The Beginning of a Union

Zul is still upset at me for freeing and befriending Toran. I have begged for his forgiveness, but nothing seems to work. I give up, either he learns to accept I made a decision on my own, and to be honest, not a bad one, or he can stay mad at me forever. However, I prefer he forgives me. 

These past couple of months have been unbearable without his friendship. He talks to me, but only when necessary. Now he treats me like a simple passenger in the ship. I miss him! I know he still cares about me, despite his attempt to give me the cold shoulder. Also, he continues to teach me how to fight, so I can defend myself in Crándactar. Tolug keeps my hope up. He says Zul will eventually forgive me. 

Toran is not a prisoner anymore, so it seemed right to give her a room. Tolug offered her his. He stays with me now. Is not like he needed the room anyway, because he sleeps on the floor. Since I freed Toran, we haven't had any reasons not to trust her. She might turn on us once we get to Crándactar, but she knows it is in her best interest to be an ally while she remains in this ship. 

"Good morning, princess!" Toran says to me as she walks to the common area where we usually eat. I know that I am literally a princess, but when that word comes from Toran's mouth I take it a little differently. Coming from Toran, the title sounds like a mocking nickname. She is sarcastic, and I know that when she calls me that, she doesn't do it in an endearing way. Toran has no respect or any kind of good feelings towards the Kingdom and the crown. 

I can understand Toran's detachment from the Kingdom, so I don't judge her. Toran's life has been hard. Her entire generation has it bad, even though they have nothing to do with their ancestors' rebellion. "Eat up well, princess, because today I am going to teach you how to fight like a Kandreo!" Toran says with a wicked smile. My eyes widen! "Really?" I giggle excitedly while she nods. "Really!" She answers. "It's about time someone teaches you about your Kandreo heritage, and I mean something more than history", Toran says, raising her eyebrow and grinning.

"Alright, thanks!" I say with a huge smile. Toran grabs some breakfast and says "Wipe that silly smile off your face, Drea, I'm not planning to go easy on you!" I laugh. "Bring it, girl!" Toran laughs at my comment. "Oh, I will! You will become a great warrior by the time I am done with you. You will master the Farrix and the Kandreo skills so well that I won't have to fear for my life once we arrive home." Toran is serious now, and I can see she really means what she says. 

After eating I go to my room and find Tolug just waking up. "Good morning, my dear Andremaba. I think today is a fine day to learn about how your parents met. What do you think?" I jump and squeeze Tolug in a hug! He rubs his furry head on my shoulder. Then, sitting on the edge of my bed, eyes wide, I stare at Tolug, waiting to discover a piece of history he was fortunate to be part of. 

Tolug smiles at me before he begins. "I did not know your mother or your father. I was just the lucky Wolverian who witnessed two enemies become friends, lovers and almost revolutionaries." I gasp at the wonders I know I am about to listen to, despite the painful ending of the story. 

"It all started when Princess Maba went to the outskirts of the Forest, by the swamps. Your father, Andreúl, was hiding with a group of rebels in the swamps. They were there because they were not abiding by their leader's rules. They were the second generation to rebel against the Kandreo leadership. They wanted to live in peace and be part of the Kingdom's Allegiance."

"There were several groups like his, camping all over the lake and swamps, hoping to form some kind of treaty with the kingdom." As Tolug keeps talking, I can sense someone approaching. I know it is Zul… he walks slowly, trying to eavesdrop. Then, Zul passes by our room and stops when he hears the story Tolug is telling me. He lingers by the door, shamelessly listening to our conversation. 

"You can come in", I tell him, and he looks at me, hesitant, but still comes in and sits on a chair. "Tolug is finally telling me how my parents met", I explain, super excited. Zul's eyes are sympathetic as he looks at Tolug and I, and he smiles at me for the first time in what feels like forever. My heart flutters with this simplest act of kindness. 

Tolug continues his story. "Your grandmother was very sick. Too sick for Farrix technology and science to heal her. Your fearful mother, knowing that the queen was dying, did the unthinkable. She scheduled a meeting with a Kandreo trader. If caught, the act would be considered treason, even if she was the princess... But knowing the consequences did not stop her." 

"Princess Maba risked her life by going alone to the outskirts of the Forest, by the swamps. There, the man she was supposed to meet was going to cross the Kandreo border and trade some miracle herbs that could save a person so ill, for some valuable artifacts she had brought. Your mother went dressed as a commoner to disguise who she was. She was smart. Princes Maba did not want to get caught committing treason, but neither be taken advantage of or worse, kidnapped for ransom."

"The Kandreo trader showed up and they exchanged their goods. He went on with his journey and the princess planned on heading home as soon as she could, taking precautions and avoiding being seen by the areas she was not supposed to be by herself. On her way riding back to the kingdom she saw a caravan of Farrix Officials, so she had to head to the closest spot she could hide in, that way she wouldn't be stopped and questioned." 

"She rode into the Forest. Princess Maba knew this was a terrible idea and a dangerous move, but she didn't have a choice. She also thought she was going to be alright if she only stayed there for a few minutes, until the caravan passed and was out of view." 

"I was secretly watching your mother while she hid in the Forest. I followed her, wanting to know who she was and what caused her to come to such a hazardous place for her kind. I thought she had to be a criminal or a traitor. Only those kinds of people would hide from their own kind, risking their lives." 

"I watched her carefully for miles. She became confused as she got lost, a common effect to her anatomy after inhaling the oxygen of a foreign region. She rode her bike and then decided to walk. She walked for about an hour, to the point of being disabled. Then, she collapsed." 

I gasp and Tolug looks at me with sadness. "I was not allowed to help her. She was breaking the rules and I had to wait for orders from my leaders. There is an order to be followed in every tribe, and I had to abide by my kind first, and then the Alliance. Suddenly I became aware I was not the only one following her. Your father was also curious to know who the brave lady fiercely riding into the dangerous Forest was. He had a feeling she must have been someone important." 

"Only important people had secret meetings with one of the most secretive traders of his tribe… and he had watched how she hid from the Farrix caravan. I stayed put, hiding among the trees, instead of reporting the intruders immediately, because something compelled me not to do so."

"The Kandreo man who was following the Farrix lady, quickly got on his knees to check the unconscious woman lying on the humid ground. He lifted her, carrying her in his arms, almost effortlessly, and started to run, searching for the fastest way out... but eventually, the man also became disoriented as he got tired. He gasped for air, tripped and, inevitably, fell on the ground. Suddenly, I sprinted, and without even thinking about it, I decided to help." 

"I dragged both of them outside the Forest. In that moment curiosity striked me, prompting me to go through both of the strangers' belongings. I went through your mother's first. I could not find anything but some herbs in a small pouch. Those she got from the Kandreo trader. Then, as I tried to check on her vitals, uncovering her from the many fabrics she used to disguise herself, so she could breathe better, I saw the necklace." 

When Tolug mentions the necklace, I wrap my fingers around the very same one around my neck. Tolug nods. "That same necklace, your legacy, a precious symbol of the crown", he says, staring at it. As Tolug continues with the story, I catch Zul glancing at me and then staring at my necklace. Memories of him staring at it for the first time flash through my eyes. My mom covered it because she knew this would give away her identity, just like it happened when Zul and his crew singled me out when we crossed paths.