"What was it that you were doing with your daughter back there?" Ursa asked Kya as the two women walked slowly down the hallway. Kya's chain was held gently but firmly in Ursa's hands. Sometimes she would give a little tug. But the collared water tribe woman walked quickly. Nervous to keep up. Her hands folded obediently in front of her.
"What?" Kya asked. Not understanding the question. Ursa paused near a large window. The glass was mixed with red shards. As if to make the very light resemble the fire nations bending ability.
"The forehead thing. Why did you do that with your daughter?" Ursa asked. She smiled gently. Kya gulped. The woman seemed strange. Kya had never met a member of any royal family before. The chief of the Southern water tribe was elected to his position via bravery and composure. And could be voted out for failing to meet the rigorous standards that the South held for it's soldiers. Having a position that was inheritable seemed like an antiquated system to Kya. But this woman did very much hold and carry herself like some sort of royal. Like a queen. Like a princess. Like an empress.
"The forehead…Oh! You mean the close kiss." Kya said suddenly understanding. Ursa grinned a little more. Confusion knotting her brows.
"Close kiss?"
"It is a soothing act. For family members. Or for incredibly close friends. It is…It's to assure the other that everything will be alright. It is similar to saying I love you." Ursa hummed at this.
"Demonstrate this to me." Ursa said. She gave the chain a soft tug and stepped forward. The two women were about the same height. Kya noticed that Ursa was wearing black high heeled boots which gave her a little bit more height. But they could more or less look each other directly in the eye.
Kya gulped. She felt her heart beating. Ursa was wearing something…a perfume…thick with spices that stimulated the eyes and the nostrils.
"It is….normally reserved for situations of dire importance." Ursa grinned at this and placed a hand comfortingly on Kya's shoulder.
"I won't tell if you won't." Ursa winked conspiratorially. Kya gulped. She just had to survive this. She just had to wait until dinner. She would be reunited with her daughter soon. She just had to keep this woman happy. And really it was only a demonstration.
Kya gulped and looked around. She felt like a child running and hiding from her friends again. During an especially energetic game of polar tag. Kya felt her heart beating, her palms were sweaty. She could not explain why she was so nervous. Just that she was.
Ursa leaned forwards. Kya pressed her forehead to Ursa's. The two women's noses nuzzled briefly. Kya breathed in deeply and Ursa copied her. The two women were incredibly close. Ursa's dazzling eyes took up all of Kya's vision. The two stared at each other and did the move again. Breath in, hold, then breath out.
Kya began to step away only for her chain to give a faint rattle in Ursa's fingers. Kya remained where she was until Ursa finally took a step back. Ursa smiled warmly before nodding.
"Amazing. You Water tribe women certainly have a rich culture. Is it true that you have a thousand and one uses for penguin seal jerky?" Ursa turned on her heel and began to lead the other woman again. Kya followed behind at a respectful distance. Never getting so far away that the chain grew tight. But never so close that she would trample on Ursa's long flowing robe.
"Well maybe not a thousand." Kya mumbled rolling her eyes. She glanced back at the robe. It was a very spectacular garment. Covered with designs of swooping birds and intricate weaves the simulated a fiery river. It was over the top and vaguely ridiculous. And this was just from a casual day. Kya could not even imagine what an impressive garment would look like on such a beautiful woman.
And Ursa was a lovely woman. Creamy skin, dazzling eyes, thick black hair that had been combed so much that it shone. Her fingers were tipped with long golden fake fingernails. Each one dazzled with a small red ruby. Her lips were full and her eyebrows sharp. She also had a very full bottom that seemed to shimmy the colors together. Kya found her eyes drawn to it now and again. This ass was full, firm, and perky. Clearly it was taken care of. Probably with rigorous exercise. Kya had heard rumors of fire nation nobles being obsessed with their physical features.
Kya paused and gazed out a window at a garden. The palace was filled with such spectacular gardens. This one however had thick white sand in place of well manicured lawns and blossoming flowers.
Kya stumbled as Ursa yanked on the chain firmly. Kya quickly moved to stand in front of the frowning fire nation noble.
"Kya. Please pay attention. We are almost to my private chambers. My husband Ozai will be meeting us there. And I want to make sure that you have developed some progress with what we expect of you."
"Yes." Kya said nodding sharply. Ursa sighed and shook her head.
"No. No. No. It's Mistress. Or your Majesty. Say it correctly now."
"Yes mistress." Kya said properly. Ursa grinned and rubbed Kya's cheek with a hand. Kya stiffened at the familiar gesture. The way that a mother would stroke a disobedient child that she still loved.
"Kya. I know that this must all seem incredibly overwhelming. But you must learn that this is the new situation. This is your life now. A new life. A better life. This can be a very pleasant life. And we want it to be pleasant for you. We want you to enjoy all of this. But we also need you to know your position going forward. Are you capable of following my instructions? Or would we need a more direct form of discipline?" Ursa asked Kya gently and softly. Kya gulped. She knew that sort of tone. She had used it herself plenty of times when comforting a scared elephant seal.
It was the soothing tones used for a frightened animal. Kya was certainly frightened. The collar seemed all the tighter against her throat.
"Yes. Yes Mistress Ursa. I understand. And no, I will follow your instructions. My daughter will also follow your instructions. You can expect obedience from the both of us. I swear it." Kya said in a rush. Ursa grinned and turned around again. Her smile breaking into a shark like grin.
"How excellent. Well come along then. My bedchamber is just around the corner. With any luck the room will be prepared for what we are expecting." Kya followed along. Noting the hallway, the number of guards standing at attention every few meters. The thickness of their armor. The height of the windows and how far down they lead to the ground.
She rapidly compartmentalized all of this information for later. Not knowing if it would be useful or not. But gathering it like a person gathering silk.
The doors to Lord Ozai and Lady Ursa's bed chambers were not as impressive as the doors leading to the Throne Room of the Fire Lord. The same black iron was braced around the thick wood though. The doors were shorter and squarer. With less adornment. The carved faces of tusked spirits were pressing out of the wood though. Four guards stood at attention. Two on either side of the door.
Ursa passed by them. Two of the men rapidly opened the doors at her approach.
"Make sure that we are uninterrupted." Ursa said with a firm finality.
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