about why her friend was calling her now of all times. No one else had received summons from her to come to Lookshy, just Zenleigha. The gates opened for her without complaint and she entered the city and was escorted by men in blue armor to the palace of Lookshy.
Maylin’s home was grand indeed, jade and oricalcum decorated the hallways and ornate statuary lined the blue carpet she walked on. Important looking officials walked by without glancing to Zenleigha as she was lead through the maze that was the palace of Lookshy. Zenleigha herself was not a name to ignore, she had the rest of Maylin’s friends were the creators of remarkable weaponry that would soon make First Age weapons look under-rated. Zenleigha herself created and forged them along with her apprentice-daughter, Onyx, and then in the forests of the West they would be tested by the great warriors Dancing Ruby Phoenix and Endless Chase and by the assassin Pathein. The weapons and transports in Lookshy were Zenleigha’s entire make, but she was mostly faceless.
“My lady,” the guard said, “she will see you in her private office.”
“Thank you, Zenleigha said and was lead a little further down a hallway to a door with the caste mark of an Eclipse on it in oricalcum. The guard knocked on the door and after a moment it swung open. The guard bowed and left Zenleigha. With a shrug the Twilight entered the room.
The office was rather simple, with a large window to let the light in, a bookcase against one wall, and a mural of Stonewall facing it. An ornate rug went from wall to wall, and a one a pile of pillows near the door lounged Sayjin, Maylin’s familiar caracal. He looked up at her before yawning and settling back down. At the end of the carpet, behind the desk in front of the window sat Maylin; the sunlight was glinting off her pulled back blonde curls which had earned her so much attention in their village home. She wrote for only as long as it took Zenleigha before she stood and hurried to embrace her.
“Zen!” Maylin giggled. “I was worried something had happened to you!” Zen smiled as she looked her friend up and down. Maylin seemed to be able to withstand time. Even after two children which were sure to be Exalted, and all the stress of her highly political life, she still looked young. She was probably using Essence to help her with that, but Zenleigha had always known Maylin to be stubborn, she was probably simply too stubborn to allow herself to age.
“No, the trip was actually wonderful.”
“Oh and look at you! Honestly Zen, it’s a wonder you aren’t married yet.”
“The idea of marriage never really suited me, you know that.” Maylin’s smile dwindled a little bit. It was not an entire lie, Zenleigha might have married one man, but he had chosen Ruby, partly due to Maylin’s convincing.
“Of course. You were always more independent than I am. I don’t know what I would do without my husband.”
“You’d be fine with out him.”
“But not happy,” Maylin countered. “Come, you must be eager to get clean and I’ve been doing nothing but work since I woke. Join me in the spa?” Zenleigha, who had helped in creating Maylin’s spa, (which was quickly earning fame across Creation) eagerly agreed to the pampering. Maylin was very particular about keeping herself in the peak of appearances and when she had discovered that she was pregnant with her first son, she had demanded that a spa be built so that she would have a place to hide and make herself feel beautiful. Since she was the one paying for it, her husband had simply laughed at her fickleness and watched her.
Her spa boasted a mud bath, a hot spring, a small interior garden, and most recently, due to the fame of the spa, a small team of masseuses. While the project had started out as a refuge for Maylin while she was pregnant, it had become useful for both rulers of Lookshy for meetings with visiting dignitaries, and for discovering the ever constant plots against them through gossip. Any servant that worked in the spa reported directly to Maylin, and the administrator for the spa was also an Eclispe Maylin herself had taught.
Copies of the spa could be found in Stonewall and Thorns. Nexus, Great Forks, and cities on the Blessed Isle attempted to copy it, but those spas had yet to acquire the romance of the Lookshy Spa. The doors alone inspired thoughts of luxury and beauty with jewel encrusted canes calmly walking through a lily covered pond. The steamy warmth of the spa was a shock at first, but soon became comfortable to breathe in. The tiled floor was a mosaic of a peaceful pond, with tiles on the walls continuing the image with clear skies, and larks in full song. Six niches in the walls were semi-private with thin green and blue silk curtains. These niches were equipped with a wooden bench, and a thick blue or white robe and simple slippers. Maylin and Zen stepped into separate niches and changed before continuing down the hall way and into the Forest Room, which was the mud bath room with real trees in the room and tiled-in birds and the peaceful beasts of the forest peek out from between the trunks, their eyes glinting with gems.
