Unveiled

Chapter One


The slim figure of a woman slipped furtively out of the castle grounds before the break of day. This was the time when the guards were most lax, after drinking coarse beer and weariness had set in. No one paid mind to the person in plain cotton robes, figuring her to be an early morning slave given an errand to fetch some medicinal herbs or a few comfits at the market. If they had known that behind the thick voluminous veil resided the Princess Tanyeli, the guards would have been jolted awake with an unearthly energy.

Tanyeli's cerulean eyes scanned the horizon, awestruck at the feeling of utter freedom that had blossomed within her. An invisible weight had been freed from her small shoulders the moment her slippered foot tentatively touched the soil outside of the paved pathways within the gates of the palace. For the first time in her life, Tanyeli was truly... free.

As the youngest and most beloved daughter of the King, Tanyeli had never even gotten her baby toe outside the thick metal gates barring the imperial palace from the rest of the world. This was considered perfectly normal, and Tanyeli's elder sisters had always been content with their lifestyle. Her sister, Sulen, had always made the sensible rejoinder that there was nothing outside the palace that they needed. There were luxurious gardens blossoming with all sorts of trees and flowers, bathrooms in which one could bathe in the purest of spring waters and delight in expensive oils, rock pools full of rare colorful fish, a menagerie full of the most beautiful animals. Within the marble palace itself, Tanyeli had an apartment entirely to herself, with silken bedding, rose petals strewn every which way, and slaves ready to do her bidding at a flick of her finger.

But Tanyeli had never liked being idle. It made no sense to her why she should always have someone waiting on her hand and foot when she herself had been blessed with limbs. Even if she was royalty, it seemed to Tanyeli that it had been merely chance, not any divine gift. This was blasphemous speaking, and her father had reprimanded the princess many times in her youth, but this was something innately fixed in Tanyeli. Throughout the years however, life had taught her that some things could not be altered, and the role of women were merely to follow men's bidding.

Just a few days ago, she had almost been content with her lot. Who else could be luckier than she, Tanyeli reasoned. She knew no pain or longing, and she had been blissfully immersed in petting her lovely white tiger cub, Sibel. Then, her father had stepped into the garden in which she had been sitting.

The king had admired the breathtaking picture his youngest daughter made, dressed in an under-gown of white gauze decorated with small pearls and diamonds, and over it a thicker emerald green gown with gold emblem. Her sable hair was loose and rippling over her dainty shoulders, covering the prized milk-white skin. At the call of her name, Tanyeli had lifted her oval face, a delighted smile crossing the fine features.

She was considered by all within the palace to be the most beautiful of the King's four daughters, with her dazzling skin and blue eyes that could change hues depending on the light. At times, they were a sparkling light blue, and at others they were so dark that they were indistinguishable from the night sky. "Father, you have returned from your journey!" Tanyeli cried eagerly, getting up immediately with the small tiger in her arms.

"I have," the King said affably, his eyes running over his youngest. Yes, she was getting to be quite a woman. Just a few weeks ago, her body had still been that of a child, with its awkward thinness and her face slightly rounded. Now, there was a womanish grace to Tanyeli's walk, and curves pressed against the silks she wore. "Tanyeli, I bring you news that will surely bring joy to your heart."

Tanyeli had stilled. Foreboding clutched at her, and gave into utter fear as the King had told her in no uncertain terms that she was to be married in eight weeks.

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