Under The Sun Every Day Just Comes & Goes discussion

((And... Go!))

Aya slipped down the hall. She was called to her parents greeting chambers. Apperntally they had guests. She cursed herself if it was another meeting for a husband. She really didn't want that. at least not yet. The hold coins on her clothes and head band clinged against each other making a gental sound evey step she took. She stopped by the doors, looking down either hallway, for some reason to distract her or laten her.

Chi walked back into the city fresh from the battle field with the troops. He hated coming home. Wished he could just stay out and keep killing the enemy. There was nothing like war. At home his sister kept bringing up marriage. As is the great warrior Chimalli needed a wife. All Chi needed was the thrill of battle.

Aya saw two servent children running down a corridor, talking fast about Daddy coming home. Were the soldiers back? She slipped down and looked out to see, and sure enough some were marching back down the streets. Seemsed like a good enough reason to be late. She slipped down and watched from a low balcony.

In the ranks two men began fighting. This happened often right after a battle. To much energy was the cause. Chi would not allow such things in his ranks. He walked towards the men with the grace of a jaguar. His spear in hand he slammed the shaft in the throat of one of the fighting men. Then slammed the spear head in the heart of the other. The second man fell to the ground dead while the first died slowly, desperately trying to breath.

Aya watched as two fighting men were killed. Why did men do such rash things if they knew the consequences? She shook her head, slightly, the coins on her head clinking togehter in a high harmony. She leaned against the balcony, wondering who the man was you just took their lives.

A message was brought to Chi a few seconds later. He was to go to the temple of the royal family. Probably to speak of his last battle. He sighed. He hated this. He was a warrior not a trophy to be flaunted. He told his men to go to the barracks then headed for the largest temple in the city.

As the man walked away Aya slipped back into the hallway and neatly into the welcoming chambers. Her father didn't notice, well into a conversation with a uncle about the weather. She mother sighed in disappointment but said nothing.

Cha tapped her foot waiting for her brother. She couldn't stand how he made her wait. HER a priestess.

"Cha," He said as he approached.

"Chi," She answered, "You could have run." She brought him inside the chamber where two men talked and mother and daughter sat. The daughter was who he might be marrying. Cha hoped this would go okay.

Aya's eyes glinted with surprise as she saw the man she saw before. And another women. His wife? "Ah, you have made it." Her father said, "Please, have a seat. How was the return trip?"

Cha bowed to the man Chi just started talking. He seemed like he had no respect for those higher in station then him. "Two men are dead because they didn't know the battle ended." Chi said, "A shame. They were good Warriors."

((Whoa! Someone started this!))

((Mhm... ))

Aya's father and the other man glanced at each other. "Ah, how horrible to lose men to stupidity. Please sit, now, and tell us about yourself."

"I'd rather the stupid men die personally." Chi said with detachment. "Stupidity has no place on the battle field. And I'm sure my sister would love to tell you all about me. I'm in no mood."

Cha shook her head in shock. She couldn't believe he would be so disrespectful. "He's a warrior like no other," Cha said, "He's been in more battles than most warriors and he's never been wounded."

Aya's father frowned at Chi. He turned his attention to Cha. "Ah, that is quite a achiement." He said. "Aya should have a strong man to protect here." Aya clenched her jaw at this, her mother poked her and she stopped. "What about your heritage?"

Cha smiled a proud smile, "Our mother was a high priestess and our father a warrior without equal. Though they have both died since we have kept our station thanks to Chimalli here."

"Ah, and I see both of you have followed in your parents footsteps." Said her father. "As of now, I see no problem in this match. Do you feel a problem, Chi---? Have the gods given you any signs Cha---?"

"What do I get out of this marriage exactly?" Chi asked. Cha stared at her brother. Was he going to ruin this? How could he do this?

"Besides marrying royalty and living in this palace?" Aya's father chuckled, thinking Chi's question was a joke. "You would have a say in our governing, being the husband of the eldest of my children." 'Because you killed your real eldest.' Aya thought bitterly. "But, what would our family and our daughter get out of this marriage?" Her father asked in return.

"She would get the strongest warrior to ever live." Chi said, "I would get nothing. Your royalty means nothing tome. Your palace is worthless."

Aya's father looked apalled. Aya's mother looked apalled. Aya's lips quirked up in the center. Intresting, she thought. "Royalty would secure you a place. A life just below the gods. You would make military decistions." Her father tried prooving his point, his hands getting red in anger.

"My strength will also secure me a place." Chi said as if talking to a child. He didn't like this man. He might sacrifice him. "I can can get closer to the gods by slaughtering their enemies. And I make military decisions everyday."

Aya's fathers eyes narrowed, but before he said anything Aya stepped in. "Father." She said, leaning over and touching his arm. "I think he needs time. He has just arrived home." Her eyes went to him. "May we invite you and your family tonight for dinner with our family?"

"No," Chi said as Cha answered, "Yes."

Chi looked at his sister and walked away. He would not parade around for royalty. These people were terribly boring. Cha bowed, "I apologize for Chimalli." Then she walked after her brother.

