Tides of Tranquility Read online

  To her astonishment, Empress Amabie had also sent a bill which had been approved by the officials of Yonaguni and Shiretoko. It only required Royal Assent to become an official law. Aazuria felt a little shiver when she saw the stipulations of the bill; it went directly against the sacred sea-dweller tenets that everyone had lived by for thousands of years.

  If Aazuria sanctioned this bill, divorce would become legal in Japan. It was only a matter of time before other Oceanic countries began to follow suit and push for the legalization of divorce. It seemed that ripping families asunder was a natural part of modernization. It was actually desirable to many that they could have the option of retracting their vows and relinquishing their bonds. Bonds that were supposed to be eternal.

  Was nothing sacred anymore? If divorce was legalized, providing everyone a quick and easy way out of marriage, then what meaning would matrimony have? The concept of family would be reduced to debris and ashes. Everyone would separate, living solitary urban lives in tiny apartments, struggling financially and unable to find balance. Children would grow up without any foundation or support. Education would suffer, and the arts would become extinct. She could not allow this institution to dissolve.

  Would Visola and Vachlan have gotten back together if divorce had been commonplace and acceptable? I highly doubt it. With their pride and bitterness, they would have killed each other without a second thought. But their marriage vows had meaning too profound to be forsaken. The Sacred Breath ceremony takes your love and gives it physical and spiritual substance, turning an abstract concept into a lifelong blessing—or a lifelong burden. Surely, every marriage is a bit of both. Surely every marriage is worth bearing the burden to warrant the blessings.

  “I cannot do this,” Aazuria said out loud, putting her tablet aside, on the other half of her bed. “I will not let Oceanus become like the surface world. Marital neglect and adultery will remain punishable. I am preserving this institution.”

  She found herself staring up at the giant map on her wall. Amabie had given it to her several years ago, to commemorate the uniting of the Oceanic kingdoms. It had been created by a great Japanese artist, one of Glais’ instructors. Unlike most maps where the oceans were simply blue and featureless, this map showed the intricate details of the depths of the ocean floor. The underwater mountain ridges were raised from the surface, while massive coral structures and islands were shown rising from the water. The continents, however, were entirely black and featureless, creating almost a satirical touch as it mocked the commonplace land-dweller map.

  Aazuria smiled. Only Empress Amabie could manage to convey a derisive irony in something as innocent as a map. Beneath the map, in exquisite calligraphy, were three powerful words: All Under Heaven. It had been the title of the televised speech Aazuria had given on the day that the Oceanic Empire had officially been united under one flag.

  It had been only a few weeks after she had awoken from death.

  Empress Amabie had brought the speech up again only a few hours earlier, over dinner. “Lately, I’ve been thinking about the day you brought the empire together, Aazuria. Your words gave me chills. Every time I remember your address, I wonder whether we will achieve all that you have set out for us to achieve.”

  Aazuria had smiled in memory of the fateful day. When she thought back to the podium, she remembered her hands gripping the wood so tightly that her fingers were white. She remembered her legs being in such intense pain that she was worried she would collapse. But she also remembered the words trumpeting from her throat, filling her with an unearthly burst of strength. “How long had I been awake? Two or three weeks?” she had asked the empress.

  “My friend, you make it seem like a lesser feat by calling it ‘awake.’ You had barely been alive for two weeks at that point.”

  Aazuria had laughed softly, for there was nothing else to do but laugh at this point. “I couldn’t even take a bath by myself. I think Varia was still feeding me—I was so weak that I could hardly walk, and I hadn’t gotten out of bed for more than an hour a day. Then I needed to stand up and deliver a speech to the entire Oceanic Empire? Sedna, I’m just lucky I got through it without fainting. I couldn’t even remember what I had written, so I had to wing it.”

  “And you were winging it when you spoke of tianxia?”

