Siobhan's Story Continues
More of Siobhan's story. In case it's unclear, Siobhan is Zoe in the SilMil. This is the story of the first (and thus far only) female Shitennou.
Zoisite bowed briefly as he entered Theseus’ study, his right hand clenched in a fist over his heart in salute.
Theseus laughed and moved to him, “Rise, Old Man. So… you’re home. Does that mean that the final guardian of my son has been found?”
He nodded, “It does. I warn you, Theseus, I do not necessarily plan to wait until you lay down your own burden to relinquish mine. Five years of training, and if the child is ready… I will hand over the stone and take my place with my brothers.”
“Are you so eager to leave me? To abandon myself and the North? To a child who will be… how old at the time?” Theseus frowned as he took his seat, gesturing for Zoisite to the same.
“You’re being petulant. If the child is ready, I will pass over, and only if.” Zoisite took the offered seat, “I have carried on in someone else’s place long enough, and while I know that you miss Gregor, missing one brother is nothing like the pain I bear of missing all of my brethren. Besides, Theseus, you will miss me, but I have never been the ideal for you--I’ve been an uncle in a bond that calls for brotherhood. Would it be so horrible for you to be the uncle for a while?”
Theseus sighed at the memory of Gregor and shook his head, “No… though to be honest, I’m not sure how much longer any of us have. Endymion was born late. We’re fortunate I did not have to seek for an heir the way you yourself did.”
Aretz had been thought infertile, and Theseus refused to put away his wife or entertain mistresses just to have an heir. Fortunately, the Golden Crystal did not require a direct line of descent, and so the kingdom had been content to wait, though not all were kind to Aretz for her seeming failure. When she conceived and did not lose the child, the couple had been ecstatic, and when Endymion had been born, healthy and male, their private celebration had eclipsed any festival held by the people.
Zoisite did not protest. The fact that all of the Shitennou had now brought their replacements to the palace to train suggested that the time was not exceedingly far off, though the eldest was only ten.
“So… enough somber thoughts. Tell me of my sons final brother? From which region of the North did he come?” Theseus’ eyes glowed with expectation and excitement. Now that all four were gathered, they would bond, and in a few months, if everything went well, the Priest would come to make the bond a real and living entity.
“Eire. But there is something you should know, Theseus. My heir is a bit of a surprise and we will have to deal with the controversy the next Zoisite brings to the kingdom. In this, I require that you support me and the Northern Heir.” There were few times that one of the Shitennou could make out right demands upon the High King, but Zoisite was well in his right to make such a demand now, and Theseus knew he could not refuse it.
Theseus frowned, “I cannot remember the last time such a demand has needed to be made. Even without the official bond between us. What is the issue, Jean?”
Zoisite smiled, it had been a long time since his given name was freely used outside of his own family, since the death of his first heir and then that of his brothers. “Come… it will be easier if you see it for yourself. I’ve not yet introduced my heir to the others, because I want you to be aware of what is afoot first.” He stood and Theseus followed suit, an eyebrow raised.
“It’s so bad that you feel a need to protect the lad from his future brothers? You’re scaring me.” There was a touch of laughter in the king’s voice, and Zoisite knew that the other man did not trust the severity of the situation.
That all changed the moment he entered Zoisite’s suite and saw a young girl dressed in the grey training uniform of a Shitennou. “This is some kind of joke?” Theseus frowned as he turned from the young girl back to his oldest guardian. “Very funny, but this is a lass.”
Zoisite smirked but placed his stone in her hands and stepped back. The light, which Siobhan had come to relish, once again burst forth from the stone, and Theseus wrapped his arms around himself in an attempt to keep from freezing.
“Gaia chose a girl…” The king sighed, “You did not need to demand me to support this. Gaia’s will is clear, and I can feel the Golden Crystal responding to her.” He shook his head, “This was not a battle I ever foresaw having to fight in my lifetime. Aretz will be beside herself though.”
He knelt before the girl and gently laid a hand over hers, the Golden Crystal reacting to control the power of the North. “You are going to force us to advance faster than I believe we’re ready for. But you will have the full support of the crown.”
“Take her to meet her brothers, Zoisite, but do not ease that transition. They must accept her on their own if she is to be accepted by the people or the ceremony is to take.” The king’s voice was weary, but Zoisite had held him upon his birth and nursed him through his first rejection by a girl knew full well that the weariness had traces of hope in it.
“Keep her away from Aretz, too. She’ll be well intentioned, but she’ll smother the poor thing. She still wants a daughter.” He shook his head, smirking as he imagined his wife’s reaction. He’d talk to her first, make sure she understood that this girl was to be treated like the other Shitennou trainees, at least for now.
“Your name, girl?”
“Siobhan, Sire.” Her voice was strong, though there was a trace of uncertainty in it, and considering everything, Theseus would have been concerned if she was not a little fearful.
“Good luck, Siobhan.”