This story is part of the Wanderer series.
To the north, in one of the studies at the East Palace, Karin sat at the elongated table, her legs tucked under, a quill in each hand. Two scrolls were stretched across in front of her, while dozens of others were stacked on the floor next to her. She was leaned over the closest scroll, eyes trained on the diagram her right hand drew while her other hand wrote down some notes.
There were approaching footsteps. A door on the other side of the study opened, her brother taking a step in. Karin glanced up with just her eyes as the door opened.
“It’s time,” her brother said.
Nodding, Karin tucked her chin in as she leaned back, giving her work one last stare before wiping off her quills on a cloth and setting them down.
In the prayer hall, several rows of dark-haired men and women, dressed in a variety of vibrant blue robes, sat on the floor with large, mist-colored cushions underneath them. They lined right up to the wooden steps at the front of the hall, which stretched the entire width of the front platform. A stray figure sat on the platform, by himself, with nothing but a straw mat. His robes were pale white with a bright red inner collar. A priest.
The hall was lit by a few elaborate paper lanterns hanging off the bright red pillars that ran along the sides of the corridor, elongating the shadows of the occupants. At the front row, three figures stood out from the rest due to the larger cushions they sat on. To the left was Takeshi. To the right was Karin. In the center, with the largest seat, was the emperor, donning his golden headdress, sitting cross-legged unlike the rest of the occupants. All eyes were drawn to the platform, past the priest reciting prayers for the ambassadors’ success and safe journey.
At the very front, standing under an alcove, was a tall, pale-colored statue of a figure. Long-haired, wearing voluminous robes tied shut with a tall sash. There was a silver, circular plate at the center of the figure’s sash, cupped by the figure’s hands on either side, as well as a large hollow circle, made of a singular metal sheet, attached to the figure’s back, forming a ring around their head as they stared down at the occupants with shadowed eyes. Their worshippers bent their heads to the floor several times during the prayer, holding there until the priest lifted theirs back up and spoke again.
As the ambassadors slowly paraded out the hall, Takeshi spoke up next to Karin with a quiet breath. “What are your feelings about the conference, my dear sister?”
Keeping her eyes ahead, she kept her tone steady as she replied. “I am ready.”
“I speak not of its convention,” he clarified. “Intel has indicated the topic of Wanderers within each nation’s ranks will be difficult to find common ground.”
Karin blinked, her gaze becoming a little uncertain. It took her a moment longer to reply this time. “I certainly bear some strong feelings about our treatment in society. However, I will reserve my final judgment until I hear what the others have to say.”
“Your friends from the other Great Nations?” Takeshi ventured.
“Them as well,” Karin hastily added. “But, I meant the conference as a whole.”