《Princess Among Thieves》


 Chapter 1

    The moon was already climbing in the sky, Hayat Bestel the captain of her guard was complaining out loud. Yes they left Hifadhi, a small village near the border of the kingdom, a bit later then planned. But the leader of the Witch doctors, master Haile Skelnings, had asked them to stay for one last supper. Captain Bestel was already against the idea, but Zeudi had accepted the invitation without a second of thought. The last month they, her personal guard, Lady royal Armana, and herself, had worked their asses off. So it was also their first proper meal in weeks.


    "Really, your highness. What were you thinking?" Captain Hayat asked. With a smile she looked towards Armana, who shook her head. Zeudi knew that Armana agreed with the Captain.


    "I was thinking that we all deserved that meal, captain." She replied. "It is the first proper meal we had in weeks." The rest of the guard started to voice their agreement, knowing that they would reprimanded for it later. Captain Hayat looked over his shoulder, his eyes narrowed. This was enough to shut his men up. The man was an impressive sight to behold, and often she had wondered why the man wasn''t married. With his long brown hair, his deep brown eyes, his exotic sienna skin tone made his handsome look complete. Still that was not something she wanted to voice out loud, because it might inflate his ego. "Captain go easy on them. They have seen more death and suffering, then some soldiers who are serving at the front."


    "They knew what they signed up for." He snapped at her, but then he wiggled with his head. "Now that I have said it out loud, maybe not. You are the princess of Cidor, and a lot of the new recruits wouldn''t think that besides guarding you, they would face another job. I, for one, didn''t when I started to serve your mother." She bowed her head, when all of them started to say.


    "May she find rest, in the heavens above."


    It was a sign of respect for the late queen, her mother.


    "But those it really kill you, if you act like a princess from time to time?" Captain Hayat asked. He meant that she was not traveling inside a carriage, instead she was riding horse back.


    "You are mistaken Captain. I would love to travel inside a carriage once in a while. But for one, it will be an extra guarding detail on top of our mission. And it will only slow use down even more." She replied. He again looked over his shoulder to face her.


    "You really do have an answer for everything." He said with a big smile on his face and she nodded. That was something that was expected of her as the future queen. People always expect a response, no matter if she had the answer or not. That was something her mother had taught her at a very early age, and it was something that enjoyed the heck out of her father, the Consort. He hated the fact that she went out on missions like this one, instead of looking for a husband. A shiver went to her spine if she thought about it. It wasn''t the fact that nobody wanted her, over the course of the last year she had met a lot of men who wanted to be her husband. But all for their own gain, they wanted power, her wealth, the honor that came with the title Consort. And what were they prepared to give her in return for that honor, an heir. Of course an heir was important, but she needed more from a husband. But that was something that those men, including her father didn''t seem to get."No worried, princess. You will find your mister Right, but this kind of thing takes time." Was it that she hadn''t spent that much time, no that wasn''t it.


    "Tell me captain, what do you think of the last dozen men who were aiming high?" She asked him and he sighed.


    "Peacocks." He said, which was a slur for men who only dressed as a soldier, but never served. "Every last one of them. And none of them wanted to give you what you needed." She smiled, at least one man was getting it. "What is the thing you said to your father. I want a man who was willing to give me the moon and stars if he could." She nodded, that is indeed what she had said. "I know what you actually meant. You want a man that love you for you, and not what you can give him." She nodded again, that was exactly what she meant by that. Armana, who was riding next to her started to cough. Zeudi looked at her, Armana was maybe her Lady royal, appointed by her father. Never in her life she would have chosen her. That didn''t mean that she disliked her, they were simply not compatible. So Zeudi tries to ignore her, which was often the best course of action. She was about to thank Captain Hayat, but he raised his hand. Which meant one thing, he had heard something. She looked around, but saw nothing. Often it meant nothing serious, but that didn''t mean that she didn''t take the warning serious. She moved closer to the guard behind her, all of them had their hands on their swords, ready for any type of danger. An arrow landed right before her horse''s hooves. "Ambush, protect the women!" It was protocol to not say protect the princess, just in case. More than a dozen men, all dressed in black and covered faces, rushed towards them with drawn swords. Her personal guard all jumped off their horses and formed a circle around Armana and her. Drawing their swords, ready to do their duty. Another arrow landed in one of the men''s shoulder. He was thrown back by the force of the blow and bumped against her horse. The poor animal was spooked by it, starting to move uncontrollably. Now the men of her guard needed to look out for her as well, which made things even worse. The horse bolted and pranced, throwing her off.


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    ******


    Idris was not sure why they attacked this small group of people, on horse back. The men were heavily armed, but they didn''t have anything of value. At least not as far he could see, maybe there was something of gold and silver in their saddlebags. But it was not worth their lives. Still he was not going against Russom''s orders, so he and the rest of the crew started to attack the group of riders.


    "Ambush, protect the women!" Screamed the large man. The women? His gaze went over the large group and there were indeed women among them, dressed in a men''s clothing. If that large man with the loud voice hadn''t said anything he wouldn''t have noticed them at all, maybe he would have noticed them when it was already too late. One of their arrows flew towards one of the men that was now surrounding the women. The man in question was blown backwards bumping against a horse who was starting to panic. The woman on it was trying her best to get the animal under control, so that she wouldn''t be a problem for the surrounding men. But it didn''t help that much, the animal starts to bolt and prance. Throwing her off its back, Idris could see her head bumping against a rock. But instead of laying down and moaning that it hurt, she simply stood up. Grabbing the man who got shot, and pulled him behind the lines. Idris rushed towards the line and started to fight the first man he could find. Ducking and avoiding his sword, the man was very well-trained. He could say without a doubt that they were part of the army. Still the man wouldn''t be a match for his sword, he only hoped that he didn''t make him suffer too much. He could hear the screaming from other men around him, one of his men had pulled the other woman from her horse.


    "Do not hurt her." Idris called to him. Simret nodded, and pulled the woman with him. That one started to scream so loudly, that Idris started to worry about Simret''s eardrums. He started to look for the other one, and it wasn''t hard to find her. She was attending the man that got shot, while blood was pouring over her head from a wound. The man''s face was white as a sheet, which was not surprising. They use poisoned arrows, a poison he himself had made. "Miss, I am sorry to say. But your man here is death." The woman looked at him, anger was burning inside her blue eyes. She grabbed the death man''s sword and pointed at him.


    "Do not get any closer." She said, it was clearly an empty threat, her hand was shaking like a reed in the wind. This was probably the first time she was holding a sword. But he knew better than to get near her, a cat pushed in a corner makes crazy and dangerous jumps. She maybe never held a sword before, but that didn''t mean she wouldn''t hurt him, or kill him with it.


    "Miss, I mean you no harm." He said quickly, placing his sword back in its scabbard. To show her that he meant it. "My man already escorted your friend away from the battlefield, so that she wouldn''t get hurt." The woman looked quickly around her, probably looking for the other woman. "I swear on my sword that she is unharmed, and she will stay that way." He could see that she still didn''t believe him.


    "Why would I believe you. Your men and your men attacked, me and mine." She snapped at him, and she was right about that. But attacking people and robbing them was his job. He looked up and saw Russom running towards them, blade drawn. Was he going to kill her? The woman had notice that his attention had shifted to something behind her. She turned around, and Russom ran into the sword. Idris rushed over to them, Russom started to fall to the ground. But so was the woman, she also looked at her hand in horror. Yes this was her first time holding a sword, and probably the first time she took someone''s life. He grabbed the woman before she fell to the ground, she looked at him. Wait a second, he knew her. Although he didn''t know her name or where he had seen her last. "Let me go." Her voice was so soft, he could barely hear it. He shook his head.


    "Miss, you are hurt." He said, she shook her head. By the heavens this lady was stubborn, and maybe it would be better if he did what she said. He quickly looked around, but none of her men were still alive. So leaving her here was not an option. He was maybe a thief, but he was an honest one. And now that Russom was dead... He looked at his men, almost all of them were still alive. Simret stood at the edge with the other woman, she was

 Chapter 2

    "Boss..." One of his men said. He felt slightly uncomfortable when they call him that. But there was truth in that name, he was Russom''s second in command. But even he didn''t know why Russom was so set on attacking the group. What his plan was afterward, and was he really planning on killing the now unconscious woman with the hair that was black at the root, but the rest of it was a silver gray. It was rare for Russom not to tell him anything, but it was not that uncommon either. Curtain jobs were simply too dangerous for everyone else then the leader to know. Which apparently was the case here, although the men were not wearing any specific type of armor or any emblem of a noble- or royal house. He knew for sure that they were members of a personal guard, most likely one of the women''s. If they had failed, and one of the men had survived the attack they could swear upon their swords that they knew nothing. Which could spear their lives, of course they will end up in prison for a few years. But they would be alive and be released after a couple of years. But now they didn''t know what to do with these women. He wasn''t the type of criminal that would ask for rand some, by their families. He again looked at the woman with the strange hair color, she had a very deep head wound and it wouldn''t surprise him if she would be asleep for a couple of days. The other woman with just black hair, was already awake. But she was telling them nothing. Not even her name, or the name of the other woman. He even went so far to swear on his sword that they meant no harm, but she wouldn''t believe him. Which wasn''t that surprising.