Female servants took the Exalt’s robes off, and as Zenliegha climbed in, Maylin was already into the mud bath, purring to herself.
“So tell me about how everyone else is doing, won’t you?” Maylin asked.
“Of course! Ruby and Alaethis are happy, as can be expected. He’s adopted Ember amazingly well and has helped her with a few of her more memorable pranks.” Maylin chuckled,
“I’m not surprised.”
“Of course Endless Chase is being himself. He spends time with his daughters, but is still rather distant. He’s been going off on his own more and more often, but I think that’s because he’s restless and really wishes we would all start traveling again. He might just become bored enough to come out here again. Pathian is as hard to understand as usual and gods only knows what he gets up to in his Manse, but that’s not unusual. Ruby is always excited to try out the new toys, and has diffidently settled into the domesticated routine. It’s actually kind of cute to watch.”
“What about you?”
“Oh I’ve made myself busy with my toys and my daughter. You should see her May, she’s so beautiful.”
“I bet she looks like you.”
“She has her father’s hair, but yes…yes she is my daughter.”
“Must be wonderful in Stonewall than.”
“It’s nice, not as many comforts as Lookshy, but it suites us.”
“Good to know,” Maylin smiled.
“Is it true you’re expecting a third?” Zenleigha asked. Maylin laughed lightly at her question.
“Word travels quickly. Yes, I only found out a few weeks ago. I’m hoping for a girl, but, boys ensure that there will be an heir.” Maylin laughed again, “Perhaps we’ll arrange a marriage. I think my oldest would provide a wonderful outlet for Ember, and my youngest has a brain on him that would let him see past Onyx’s little tricks.”
“Do you ever stop planning?” Zenleigha laughed. After years of seeing that gleam in Maylin’s eyes, Zenleigha knew perfectly well when her friend had a trick up her sleeve.
“It’s the curse of my life,” Maylin grinned. “I will never stop planning or gossiping. I will probably travel on still planning on how to return!” Zenleigha shook her head, amused.
“How are your two?”
“Toshihiko is an absolute angel. He’s got my hair, the poor thing, and his father’s gorgeous eyes. He’s with his little brother and their nurse. I take as much time with them as I can, but the Dragon-Blooded frown on that kind of act. He’s walking now, all on his own!” Zenleigha cooed, remembering when her daughter had taken her first steps as well. “And he’s speaking, almost full sentences.”
“Already?”
“He’s bright, that one is. He’s been talking since he was six months and he hasn’t stopped since! But he likes spending time with Sayjin, and the poor cat doesn’t understand, but he tries. We’re already looking into schools to send him to. It’s our hope that he will take after his father, or if Unconquered Sun sees fit to bless him, that he has your skills.”
“You want him to be a sorcerer?”
“Oh yes. Sorcerers are part of my husband’s family and the son of his last wife didn’t become one. I think it would be a great honor for me to have born him a sorcerer to follow in his footsteps.”
“What if he isn’t?” Maylin shrugged,
“Some traditions have to be broken, don’t they?” The two servants returned with buckets and towels’, signaling it was time for the women to move on to the hot baths. They were cleaned of the mud, dried, and then wrapped in the warm robes to be taken to the Ocean Room where the heated baths would sooth away aching muscles before the massage. It also helped release the feeling that the stiffened mud left on the skin. The blue tiles of the bath and the mosaic on the wall gave the feeling of swimming through the shallow part of an ocean.
“So what about Sung?”
“Sung,” Maylin sighed as if speaking of a horse that she wished would break and was refusing. “He’s going to be the warrior of the house, I can see it. He looks just like me, but don’t be deceived, he’s half demon I swear.”
