Chapter two: KEILANI

The two servants watched apprehensively as the King paced back and forth in his dimly lit chambers, pondering an unspoken challenge.

One said under his breath to the other, afraid of being heard by the King, “Why does the King bother anymore if he has been thinking for so long? He doesn’t know much beyond how to kill a man.”

Almost as soon as the words left the first servant’s mouth, the second servant hit him in the back of his head as hard as his body would allow. He firmly scolded the second, saying “You fool, have you any idea of who you speak of! If he would have heard you he surely would have rubbed your skull against the rocks on the shore. Our king is known for his physical strength, however, he is not small-minded like you. Do you forget that he rules an entire nation in prosperity? No leader can compare when it comes to our King’s tactical strategies. That is why larger islands, like Aoteroa, cannot conquer us. He is probably thinking of a way to deal with these Malihini as we speak.”

And with flawless timing, the King beat his fist on the koa table and announced, “Since the only silence I can gain from you two is through satisfying your curiosities, I’ll share my conclusions,” both of them exchanged a look of fear upon learning that the King had overheard them from such a distance, “If I were to ask the common person what determines a battle, most would say strength and numbers do. However, strength and numbers don't win battles alone, information and strategy do. As of right now, we have little Information and no strategy. Currently, we know three things about our enemies: first, their weapons are far superior, second, their numbers are inferior, third, they don't want complete anarchy and genocide. They kept some alive at Rapa Nui, probably to use or sell as slaves. As I said, we have no strategy and little information, but we do have the time to fix those things. Even with their mighty vessels, they don't know our waters like we do, so that will give us an advantage. I’ll take care of the strategy. The leaders of the Triangle of Tides should be arriving here in some time, then we will be able to discuss how we will handle this, and you two will go fetch Keilani and bring her here immediately.”

The second servant spoke, “Are you sure it is wise to unbind her, Monarch?” He knew it was never a good idea to question the King’s authority, but this was a unique situation.

The King gave him a glare that made his answer clear, and the two were off to fetch Keilani.

As they left the Hale, the first servant asked the other “Do you know about the rumors that surround Keilani?”

The other exhaled slowly and started with a disappointing look, “Keilani has a long and rather complicated history. I still remember the day she was born, I was there you know. I remember the whole island was in celebration for the King's first child, the only thing was, she wasn't the King's first. You remember what I taught you about the Aukane right?”

“Yes, mostly. Why?”

“Well the King had many children before Keilani, eight of them in fact, but none of them were born with Aukane by their side. Since the Aukane are gifted to those destined for greatness, the King saw these children as disgraces to the kingdom and wastes of his seed. When Keilani was born, the King was disappointed that she was a girl but soon after, her Aukane came to life. That moment, gender didn't matter to the King.’’

Slightly flustered by another thing he did not previously know about the man he serves, the first servant asked hastily, “What happened to the other children?”

“The King killed them once he saw their lack of potential. He couldn’t risk failing the kingdom of a suitable heir. But, there is a rumor that the King’s real firstborn, Leilani, was kidnapped and raised by Namaka’okaha’i (the goddess of water and sea) before the king had a chance to kill her.”

The other servant looked at the first like he had lost his mind, “How could this ever be true? As if a god would spare a mere human, especially one who is not destined for greatness.”

“As I said, it's merely a rumor, but we never did find the child's body.”

“I see. Well tell me more about Keilani, your story doesn't explain all the nasty rumors I've heard about her killing her own people.”

“Well to start, she didn't kill them, she just beat them severely. Many have completely condemned her for these actions, but it isn't her fault. She was raised to be like that.”

The first servant then became aware of their surroundings and realized how far they had walked, “Hold on, where are we heading? I don't recognize this path.”

“We are heading down to one of the King's private shores.”

“Why there? Is Keilani fond of the beach?” the servant knew that this was not likely considering who Keilani is, but he hoped for this better alternative.

“Well if you would control your impatience, I can tell you. As I was saying, it wasn't her fault she was raised extremely harshly by the King. From the time she could walk, the King tested her to unleash her potential and prevent her from being a weak leader. She ran barefoot around the island on grass, rock, and sand alike. She would be kept from eating until she went down to the shore, gathered as many rocks as she could carry in a net, and brought it back up to the King’s Hale, all by herself, when she was just a little girl, and the next day the king would roll them down the hill again, perhaps just to be cruel, but I think he just wanted to toughen her up. If she wasn't doing speed or strength training, the King would throw her in the forest for a couple of weeks, having to fight off wild boar and learn how to survive in harsh conditions.”

”That’s horrible,” said the other quietly.