    "Boss, what are we going to do with them?" Simret asked, pointing at the women. Idris shook his head.


    "I do not know, I really don''t." He said, in his mind it would be better to be honest with his men. "All I know is that Russom was really nerves before the attack and that he during the attack was running towards the woman with the head wound. Blade drawn, that is what got him killed." Simret and some other men looked at him with their eyebrows raised, and he thought the same thing. Why in heaven''s name would he want to kill that woman? That was not the man they all knew and respected. "I think that it is wise to lie low and to lick our wounds. Also keep your ears open, maybe we will get more information about their identities." All of them nodded, and Idris stood up. He wanted to check the woman''s bandages, and he was still figuring out where he had seen her before. He knelt down and whipped her hair out of her face.


    "Do not though her." An angrily female voice said, it came from the other woman. The one with normal raven black hair and amber eyes. She looked at him with such anger. "Do you know how she is?"


    "No, I do not. Because you are not willing to tell me." He snapped at her. He looked at the bandage. "Lady, I am going to be very honest with you. If we wanted to hurt you, we would have done that already." The woman started to look confused. "And I wouldn''t have cared about your friends'' injury."


    "She is not my friend, she is my boss." The woman said. She flowed her arms and walked away. So the men were part of a personal guard, he looked at the woman next to him. Her personal guard. He sighed, and shook his head. Maybe he should look into that rand some business, these two might catch a handsome reward. She started to move her arm, which meant that her sleeve slipped a little. Revealing a simple bracelet made from colored string, he grabbed her arm and his eyes grew wider. This couldn''t be, she couldn''t be princess Zeudi? Only this bracelet, it looks so much similar to the one he made all those years ago. But that one was in his pouch, his hand went towards it. But why else would she have the same bracelet as the one he had given to the princess.


    "Hey man, what happened to you?" Simret asked, while petting him on the shoulder. "You are whiter then freshly fallen snow." Idris looked at him, and sighed.


    "Do you remember the fire that destroyed our village?" Idris asked, Simret was three years younger than him. And he back then was only 12 years of age. But Simret nodded, heavily.


    "Of course I remember that. Queen Hewan and princess Zeudi came to our village to help with the rebuild. The princess even played with use." A big smile appeared on Simret''s face. "I can remember that you were always a step behind her, almost like her personal shadow." Idris narrowed his eyes, that is not what he remembered. In his memory it was the other way around. "But why are you asking this to me now?" He grabbed the bracelet he made out of his pouch and then grabbed the woman''s arm. Showing them to Simret side by side.


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    "I gave the princess this bracelet." He said while holding the one in his hand up. "On her last day in our village. I found it two days later at the village gate. She probably lost it." Simret nodded again, and then pointed at the one around the woman''s wrist.


    "They look the same, only yours has that special moon and sun bead." Simret said, pointing out the bead. That was indeed the only divergence between the two pieces. "But do you really think..." Simret pointed toward the woman. "That she is princess Zeudi?" Idris shrugged his shoulders, other than the bracelet he didn''t had any other clue. But this woman look so much different than the girl that he knew as the princess. Of course the princess wouldn''t be a little girl forever, he was no longer that little boy of twelve. He was now a grown man of twenty-six, that would make her a young woman of twenty-four. But still he wasn''t sure if she was the princess. He looked at Simret, and if she was the princess well they were in big trouble.


    ********


    An entire day passed them by, the sun started to sink behind the Bila Theluji. A mountain range that separated Cidor and their eastern neighbors, Mashariki. But the woman with the head wound has not woken up yet. Idris hadn''t thought that she would, but he was gladly proven wrong. He wanted to know if she was indeed the princess, and if so what they could do to set this straight. Without going to prison, they had attacked and murdered her men. Still they didn''t know who she was, and what Russom''s plan was. He was again sitting next to her, she was breathing slowly which was a good sign. Or he believed that it was a good sign, he had redressed her wound twice. He sighed dark clouds were starting to gather above the camp, and the air smelled like it might rain. Which wasn''t good, they didn''t have any shelter for her. Normally they would seek shelter in a village, strangely enough there was always someone who was willing to let a large group of men, stay inside their barns or even inside their own homes. But the only village nearby was Hifadhi, and it was maybe still too far away to reach them before it starts to rain. What a mess, this wouldn''t have happened if Russom had discussed this with him beforehand. But wishing that things would have happened was a waste of time, now all of this was his problem and he needed to deal with it. He looked at her, straight in those blue eyes. She was awake, she was really awake.


    "Miss, please do not move. The wound on your head..." He started, but instead of listing to him. She tried to push herself up, he in turn pushed her back. "Miss, I am not saying this for me." Although there was a change that she might vomit all over him, something he rather avoided. She shook her head and murmured something about her being fine. But he still held his hand on her shoulder. "Please, stop." She narrowed her eyes.


    "I said that I am fine." She snapped at him, pushing away his hand. She pushed herself up, but he could see on her face that it pained her to do so.


    "Miss, I do not want to be rude. But please lie down." He snapped at her. Really he couldn''t believe how stubborn she was. Was the princess he knew also that stubborn, or was this something that had happened over the years? Maybe it was the thing about her that he had forgotten, but it was so long ago. And people change over time, he himself was the prime example of that fact. But this wasn''t a pissing contest, this was about her wellbeing. She nodded and lied down again, which was a relief. Slowly she moved back on her back.


    "Thank you for taking care of me." She said, he produced a half smile.


    "I only wished that it was not necessary, I am sorry to say that I didn''t know why we attacked your men and you. I feel that I need to inform you that all of your men are in the heavens now. Your friend, or female employee rather is here in the camp. Safe and sound, like I promised." He said, meaning every word. She, too, produced a painful smile. And he sighed. "I rather bring you as quick as possible back to your family, but it would help if I knew your name." She produced a muffled sound and he sighed. "Miss, I am not the one that tricks people. Again I do not know why my former leader ordered the attack on you and yours. But it happened and we can''t turn back time. There is no magic in the world that can do that." She nodded. "And I never so much value in asking money for the safe return of a family member. It is simply not worth the time and trouble."  She nodded again.


    "I have trouble trusting you for now, so who I am is something I''m going to keep to myself and my friend." She said. "Until I am able to defend myself against you and your men." He sighed, again why was she so stubborn? This wasn''t a game that they were playing, but then on the other hand. Maybe that was why she acted this way, her identity was the one thing she could hold on too. The one thing she could keep hidden and safe from them. This is something he slightly understood, slightly.


    "Alright." He replied. "Get some more rest. I would feel better, when you are fully recovered." She smiled, this time it was an honest smile. And slowly closed her eyes.

 Chapter 3

    Their voices were muffled, but she clearly heard them. Of course, they wouldn''t be far, they wanted to keep an eye on their most valued procession. She didn''t believe the man with his cloudy gray eyes, not even when he would swear upon his sword. Something soldiers, and apparently rogues like to do. She had never understood that one, it was not that they would take their own lives when they break their vow. Maybe it was something that dates back to times they did just that. She opened her eyes and was surprised to see that there was some kind of fabric on poles above her. The fabric seemed very damp, maybe it had rained while she was fast asleep. So the man really wanted for her to get better, the question was only why? Would she fetch a higher price, or was he genarly concerned for her well-being?


    "Your highness?" A soft voice whispered. "O thank the heavens, you are awake." She had never seen Armana so glad. Maybe it was just an act, only Zeudi wasn''t sure about that. ... wasn''t a good actor, the girl couldn''t lie. Not even when her life depend on it. Something Zeudi always kept in mind if she was op to something. "We need to find a way to escape, now that you are awake." So that was why she was glad., it was so that she could find a way out of this mess. Which wouldn''t be that easy, these men were criminals by trade. Most likely they have thought about every escape plan in the book. Every form of distraction, or manipulation. This all was useless, and besides that her wound wasn''t fully healed. Yes she was awake, but her whole head was throbbing. She pushed herself up, just to see how far she could go before everything becomes foggy again.