“Well, Anathama,” Zenleigha joked. Maylin splashed her.
“You know what I mean. He was born with a Daiklave in his hand. We’re thinking of just sending him to Stonewall for his training.”
“Why not send both?”
“They need to get their own sense of self. I don’t think they will get that enough here. If we send them together they will come to rely on each other, but won’t necessarily learn respect for the other’s skills. If one is in a magic school and the other in a warrior school they will learn to appreciate each other for what they can to and not compete so much. That’s the hope anyway.”
“A sorcerer and a warrior, huh? Any signs of magic?”
“None yet, but Dragon-Blooded take longer to show signs.”
“Really?”
“Mhmm. Dragon-Blooded women are pregnant for thirteen months.” Zenleigha flinched,
“Yuck.”
“You have no idea. I was pregnant for nine and when I finally went into labor it was a blessing.”
“So you don’t think Unconquered Sun will look at your children?”
“No, I don’t,” Maylin replied. “But then again, I didn’t actually think I would get my Dragon-Blooded either.”
“True.” Maylin plunged under the shallow water for a moment then surfaced as she exhaled.
“I swear, sometimes I could stay in here forever.”
“Don’t you when you’re pregnant?”
“Not as much as I’m sure people think. I come here when the baby is making me feel not myself. Still, it will make a humorous story for the history books.”
“And I’m sure you’ll make sure it gets in there, won’t you?”
“Of course!”
Zenleigha shook her head,
“Some things don’t change with you.”
“And some things do. I hope I’m not as horrible as I was in Stonewall.”
“My lady?” a servant entered and bowed. “The refreshments are ready in the garden.”
“Wonderful!” Maylin replied. She looked to Zenleigha “Hungry?”
“Oh yes!” Not bothering with servants, the two women dried and dressed themselves before going out into the sunny interior garden encircled by the spa. It had a small stone path through a garden which was maintained by the grounds staff. For the winter there was an inside solar with many similar plants inside it. This late in the spring, however, the weather on the coast was perfect for being outdoors. In the middle was a stone circle with a wicker table setting. On the white wicker table rested two plates, both ornate with blue cats dancing on the edge, as well was two glass goblets already being filled with fruit juice. Crackers, sliced meats, cheese and small fruit salads were being placed out as well. The servants seemed to melt into the palace as the two women sat down.
“So, what can we expect next from Stonewall?”
“That’s my secret. You’ll have to find out.”
“You have no idea do you?”
“None at all,” Zenleigha confessed. Maylin laughed, nearly spitting out the fruit juice she had just drank.
“My turn to ask questions,” Zenleigha said as they lounged in the sunlight after eating.
“Oh dear,” Maylin replied in a sigh. “Ask away.”
“Why did you call just for me?”
“Can’t I just have called for someone to talk to?”
“Then why not call on Ruby too?”
“You and I have been friends longer?”
“May,” Zenleigha fixed her blonde friend with a gaze and Maylin sighed,
“Very well. I need you to look at my baby.”
“Don’t you have healers here?”
“Yes, but I would rather that one of my own looked at this baby. Maybe Unconquered Sun will see fit to cast his light on this baby then.”
“All right. Now?”
“Whenever is convenient for you.”
“If you’re worried about the baby’s health I’d like to look at it now.” Maylin nodded and stood, leading Zenleigha back into the indoor garden where they would be in complete privacy.
“Do you need me to strip down?”
“It would work better, yes,” Zenleigha replied. Maylin nodded and stripped out of her robe. It was not until that moment that even though the two had spent nearly two hours naked around one another, Zenleigha realized she had never gotten a good look at Maylin’s body. Now that she could see it, the sight of the black and blue fist shaped roses that dotted her back, thighs, and sides shocked a cry out of Zenleigha. There were no marks in places that would not have been covered by clothing, and between the thick mud and the dark tiles of the water, she had not seen Maylin’s skin.
“Good gods. Maylin…” Zenleigha found herself speechless.
“He doesn’t do it all the time, just when I use a charm without his say-so. It is fair, I promised him when we were married that I wouldn’t use my skills without his permission.”
