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She could use her old friend to bolster her resolve, to encourage her when she despaired, but even living in the village had not brought them closer.
Wonder worked long days in the village café and spent her evenings studying a variety of subjects. She could not decide what subject she wanted to specialize in, but she knew for sure that she did not want to be a Guardian even though that was the role she had been born for.
Her friend's incredible strength made Annani wonder if Gulan's godly ancestors had some Kra-ell blood in them. To her great shame, she had never inquired who Gulan had descended from.
What kind of a friend was she, never to look into Wonder's lineage?
Back then, Annani had thought that getting to know Gulan's parents and her sister was enough, but it was not. She had acted as a princess would, feeling superior and being condescending without meaning to. It had been based solely on her birthright as a princess and heir to the throne.
Nowadays, it had more to do with the experience of having lived through five thousand years of history, while Wonder had lived only through just over twenty-three. While Annani experienced history firsthand, Wonder had learned about it from Annani's stories and from books.
It was not the same.
Despite the agelessness of her appearance, Annani carried the wisdom and nuances of her extended life, while Wonder had had only two decades to shape her as a person, most of them having been lived in a different world.
And yet, Annani had managed to maintain a spirit that was young at heart, a vivacity that animated her. In contrast, Wonder had always been more reserved and somber. She had been that way as Gulan in their shared youth back in ancient Sumer, and also as the woman she had become after her awakening.
"Remember our adventures outside the palace, Wonder? When I snuck out wearing your little sister's clothes?" Annani asked. "The days when we believed we could change the world if only we put our minds to it?"
Wonder smiled, a touch of wistfulness in her eyes. "You were so tiny that only Tula's clothes could fit you. And as for believing in our power to change the world, it was you, not me. I was happy to leave the world as it was if it could earn me a few peaceful days. You were fearless, and I was the opposite of that. Beingyour maid was the most stressful time of my life. I don't think I was as scared when I took three Doomers captive."
Annani winced. "You were not my maid. You were my best friend."
Wonder shook her head. "I was paid to guard you and keep you company."
"That is not what a maid does. Your job was a cross between a lady-in-waiting and a bodyguard." Annani chuckled. "You were the voice of reason and kept me grounded when my ideas were too wild."
Wonder rolled her eyes. "Tell me about it. Do you remember when you tried to convince me to sneak out of the palace and steal a boat? You wanted to visit the nearest city."
Annani laughed. "How can I forget? We got caught."
"Fortunately, it happened before we stole the boat. Your father would have been furious, and he would have blamed me for not reporting your shenanigans."
As they meandered through shared memories, each recollection bridged the chasm of time between their shared past and present. In Wonder's stories, Annani could see the young, reckless girl she once was.
She still retained some of that youthful exuberance and thirst for adventure, but she lacked the naïveté that had made her so hopeful as a girl.
Her daughters had been born in different epochs, different worlds, but none of them had ever been as naïve as their mother had been in her youth.
Alena was serene because she chose to be, not because she was oblivious to the ugliness around her. Sari was a born leader who cared mainly about keeping their clan safe and prosperous and less about the state of humankind. Amanda cared equally for her clan and the humans, but then she was the youngest and most sheltered.
"I propose a toast." Wonder lifted a full margarita glass. "To Annani, who has championed women's rights for thousands of years. You've seen societies change and evolve, and you've always been at the forefront, fighting for equality and justice, finally to achieve your goals in the twentieth century."
Annani sighed. "Women's rights have always been close to my heart. Seeing the progress over the centuries gives me hope, but there is still so much to do. It is disheartening that modern-day feminism often gets lost in political debates, while critical issues like trafficking do not get the attention they desperately need."
The mood of the group grew somber as they were reminded of the victims they had recently rescued, now being cared for on the lower deck of the ship.
"It's a harsh reality," Syssi said quietly. "The fight against trafficking and exploitation of women and girls is a battle that seems never-ending. But it's a battle we cannot afford to lose."
Amanda reached out, placing a hand on Syssi's arm. "The work we do makes a difference, even if we can't save everyone. This is why we continue to fight, why we continue to dedicate resources to a seemingly lost cause. We stand up for those who can't. Every life we save, every victim we rehabilitate and empower, is a step towards a better world."
Sari lifted her glass. "I'll drink to that."
Dagor
The chime of a message notification echoed in the quiet cabin, pulling Dagor's attention away from the serene sight of the sleeping beauty in front of him. He reached for his device and read the message from Aru.
Please come to my cabin at your earliest convenience.