    "For heaven¡¯s sake, what are you stubborn." A male voice said.


    "You have no idea." Armana whispered under her breath. This was nothing new from her, a hand landed on her shoulder pushed her back on the ground.


    "I start to get an understanding." He replied, indicating that he had heard Armana. He sighed and shook his head. "And you do not tell me that you are fine. You are clearly not."


    "And whose fault is that?" She asked, knowing full well that she was playing with fire. She didn''t know any of these men. All she knew was that they attacked them.


    "I never denied that it wasn''t our fault, but for the love of the heavens, stay down." He replied. She wanted to snap at him, did he know who she was. No he did not know, because she didn''t tell him. And to be fair he didn''t tell her his name either. How could she trust a man that she did not know by name? "I am Idris Gedlear. If you want to know. I am the new leader of this crew, and right now responsible for your stubborn ass." Idris, why did those that sound so familiar? She was sure she had not met him before, still the sound of his name was so familiar to her.


    "You are not playing fair, now that I know your name." She said. He started to chuckle.


    "Miss, I am a thief. I never play fair." He replied. This was good to know. Armana looked at them, and it was clearly that she didn''t understand them.


    "Now that I know his name, it would only be fair for him to know mine as well." She explained. Armana shook her head.


    "I will advise you against this. But you never listen to me, so why do I waste my breath." Armana said. This was indeed true, she never listened to her. But her advice was normally useless.


    "But it would be rude if I didn''t. And we do not want to be rude, or do we." Zeudi said, why did it sound so broken? And why was it so difficult to keep her eyes open.


    "You see, mister Gedlear. Stubborn as a donkey. She is fighting against sleep." Armana


    "Miss, it is now not the time to fight it. Your body is clearly telling you that you need more sleep." Idris said. She rolled with her eyes, but he was right. It wouldn''t be wise to fight it. She needed to be healed if they wanted to escape.


    *****


    Zeudi sat close by the campfire, she was finally allowed to sit. Instead of laying on the sleeping cot all day. Still, she wasn''t allowed to walk far or, anything else except sitting still or sleeping.


    "Boss, we have found a little abandoned temple half an hour from here." One of the men said. She looked at Idris Gedlear, the leader of this gang, his men have being hunting the area for food, firewood and water for the last... She didn''t know how long they have being here, and she didn''t know where here was. But that was before the man said anything about the temple. The abandoned temple was believed the home of the God of the stars, who was in love with the Goddess of the Moon. He was the one who imprisoned her into the night sky, where she was surrounded by him. Only one day of the year she was able to be with her one true love, the God of the Sun. This was during the festival of the Sun and the Moon. She smiled, remembering her one words. She said that she wanted a man who wanted to give her the moon and stars if he could. But the moon and stars were in legend, not even lovers.


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    "Is there something funny?" Idris asked her, she quickly looked up and saw that all the men, including Armana were staring at her.


    "There is nothing, just an inside joke." She said quickly, picking up her wooden cup. But noticed that it was empty.


    "Please do enlighten us." Idris said, and Zeudi sighed.


    "It is just that my father has being nagging me a lot lately. He wants me to find a husband." She said, and some men nodded. Some even said that if she was their daughter, which was impossible because they were all around the same age, that they would have nagged her too. "But I told my father, that I wasn''t interested in the line of peacocks. I want a man that, if he could, would give me the moon and stars." Again some men nodded. Saying that a woman should expect nothing less.


    "Peacocks?" Idris asked. She nodded.


    "It is a slur, for men that are pretending to be soldiers. But never served in the army, most of them are sons of high noblemen." She said, with a huge smile. She grabbed a stick off the ground, and stood up. Pumping herself up, to appear big and pompous. "Look at me I am the son of this nobleman, look at my shiny new armor. But I will faint, by the first sight of blood." By the last part, she placed a hand on her forehead. Most of the men started to laugh, some even applaud. Idris on the other hand stood up and threw her over his shoulder. "What are you... Whoa... Idris... Put me down... Put me down." She started to kick and slam him, but he didn''t let go of her. Instead, he kept on walking, into the woods. Where in heaven''s name were they going. She looked over his shoulder, and his men quickly rushed behind them, with their luggage in hand. Armana was not carried like she was, but she was pulled. "Idris Gedlear, can you please put me down?" She started to get dizzy and she didn''t want to vomit all over him. He clearly heard something in her voice, because he stopped and put her down on the ground. She started to sway on her feet, did he carry her because she went against his orders? Well, it was at least effect on her.


    "Are you alright?" He asked. She took a few big gulps of air, before nodding. "I do not believe you." He bowed down and picked her up again. This time, she was not hanging over his shoulder. This time, she was in his arms, just like a mother who was carrying her infant. She was only not an infant, she was a full-grown woman. And the next queen of Cidor, but he didn''t know that. He didn''t even know her name, or that from Armana. She wondered for a brief moment how long they could keep it a secret, one of them, most likely she herself, will run her mouth. She looked at the man that carried her, his dark blond hair was bound back. He had a small stubble on his chin, when she first saw him he had a clean-shaven chin. She wanted to lay her hand on it, and feel the rough skin. But that wouldn''t be proper, and besides that. He was still one of the men who killed her personal guard, it didn''t matter if he didn''t know why they attacked her. Her men were still dead, some of them had wives and small children. Others elderly parents who were waiting for their sons'' homecoming, and their waiting would be in vain. The forest became much thicker, some small yellow birds flew over their heads. that was the name of the small creature, with its beautiful signing voice. She looked at them for a brief moment, before her eyelids started to get heavy.


    *****


    "Is she a sleep?" A voice said loudly. "Boss, I knew you were boring, but this is ridicules." More laughter joined.


    "She''s still recovering from a head wound, and her body needs all the energy that it can muster." Idris sounded stern, and the laughter died down. "And because you all have some energy in you, you all my go and set up the camp. The two women, will stay inside the temple." She wanted to open her eyes, and see the temple for herself. But maybe it was wise to act, as if she was still fast a sleep. Maybe Idris would let his guard down, if he thought she was. She was maybe not in the state to escape the camp, because he was right about her still being in recovery. Still, Hifadhi was pretty close by, and the road that lead to the capitol. It would take her a whole day to walk there without a horse, still she had no doubt in her mind that she was able to do it. When she was recovered. And then there was the other factor that would the journey even harder, Armana. Idris started moving, she could hear wood crack. The smell of something rotting crept inside her noise, to the point that it was chocking her. Quickly, she opened her eyes, and started to gasp for breath. He quickly turned around and walked out of the building. "Maybe it would be better to stay here for a while." He said. "But good, you are finally done with pretending." She looked at him with narrowed eyes, he knew? She pointed towards the entrance of the building made out black stone.


    "Did you just do that on purpose?" She asked, he shrugged and smiled.


    "Maybe, or maybe not." He said, with a large grin on his face. He was playing with her right now. "You and your maid can hide in their, once it is aired out. It is better for you, now that we have landed in the rain season." She nodded, it made sence.


    "Wait rain season?" She asked, he nodded. That would mean that the attack happed rougly two weeks ago. So where was the rescue party, her father''s personal guard? Or at least talk about her being missing, something that would indicate that the two men inside the capital were looking for her? Captain Hayat and she had send word to her father, the day before they left the village. So it wasn''t a secret for him that she would travel back home. So why...? Maybe her father didn''t want to raise an alarm in fear of her safety, yes that would be it. After all her father was a milatary man, practical and calculated. She wanted to role with her eyes, or that was his own believe. She looked up towards the small bits of sky, she couldn''t see much because of the thickness of the Wanaoanza trees. But the bits that she was able to see, where dark gray. "I think it would be better if you all stayed inside the temple tonight." She said. "I believe that there is a thunderstorm coming." He also looked up and nodded.


    "You are right about that, prince... I mean, miss." He said. She looked at him in shock, he knew who she was.