Aya felt like laughing. How wonderful it was to see her father so angry like it. But still dangerous. "I think we can find you a better match, daughter." Her miter humphed. "Oh mother," she replied, "let him come to his senses, he was just in war!" She excused herself and went to see if she could spy on these interesting people.

Chi stormed off until Cha grabbed his arm. "You little twit! You have any idea who they are?" She screamed at her brother.

"I don't care." Chi answered.

"Chimalli, they are one of the highest families."

"I don't ca-" He stopped and looked around. "We're being watched." Slowly he slid a dagger from his arm guard.

Aya pushed herself against the wall. She mentally uttered a curse. So much for actually watching a person from the outside. She was getting sloppy. If she moved.. She would jiggle the pathetic coins around her head.

Chi stalked towards the girl in the shadows. Before she could run his knife sat at her throat. "I don't care who you are. Just why are you following us?"

Aya tilted her head, and looked in Chi's eyes, "You much more intresting then the other suitors. You actually have a brain." she replied simpy.

"Yes the gods blessed me with intelligence." Chi said with a smile to the fearless girl, then he added, "But they left out patience. So I ask again why are you following us?"

Cha's eyes bulged out of her when she saw who her brother held at knife point. Her face paled but she didn't make any moves to stop him. How could she? He was in full warrior mode.

"You told him the truth. I wanted to see if you meant it." Aya said, putting her hand on his on the knife. "Why don't you put that away. Your sister looks a little pale, and besides if you can catch me you can kill me with just your hands." A smile danced on her lips.

"Of course I could," Chis said as put his blade away. "But nothing invokes fear like a sharp blade to someone's throat." He looked to his sister, "Oh calm down I didn't hurt her did I?"

Cha stared at him in disbelief, "You just held a knife to the throat of another of your would-be-wives." She threw up her hands in surrender, "I give up. You're never going to get married. You're insane."

Aya bit her lip, intrested. "You've had other meetings before, then?" Aya asked. She slipped off her brackets, the plesent tingling of the coins becoming annoying. "And they've gone worst then this one?" She raised a eyebrow.

"He has," Cha answered, "And one he killed his would-be-wife and he killed another girl's father."

"She was annoying and only fit for a sacrifice." Chi said, "And that he attacked me."

Aya stiffled a laugh. "Well this is more then i expected." she replied. "But that is what happened to my sister, so it must be more common then i;ve thought."

Chi began walked away from the women. "I'm going to the training grounds," He said, "This whole thing has made me tense."

"Goodbye then." Aya said, "hope to see you again soon." She looked at Cha. "Do you have any other siblings?"

Cha Sighed, "Yes, but," She said, "He is young and looks up to Chimalli. He may end up just like him."

"Ah. He does seem very untame." Aya said. "But still better then a rainless person. And you are a priestess?"

"Untame is not the word for Chimalli," Cha said with another sigh, "I am a priestess yes. Training to be a high priestess."

Aya offered a small smile. " it's not is it." She agreed. "So you won't marry then?"

"Maybe one day I will." Cha said, "But I'd rather prove my worth as a high priestess first."

Aya smiled ruefully. "I envy you. Freedom. Choices.."

"Ionly have that freedom because Chamalli," Cha said with a laugh, "He sacrificed our parents."

Aya's eyes got wide. "Why would he do that?!"

"For strength in battle," Cha said as if it was nothing.

Aya just shook her head. "Well, maybe see you tonight? I should go before anyone suspects anything."

"Cha!" Quetzal shrieked, tears openly streaking her golden cheeks. She made no attempt to hide them as she raced down the crowded streets, pushing through the commoners too slow to make way for her. She didn't heed the calls of concern after her. Nothing registered in her mind but her need to find the priestess.

The trek to the temple felt eternal, and the steep steps to the top were tiring, but Quetzal pushed forward with a frenzy that refused to yield. She would not let panic overtake her--or so she kept telling herself, even though it already had--until Cha could confirm what her father had told her.

"She's not here," One of the other priestesses said with a stiff back and voice, not even attempting to hide her dislike of Quetzal and her emotional behaviour.

"She went to the High Temple to see the princess with her brother," Another, more helpful girl added when Quetzal had inquired. "They should still be there, if you hurry. Quetzal, are you all right?"

But she had already gone, flying down the steps with such speed she felt as though she might fall. The High Temple wasn't too far away. She didn't mind the walk so long as she got to see Cha. Her brother--she knew his name was Chi, but had never met him--was more of a concern. Even Quetzal had heard of him. He might side with her father.

She made it to the High Temple without injury, aside from tripping once and scraping her palms in the dirt, and rounded a corner to see three people in the shadows against a pillar. She recognised one of them as her friend.

"Oh, Cha!" She sobbed, a fresh wave of emotion pouring over her and halting her words. She threw herself without reservation into her friend's arms.

Cha smiled as her young friend, Quetzal. "Why hello Questal," She said with a smile until she saw the tears on the girl's face. "What's wrong my dear?"