Daughter of the Naga

Chapter 28

That night I missed my father the most. I missed my mother, too. When I was little, I drew a picture of our family for the first time. It all started with a big round face and some arms and legs sticking out. That was my perfect life even with smudges and poorly drawn lines.

Now, my life was a whole mess of other things with new thoughts, new feelings, regrets, big dreams, and enormous doubts. I wondered if I could ever recognize my little crayon picture anymore.

My room back at home was complete with my special ceiling design. The bare wall by my window was cracked like a tree branch hanging over. I became restless one rainy day that summer and painted leaves over branches. I put bird nest up there, too, along with little baby birds peeking out with their patchy feathers and their mouths opened in hunger.

I used my watercolors from way back when I was five. The set was my birthday present. It had six different blues and enough odd hues and shades to finish another galaxy on my ceiling. It looked like the one in a science book with a complete solar system.

I liked my moon the most. I painted it in a silver shade and it was always the one that brightened my night. One day, my Dad came into my room and saw the wall and ceiling for the first time. He was shocked as if the art on the wall was a sight of rebellion.

"Oh, no! Nikita, what did you do?!" he said. But as he caught his breath, he stared thoughtfully and calmed down. He stood there for a moment then moved to stand at different spots in my room, and finally by the tree picture near my window. He climbed on my chair and took a closer look up on the ceiling. When he was done, he laid down on my bed and stared at the galaxy without another word.

But before he left the room, Dad simply looked at me and said, "Nikita, my little monkey, where did you get this talent from?"

I just shrugged, and Dad would smile then patted my head and whispered, "Your mom would be so proud."

It made the lump form in my throat. I used to often wondered what it would feel like to have my mother's arms around me. Sometimes I thought I could almost make the feeling real, but it disappeared so quickly. I thought about Queen Jayara and the sadness in her eyes before I fell asleep.

Another week passed. I couldn't wait to meet the princess again. The long wait made me feel like a barren field, blasted and parched, waiting for the rain. Just the thought of seeing Amarisa already revived my heart with joy. After the night I kissed her, I knew that somewhere deep down, the princess also felt something for me. Something that slowly bloomed like a flower as spring season approached.

The astral music echoed in the distance. I could see several Apsaras practicing their graceful moves on the wooden stage. A warm feeling rose from the pit of my stomach as I walked into the hall. My princess was already there, dancing in the middle of a group of crested dancers. I was enchanted by her beauty, which my other world would never know of.

Sunlight graced over her bare shoulders and angelic face. I caught a whiff of her perfume in the breeze. When Amarisa turned around and saw me, she stopped dancing, looking like a deer frozen by the fear of a hunter.

I smiled at her. This time, instead of frowning at me, Amarisa lowered her gaze and tried so hard to hide her blush. I grinned wider, wishing we could be alone again.

Kesar went off to take her place without saying a word. I realized then that the maiden might have noticed our unspoken exchanges. This left a bitter taste in my mouth but I swallowed back the guilt.

With a quiet sigh, I decided to join Amarisa. The princess now fidgeted when I approached her with a bow and a flirty smile.

"I must say your dancing is a beautiful sight to see indeed," I said. Amarisa did not look at me, but she tried to speak in a voice of authority.

"Please, be proper and take your respective place."

I took it as a cue to settle down beside her. The princess gave me a familiar burning glare, but she seemed to accept the fact that she could do nothing more.

"Would you allow me to learn your art, too?" I said to her.

"Only if you behave in a civilized manner," she said curtly.

"I will be on my best behavior, I promise."

"Then we must start," Amarisa said.

"What shall we start with, princess?" I asked.

"First, you need to understand the language of our music," she said. "The Kennars are all your teachers now."

"But will you, with my humble request, teach me yourself?"

Amarisa opened her mouth to refuse, but then something seemed to cross her mind.

"If you want me to train you, then I deserve the right to pick an instrument."