 Chapter 4

    The wind was trying to cut its way into the old gray stoned building, lighting was rushing towards the ground, and the thunder was echoing through the forest. All the members of group of rogue, were packed together. Zeudi and Armana were sitting all the way in the back. At the altars steps, something that would be unthinkable when the temple was still used as a place of worship. She still was not over the fact that Idris knew, or suspected who she was and kept it to himself. Or did he already tell some, if not all members of his crew. She wasn''t sure about that, and she was not going to ask him. Armana didn''t even know that Idris... She shook her head, this wasn''t something she could share with her Lady Royal. Armana would think that she had run her mouth, which was not surprising in her case. But this time she hadn''t, she was sure about that. Or did she run her mouth telling them about her father and his expectation for her to find a husband. It was no secret that she was trying to find a husband, all of Cidor knew that. But the princess was not the only high-born lady that was looking for one. Most likely the rest of them would get one of those peacocks she rejected. She had no doubt that they would be good husbands for them, but they wouldn''t be great husbands for her. She sighed and lay her head against the stone wall. There was no room for her to lay down, which she didn''t mind. They were almost sitting on each other''s laps, but they were at least dry and the change of getting a cold was small. Although those men have spent a lot of time in the outdoors, so it wouldn''t be likely that they get sick that quickly. That was something her mother had explained, when she was studying herbology. Idris stood up and made his way to the door, she followed him with her eyes.


    "How are you feeling?" Armana asked, Zeudi looked at her with narrowed eyes. She was not asking about her health, she was asking about when they would try to escape.


    "I am doing better, but my head still gets foggy from time to time." She replied, she also stood up. "Maybe some fresh air would help." She made her way carefully to the door. The ones who build this temple were smart enough to expend the roof, so that there was also a place were people could stand outside. Although it wasn''t very big.


    "What in heaven''s name are you doing outside?" Was Idris first response when she stepped outside.


    "I needed to stretch my legs, and some fresh air those wonders you know." She replied. She also needed to get away from Armana, but she was not going to tell him that. But her legs also started to cramp up. He sighed and shook his head, muttering something under his breath about how stubborn she was. And all she did was nod, she was stubborn. "You better get used to it." she said under her breath. He looked at her with a smile.


    "I am planning to get you back to your family, once you are better." He said, she started to lean against the wall. He did the same. "I am even prepared to go to jail, when that time comes." She frowned. It was indeed a huge possibility. No not a possibility, he was going to jail for attacking a member of the royal household. If he was not sentenced to death, because she wasn''t a normal member. Maybe if she tried hard enough she could protect him from that. She lowered her head.


    "So you know who I am?" She asked and he nodded. "How?" He sighed, but didn''t answer her right away. He turned towards her and lowered his gaze.


    "Is it not enough that I know, that you are our future queen?" He asked and she shook her head. No she wanted to know how he knew, and how many other members of his crew knew about it. "I only told Simret, we grow up together." She nodded, she didn''t know who Simret was. "He will keep it a secret." That was not something she worried about.


    "Thank you for keeping it to yourself." She said closing her eyes, and lowered her head. "At least for now I am able to walk among you as a normal person." She heard him sigh and move. Slowly she opened her eyes and saw that he was leaning on his arm that was pushed against the wall. His face was inches away from hers. What in heaven''s name was he doing? She just said that she was glad that she could move among them as a normal person, but for a normal person this was highly unappropriated. She tried to push him away, but he didn''t move. He had his eyes closed.


    "I am sorry." He said after a while, he then opened his eyes. Those stormy gray eyes, they suited him quite well. But he didn''t move at all, not even a step backwards. "I am so sorry." He repeated, but again he didn''t move. Why wouldn''t he move even though he knew that he was in the wrong? She tried to not look him straight in the eyes, she didn''t want to give him any ideas. Instead, she looked up and down, until her gaze was caught by the hilt of a dagger. Was he really that careless, or did he want to see how far she was able to go? Well she was not going to disappoint him. She grabbed his dagger and placed it on her own throat, now she was able to look into his eyes. He said nothing but nodded. "Fearless, just as I remember you. But what are you going to do next?" Just as he remembered? So they had met each other before, but where? Maybe during one of her missions? Which was the most likely possibility, because where else could have she met this rogue? But still this was her chance to get home, and to safe him a prison sentence. She stepped forward, and this time he moved. But not backwards, he grabbed her hand with the dagger. Quickly getting the dagger out of her hand. "Not even a scratch." He looked at her and sighed. "It is my own fault. You needed a way to protect yourself." He placed the dagger back, and sighed again. This time he stepped backwards into the rain. "Please go back inside, I will stay here for a while to cool off." She was not going against him this time.


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    *****


    The moon was high in the sky, her light barely reached the ground. Thanks to the large Wanaoanza trees with their black leaves, which have white spots. The trees were also called star leaf trees. Not that Zeudi was paying much attention to that, one of the men was snoring very loudly keeping her awake. Armana of the other hand was deep a sleep, leaning against the altar. Idris was standing guard in the doorway, she stood up and again made her way towards him.


    "Why are you still awake?" He asked when he looked over his shoulder. She didn''t answer him until she was close enough to whisper.


    "Are you really asking me this?" She replied, pointing toward the source of the sound. "I was worried that one of the trees would end up on our heads." He started to chuckle softly. She quickly thought about the time he was leaning against the wall, the time had flown since then. Her head wound almost healed, it was almost time for her to escape, or was he going to keep his word and bring her back to the palace? She really didn''t want to risk it, not for his and her own sake. It was maybe better if she escaped, and when she did, it will give Armana also an opening. Because all attention will be on her, and not on just a high-born lady. She stepped through the door and took a deep breath, it had stopped raining. Idris had told the man to move out of the temple, but it was she who reminded him that the rain season wasn''t over yet. It will take another month before it was safe to camp outside. She could use this to her advantage, not that she intended to do it. But she could use it nonetheless. She took another step.


    "What are you doing?" He asked, she turned towards him. He was standing right behind her, she could see in his eyes that he already knew the answer to that question. She sighed, and pushed him as hard as she could. He took a step backwards, but tripped over the

 Chapter 5

    Idri cursed once again, that girl had some gall. That was he willing to give her. But which sane person would run off in the middle of the night. The forest was dark, the moon''s light wasn''t able to reach the ground completely. Which made seeing were one is going, next to impossible. But this was clearly not an issue for the most stubborn woman he had ever met. She had run off, and he was chasing her. He and his men, that is.


    "I think she went towards the main road." Said one of them.


    "How even those she knows were to go?" Asked another. That was a very good question, and he already knew the answer. She had listened to their stories about the area. She knew which way to go, because they unknown told her. But they were right about that, she would go to the main road. And from there ... He didn''t know which way she would take next. Would she walk all the way towards the capitol, which would take her a whole day? Or would she go to Hifadhi. To get a horse. He frowned, she was stubborn and she had to know that they were going after her. So why go to the village, no she would rather walk home. Now they only need to get to her first, he had promised her that he would bring her home. And although he hadn''t sworn it on his sword, he didn''t like the idea that he broke his word. The past the last bush, stepping on the moon light road. He pointed in the way of the capitol, his men simply answered him with a nod. He didn''t even need to explain why they were not splitting up. Instead, they rushed down the road, and they didn''t go even that far. Zeudi came towards them, running.


    "Riders!" Yelled Simret. A whole flock was following her, weapons drawn. "Why are they attacking her?" That was again a very good question, and once again he knew the answer.


    "Because she is the princess." He said, pulling out his own sword. "Protect her with your lives." His men followed his example, and rushed towards her. This time they were in a disadvantage, these men were not willing to get off their horses. But that did not scar him, alright maybe a little. But they needed to protect her with their lives. Something they shouldn''t have to-do this, but it was a waste of time to think about what suppose to be. Now he needed to focus on the fight ahead, he wouldn''t be able to protect otherwise.


    "Idris!" She screamed.


    "Yes I know, you are even more stubborn then a donkey''s behind." He said, blocking the first blow. "Next time, do not run into murderous soldiers." If there would be a next time. The man on the horse, wanted to strike him again. Missed him, only just.


    "Look out!" She screamed, just in time to warn him that there was another man on horseback behind him. Only this time he couldn''t avoid the blow. "No!" She jumped towards him, was she crazy? It didn''t matter though, the blade still got him. He wasn''t sure how deep the cut was, only that it hurt, a lot. But it didn''t matter, he needed to protect her. "We need to fall back." Fall back where would they fall back too? "The forest." She was not only stubborn, she had brains too. Which made it even more annoying. He nodded, pulled her off the ground.


