Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
True to his word, Malakai helped me into the carriage. He and Alohi sat outside and we made our way to Wahiawa. The ride lasted a couple of hours, and I was so anxious about it all, and tired of repeating the riddle over and over in my head, trying to decipher it, that I closed my eyes and rested.
When we arrived at the palace, nestled between lush, thick forests, Malakai said, “Good luck at the ball tonight.”
“Is there anything I should know?” I asked.
He nodded. “Nobody knows about Keanu’s curse or the riddle, so best keep it to yourself. Don’t want other political leaders to find a weak spot in our kingdom.”
I guessed that earlier, which is why I didn’t tell any kahuna in the kingdom why I asked about the ghost army. “Thank you.”
He bowed, then Alohi escorted me into the palace. Immediately I knew I’d be the oddball here.
Servants ushered us to a room, but I couldn’t help noticing the palace. It was stunning, but not nearly as intricate or lavish as Keanu’s palace. There were no gold-foiled borders, frames, and window sills. The walls were empty of paintings by local artists and traditional feather decorations.
Being here proved to me just how wealthy Keanu must have been… unless he unnecessarily taxed his people and spent it all on his luxurious palace.
I suppose I’ll find out.
“The women have gathered here until the ball,” said the servant, bowing as she pointed to a set of double doors.
“I’m not permitted to go in,” said Alohi. “But if you need me, I will stand guard here.”
And just like that, I found myself in a room with women who were more savage than hungry sharks at sunset.
Inside the room, the ceilings were tall and spacious. A cool tropical breeze wafted from the many open windows, and a group of women sat in a circle, their voices and laughter tinkling like bells. They each held something in their hands. What was it?
It appeared they were… quilting? I had once been told that women of wealth and nobility spent their time chatting and gossiping while they sewed Hawaiian quilts, like the ones Kiki made. But I had never picked up the skill.
Noting the gaudy and revealing dresses of the women, I stood at the door, my hands clasped together. I was modest, even when wearing a corset, but I couldn’t help feeling vulnerable, embarrassed, and anxious. I was not like these women. What was I doing here?
The room fell silent as one of the young women, someone who had to be around my age, caught sight of me and motioned for me to sit next to her.
“It’s Keanu’s new wife,” someone whispered, loud enough for me to hear. “She’s from the lower class.” A few women frowned at me, completely unapproving of my being there.
Trust me, I thought. I don’t want to be here either.
“I’m Malia,” said the girl who motioned to the seat next to her. “Princess Malia.” She was gorgeous, with thick black locks and a face that would make even the gods envious. Why didn’t Keanu marry her?
Because he is stuck with me.
“We’re so glad you could join us,” she said.
I swallowed hard and put my hands in my lap, not knowing what to do with them.
“Here,” said Malia, handing me one of the quilting samplers.
“Lady Oliana, before you begin…” Sitting on the other side of me was another young woman. She had an exotic look, and I remembered her from the reception after Keanu and I were married. "Don't forget to thank Princess Malia properly,” she said.
“Oh, thank you.” How could I forget my manners? “Thank you Malia,” I said.
“Princess Malia,” the other girl corrected. “And standing. She is a princess.”
“Oh.” I quickly stood. “Thank you, Princess Malia.”
“Oh dear. Not while everyone else is seated.”
I sat again, realizing just what the girl was doing. Others in the room snickered or rolled their eyes.
“Pua,” Malia gave the girl a look.
Pua looked like a nobility. Her wavy hair fell down her back in tresses, longer than a waterfall, and her dress fit her body tightly, accentuating her curves.
Her eyebrows arched, as if she knew the intimidating effect she had on those around her, and she smiled, though her eyes shot invisible streams of lava my way.
Malia cleared her throat and everyone pretended to go back to their work. I looked at the small quilt in my hand. It was most likely a pillowcase, as it was a smaller square shape. The red fabric was as vibrant as a lehua blossom and it had a striking contrast against the white behind it.
I pulled out the needle and tried to figure out where the last person–most likely Malia–had stopped. If I knew where she ended her stitch, maybe I could start from there.
"Lady Oliana... you're holding it upside down." Pua spoke again.
I looked at the sampler and flipped it. Was there a right side up? The pattern was symmetrical on every side, wasn’t it?
I rotated it.
“No, not that way.” Pua smiled pleasantly. It seemed a few others hid their smiles. “Don’t worry,” she said. “No one expects you to know.”
Flames raged inside of me. She pretended to sound compassionate, when she was really doing the complete opposite.
