Chapter 4: A Plan Dispatched

Shyana brushed her cape aside, bowing her lithe body before her younger sister. "As do you, Meia. You look more and more like Mother each time I see you."

This brought a proud smile to the young woman's face, which was so unlike Shyana's that few would guess them to be related.

If Shyana was the dark storm of Xhaia, Meia was light, completely different in every aspect of her appearance.

Meia didn't have Shyana's crimson red locks, instead she had silver hair which tumbled down her fair shoulders like moonlight on water. While it was customary for Xhaia's citizens to tie their hair in elaborate braids, royalty would only have two clasped behind their head, secured beneath the delicate crown she wore.

While Shyana took after her father's sturdy build, Meia moved like a feather dancing on the wind, each step rehearsed and purposeful. The only trait they did share, was their mother's violet gaze, though Meia would never see the horrors Shyana's did.

Meia rose from her throne, clapping her hands together. "Prepare a banquet for my sister. Once again victory belongs to Xhaia; let us show our appreciation. Dismissed."

Eager to please their queen, every servant leapt to the task. Shyana rose from her crouch and smirked at their frantic bustling. "Look at you, commanding a room like that."

Meia smiled. "Come, join me in my chambers. By the look in your eyes, I feel we have much to discuss, Shyee."

~~

Akiem barely had time to react, let alone stop Shyana when she pushed past Jein and into the royal hall.

So much for announcing ourselves...

He sighed, shaking his head while the chubby man beside him sputtered his protest after her.

If it were anyone else, Akiem may have almost felt bad for how Shyana stepped over his authority, but Jein was an exception. The royal chamberlain never rubbed him the right way, always causing trouble where it didn't need to be.

But perhaps their absence had eased his distain of his friend and leader? Akiem stepped forward and placed a hand on Jein's shoulder. "Don't bother; she has that look in her eyes."

"And what look is that? Impudence? Arrogance? A complete lack of respect for anything her family represents, even though I saw to it that she was raised with the best tutors!"

Jein ranted, his bulbous cheeks flaming at her dismissal for his position.

Akiem's once considerate smile, became a harsh sneer. "No, the look that says she is about to get her way. Trust me when I say that trying to persuade her is futile."

"That is no way for a princess to behave; covered in mud. She is more swine than royalty."

Jein mumbled until Akiem's eyes flashed wickedly, his pupils narrowing into slits quicker than the human eye could follow.

"Add respect to your voice when you speak of the general, chimbwa, or my advice may not be so amiable next time. Believe that General Makea is quite the lady indeed, especially when she is covered in mud and the blood of Xhaia's enemies. You would be wise to not add yourself to that image."

Jein swallowed miserably at the physical heat he could feel from the dangerous advisor.

Quickly bowing, he backed away to attend to matters which really didn't require his assistance. Akiem shook himself before stepping into to the impressive courtyard. He hoped they wouldn't stay here much longer; these walls didn't take to their kind.

~~

Shyana waited until the doors to Meia's room closed before exhaling her tense breath. Silken drapes delicately wafted in the warm breeze, which seemed to come from nowhere. Her giant bed held at least four downy blankets and more pillows than Shyana knew what to do with.

Meia poured herself a glass of Leup and offered another to Shyana. "Now that we are in private, please sit and tell me of your adventures. It has been two winters since I last saw you, and yet you haven't changed a bit. How do you manage that without bath oils?"

Shyana suppressed her eye roll, before raising the sweet wine to her lips, savoring the warm, lulling taste when it rolled down her tongue. Xhaian Leup was unlike any other in Tarru, fermented to perfection for royal lips.

She didn't miss it though; after risking her life on the battlefield, the finer things seemed petty. "You speak as if I've been off exploring all this time. In case you've forgotten, I've been crushing the Thurucaln resistance for two winters. Oils and baths aren't exactly the focus of our attention."