    "I have her, fall back!" He screamed towards his man, one of the two men on their horses, swung his sword again. This time Idris was able to block the blow. From the corner of his eye, he was able to see that his crew disappeared into the forest. Zeudi was pulled towards it by Simret, while she screamed his name. She was screaming his name, for heaven¡¯s sake. She also had done that when they were little, only this time it sounded different. He shook his head, he was in the middle of a fight. So why was he thinking about how his name sounded when she spoke it. Another swung came his way and because of his cursed mind, he was not able to block it.


    "Idris!" Her voice, the desperation. It sounded so good, but why was it so far away? Why did the world around him disappear? He didn''t know the answer, not this time.


    ******


    Zeudi needed to fight against the tears, this was all her fault and she knew it. But there was no time to mellow in self-pity. They needed to get Idris too Hifadhi, and the group of witch doctors. Simret a skinny man walked next to her holding a tight grip on her arm, she couldn''t blame him. She had run away, and now their boss and friend was injured because of her actions. Something she actually was trying to avoid, tried but failed. Only his men were not taking him in the direction of the village, they were taking him back to the temple.


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    "Simret, he is badly hurt. I might have some knowledge of medicine, I still fall short." She said. Simret looked at her, luckily they were standing in a rare ray of moonlight. "We need to bring him to Hifadhi, I know the witch doctors there. They will help him." Simret started to curse, but nodded.


    "You are right, he needs medical attention." Simret said with a sigh. "Are you sure that they would help us?" She nodded, she wanted to explain that she helped the village before they attacked her. But apparently that was not needed. "New plan, bring Idris to Hifadhi. The rest is going back to the temple to pick up our stuff." The men didn''t reply, they simply changed direction. "I hope for Idris¡¯ sake that you know what you are doing."


    "So am I." She whispered. He let go of her and she rushed towards the other men, who were carrying Idris''s lifeless body. "When you find a rare ray of moonlight, put him in it. I need to see the wounds." The men looked first at Simret before they listened to her. They put him down gently, and she looked at both his wounds. The one in his arm wasn''t that deep, but was heavily bleeding. She pulled out her undershirt, and ripped a piece off. Binding the wound with it. The other wound was the one who was the most dangerous, it was deep, a simple bandage wouldn''t help. She hissed, this one needed stitches and some herbal compression. But there was no way that they would find herbs during the night, or was she able to stitch him up. She needed a needle and thread, and most important one of all, more light. Still she ripped another piece of her undershirt and bound the wound. That was all she was able to do right now. Haile would reprimand her for this quick solution, but what else could she do? She didn''t have an answer for this. "Alright, lest go. But we need to hurry, one of the bandages will not hold for long." The surrounding men nodded and the lifted Idris. Their walking, was so fast but couldn''t call running either.


    ******


    The moon was about to disappear behind the Bila Theluji, when they left the forest behind them. The village itself was dark, no wonder the villagers were still fast a sleep at this point. Most of them were farmers and they needed the rest. Zeudi ran towards Haile''s home, she had spent a month in this village so she didn''t need any form of direction.


    "Haile, Haile!" She called out, well bouncing on the door, like a mad woman. In many ways she was a mad woman, but that was beside the point. The door of the house opened, and a woman appeared in the trash hold. She looked a lot like Haile, maybe it was his sister? "I am sorry to bother you at this time, madam. But I am looking for Haile, my friend got hurt." The woman sighed.


    "Well, well, princess." The woman''s voice was also very similar, maybe a bit higher. "Well, don''t just stand there come in. Let me see what this fuss is all about." Zeudi turned around and saw that the group was right behind her. She stepped aside, so that they could enter the house. She followed close behind them. "So what do we have here? A little scratch which is bound to perfection and a very deep wound that need some stitches." The woman looked at Zeudi. "Why in heaven''s name did you bind it? I do not need to tell you what this wound needs. You know that all too well." The woman even talked like Haile.


    "Madam, the princess did what she could. We just came from the forest and I do not need to tell you that light isn''t very common there." Simret said, it was nice of him to defend her.


    "Alright, now all the men. Get out of my house, princess I do not need to tell you what you are going to do." The woman said. Zeudi nodded and chased all the men out of the house. Except for Simret, knowing that the man wanted to be close by. She walked over to the kitchen and grabbed the herbs needed for the herbal compression. She gave Simret the mortal and pestle.


    "Here, everybody in here has his or her own job. This is yours, put the whole herb in the mortal and smash it until it is a nice clean paste." She said, Simret nodded, sat down at the table and went to work. She herself went back to the bedside and helped the woman, still she didn''t know who she was. But it did not matter, for now. She grabbed the needle and hold it into the fire. There was no need to look for thread, because if the woman was another witch doctor, like Haile, then she would only need the needle.


    "Alright that is enough, just give it to me. Before that friend of yours bleeds out on my bed." The woman snapped, snatching the needle out of Zeudi''s hand. Zeudi paid close attention, the woman murmured while she attended to the wound. A small silver threat appeared where the needle has been, so the woman was a witch doctor and a relative of Haile. Magic is only passed down in curtain families and the color of the magic is bounded to one family. So if a witch doctor is coursing harm instead of doing his or her job. It is easy to see from which family the witch doctor is. Zeudi went back to the kitchen to grab a piece of cloth. "Were are the herbs?"


    "Here, madam. I hope that they are usable." Simret said, jumping up from where he sat. The woman grabbed the mortal out of his hands.


    "Usable? Usable! The herbs are barley smashed at all!" The woman said, grabbed the pestle and started to stamp on it. "Really did she pick you two up?"


    "Well madam, we picked her up. Not the other way around." Simret said softly, the woman didn''t pay much attention to him. Zeudi looked at him, and shrugged. At least Idris was in good hands and that was a huge releave.

 Chapter 6

    "Well, the wound is dressed and now it is all on him. So now which one of you is going to tell me what in heaven''s name is going on here." The woman said. Zeudi nodded it is only fair, but she had some questions too.


    "Well madam, it is radar simple. My friend over there and I are part of group rogues, and are former boss was hired for a job that we do not know the details of. But the job included her royal pain in the butt. But are former boss got killed and the information he had died with him. Her royal pain in the butt, sustained a head injury. Which we were kind enough to help her heal from it, and how those she repays us. She escaped, in the middle of the night." Simret said, summing up pretty much the whole chain of events of the last month. The woman looked at her, confused and all what Zeudi did was nod.


    "After I escaped these gentlemen, I ran into my lovely brother''s men. And they were trying to kill me. Luckily for me, they came after me." She said.


    "Lucky you, unlucky him." The woman said. Both Simret and Zeudi nodded. "But alright, that explains why the princess shows up at my door at the crack of dawn. But now you want to know where Haile is, am I right about that, your highness." Zeudi nodded again. "Well I am here." What? Zeudi frowned, how could she be Haili? Haili Skelnings was a man, not a woman. "Are you familiar with the (name spell)?" Both of them shook their heads. "Well sometimes nature itself makes a mistake, and gives a person or animal the wrong gender. I was one of the ones that was born with the wrong gender. I was a woman, inside. But a man on the outside. Luckily for people like me there is this spell, the only downside to is that this spell is very difficult to master. And not many witch doctors are able to do so. That is why it has taken me, and the rest of my local order so long to preform it." Zeudi slowly nodded, remembering that some members of her guard had made comments. She didn''t remember which kind of comments, and if they would be hurtful.


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    "So it is easy to say that a lot has happened in the last couple of weeks." Zeudi said. "But I can hardly call you Haili, so how do I call you now?"


    "You indeed can say that, and my new name is Arsema." Haili, or rather Arsema said. "But now it is time to speak about your next step, your highness." Zeudi lowered her head, which next step? There were so many things unclear.


    "Did my father send somebody to ask about my were about?" She asked, but Arsema shook her head. So that was another thing, her brother''s men tried to kill her. And according to Idris his former boss also tried to kill her, so there was somebody out there who wanted her dead. And the most likely suspect was Woldu, her little brother. So what was she going to do now? "Maybe it is better if I lie low for a while. My brother wants me death for my throne, and he is not able to get it when I am still breathing." Simret nodded.


    "And we are not moving until Idris gives us the command to do so." Simret said, Arsema sighed.


    "Well, your highness. The house were you lived in a month ago is still empty, so you lot can move in there. It is not big, but you all will have a roof over your heads." Arsema said, pointing in the direction of the house. Zeudi nodded, it was indeed not that big, and the group of rogues was larger than her personal guard was. But they would make it do. "Of course you all are not staying here for free, the men can make themselves useful in the fields or help some folks with repairs. And you, your highness, you might want to pick up your old job again." Zeudi smiled at the witch doctor, her old job was helping him... she meant her. Well this was going to be difficult, hopefully she would never say this out loud.


