Flashback Thorns and Ties (Jed)

[Verena Lorak]

Thorns and Ties
16th of Spring, 510 AV

A lone carriage travelled through the Kabrin Road. Anyone who gazed upon would know that it held no simple commoner. The carriage was richly decorated, its color dark. A coiled serpent was painted on its doors - a symbol of power and status in the city of Kenash. A freeborn slapped the reins, urging the two horses to go faster. Seeing a traveling carriage was not an odd side. What's odd was the fact that a Lorak carriage was heading deep into the Bloodflower Plantation.

Inside, if one looked closely enough, were two of the youngest members of the Lorak Dynasty. Both easy in the eyes and amazingly gifted with brilliance. Both enshrouded with distasteful gossips and rumors and paid little to no mind to it. Yet, they could not be more different from each other.

Verena pressed her lips together, her eyes dark and bored. Even if she didn't show it, the young woman was definitely annoyed. For days, weeks, she had been brought from place to place, introduced to anyone who cared. Forced to attend parties and meetings and birthdays and openings. She much prefer the calm in the library, or her own room - but apparently, that was not what her family wanted. Apparently, they needed her to make some politically beneficial relationships.

The latest deed was probably the most absurd. Verena Lorak was promised to one of the Sitai family members, someone a few years older than her. They said it was to fix the relationship between the two families that had been ruined some time ago. Why her? And why through marriage? If the two Dynasties truly wanted to mend their alliance, they was supposed to talk it out, not ship out certain bachelors and forced them into betrothal.

Lorana's stern voice came floating into her mind, reminding her to act as best as she could. To hold her tongue if it was possible and smile as much as it was possible. That the slaves and servants had worked hard to make her look stunning - the make up, the curled hair, the black silk dress - and she better not ruin it with her attitude. Zorane had volunteered to come along, earlier. The request was declined. In the Head's opinion, Verena should be able to manage on her own, without her brother covering her mistakes.

"You don't seem excited," Calisha said all of the sudden, her tone mocking. Lorana had practically ordered the two girls into the carriage after countless protests and arguments. They were not exactly friendly to each other. For some reason, her family thought it would be a good idea that the two went together.

Arguably, Calisha looked even more put together than Verena did. Her brown hair wounded with flowers in a braid, resting against her left shoulder. Her eyes were alight with a light shade of green - telling Verena that her cousin was feeling particularly happy. The golden dress hugging Calisha's curvy frame was definitely more dramatic than hers. She was more the type to be married off. Actually, Verena had pointed it out helpfully to Lorana, who simply said that their relation was not close enough to mean something significant.

Verena didn't reply to the smart comment, didn't even turn her head toward her relative.

"You should stop ignoring everyone," the architectural prodigy snapped. "Especially now that you wish to get a husband."

Blinking slowly, Verena forced herself to look Calisha in the eye, her eyes critical and sharp. "How do you expect me to respond? You seem aware that I'm not at all excited. I see no point in telling you what you already know." To others, she would seem disconnected, her words plain and simple - no tone, no nothing. "Besides, I don't wish to have a husband. The family does." True, Verena barely thought about romantic relationships.

As they closed in to the main house, Verena could help but notice the burst of colors. The various colors that bloomed everywhere she could see. Beautiful.

"I hear he's sickly," Calisha continued lightly, hands folded neatly on her lap. Again, the young healer made no effort to listen to her cousin. Besides, she was well aware of the stories to. She was about to meet Jed Sitai, the son of Dervain Sitai. Honestly, Verena was intrigued by the young man's so called sickness. Everyone heard of it, but no one really knew. "Perfect, isn't it? You can nurse him back to health."

Before Verena had the chance to react, the carriage slowed to a stop.