I was more than pleased, so without thinking I nodded.

Still smiling contently, I turned to Kesar, who did not look up from her golden flute at all. I felt a spark of pity burned in my gut, but I tried to extinguish it before it consumed me.

"I should start with a wind instrument, perhaps?" I suggested.

"I am the one to decide," Amarisa reminded me with a look.

"Oh, right." I grinned back.

Amarisa picked out a Kennara who sat at the far end of the group. He bowed and moved forward. In his hand was a one-string instrument made of half coconut skull with a long narrowed wooden handle. The single string was woven from cow gut. The rims were also flecked with gold patterns and tiny carvings all over it. It was indeed a delicate and beautiful work, but I had no idea how it must be played.

"What is this?" I asked, blinking in astonishment.

"It's called Kse-dev," Amarisa said. "It's a single-string music instrument played in the royal orchestra and the most difficult one of all."

I looked back at her as I understood her wicked intention. Seeing my dreaded face, she was trying not to let her lips curve up into an amused smile. The Kennara handed the tool to me. Amarisa got one of her own. I was staring at the instrument in my hands. It was light and yet sturdy.

"Our people nickname it, 'the Instrument of the Heart,'" Amarisa added. She was holding it against her chest. "Because it has to be placed against one's heart to resonate the sounds."

Then she strummed the string and drew out the most ravishing melodies, unlike anything I had ever heard. The sound was haunting as if it was tugging at my own heart's string.

Amarisa used the tips of her slender fingers to strike the cord. Every so often she controlled the sounds that came out of the coconut skull against her breast. It was not only beautiful to hear but also beautiful to watch.

I listened in total awe. The artistic princess kept playing, and when the song ended, she lifted her head and turned to me again.

"You may start now," she said.

"H-how?" I asked dazedly.

Amarisa gave me an irritated look, but then she moved over and showed me how to position my tool. I caught another whiff of her wonderful scent and almost sighed in contentment. I noticed her impossibly long thick lashes cast a shadow upon her cheeks while she adjusted my hands.

Once I knew how to keep the handle steady, Amarisa started placing my fingers over the string, introducing each note and showing how to resonate the sounds.

At some point, Amarisa was so annoyed by my inability to remember the notes that she had to come from behind me and showed me a few more examples.

She wasn't aware of how much her soft sweet-scented skin and sleek black lock brushed over my shoulder. It caused my inside to tingle with needs. I began to make more mistakes on purpose.

The rest of the Kennars watched us with a smile. Then I realized Kesar had excused herself from the Dance Hall. I made a mental note to find the maiden again once I got back.

I stayed with Amarisa all afternoon practicing my music lesson. I was determined to impress my princess, but soon I discovered that my fingers began to hurt.

"Thanks to the gods, it has only one string. If the thing had more than that, I would rather burst my own head against the coconut," I complained under my breath. A gentle giggle issued from the princess. My head lifted to find Amarisa muffling her laughter.

I smiled at her and the princess tried not smile back at me. She had never done that, and I could feel my heart swell.

"I'm aware this is the end of your lesson," she said and started to rise from her seat, but I caught her soft hand —this time very gently like I was afraid I would break something so delicate. Amarisa turned back to me, somewhat surprised, yet she didn't pry my hand off like she normally did.

"Your Highness, may I have your permission to see you again afterward?" I asked, looking right into her sparkling eyes.

"Are you not supposed to be at the encampment?" Amarisa said.

"Yes, but after the training is over, I would like to practice my music with you again."

She bit her bottom lip in consideration. Then she glanced around the hall as if aware of the people there and then she spoke in the gentlest tone I had ever heard.

"Perhaps, you'd rather go to a quieter place that suits your own talent," she said and gestured with her other hand to my satchel. "The garden shall offer you such inspirations, I believe."

It took me a moment to understand her words. She had just secretly granted me access to the forbidden Asoak, and cleverly so! I nodded and released her hand again with a bright smile.