”It may have been horrible, but it made her into a fierce warrior, and it was effective. By the time Keilani was 14, she was fighting grown men from other nations, and now she even gives the King a challenge every once in a while. Her physical ability is immense so much so that if she wanted to, she could knock a tree down with a single kick, her speed is so overwhelming that you can barely see her coming at you, she’s a force of nature much like her father. All of this had to come with some sacrifices though, if you treat someone like an animal, they will act like it; Keilani is primal and ruthless. Lacking many social skills, she is much like her father except far more unpredictable and unrefined, which is why you heard so many rumors about her. She beats most people that talk to her in the wrong tone, and she fears none, not even her father, which is why she is where she is now.”

“Did you say she was a warrior? Women are strictly prohibited from fighting, it’s not their place.”

“When you have talent like hers on the inside, the outside isn't relevant. Watch your tongue, she's still royalty.”

With a shrug, the servant moved on from the topic and paid it no more thought. He then asked, “Where is she now?”

“She's tied by all four limbs to a rock, eating whatever she can catch with her mouth.”

Somewhat stunned the other simply asked, “Why?”

“She got in a scuffle with the King and ended up biting 1 or 2 of his fingers off.”

“So is that where we are headed to? This rock you speak of?”

“Yes. Yes, we are,” the second servant was wary of the situation, but could not let the first know, given how little he knew of Keilani.

Some time had passed while they finished their walk down the mountain and then down the cliff surrounding the windy shore. There Keilani was on top of a massive boulder, tied to it by ropes that left welts on her skin from the pressure at each of her limbs. The ropes pulled on her to the point where her back curved to the shape of the boulder, and her face was sunburnt from facing the sky for so long. One could tell, even with her hair knotted, her clothes torn, being as skinny as she was with her ribs showing through her skin from lack of nutrition and food, that she was beautiful underneath all of that. She lay with her eyes closed and her body still as the rock she lay on, next to her a massive pile of bird skeletons, indicating that she had been there for some time, she had a tattered red skirt on and a wilting leaf headdress on her head, both of which waved in the windy environment.

The first servant, lacking knowledge of Keilani, said, “Well, should we go wake her up?’’

“No, I wouldn't go too close,” the wiser servant responded.

“But why? She can do no harm tied up like that.”

“Do as you wish.”

He slowly approached her, his heartbeat becoming faster with every step that took him closer. He reached out for her shoulder and before he even touched her, she snapped awake faster than he could see and the sound of flesh tearing filled the shore. When the servant opened his eyes, he found that she had bit the majority of his nose clean off. She spat the chunk of flesh and cartilage out of her mouth and started to laugh maniacally. The servant, still in shock, was petrified, and before long, he shrieked like the women he thought unfit for being warriors. He was no warrior himself.

“You fool, I warned you. She got you exactly how she got the birds: played dead and struck when the moment was right. Are you no smarter than a bird?” the servant said as the other servant fell onto the sand.

“Hey, Kapalei, how you been? Who's the new guy?” Keilani said with a bloody smile on her face.

“You know, nothing changes at the Hale. My apologies that you had to be bound here for so long. This is one of the King’s new servants, although I doubt he’ll be sticking around much longer,” Kapalei said with a slight chuckle.

“Why’d you come here?” asked Keilani.

“Your father wants to see you,” Kapalei said hesitantly.

“Well I don't care,” she said as she turned her head in a poutish, childlike manner.

“You don’t know the severity of what’s happened this time,” said Kapalei.

“Why? I’m sure it’s nothing my dad can’t handle himself,” she said, hiding her curiosity.

“A new type of people are invading the territory of the Triangle of Tides, and do so with ease and without mercy.”

“How does this matter?” she said, illustrating even more how she was like her father.

“These enemies are stronger than anything we’ve ever encountered,” Keilani still was not interested so Kapalei changed the subject to something that better suited her manner, “The King himself still isn't confident on how to approach the situation, so I’m sure it’ll give you a challenge.”

“Why didn’t you lead with that, silly,” she said in a pure and chuckling voice. Then she turned to the servants, flexed, pulled, grit her teeth, and then you could see the rope strain unravel and finally snap. She made the act look like a rehearsed dance, and didn’t break a single sweat.

“I didn’t think that ropes on their own could hold you.”

“I figured it would be a fun challenge surviving without my arms or legs. To be honest, it was pretty boring so I'm glad you stopped by.”

“Shall we go see my dad?” she said with a blood-filled yet innocent smile.

“Yes, we will be on our way.”

“What about him?” she said looking at the unconscious man.

“He’ll find his way back.”

They started walking to the cliff and began to make their way back to the Hale. As they climbed over rocks and maneuvered around branches Kapalei asked, “Keilani, may I ask something?”

“Ya sure, ask away.”

“I’ve been around all of your life and after all your father has done, you’ve never shown any animosity towards him. Do you hate him?”

“No, not really. He’s made me strong, and it was hard when I was little as far as hard labor, but aside from when I was in the forest, I never had to worry about if I was going to eat that night or if I was gonna sleep in the rain or sell myself into slavery which is more than allot can say. This being said, I will kill him and take the throne. Not because I hate him, but because that’s the natural order: the strong rule over the weak. I’m sure he would want to die at no hands other than mine.”