    "That is a deal, madam. I will tell the men." Simret said, before leaving the house.


    "Your highness. Are you sure that those men wouldn''t cause any trouble?" Arsema asked, and Zeudi understood her, yeah right the first time, worries.


    "Oh they would course trouble, and so will I. But I am alive today because of them. Because of him." Zeudi pointed at Idris. Arsema nodded and sighed.


    "Well I will trust your judgement, you know these men better than I do." The witch doctor said. "Go and show those rogues their new home."

 Chapter 7

    The lights inside the wooden village houses were now brightly burning, it was time for most farmers to get up and make themselves ready for the day. Zeudi lead the men towards the house she had stayed in while she was on her mission. The men didn''t say anything to her, or to each other. Maybe they were cursing her, or thanking her. She didn''t know, but she had a feeling that she would discover what they were thinking once they were behind closed doors.


    "There it is." She said, while pointing to the building. Which was somewhat larger than all the other buildings inside the buildings inside the village. It was also directly build against the village square. It was build with wood, like everything else.


    "Miss, do you know who that woman is?" One of the men asked. He nodded towards the fountain in the middle of the square. The woman in question had her palms up, and from those hands came the water.


    "It is the Shield-maiden of this village, U


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 Chapter 8

    The meal that the local women had prepared was maybe the bet meal he had in years. No, not maybe, it was the best meal he had in years. His men were all sitting around the table inside the dinner room, next to him was the pain in the butt. She had being quiet after all the women had left them. He wondered what she meant by they would understand why the women were hunting for husbands, once they were put to work. Maybe they would see nothing out of shorts, it was not strange that mothers were looking for their sons-in-law beyond the borders of their own village. Adding new blood and such to the mix, but the members of their group were never considered. They were rogues, thieves and not suitable husbands. But the local women had asked if they were single. Maybe something had happened to the young men inside this village. Maybe they all joined the army hoping to make a better future for themselves. Although this was ratter, unlikely. Or they moved to other villages, or large towns, to make a name for themselves there. Which again was ratter, unlikely. The village wouldn''t survive, there was then only one other option. Most of the young men were dead, maybe there was a sickness or a raid. He nodded to himself, that must be it. Zeudi looked at him and sighed.


    "Are you trying to figure out why those mothers are looking for a son-in-law?" She asked, and he nodded again.


    "And I think I already know the answer." He replied. He looked around the table to see if his men were listing in, and of course they did. She looked down at her plate and bite on her lip softly.


    "A few months ago there came a cry for help, there was illness inside this village and the witch doctors could identify what it was. Because of this, I came down here and helped where I could. Cooking, cleaning, assisting the witch doctors and making funeral cloths. You name it. The illness was attacking not only the weak and old, but also the strong young men inside this village." She said and looked at the window, he followed her gaze. It was already dark outside and there was nothing to see, except for their reflection. "The illness started small, real small. A simple wart on a victim''s face, after two days the warts were covering a person''s face. It will only take one more day before they appear on the rest of the body." She shook her head. He looked confused, he never heard about such an illness and he had traveled most of the kingdom. "A week after the first wart, the victim, is bedridden and often died in a span of two more days." She said, slamming her hand on the table. She was angry, that much was clear. "If I had not seen it happening with my own two eyes, I would have doubted it. But sadly, I have sat more than once at someone''s deathbed, during my time here. It took another month to figure out what coursed it, and it was a banished witch doctor." She looked at him, tears were streaming down her face. "He was not even from this village, but he still cursed these people to suffer." He nodded slowly, so this so not a normal illness, this was a magical one. She looked at her half-empty plate and sighed. "It still took use weeks, to get this village back on track. But they lost a lot of loved once, almost all the elderly and the young men. Even some young children, we barrier a girl of nine, the day before we were about to leave. She was such a happy and care free child when we arrived." She again shook her head, stood up from the bench, and left the dinner room. Idris looked at the men around the table. They were all from different villages, two of them were from a village nearby. So for them it must be even harder to hear, maybe at one point in the story they might have feared for their own families. Simret looked at his plate, he had lost his mother due to a disease. It was in the period that the late queen came to their village, to help out. Just as Zeudi had done in this village, Idris''s family was already dead when they arrived. So he knew what the people in this village have being through. That was why the witch doctor had asked them to help out where ever they could.


    "Alright, men, let''s make a plan of action. One half of you, will help out in the fields." He said and he pointed who was going to be in that group. Then he pointed out four others. "You four are going to help with repairs." The four men nodded. "The rest of use is going to help in the bakery, smithy and other professions." All his men nodded.


    "But not you, boss." Simret said, he was inside the group that would handle the repairs. "You are going to rest until those wounds are healed." Idris played shocked. But from all his men, Simret knew him the best. He knew that he was just like Zeudi, a pain in the butt.


    "I will do my best." Idris replied, and all his men started to groan.


    *******


    Doing his best, doing his up most best. Which didn''t last more than a day, Zeudi had told him that the witch doctors needed more fresh herbs. And he was so done with doing nothing, and it wasn''t a laboring task. He thought so, at least, and the bossy witch doctor lady said it was fine if he picked a few herbs. A few herbs, he smiled when he looked at the basket, it was filled with different kind of leaves, roots and in some cases the whole plant. He knew that he was over doing it, but it kept him busy. Even after Zeudi''s story about the illness, he still had no idea how thinned out the village population was. Until he saw it with his own eyes, his men also told him that they were shocked about the lack of young men. Simret who was currently repairing the roof of a house even told him, that the oldest daughter of that household, had suffered from the illness and she got still marks to prove it. Marks that would make her changes to get a man, pretty slim. No wonder that the mothers of this village were grasping at straws, even if they were rogues and thieves. It was still better than nothing. He sighed as he placed an Uyoga, a magical mushroom with a yellow cap, inside the basket.


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    "Mister, mister." A little voice called, he looked up and saw a little boy running toward him. "Mister, my mother told me what you are doing out here and she sent me to help you." The boy was holding a little basket in his hand, and was carrying a basket on his back as well. Idris pressed his lips tight together, he never had any experience dealing with children. But that was not going to hold him back now.


    "That is very nice of you." He replied. "What is your name?" The boy was now close enough, and he could see everything clearly. Even the many scars on the boy''s face, did he have the illness as well. From what Simret told him about the young woman, it was most likely.


    "Uyoga, sir. Just like the mushroom." Uyoga was pointing at the yellow capped mushroom inside the basket. "Did you know that the mushroom can people who are kissed by death, back." Idris nodded, he already knew that. Kissed by death meant very close to dying. Only this those not work every time, otherwise there would be no death. "Sir you almost collected every herb, now I would have nothing to do." Uyoga hung his head, and Idris smiled.


    "I have the feeling that you are the one collecting the herbs." Idris said and Uyoga nodded slowly. Idris looked at his basket. "Well do you think we have enough Matunda ya nyota?" He pointed at the bush with small black berries, with their white spots. Idris didn''t know why they were used, he only knew that they were close by and on the list. "Or Mizizi ya alizeti." Which was the root of the sunflower, they also could collect the seeds of this flower as a snack. The boy looked at the bright yellow flower and back at Idris''s basket.


    "I know for a fact that you have more than enough, we should not bring back too much. It will go bad in a week." Uyoga said. So there went the idea of cheering him up. Idris then pointed up his finger.


    "Wait a minute, tomorrow is Siku ya msichana." He said, and the boy started to nod. It was a small holiday to celebrate the girls and women inside the kingdom. "I believe there is a large wildflower field nearby, we could pick some flowers." Uyoga started to nod. "Well, let''s go then. We can''t go back with your empty baskets." Uyoga nodded once again, and stormed off. Idris laughed and followed him. The field of flowers was not that far, and it also didn''t take long to fill both baskets.


    "Sir?" Uyoga started.


    "Please call me Idris, sir makes me feel old." Idris said, and Uyoga nodded. Picking another flower.


    "I wonder which flower the princess likes." Uyoga said. Idris frowned, that was indeed a good question. He didn''t know the answer to that one.


    "I do not know, but I think she loves every flower you give her." Idris replied, and the boy''s slowly turned red. So the little man was in love with Zeudi, well he couldn''t blame the little fellow. An image of Zeudi when she was younger, wearing a flower crown made from Watazamaji nyota, better known as stargazers. Which was a small white flower shaped like a star. He could remember that she loved it, but he was not going to share this information. Instead, he looked at the field of flowers and found them. He started to pick a bunch of them and collected them in his own basket. "Uyoga, let''s make flower crowns of these."