“What did you use?”
“Harmonious Presence Meditation in talking to an emissary from Gem.”
“He did that to you for using that charm?” Maylin’s body healed quickly and bruises would have gone away by the next morning. And compared to the kind of charms Maylin could do, Harmonious Presence Meditation was child’s play.
“No that was weeks ago. These are from yesterday. I used Wise-Eyed Courtier on him, again.” Zenleigha scowled, looking closely at the bruises. They were healing, but slowly, Maylin’s pregnancy would have slowed down her body’s healing abilities.
“Maylin, you don’t have to put up with that. You can bring your sons with you to Stonewall. Everyone knows they are the Daimyo’s children, you’d be safe there.”
“Now Zen, what sense does that make? I’ve created a haven for other Solar’s here. I’m trying to prove that the Celestial and Terrestial Exalted can get along together. How can I prove that if I’m not here?”
“You’re not proving it by letting him beat on you!” Zenleigha understood now why Ruby was not asked to come. If the Dawn had seen the marks on Maylin, the Daimyo would be no more.
“No one else knows about it,” Maylin started.
“That doesn’t matter! He should be allowed to hit you! You may have sworn not to use your charms without his permission, but that doesn’t mean he gets to break his of protecting you! What if he had hurt the baby?”
“That’s why I’m asking you to check. Zen, this is not a common occurrence in the least. You’ve seen us together; we care about each other very much. It’s not love like Alaethis and Ruby, but it’s something and it keeps us together. I know you think I’m foolish, but he really does it for my own good.”
“No he doesn’t, he probably tells you that’s the reason so that you don’t run and he can keep having his tamed Solar!” Maylin scowled and Zenleigha knew she had crossed a line and did not care at all.
“Zen, you don’t understand. I know he does this for my own good. Those times, I slipped up and didn’t think about it. He doesn’t like doing it, Zen.”
“Could have fooled me,” Zenleigha grumbled.
“He doesn’t. He carries me into bed and holds me close afterwards. He offers to heal me and I ask to keep the bruises as reminders. He kisses away my tears and cradles me until I sleep. When I wake up, he’s been watching me all night. Look at where he strikes, he doesn’t go near my kidneys, and he never hits my stomach, or my face, or anywhere else like that. He cares about me, Zen.”
“May, you sound like you’re giving up.”
“I’m not. I can do a lot of good here, you’ve seen it. I’d be useless back in Stonewall. I will compromise though. When you leave to go back, I will go with you until after this baby is born. He will understand that.”
“And he will probably cheat on you while you’re gone.”
Maylin shrugged,
“Only with women that I arrange it with and none of them will have his children.”
“I can’t believe that’s all right with you, May! I mean, you like having what is yours be yours without argument. You sacrificed almost everything for this man and I can’t believe you are just willing to let him treat you like that!”
“It’s because I sacrificed everything for him that I let him guide me, Zen. I worked too hard to just give up.”
“You aren’t giving up, you’re reminding him what life was like without you.”
“Spending a season away will do the same thing. Just like before when I was pregnant after about a month he got bored of the other women. Do you trust me, Zen?”
“You I trust, him I don’t.”
“Then I ask that you trust me now that this is the right thing for me to do. I’m staying with him.”
“When your mind is made up…” Zenleigha sighed and began examining Maylin with efficiency and swiftness. Normally this would have been something Zenleigha would take her time with, but her rage at seeing Maylin so docile was beyond her understanding. Maylin has stood up in the face of rampaging Lunars and she could easily destroy her husband, yet she did nothing!
“You’re lucky. His fists were extremely careful and from what I can tell there isn’t any damage to the baby, but the stress of being struck may make it finicky later in life.”
“But it won’t be crippled or deformed?”
“No, so long as he doesn’t hit you again.”
“Well, he can’t hit me if I stay in Stonewall until this baby is born. When you leave, I go with you.”
“I think that’s the smartest thing you’ve said all day,” replied Zenleigha.
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