Kapalei continued to walk in silence and they continued through the forest up the hill to the royal Hale.

As they walked in through the opening of the wooden Hale, Kapalei stayed at the entrance and let Keilani continue by herself. She approached her father, who was sitting solemnly and giving her a cold stare. Keilani returned the favor and glared at the King with a higher intensity. As the seconds passed, the tension only made it more uncomfortable and unsettling for everyone else there. Then, Keilani jumped at the King, launching herself so hard that she cracked the wood beneath her feet. She aimed a powerful kick right at the King's neck, but he blocked it with little struggle using his forearm. As soon as Keilani reached the floor, she swept her leg in an attempt to knock the King down. The King easily avoided this attempt and in turn lept onto Keilani and crushed her nose with his palm, causing it to break and bleed. Keilani looked down, pretending to be in pain, and when the King got closer to accept his success, she blew out her nose and splattered blood all over the King's face. This temporarily blinded him, which allowed Keilani to kick the King in his abdomen. After a grunt indicating slight pain from the king, they both fell to the floor, locking eyes and looking as if one would pounce and kill the other at any second. When Kapalei was sure this was the moment he would either lose his King or the King would lose his heir. Everyone in the room flinched when the two suddenly burst out laughing. They laughed. They laughed and laughed as if this was the way that they always greeted each other.

After a short embrace between the two, the King cleared his throat and said, “Alright now, down to business. Keilani, you’re going to go to all the major islands and pick someone at each who you see is most fit to lead. After that, you will journey to Rapa Nui, where our enemy has set up their headquarters. You will gather as much information there as you can and take out some enemies along the way. Then you'll report back to the Triangle of Tides, is that clear?"

"Sure, it sounds fun. Just know that I’m only doing this for the challenge it brings me, not because I’m obeying you. That being said, I'll get my outrigger right now."

"No, no. I could tell by your kicks that you’re weaker now. You will rest for a week and regain your strength and eat, before you set off."

"But I don't want to, I can handle it."

“I've taught you better than to fight at half strength. This is a battle we cannot afford to lose, our reputation will be tarnished"

"Ya, ya, I know,” she said as she kicked the table out of frustration and walked off.

On day one she rested and ate, she ate allot and she went to a place in the lush jungle to set up shop as she got in shape. Day two she ate again but she only ate food she could catch. Day four she went down to the forest surrounding the most populous place of the village, although most of the people did not care for her she had a small group of acquaintances who she could go hunting with it spar with, she looked upon them and the rest of the people, and left without any goodbyes. Day five she took to her training and she would blindfold herself, throw many stones up to the sky, and trusted her instincts to avoid them. If she failed she would be beaten and bludgeoned to near death. She had to learn not to fail. Day six and seven she did strength training with stones as she had learned and enjoyed her time at the beach.

The day of the voyage was upon them. The sun was bright and hot against one’s skin, the air was thick and humid, and the skies were perfect for a journey. Keilani made her way up to the royal Hale, and the two servants (one now with a bandage over his nose) looked upon her in awe. Now that she was cleaned up and rested, one could see that she truly was beautiful: dark brown skin, thick and long, wavy hair. She wore the male Lei of greenery despite the patriarchy, the black Kukui nuts reserved for royalty, a newly woven green headdress, a maroon skirt that reached her shins, and a fishhook dangling from her neck. She bid farewell to her father and the servants, giving the second one, whose nose she had bitten off, a playful snarl.

As she walked away, the King spoke “You are aware that in your absence you will not be able to convene with the other members of the Triangle of Tides, do you not?”

Keilani walked farther away paying no attention to him. The second servant asked who exactly made up the Triangle of Tides.

The wiser servant responded, “The leaders of Samoa, Aotearoa, Tahiti, Fiji, Marquesas, Tonga, and of course Hawai’i. The Triangle of Tides is only called together when an outside force threatens them such as what’s happening right now. Before recently, they were only called on twice before. The second instance was for a battle with a people called the Aborigines, who were also a group composed of many different peoples, and before that, it was a battle with many of the demigods, or so the story goes.”

“Who won?”

“I was just a small boy when the battle with the Aborigines took place, but we successfully fended off the invasion. As for the demigods the legend goes that when the god Kane made the islands for us, the demigods got angry and jealous and decided to attack, forcing us to all band together and such that was the birth of the triangle of tides. The gods then gifted us Aukane to help us in the battle against the demigods, and so we won. But, the demigods have not forgotten and will one day strike again.”

“Let us hope we aren’t alive to see that day.”

Keilani walked down to the shore hastily, excited for what was about to take place, dragged her outrigger out from the cave it was stored in, and was ready to set out on the real adventure.