Chapter 3 Homecoming

"Blood Song… in…the forest…."

Dehn's words lingered in her mind, playing over and over as Shyana and Akiem made their way across the grassy plains of Tarru.

The blazing suns were already high, their shadows splitting in three directions and stretched out like phantoms over the peaceful land. Poems, ballads, even a limerick or two, had been written about the beauty of Xhaia; from its lush, mysterious forests, to the snow-capped mountains, whose rainbow colors glimmered with reflecting light when the suns moved — it was a glorious place to live.

She didn't miss it.

Shyana glanced down from her powerful stallion to the nearby river and the three women plucking Bou berries from the hidden white shells. The freezing water ripened the berries to near perfection and that's the only reason anyone would subject themselves to its bitter cold.

A small girl helped her mother by entertaining her baby brother. She showed him how to soothe the shell into surrendering its fruit with focused precision.

Shyana smiled, a wave of nostaglia taking her, when the dark-haired girl cradled the shell in her small hand and used two fingers to pat the base. The white shell opened and a tiny green berry rolled into the boy's hand, eliciting a clamorous giggle.

When she and Akiem rode past, the child raised her eyes and waved over her head. "General Makea! Lord Akiem! You've come back!"

The women automatically stopped their harvesting and held their skirts out to curtsy, despite their precarious balancing in the fast-moving river.

Shyana dipped her head regally until the little girl sprinted from the bank, tripping over her skirt. She shot back up and ran to Shyana's large stallion with an open handful of berries. "Please take one! I soothed them out just like mother showed me."

One of the women stepped closer, and by the clear embarrassment of her daughter's forthrightness, Shyana didn't have to guess to know she was her mother. "Ladi, remember your manners when speaking to the…"

Shyana raised her hand. "It's alright. I would love some Bou berries."

The general slid off her horse to kneel in front of the blushing girl. "So, your name is Ladi, yes? And is that your baby brother behind you?"

Ladi nodded, holding her brother's hand tightly and extending the other to give Shyana the berries.

She plucked one out and winked at the girl. "Want me to show you a trick?"

"Yeah!"

Ladi's eyes widened as the general took one green berry and twisted her fingers this way and that before blowing and making it disappear.

Both children stared with their mouths open. "Where did it go?!"

The chubby toddler stumbled up to her open hand, pressing his fingers into her palm, inspecting it.

Shyana smiled at his calculating expression before flicking her wrist once more and revealing the berry from the hidden cuff of her sleeve. This brought on a whole new round of applause and giggles.

She patted the girl's head and mounted her steed. "I've been wanting a Bou-berry pie for a long time. If only there was some little girl who was a very good soother to make one for me."

"I'll do it! I'll do it!" Ladi rose up on her toes, flinging her hand into the air.

The general smiled. "All right. I'm looking forward to it. Listen to your mother and look out for your little brother, all right?"

Shyana passed a few berries to Akiem, who munched on them while they nudged their horses forward.

Ladi beamed, waving frantically until they were out of sight. Her mother shooed her back to the riverbank. "General Makea knows magic!"

The tired-looking woman nodded. "So, it would seem. Let's get after that pie now, love."

Akiem waved behind them before he smiled at his friend. "Well, well, well. Who knew General Makea had such a soft spot for kids? You may be a good mother yet."

Shyana scoffed. "I will never have that life and you know it. I have no time for a mouth at my breast, when the threat of the Thuruclan is almost doused."

He stayed quiet for a moment, before his voice became playful. "I remember when you wanted me to teach you that trick. You pestered me for weeks until I told you how."

She kept her chin up, refusing to look at him. "I like to be aware at all times. No tricks to pull out of the darkness."

His jade eyes fixed on her prim expression. "Or could it be you were just mad that you couldn't figure it out?"

Shyana cleared her throat and kicked the sides of her stallion into a fast trot. Akiem laughed and matched her speed until they climbed the crest of a grassy hill and the palace gates came into sight.

Their friendly banter vanished, as quiet dread filled her thoughts.

"I hate this place," she hissed under her breath.

The shine from the pristine walls could be seen from miles away, though Shyana had been trying her best to ignore it. Castle Xera was a place only the most privileged of people dwelled. Xhaia's own citizens rarely saw more than the immense gates, veiled in gold, with the crest she wore upon her breast.

Akiem and Shyana passed through the gates, which automatically opened for them, their horses' hooves clattering against the marble floor that filled the entire grounds. Xhaia help them if anyone inside steps on dirt.

Servants appeared from nowhere, as if they had been lying in wait to escort the horses to their stables.

Shyana removed her sword from the saddle and clipped it to her belt, when a man she knew all too well, called to her from the blindingly white staircase. "General Makea! Lord Akiem! How good it is to see you again. Praise be to Xhaia that you are safe."

Shyana rolled her eyes, as the pudgy man smiled to her with sugary fakeness. She brushed a hand through her tangled mane. "I request an audience with the Queen. It is of great importance I speak to her, Jein."

Crystal blue eyes took in her dirtied frame with quiet scrutiny. "Of course, my lady, but maybe it would be best if you rested for a moment in your room? Your servants are waiting with a hot bath, new clothes and the finest oils to luxur…."

"Perhaps I didn't make myself clear. I need to speak with her urgently. I am not asking your permission, chimbwa, I take it as a courtesy to inform you. If the Queen isn't able to focus on what I'm saying because of my appearance from fighting for her kingdom, then we have a far more serious problem on the home front. Now, will you do your easy task and notify her of my arrival or will this be another fruitless conversation between us?"

A red blush filled his rounded cheeks. "I apologize if I diminished the seriousness of your message, but I must insist that you go through the proper protocol like every other member of Xhi…."

Before he could finish, Shyana brushed past him and took the pristine staircase two steps at a time.

Pushing the white doors open, Shyana was hit by the familiar smell of burning sage, which filled the room with its musky odor. The sunlight brightened the expansive room into a radiant glow, when she stepped on the carpet, that led all the way up the impressive throne, where an equally impressive person sat.

The Queen's soft voice filled the silent room. "Forgive me, but I do not believe we have an appointment, General Makea."

Shyana stepped onto the silken carpet, her boots flaking off bits of mud, which she knew would infuriate Jein. The thought almost brought a smile to the lips, that froze in a perpetual scowl, once she crossed the threshold into this palace.

She charged in without bothering to announce herself, ignoring the appalled gasps and whispers which followed her entrance. "I wasn't aware I needed one and my business to discuss with you is of the utmost importance, Meia."

Another round of horrified gasps exploded at the use of the Queen's first name without the proper title.

Meia raised her fair eyebrow. "Have you been in the field so long that you've forgotten how to respect your queen, warrior?"

Shyana met her cool gaze before a smirk played at her lips. "Forgive me, your grace, but it's difficult to pay proper homage to a queen, when you have distinct memories of hiding her soiled bed sheets until she reached five winters."

There was a looming heaviness in the room, all servants and advisors alike waiting with held breath to see what wrath the queen would unleash on the impudent general. Much to their surprise, the graceful woman simply smiled. "Sien ta wen, you look well sister."