Meia pulled her hair in front of her shoulder, running her fingers through it; a nervous habit she developed since their mother passed away. "Yes, forgive me if that seemed thoughtless, I simply don't know anything of your life away from Castle Xera. You never write and your advisor only sends the curtest reports of army movements and victories. Before we get to your news, I wish to know how you have been, what you've seen and if that dashing advisor of yours is willing to give up following you around and join my courts?"

"Akiem is none of your concern." Shyana answered, narrowing in on the mischievous curve of her sister's smile.

"I'll take that as a 'no', then. Pity, he has such a unique wilderness to him."

Shyana set the chalice on the pale wood, the weight of her armor shifting when she unconsciously straightened herself even more than before. "I'm not here for small talk, Meia. The matter I have to discuss will bring an end to this war and any other we may face- a complete guarantee of Xhaia's safety."

"That's a the bold claim." Meia muttered, refusing to make eye contact beyond a few quick glances.

Shyana glared, why did Meia insist on the annoying habit of fidgeting in her sister's presence? She put a hand on her thigh and lowered her voice to a deathly whisper. "Meia...the Blood Song has been found."

Meia stopped running her fingers through her shimmering hair and turned her eyes up to her elder sister. "What did you just say?"

Shyana wetted her lips, an excited smile creeping on her face. "The weapon to end all wars, the Blood Song. The Thurucalns have been attempting to push back our forces at an alarming rate, almost a suicide mission. I didn't think much of it at first and even celebrated what I took as a last stand, but then I uncovered the truth."

Anxious fingers reached into her belt and withdrew the map she had pondered over for many winters. Laying it out in front of her queen, Shyana found herself speaking rapidly and slamming her finger down to accent her point. "They have set up camps, here, here and here, but only to distract us from their real mission--the small settlement on the borders of the Fepican Forest."

Meia's eyes grazed the map, taking in the various illustrations, while Shyana continued. "With intelligence gathered from a Thurucaln spy, I've discovered this small group has been dispatched to retrieve the Blood Song. My plan is to assemble a squad of our own, infiltrate the forest, retrieve the Blood Song and win this world for Xhaia. I'll require about fifty of our finest men and women and around a month's worth of supplies. How soon can this be done?"

Meia nodded slowly, her eyes never leaving the well-worn map. "Who will be leading this team?"

Shyana adjusted her armor. "Myself, of course."

"Of course…."

Her silence was troubling. Shyana found her heart pounding with the plan she'd finally presented. She had been weaving together a strategy for braving the mysterious forest and the sweet taste of victory when she returned for so long, the thought that Meia wouldn't instantly approve of her plan had never occurred to her.

With all these ideas sprouting in her mind, she almost didn't comprehend when her sister's soft hand reached for Shyana's and the connection between them linked. It was an ancient magic, one that only worked for two members of the royal family. It was believed to have been bestowed upon them in the case that they were kidnapped and had to exchange information silently.

Suddenly Shyana was thrust into a memory of the two of them jumping rope and singing:

"The days have passed, the war is long, Blood Song, Blood Song.

To trap and wait and win and bait. Blood Song, Blood Song.

Where do you hide? When will you ride? Blood Song, Blood Song.

End the blood with blood your own, Blood Song, Blood Song!"

Meia let go of her sister's hand and stared at the worn face of adult Shyana. "Were you injured in this last battle?"

Shyana was taken aback by the sudden memory, so much so that she did a quick mental scan of her body. Other than the expected lacerations and bruises which come with any fight, she was relatively unscathed. "No, why do you ask?"

Meia stared her down with the look the general had come to despise since her youth. The look that told her she was unacceptable, lacking in some way. "Surely you were struck in the head or perhaps came down with a delirious fever for you to think I would actually believe this nonsense? I know you like to tease me for my shallow understanding of war, but this is insulting. The Blood Song is a legend to tell young ones when they ask what started the Great Wars, nothing more. I don't appreciate your lack of respect."