  “Definitely. I remembered that concept from an anecdote that you told me, Empress Amabie, about the wars that first unified China under the Qin dynasty. I figured that the only way I could put a positive spin on the pointless wars that have ransacked the submarine world would be to instill in everyone’s minds that it had to happen to get us to the place where we are now. A unified place from which we can move forward. Together and strong.”

  “I never would have thought to apply tianxia to our current situation, Aazuria. To amalgamate the oceans—all is equal under heaven!”

  “Now you’re giving me far too much credit!” Aazuria had said with amusement. “The oceans were already joined together physically—I didn’t change their positions or their compositions; I just changed the way we think about them.”

  “To raise us up to the level of the land-dweller nations and declare that we no longer have anything to hide—nothing to fear from them. To declare that we will coexist beside them and that we expect our home to be respected as our territory! Aazuria, you changed the face of the world. You changed the concept of the map—you changed everything. I just don’t understand why you wanted to name me Empress of Oceanus, when you were clearly the one who…”

  “The one who could barely stand up on her own two legs? The one who had been unconscious—or dead, as some say—for several months? I was in no condition to rule, and even now that I am healthy, I do not have a fraction of your wisdom and experience. Everyone adores you, and you are the best person to be at the head of this empire.”

  Empress Amabie had reached out to touch Aazuria’s hand. “I stand here because it is the position you gave me, my friend. But we both know that this empire belongs to you—everyone under the sea, and everyone under heaven knows the truth of that. When I am gone, you must be ready to rule.”

  “You’re not going anywhere soon, so I don’t have to worry about that just yet.”

  “I am a thousand years old my friend. Death takes us all sooner or later, and sometimes we aren’t able to come back to life. I want you to know that when I go, whether it is sooner or later, I will die happy. I will feel accomplished and fulfilled because of all the dreams that you realized; because you allowed me to stand beside you as your ally. I could have achieved nothing greater in this life than simply being your friend.”

  Tears had sprung to Aazuria’s eyes at these words, and she returned the pressure on her friend’s hand. “Empress Amabie, we did this together. At my lowest moment, when I had lost everything and everyone—when my country had been completely overrun—you came into my world and saved my people. You spoke words of encouragement, and you returned my dignity and honor. You made me think that I might be worthy and capable of leading. You gave me faith in myself when I had none. You were like a mother to me, and I can never repay you for that.” In the end, it turned out that the empress had not flown up to Adlivun because anything was wrong, but because she genuinely wanted to be in Aazuria’s company. She was not sure why this surprised her so much, but she was beginning to understand.

  Aazuria was beginning to understand why Vachlan had said that she needed to bring her family back together. The victory of Damahaar and the formation of the Oceanic Empire never would have been possible without the unprecedented unity and support of her loved ones. Her friends and family had formed an invincible harmony, each bringing their unique skills and talents to her service to achieve the unthinkable. It was their love that had made her strong.

  She was not some great revolutionary leader. She was a sister, a mother, a wife, and a friend—but all of these smaller roles had somehow prepared her for the role of being this to everyone. That was simply what a good leader
was; a sister, a mother, and a friend to all of her people. As she gazed up at the map on her wall, she felt a certain joy and deep satisfaction. It was not perfect, but she was rather content with her current place in life. She reached beside her, and her fingers grazed her tablet as she felt another bout of tiredness tug her under.

  “I don’t want to get divorced,” she whispered out loud. She wondered if that was the fear that was preventing her from approving the law. If divorce was legal, would Trevain and I even be trying to fix things right now? I want to fix things. I think that things can be fixed, but even if they can’t, just trying a little makes me feel better. Ultimately, she knew she would need to decide whether to approve the law based on whether it was better for the entire empire, and not merely her personal life.

  “You should hang yourself.”

  Aazuria was startled by this voice and her eyes flew open to view its source. She was shocked to see an old man standing beside her bed. She recognized his snowy white beard and the piercing blue eyes that stared out from under stately eyebrows. His wrinkles seemed deeper, and the shadows under his eyes seemed darker than before.