    "I do not know how to make those." Uyoga said.


    "No problem, I will teach you." Idris replied.


    *******


    Uyoga was running around the village giving every woman and girl he could find a flower crown.


    "Uyoga, I am going to deliver the basket with herbs to the witch doctor." Idris said, but the boy ignored him. Good this was his chance to give Zeudi his flower crown. He knocked on the door, waiting for a reply. For a moment he didn''t hear anything, but then a scream. Was that Zeudi? He opened the door and saw a woman laying on the bed. Zeudi was kneeling between her leg.


    "Well there you finally are. Normally I would not allow a man inside the delivery room, but I need some Kiwanda cha peppermint leaves." The female witch doctor said. Idris closed the door behind him, placed the overflowing basket on the table and started to dig up the plant in question. Picking off the leaves and placed them inside the mortal. Quickly he started to smash it with the pestle. "What is taking so long, o thank the Gods. You already made oil from it, which makes my job a bit easier." The witch doctor said, taking the mortal from him. "Something tells me this is not your first time. Well you can hold the ladies hand and do the thing." He nodded, knowning full well that his hand was going to hurt after this. But it was a small price to pay, for entering a delivery room.


    The delivery took several hours, and his hand started to hurt like hell.


    "Alright, I see the head. I need you to push real hard." Zeudi said, so this was not her first time delivering a baby. Which was somewhat not surprising. The woman squeezed his hand, and let out a cry. "There she is. Hello little one." The baby started to cry, and Zeudi cut the navel cord.


    "Princess, you know the responsibility of the one cutting the navel cord." The witch doctor said. Idris looked at Zeudi, who nodded. He knew that as well, the one who cut the navel cord has the responsibility of naming the child. Normally the father of the child will do this, but Idris didn''t wonder where the father was. Maybe he had contracted the magical illness and died.


    "I know Arsema." Zeudi replied and looked at the baby in her arms, which was crying her lungs out. "What do we call you, little one." She started to rock her, and the baby calmed down a bit. "Hewan, life giver." He nodded, it was a beautiful name. He looked at the little girl.


    "Welcome, little Hewan. May the old and the new Gods bless you on your journey." He said. A hand landed on his shoulder.


    "That is my line, thief." The witch doctor said stern. He shrugged, well at least he lived up to his profession. Zeudi gave little Hewan to her mother, who finally let go of his hand.


    "Thank you, your highness. For giving my daughter her name, and thank you mister for blessing her." The woman said with tears in her eyes.

 Chapter 9

    Zeudi stepped out of the house, she really needed the fresh air. Granted she was not the one doing the hard labor, but still she didn''t have it easy. And naming a child is not a responsibility that should be taken lightly, it was something the child would carry with them for the rest of their lives. If they didn''t use the oho pacha spell to change gender, and changed their name in the process. She shook her head, nature was bound to make mistakes once in a while. But it didn''t happen that often according to Arsema, still the possibility was there.


    . But why did he bring it up now? He raised his hand, and in it was a flower crown. She looked at it, were those Watazamaji nyota, stargazers? How did he know that those were her favorite flowers? She liked to wear them in her hair, when she was younger. "This one is for you." He lifted the crown and placed it on her head.


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    "Are you going to swing with that thing all day, or are you going back to work." The voice of Arsema echoed in the background.


    "Am I allowed to answer truthfully, or..." Zeudi started, while she looked over her shoulder. The witch doctor shook her head.


    "Fine, that man was right. You need to be able to defend yourself. Your brother is not going to wait until nature finishes you off. And thanks to the magical amulet, magic illnesses do not affect you." Arsema said, Zeudi''s hand went to the neckless. Arsema had made these amulets for everybody inside the village, including the group of rogues and her. Zeudi looked towards the direction of the capital, Arsema was right. Her brother wouldn''t wait for long, he wanted her throne and for that she needed to die. She raised the wooden sword and started to go once again through the passes. "You know that stick of yours will not do much, you need a real sword. So until you got one, you should help me with the herbs. That man of yours..."


    "He is not my man." Zeudi said quickly, but she could feel her face burning up.


    "You could have fooled me, but fine. That man has collected too much, so now I need to preserve a lot of them." Arsema said and she walked away. Zeudi looked at her.


    "Fine." She sighed, knowing that it was an excuse. Idris had indeed gathered a lot of herbs, but it was in no way, too many. They already used a lot of the Kiwanda cha peppermint during the birth of Hewan. But she had promised to help out were ever she could and she was not someone who breaks this kind of promises. So she lowered her wooden sword and followed the witch doctor.

 Chapter 10

    Idris put the sword into the cold water, and nodded with a bid smile. He knew that the lessons his father had given him when he was younger, had stuck around. But he didn''t know how much, until mister Teensoll, the local smith had told him as much. Still making a sword that was both strong and light was not an easy task, it had taking him weeks to complete it. Mister Teensoll stood next to the bucket with water, giggling.


    "Normally this would have taken me, two to three days tops." The man said, with a low voice. "But you are not a smith, and this is your first sword. So I let it slide for now." Idris didn''t believe him, the man reminded too much of his old man. But that was not the point, he finally was able to give Zeudi a real sword. Now she was able to protect her own stubborn ass. But he would still have her back, just like when they were kids. He smiled, when he thought about her word.


    "I was could be a normal kid."


    And she was just like them.


    "Why on earth are you smiling. You are lucky I do not charge your sorry ass, for all the metal you have wasted." Mister Teensoll said, he was right about that. He had wasted a lot of metal, and there was nothing left to make a scabbard. But although he had done all the work himself, how said anything about not paying. He might be a thief, but an honest one. He grabbed his money pack and threw it to the man. "I said that I was not going to charge you for it."


    "And still I pay, old man." Idris said with a smirk on his face. "It is the festival of the Sun and the Moon, so use that money to get your wife something nice." The man clearly wanted to go against it. But Idris shook his head. "I already have one stubborn person in my life, besides myself that is. And that is more than enough." Mister Teensoll narrowed his eyes.


    "Are you calling, me stubborn?" He said. And Idris simply nodded, and the man followed soon after that. "My wife would agree with you there." Both of them started to laugh. "But off you go, like you said it is the festival of the Sun and the Moon. So be off, and surprise her with this masterpiece of a sword." Idris looked at the sword, it was a fine one, but he would not call it a masterpiece.


    "Alright, I am off." Idris said, and walked out of the smithy. The streets were for once filled with people, above it hung paper lanterns with a sun and moon painted on them. Children were running between the adults, all of them had a moon apple in their hands. The men that were left inside the village, were showering their wives and unmarried daughters with attention and flowers. This was the only day in the year that the sun and the moon would be in the sky. The legend behind the festival is in his opinion tragic and beautiful.


    Nyota the God of the stars, had fallen in love with Mwezi the Goddess of the moon. But she didn''t love him, he was more a brother to her then anything else. She had however a man in her life, Jua the God of the sun. He was kind to her and showered her with all his love and attention. This made Nyota so jealous that he placed a curse on Mwezi, trapping her in the night sky, together with him. While Jua did his best to chase after her. He succeeds in finding her, but only for one day when they both share the sky.


    He looked up to the moon and the sun, it is not strange that the festival is so loved by lovers. Him included, it was during the festival that he had given her the bracelet. And now he was going to give her this sword that he had made. This is in his mind a much greater gift then any bought sword. But there was only one problem where was the princess.


    "Mister, mister." It was Uyoga. The boy of twelve came to a halt in front of him. His hand was covered in juices of the fruit.


    "Hey, little man. How are you?" Idris greeted him. The boy gave him a large smile.


    "You are looking for the princess." Uyoga said, it was not a question. Idris wanted to deny it, but the boy was smart enough to see through his lie. "She is helping the other woman at the village square." Of course, she was, it would be complete out of character for her is she stood back and did nothing. Something he admired.


    "Thank you, Uyoga." He said, touching the boy''s head before leaving. Rushing through the crowed, his men already informed him that the all the farmers had taken a day off work to be with their families. Which was not uncommon, and absolutely not strange after what had happened inside the village. He had seen with his own eyes the scars that the illness had left behind, and not only the physical ones. There was no family inside this village that was untouched. Mister Teensoll had lost a daughter and a son, leaving his youngest a son. His wife on the other hand was lucky enough to live and tell the tale. He arrived at the square, it was a bit calmer here. No wonder, his men were charged, there was no other way of putting it, to hold back the masses until the dinner bell. Apparently it was tradition inside this village that everyone eats together, as one bid family. In Salama it was tradition to make small gifts, for the once you care about. Over the years he had given his men all kinds of clothing, weapons and even some hairbands. Only this year he had no time to make something for them and he hoped that they would understand.


