Time to Journey

  Ruddy beasts shifted beneath their harnesses in the pale morning light. The wooden wagon they were hitched to contained whatever the Sonata Clan packed for their journey. Small sets of clothes for both cold and warm weather, supplies for the trip, bedrolls, and the biggest space was filled with Asan luxuries and rare goods. Id’rit insisted. If they were to do a tour around the continent, they’d might as well profit from it.

  The Asa Dominion was both a forested and mountainous region. They were rich in gifts of the forests such as medicinal mushrooms, fine-threaded sheer fabrics, unique herbs, noquants—a six legged goat-like animal, and minerals. Id’rit packed as much as they could—except for the noquant butter and meat. Juliana correctly estimated that it would spoil. They settled for mostly dried rations for the trip and a few pounds of fresh noquant. Thankfully, most of the ingredients for sale were small, dry, and lightweight. Id’rit lamented that they would not be able to transport more Asan aromatic wood, which was known to burn with purple flames and had a pungent, popular scent. It was used in Asan perfumes, ceremonies, and as a spice used only during the winter solstice. Only a box a meter in length could be exported as it was as heavy as stone. However Id’rit insisted they bring as much Asan cloth as they could carry. The soft translucent material would be popular, especially among the higher note elves. Not even war would turn them off from the fabric. A few bolts packed were also iridescent. Fionn admitted that they were the ones to invest in the fabric to help the clan.

  Oynoiz reminded them that if there were dangerous beasts and Sonata Clan must escape, they’d need to pack as lightweight as possible. This was a downer for the profit-minded Asan. Juliana laughed at their frown and secretly also looked forwards to the profits.

  The plan was to travel through the first to Lysara, then through the Wild Woods to the Gongre Confederacy. Finally stop shortly at the Una’TA Matriarchy. The last one was Juliana’s suggestion, although none of her clan was looking forwards to it. When she asked why, they explained that they may not be as welcomed there. She offered to not go, but the Sonata Clan wouldn’t hear of it.

  “We promised to show you the continent, so we will see all of it, even where it is a mana desert.” Oynoiz said.

  Juliana thought back to what she learned about Adasion and the continent she was on.

  Lysara was one of the two countries that fought against the Asa Dominion in the Continental War. The meritocracy had a plural executive. Each leader of a department such as Public Works would first work within the department after a qualification test. The best innovative and performing members would selected by the department workers for a single five year term. The elected leader would not ever be allowed to be the administrator again unless 75 percent of the department insisted on their reelection.

  As a coastal country, their citizens were largely pescatarians and pollotarians since meat was rare, but seafood and fowl were common along the coasts. They loved spices, herbs, and leafy greens. They preferred bold colors, stitched sleeves, and rounded collars. They were fans of the arts and appreciated craftsmen. Oynoiz suggested they might be pretentious, but Fionn said that was just Oynoiz’s Gongre bias.

  The Gongre Confederacy had four regions. Its people were known to be simpler. Unlike Asa, which tended to have more of a militaristic culture, Gongre focused on farming, music, and ruddy beast riding. They specialized in weaving, pottery, and an alcoholic drink called yurtmot which was made of grains and ruddy beast milk. They were the poorest of the continent and the Continental War devastated them. Oynoiz expressed concern about returning, but wouldn’t explain further. Fionn thought it was because they’d have to cross the Wild Woods, which was in a hilly area in the middle of the continent. It was the location of some of the worst fighting of the Continental War.

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  Finally, the last stop would be the Una’Ta Matriarchy. Juliana had met their ambassador, so she had a slight idea of what to expect. A cold, barren region with Amazonian women who viewed the Adasions with skepticism.

  To the Ana’Ta’s chagrin, only one woman took their offer to join their nation that year.

  The Adasions were mostly neutral about their existence since the Ana’Ta only controlled minor mineral mines, ice fishing for large sea creatures, mountain noquants whose meat was known to be tough. Their land was harsh, wintery, and known to have dangerous predators.

  Juliana tightened the straps of one of the supply crates. Her name was called before Sophia leapt and gave her a hard hug.

  Sophia was crying, “I want to go with you!”

  Prince Hirote ran up behind her, panting.

  “We heard you were leaving with your new clan,” Prince Hirote looked embarrassed.

  “Can’t we travel with them until Lysara? I’d like to see these other countries.”

  Hirote straightened their scarlet military robes with golden stitching, “Sophia, I cannot go with you. Right now, they are under war reparations and must not only render us monetary tributes but also, as you know, relinquish all women who arrive to this planet. If the Lysarians see me, I’ll be attacked. I care for you so much. If I was not the Asan prince, we could go with them today. But I need you to be safe.”

  “So you can become stronger,” Sophia frowned.

  “No—not at all.”

  “But can’t I also meet the other Sols to decide where I can belong? I feel like you all are trying to use me for power. If I’m a pawn, let me choose the board.”

  “Who is there to choose? We executed all the enemy Sols in the last war.”

  Sophia gasped.

  Hirote pushed back their bright red hair and continued, “And I don’t see you as an opportunity. Only my father sees women that way. You are not a pawn. You’ll be my—what is the word you Earthers use? You’ll be my queen! My equal. No Adasion will have power to order you. You are all I have. Sophia, you are my clan. Only you and my father. All other Asans have multiple Adasions in their families. Royality cannot afford this. It is nearly impossible to have multiple Sol ranks in a generation. I want, no need you, by my side. Please Sophia, do not leave me alone. Do not leave me to travel alone and I am left with only having worries as company.”

  Juliana blushed. Even if the Adasions were incapable of physical romance, the prince’s statement was very romantic. Sophia reacted the same way.

  Oynoiz cleared their throat, “The prince is correct. The Continental War devastated the Adasion countries on this continent. Our leadership was destroyed.”

  It was then that Prince Hirote noticed Oynoiz. His bronzed lips scowled at the pale grey skinned, black-haired null.

  “And what is this thing doing here? Juliana, please tell me you did not pick a Gongre null.”

  Juliana tilted her head up, “I did. Oynoiz is part of my clan, prince.”

  “I see.” They said such but did not appear happy, “Does the Red King know of this?”

  “It doesn’t matter. I have the freedom to choose who I wish as my clan, even if my clanmates are non Asans. It’s the Asa Dominion who gets to interact with us first and introduce us to the planet. From there we were told we choose our own clan. Or am I mistaken?” There was a warning in Juliana’s voice. The last place Juliana wanted to be were the High Halls of the Asa Dominion justifying her choice to the Red King.

  Fionn covered their grin with their sleeve.

  Prince Hirote avoided her stare, “Yes, that is true. You may pick any clan you wish. It is part of the peace accords. The Una’Ta Matriarchy, as the arbitrator, made sure it was included. I’m surprised that Judge Nue’ant didn’t try to convince you further.”

  Juliana shrugged, “I wanted to create my own clan. I am glad these Adasions accepted me.”

  Id’rit cleared their throat, “Excuse me, highness, but if we are to make good time, we need to depart before midday.”

  Sophia hugged Juliana again, “Will you be okay? I’m going to stay here.” Prince Hirote let out a breath of air in relief.

  She continued, “But—I expect you to write when you get to a new country. I want to hear all about it. Let me know whenever your clan chooses a home. I want to know your new address.”

  Juliana agreed.