  “Father?” she whispered. The shock of seeing him was so great that she was unable to move. Her heart rate instantly doubled. She knew that she must be dreaming, but the nightmare had her tightly in its grip.

  She then noticed that he was holding a piece of rope that had been looped into the shape of a noose, and he offered it to her with a merciful expression. “I know how difficult it must be, fulfilling all these obligations. I was once the king of a vast nation too.”

  Aazuria stared unblinkingly. She felt transfixed by a series of overwhelming emotions, the least of which was fear.

  “I know how difficult it must be,” King Kyrosed said, “knowing you killed your own father. Knowing you led so many thousands to their death in unnecessary warfare.”

  “It wasn’t that many,” she said defensively, as though she had to prove herself to his ghost. “We managed to avoid too many casualties at Damahaar. Most of the losses were the Somalian pirates who weren’t used to fighting underwater and the African…” She gasped when he slipped the noose around her neck. It must have been a very realistic dream, for she could actually feel the rope bruising her skin.

  King Kyrosed moved his massive arms, tightening the knot of rope around her narrow throat. He tugged on the rope like a leash, pulling her face very close to his. “You and I are the same, Aazuria, my darling daughter, the apple of my eye.”

  Her fingers tugged at the rope, trying to pry herself free. Still, his eyes held her mesmerized like the brutality and gore from a horror movie from which one cannot look away.

  “Someday, child, when you make all the wrong decisions, your people will grow sick of you. Then, maybe your daughter will be the one to stab you in the chest. That seems to be the Vellamo way. I ousted my father because it was time for me to take the throne. You killed me not because you were different or better than me, but because you were exactly like me.” He gave one final, abrupt tug on her noose. “And for that reason, Varia will someday decide to put an end to your life. She will become bloodthirsty like you—you have already showed her how. So do us all a favor and tie the other end of this rope to the light fixture on the ceiling. Then jump off your bed, and join me in hell.”

  Aazuria shot directly up in bed, waking up covered in sweat. She lifted her hands to her neck to check for a noose, but there was nothing there. That felt so real—when will I stop dreaming about that man? Sighing, she collapsed back against the pillows. Only then did she notice a tall figure standing in the shadows of the corner of the room. With a gasp, Aazuria flung the blankets from her leg and ran from the room. She ran directly into one of the guards in the halls, and he reached out to grip her upper arm to steady her before saluting briskly across his chest.

  “My queen! Are you okay? You’re pale as a sheet.”

  “There’s someone in my room,” she said breathlessly, “standing in the corner. There.”

  The guard quickly moved to the doorway of her room and checked the room thoroughly. As Aazuria caught her breath, she considered stealing the guard’s weapons in case she needed to defend herself. Although he was a rather big guy, she was not sure how well-trained he was. He seemed more chubby than muscular to her, although she was sure he had some martial skill, for he had been carefully selected for this job.

  “There is no one there, my queen.”

  “Really?” she said in surprise. She rubbed her neck as she stepped cautiously into the doorway. Seeing that the room was empty, she turned to the guard. “What is your name?”

  “Rolf, ma’am.”

  “Did anyone enter my room, Rolf?” she asked sharply. “Have you been at your post all night?”

  “I didn’t see anyone, your majesty.”

  “Thank you,” she said hesitantly, moving into the corridor. She was too shaken to return to her room right away. She wrapped her arms around herself as she strolled toward the eastern end of the hallway. Her daughter’s room was closest to hers, and Trevain’s was a bit further down the hall. She knew she wanted to see one of them, but she was not sure who. The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became. The only time she slept beside Trevain was on airplanes, when it was inevitable. She felt like far too much of a stranger to bother him at this hour; perhaps that was the reason they needed therapy. With nostalgia, she remembered the first time she had spent the night with him. She remembered feeling such excitement for his nearness, such a constant need. Now, that had all disappeared and had been replaced with apprehension.

