In the capital of the Lhorne Empire, rumors were rife in the working-class districts: what gifts would the Emperor distribute on the anniversary of his accession to the throne?
The year before, it had been two rolls of silk per household; the year before that, bags of grain, because it had been a hard year and the Emperor _ may his reign be long and prosperous_ wanted people to have full bellies. The years before that, springs had been created all over the country, cities had been donated schools or temples, poultry or livestock had been given to households...
Kadis didn't care, and couldn't care less about the discussions between Ladah, her mother, and her aunts about what to wear for the ceremony that would take place in the public squares, followed by the festivities, where palm wine would flow in abundance and cheeks would be smeared with honey cakes and rose jam. The young girl crossed the family kitchen, squinting at the cakes. Her mother intercepted her:
- Where do you think you're going? You're not dressed properly! We're leaving in less than an hour! You're going to be a woman soon, so act like one!
Kadis took off her simple linen pants and ordinary shirt and coat for green and gold silk clothes. She put on a white sleeveless survest, beautifully embroidered with black lions. She brushed her long, curly hair into a heavy braid and tied it with a green and gold ribbon. But she didn't touch the make-up box her parents had given her for her fourteenth birthday. She'd been bleeding for seven months now, but didn't really feel grown-up.
In five months, she would be fifteen, and Sabihonn, her father, had told her that, if as a musician she hadn't found an employer by then, he would find her a husband. And he had plenty of friends who'd been eyeing her up since she was ten. She shivered. Then slapped her cheeks. Come on! Today was a holiday! She'd done her daily chores with just about the right amount of grace, and she wouldn't have to deal with these two brats.
She took her lyre, which she fastened to her belt with a thick lanyard, and after snatching a cake, assured Ladah that she would join the family in time for the ceremony in their town's main square.
The maze of alleyways of dry earth houses led her to a wider, paved street leading to the large, mosaic-decorated fountain. It was crowded, and most of the craftsmen and workers were out.
Chewing her cake, Kadis made her way through the crowd, looking for a litter indicating a noble lady or lord with whom to settle and play tunes of her own composition. But of the few litters raised on their precious wooden legs, she saw none without a musician. She did spot a merchant accompanied by eight ravishing slaves, but didn't approach him: the fellow was a little too libidinous with them and still managed to stare at the free women as if they were for sale.
Kadis continued her exploration for almost half an hour before leaning back in the shade of a wall between two houses to rest for a while.
A crow landed on the balustrade of a terrace and snorted, before turning its little black head towards her. The girl smiled: it was said that crows and ravens were the messengers of the winged goddess of death, Balèh, and that meeting their gaze meant death within the year. But she didn't believe this rumor. In some of her recurring dreams, she saw a teenager singing to crows, and these were always very sweet moments.
“- Would you like a song? she asked.
The crow tilted its head to one side.
- “Naaah,” she croaked.
Kadis's hair stood on end.She sped off, lost in the crowd, fearing that Balèh's messenger would find her.Tears still filled her eyes when she spotted her family, her father surrounded by his three wives and two little boys. Kadis sighed with relief.
- And so,” he asked in his beautiful bass voice, ”have you found an employer, First of my children?
- Not yet, O father of my household, but may your soul rest assured, I have... reached an agreement with a potential employer and must perform tonight before him and his household.”
By the gods, why had she come out with this? So as not to see the disappointment in his eyes. Besides, if it would delay the shadow of an unwanted marriage for a few days... Sabihonn looked very pleased.