I poked at the project. “That’s not a quilting stitch.” Why was she still watching me? More quiet laughs filled the room.
Malia interrupted. “Lady Kanahele, what were you saying about the new dresses in your kingdom?”
Lady Kanahele, sitting across the room, rolled her eyes, knowing that Malia was pulling the attention away from me. But she answered anyway. Slowly, the women in the room turned to Lady Kanahele, and after a few moments, Malia nudged me.
“You can at least pretend,” she whispered. I realized I sat there, frozen, staring at the sampler in my hand.
“Oh.”
“It’s alright,” she said. “You’re new here.” I immediately liked Malia. She seemed honest and kind in this world of eels.
I stuck the needle through the fabric, pretending to do something. Anything. Even if I was doing it wrong, as Pua so keenly observed.
Lady Kanahele talked about dresses and used terms I had never heard of, further proving to me just how little I knew about this world of the wealthy. It was jarring to think about where I came from versus where I now sat. Here I was in this world of petty talk and gossip.
Distracting me from my thoughts, Pua spoke up. "Lady Oliana."
Everyone turned to me.
“Tell us. What quilt patterns are traditional on your island?”
Silence. I had no idea. Kiki had quilted a few things but I never paid attention to what the designs actually were.
Pua nodded sympathetically. "Ah." She paused. Then, “Perhaps you’re familiar with weaving, then?”
I blinked. Weaving? There was only one kind of weaving I knew.
And Pua pointed it out. “Fishing nets, maybe?”
Another roll of snickers filled the room as the women returned to their work.
My palms grew sweaty and I looked at Malia. “That’s Pua from ‘Anolani Kingdom,” she whispered. “She’s just jealous Keanu married you. She’s been vying for his attention since he ascended the throne. Don’t mind her.”
“Are all the women here princesses or ladies?”
“Yes. I’m a princess, daughter of Chief Punahou of the district of Waimea. Usually I don’t come to these sorts of things, but…” She pursed her lips. “You know, with the warlord approaching, my father is running out of options.”
“Warlord?” Saying the word aloud left a bitter taste on my tongue. “Who is that?”
Malia stopped stitching to give me a look. “You haven’t heard of him?” She was so shocked that I felt embarrassed.
“I’m not from here, I’m afraid.”
“Then have you been living under a rock?” Malia looked sorry.
“My apologies, Lady Oliana. I heard you were from the lower class, but I hadn’t thought that you were ignorant about…
” her voice trailed off and she straightened out.
“But… surely your husband has told you of the warlord? Perhaps even just a little? Everyone wants your husband to be their ally, after all…”
I shrugged a little, and Malia swallowed hard, looking around before she leaned in to say, “The warlord comes from the Waipio coast on the island of Hawaii. Many say that he will unite all the islands. And you know what that means, right?”
“No.”
Malia didn’t look impatient. She looked concerned that I didn’t know about this infamous warlord.
“He will kill anyone who opposes him, including people like us–rulers, ali‘i, kings, chiefs. He doesn’t care. All he wants is to rule all the islands. We stand in his way if we choose to fight him, instead of surrendering ourselves and our people to his rule.”
A chill ran down my back. “What is his name?”
“Kamehameha.” She shivered when she said the word, and the very air around us grew cold.
"Lady Oliana doesn't know who Kamehameha is?" Pua spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.
Silence.
I swallowed and shook my head, feeling more humiliated.
“How fortunate,” Pua said.
“What do you mean?”
Pua kept working on her project. She didn’t bother to look at me. "There is a certain peace in never having to concern oneself with matters of state."
It destroyed me, cutting into the fact that I did not understand politics and I was not informed. Queens knew all the things about their kingdoms and others, but I did not.
I frowned and Pua spoke for everyone to hear again.
“Those who submit to the warlord are cowards, and we all know that.” She glared at me.
“Your new husband is one of the few brave ones left.” She shook her head.
“It’s just a shame though, how he’s let so many foreigners into ‘Anolani. If he continues like this, there won’t be a kingdom left worth ruling. ”
Lady Kanahele cleared her throat but Pua ignored her. “If he really loved his people, he wouldn’t let them all die from foreign diseases. There are many other leaders who would put our people first.”
“Like who?” I asked, my head reeling from asking so many questions that day, but knowing I had to learn about my new world.
“My family has a long history of leadership,” Pua said. “Keanu was handed the throne.” Then she smiled sweetly. “Seems his bride was handed it too.”