  She felt older. She had been old to begin with, but the past two decades had taken a toll on her mental state. She had aged more in this short expanse of time than she had in her entire life. Giving birth to Varia alone, and being separated from her family; it had been too much to bear. She realized that she had taken herself to Trevain’s door, and was reaching for the handle. A shudder seized her shoulders and made her abruptly step back.

  Hesitantly, she turned to Rolf. In much the same way one might ask a taxicab driver for advice in a harrowing moment, but otherwise treat them with professional distance, Aazuria spoke to the guard in a soft voice. “Have you seen any lights under their doors? Or heard any noises? Do you know if Varia or Trevain might be awake?”

  The guard hesitated, as if considering how to answer. “I am pretty sure the king is asleep, your majesty. But I believe the princess is awake.”

  “Thank you,” she said softly. She could not exactly ask him, “Should I stay with my daughter or my husband tonight?” Taking a deep breath, Aazuria moved to knock on Varia’s door. Hearing a strange noise in the room, she pushed the door open a tiny bit.

  She was greeted with a view of Varia climbing into the room through the window. The teenager slipped on the frozen windowsill and stumbled to the ground when she saw her mother enter the room.

  “Uh… Mom! This isn’t what it looks like.”

  “You’re not climbing into a window?” Aazuria asked with a smile.

  “I am, but… please come in and shut the door!”

  Aazuria did as her daughter requested, and allowed her back to sink against the panel of ice gratefully. She scanned the room for shadowy figures or strange apparitions, but there were none.

  “I was visiting Glais,” Varia admitted.

  “I figured that much,” Aazuria said quietly.

  “How?” Varia said, cringing.

  “Darling, you don’t have any other friends.”

  “Oh. Good point.”

  “You know, you could just take the stairs.”

  “I could, but I don’t want Father to find out. I’m afraid he’ll get upset and stop giving Glais fencing lessons. Since Uncle Callder went to Atlantis, Father has been teaching Glais.”

  “Fencing? Is he any good?” Aazuria asked.

  “Not as fast as Uncle Callder is in avoiding attacks, but more precise with landing blows.”

  “
I see,” Aazuria said. “Well, don’t worry about your father. He won’t be upset about you visiting Glais—he knows that you two are very close.”

  Varia hesitated. “Maybe. But then there’s the whole issue of the guards. I don’t want them talking about me.”

  “What do you mean?” Aazuria asked with a frown. “Do they talk about me?”

  “Yes. Did you know that Rolf regularly tweets about you? Check it out,” Varia said, reaching into her pocket and tossing her phone to her mother. Aazuria caught the device and looked down at it in horror.

  ‏@CastleGuardRolf 19 seconds ago

  OMGZ! I think Queen Z just considered going into King T's bedroom. Is the Ice Queen finally melting?! More updates soon. #TeamTrezuri

  Aazuria blinked down at the phone in surprise. “He just posted this. Twenty seconds ago.”

  “Yeah. He’s pretty hilarious.”

  “Hilarious? This is personal! Why didn’t you tell me about this, Varia?”

  “Because I find his tweets funny? Once he wrote about how pretty I looked in my new jeans. It’s nice to be noticed.”

  “Who’s reading this garbage? I can’t believe that someone would dare… What the hell does Team ‘Trezuri’ with a number sign in front of it mean?”

  Varia giggled. “It’s a hashtag, Mom. It just means that he prefers Father to be with you than with Aunt Elandria.”

  “Oh,” said Aazuria. She moved over to the nearest piece of furniture where she deposited her daughter’s phone. Returning to the door, she jerked the handle open fiercely.

  “Mom!” Varia shouted. “Don’t hurt him!”

  It was too late. Varia flinched at the muffled sounds of combat coming from outside the hallway.

  “Ice queen?” Aazuria repeated in anger. “How could you… and publicly! Get out of my castle!”