My name is Tamea and I am the Princess of Laie, a modest country set between the countries of Bengal, China, India and the young country of Altare.
I am nineteen and a newly commissioned Lietenant Colonel in Laie's armed forces. Yes I am a woman, but my country is forward thinking in this year of 1587. Women in my country are not forced to sit behind their curtains of confinement in our own homes, like in other countries surrounding ours. Again, we are forward thinking, taking what Akbar the Great of India had started so many years ago, and moving into the new century with our eyes open and fixed toward an early but bright future.
Time does not stop here! It does not stop for anyone.
Aspen
Aspen is my white Bengal tiger given to be as a cub when I was ten years old. He was a gift from Commander Jayson, after the death of my father. Since then Aspen has been my best furry friend and Commander Jayson has been the closest person to a father I have. Jayson for some reason thought I needed a friend at that time in my life, and he is probably right. He usually is.
Now about Aspen --
He loves to play in water and chase birds, like any cat. He is one BIG cat, and my other birds who I also call my friends, do not appreciate Aspen's good sense of fun. We went down to the Brahmaputra River today where I got Apsen some fish at the docks and then we went down the river a ways so he could chase other birds, not attached to me and play in the shallow water at this time of the year.
It was a pleasant day without any weight of responsibilities. The only thing that would have made the day any better would have been if Terrance could have come along. Terrance is my best friend who is not furry, or at least I do not think he is. Would not know, since I do not recall the last time he was not in a uniform. Even when we spar with rapiers, he does not disrobe. Now, that is curious.
Well, Aspen just sprayed me with water as he shook off. Guess he wants attention, so I will have to give him some.
Today, I gained the tentative friendship of a Peregrine Falcon. I named him Darring, because he dares to swoop down and nip Aspen, my tiger, on the hind end, at every opportunity. Darring can swoop down from the sky at incredible speeds. Peregrine Falcons are smaller birds of prey, with contoured wings, which is probably what makes them the fastest birds I have ever seen.
Unfortunately, they are also flighty birds and seemingly nervous, especially around people. Not sure if Darring will ever trust me enough to be one of my main birds of prey I use in infiltrate and rescue missions. It would be really convenient to have Darring on boards, but I have learned over the last nine years of being able to communicate with my bird friends, you can not push this kind of trust, it has to come to you willingly.
