Brother's Strength

Some stories are built off hatred, some revenge, but this story is built off the strength of two brothers, and how they overcome the challenges before them.

In Tiziano village, a man known as The Leviathan had risen to power and ruled the village. His great strength had allowed him to successfully take on great hunts to slay many of the beasts that plagued the fishermen of his village. As he conquered the beast of the seas, he turned his gaze to the other villages to conquer but ultimately failed.

Shezira, his fifth wife, saw her husband's failure. Though their relationship wasn't the best she wanted to use her skills as a weaver to help.

She had to think of what to make first, she strolled down to the shore where they docked the boats to get a breeze from the sea and watch the fishermen. She thought of the bond she and Taryu had before everything changed. The things that made her fall for him, were his love for the sea, his strength, his bravery, and his wisdom. She wanted to make a gift that spoke to those qualities. Her mind wondered as she felt a strong gust of wind and glanced out towards the fishermen on the water, watching as the wind tore his sail and he seemed to start cursing. She giggled at the old man's tantrum when the idea of what to make came to her. After taking a moment to figure out the dimensions, she knew what she would make. Shezira knew that she could make the gift before the great hunt festival if she worked hard.

Shezira tolled for 23 days and nights, gathering waterbed reeds, striping the fibers, and then reweaving them into threads. Lacing each strand of thread with the powder of a crushed shell from an Ore snail, infusing her Tarmata to bind the materials together. On the 23rd night, she had finished her husband's gift, a nigh-indestructible sail that would be controlled using strings of Tarmata.

This sail would revolutionize his ability to traverse the seas. Due to the constant winds, the need for a rudder and oars would be completely nullified, allowing for the small ships to utilize more manpower for combat and raids. This would give Taryu the upper hand he needed to truly conquer the seas and the other villages.

After finally finishing her masterpiece a tightness formed in her stomach, the thought of giving Taryu a gift made her uneasy. She didn't even know how to get his attention, let alone give him a gift. It had been so long since he spoke to her alone. Days passed as failed attempt after failed attempt happened to her. Sometimes it was just the wrong timing, others she just didn't say the words she needed to. No matter how she approached it she just couldn't seem to give him the gift. Anxiety turned into depression, and she almost had given up hope till she thought to approach the first wife, for help and consultation.

"Le, I have a gift for Taryu," Shezira said meekly.

Her nimble fingers held out an ornate sail, decorated with his name's sake, a Leviathan or Sea Serpent. Le's eyes glanced across the tapestry critically, then darting up to Shezira's soft face with a smile pressed upon her lips. She quickly looked around her then grabbed Shezira's wrist pulling her off to a room "Follow me Shezira." she hissed quietly. Shezira entered the room with Le closing the door quickly behind her.

Le snapped around looking directly at Sheriza with gleaming eyes.

"This looks amazing Shezira, where did you learn to weave like this?" Shezira blushed and looked at her arduous work.

"My granny Amio taught me, she learned directly from Old Lady Kou."

Le's expression stayed consistent as she peered at Shezira, a sly smile crossing her face. "That's truly legendary."

She moved closer to Shezira "How are you going to show Taryu? You know he's been in a sour mood since Raul's death."

Shezira looked up longingly at Le.

"Le that's why I came to you, please help me. I love Taryu so much seeing him hurt and in pain, it pushed me to make this. I wish I had your beauty and grace then I could give it to him. It's been so long since he and I spoke that I don't know what to say. Please help me help our husband."

The shadows hid Le's face, but the venom in her soul leaked into the air.

Shezira sensing it franticly said "Le, just tell him I helped you make it. That's all."

Le's smile danced across her face again.

"Of course, Shezira, I'll help you. I will give Taryu your magnificent gift, I know he'll love it. I just need you to tell me how this works. That way I can tell him."

Shezira burst with joy and hugged Le. "Oh, thank you, Le, you truly are a light, I see why you are the favorite." she barely managed to get those words out through the tears. Le patted her head gently.

"No, thank you Shezira."

Shezira barely managing to compose herself told Le how the sail worked. "Ok, now it may take some time, but I will give this to him. You will have to wait till he tests this on the seas."

Shezira nodded in understanding with quiet excitement and hugged Le once more. "Thank you, Le."

She whispered gleefully as she left out the room.

Shezira waited anxiously to hear from Le about Taryu's thoughts on her work, after all, Taryu's Grandmother was Lady Kou herself. Her heart fluttered as she thought about when she met Taryu and how certain things pushed them away. Actions she wished she didn't take and some that she wished she did. She could have easily been the first and possibly only wife had she made the right moves. She thought her two sons would bring them closer, but it only lasted for a little while. By that time Taryu had already been with his other wives.

She had made him a gift once before long ago when they were still young. She remembered how he loved the gift and how he had given her a gift of his own. She placed her hands around the gift, a necklace made of polished Kaliros stone. She just knew this sail would bring them back together and mend the wounds of their relationship.

Several days passed when her eldest son, Lycurgus, came into her room. "Mother, father has summoned us. He just returned from his latest conquest with a great victory."

Shezira's face lit up. Her gift worked, and Taryu was able to utilize the sail successfully. With a wide smile on her face, she told her son,

"Round up Lysander, we'll make our way to the feast hall."