    "Halt." Simret said with a big smirk on his face. "Where do you think you are going?" Idris rolled with his eyes.


    "I am going to see Zeudi." Idris replied.


    "Ha, and snatch some piece of freshly baked moon apple pie." Simret said, but Idris shook his head. Although it sounded tempting.


    "No, I ..." He stopped mid-sentence, Simret was from the same village as him. And if he told Simret that he had made something for Zeudi, well the man child was smart enough to piece things together. If he had not done so already, o why did he care so much. "I made something for her, and I want to give it to her." Simret looked at the sword.


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    "And our gifts?" Simret asked.


    "No time." Idris replied. Simret shook his head and started to lean on Fitsum''s shoulder.


    "Do you hear that, he has forgotten us already." Simret said and Fitsum nodded slowly. "Well fine, I am hurt but I will see past this, this once that is." Fitsum now looked at him.


    "Are you not from the same village, so why have you not made something for use?" Fitsum said. In silence Idris thanked the man for it, because now all the attention was on Simret and not him. He slipped past them and went towards Zeudi.


    "Your highness, your man is her. And he looked very pleased with himself." The witch doctor''s voice came out of nowhere. Zeudi looked up from the great couldron.


    *******


    Zeudi gave him a soft smile, Arsema was right, he looked very pleased with himself. It reminded her of the boy she had met, he had the same look on his face before he had given her the bracelet. It was then not that surprising that the boy and the man were the same person. She knew for a fact that it was tradition in his home village to make something for someone special. And she kept that tradition close to her heart, after her visit to Salama, by making special moon apple cookies. For her family, but also for the once that worked in the palace. Last year, her brother had mocked her openly for doing this, saying that it made her look weak. Something her father agreed on, but doubled down when he realized that there would be no more cookies, he had a well known sweet tooth. This year there will be no cookies for him, because she was here with Idris and his men. And yes, she had baked them those cookies. She planned on giving them the cookies when they got back in the house.


    "Stop daydreaming, girl." Arsema said. "Go to him, the rest of the women will finish what you have started." Zeudi looked at the woman and nodded.


    "Hello, I am sorry if I interrupted you." Idris said with a crooked smile. He was not sorry at all, he was only saying that to make her feel better, which worked.


    "I was almost done, so why do you look so pleased with yourself?" She asked and he looked down. Why was he acting so shy, she didn''t know this side of him. She gave him a soft smile. "I made something for you and the rest of your group. It is in the house." She turned around and wanted to go, but he grabbed her by the arm.


    "You made something for use?" He asked and she nodded.


    "Salama, was the first time I experienced the festival. It is not something celebrated inside the palace. Do not ask me why, I never discovered the answer myself. But after I came back, I started to make moon apple cookies for everyone inside the palace. It is a tradition, I wanted to stick to it." She explained, he smiled and shook his head. He let go of her arm and the both of them went towards the house. He closed the door behind them, blocking most of the sounds. She went to the kitchen and grabbed one cookie off the plate. She turned around and was somewhat shocked that he was standing right behind her. He looked horrified when she bumped against the counter because of it.


    "I am so sorry." He said, and she motioned that it was alright.


    "Here you go." She said, holding the cookie in front of his nose. His shocked expression, made way for an amused on. He took the cookie with his mouth. "What are you..." He quickly ate the cookie.


    "Sorry, I have my hands full with your gift." He said. The cookie crumble were hanging in the stubble. He had shaven himself since the arrived in Hifadh, but apparently he had not kept it up the last couple of days. She wanted to brush them away, but he placed something in front of her nose. It was a sword, he was giving her a real sword. Not a wooden one, that he himself had made. But one of metal. Her hand went slowly towards the handle.


    "Did you make this?" She asked and he nodded. "For me?" He nodded again. "But I am not even that far in my training."


    "Nobody is, until they enter a real fight. And something in me tells me that your brother will not wait that long. He will come, or he will send once again his men. But he will come." He said. She nodded, now grabbing on to the handle. Touching his hand in the process. He was right about that, they were living in a dream. Her brother will come and wake her up. She was not a normal village girl, who was waiting for her mister Right. Or rather was now looking at her Mister Right. She was the princess, and future queen of Cidor. A tear roll down her cheek. "Do not fear, I will always have your back." She smiled and stepped towards him. "Although I am just an ordinare thief." She shook her head, he was everything but ordinare. "I have nothing to offer you."


    "I am not asking, for anything." She said.


    "You asked me for the moon and the stars." He replied. She started to giggle through her tears of fear.


    "You know what I meant by that. I want a man that love me, for me. Not for what I can give him." She said and he nodded placing his hand on her cheek. "I am not asking for anything else. Can you love me, for me?" He took another step closer and lowered his head. The were just inches apart from each other, was he going to kiss her? It was looking like he is. She closed her eyes, waiting for his lips to touch hers. The door slammed open and Simret stormed in.


    "Ohhh, I am sorry about that. But Zeudi, your brother''s men are here." Simret said. Zeudi looked at Idris and he nodded.


    "Simret, you know what to do. All the young women and children inside this house." Idris said. "Just like we have practiced." Simret nodded, turned around and stormed off. Zeudi walked with Idris out of the house, her dream ended here and now.

 Chapter 11

    Zeudi was prepared for a huge mascara when she stepped out of the house, but instead she saw an organized mess. The young women, children and even some elderly that had survived the illness filled into the larger house. Hawan and her mother also went in, which was a huge relief. While feeling slightly guilty that they needed to hide in there, all because of her. No this was not happening because of her, it was happening because her brother became greedy. The men in the village started to gather on the square hay forks in hand, the women armed with what ever they could find in the kitchen, roller pins, iron pans and even some knives.


    "Simret, Gebre and Petros. You three defend that house with your lives." Idris said, the men nodded. "Fitsum, you and I will stick by Zeudi."


    "You got it boss." Fitsum said. They had already discussed this plan, as much as possible. Like every freaking evening since they arrived here, all of them men knew their tasks, every one knew what was at stake. Their lives, her life and the faith of the kingdom.


    "Zeudi, you are not going off..." He started, but she shook her head.


    "I will not do something stupid that gets myself or one of you in danger. Got it, but the same goes for you Idris. Because I want to finish our conversation." She replied.


    "Ohh, that is how they call it. Who knew?" Simret said, while taking up arms before the front door.


    "One day I am going to kill that man." She whispered. She grabbed the handle of her swords with two hands. Like Idris showed her, she had killed before, by accident, but it still counted. She had seen blood and suffering before. All what she needed now was a clear head and the courage to kill again. A dust cloud entered the village, the sound of hooves on the road echoed through the streets. "There they come." She closed her eyes for a second.


    "Princess, there you are." A voice said. She wanted to grit her teeth. "We have been looking all over for you. We should have known you would hide between these ... I do not even know how to call them, but I am sure they are not on the same level as you and I."


    "Oh shut it, Kahinu Sarratr¨¦. It is true that they are not as rich, powerful and what else makes you, you. But they are mine people, and as future queen it is my duty to be on the same level as they are." Zeudi said. Kahinu looked at her in disbelieve, and she had not expected anything else from him. Idris leaned towards her.


    "Is that one of those peacocks?" He asked, loud enough for everybody to hear. "Is he one of the men, who tried their best to win that stubborn ass of yours." She gasped.


    "Look how is talking, it takes one to know one. But no he is not." She said. "A peacock I mean. He has served his time in the army, he is indeed one of my suitors." Idris nodded.


    "I am sorry for your loss, buddy. It seems that you were not able to give her the moon and the stars she asked for." Idris said, and Zeudi could see that Kahinu was confused. "But let''s not waste everybody''s time, shall we. It is the festival of the sun and the moon after all, and we want to go back and celebrate it." Kahinu pointed at Idris with his sword.


    "Now we are speaking the same language." Kahinu said, and he turned towards his men. "You know what to do, kill that woman." A battle cry rose up from them all.


    ******


    Zeudi didn''t know how it happened, but right now she was standing face to face with Kahinu. Idris and Fitsum were each fighting their own men. So she was on their own for now, because she knew for sure that one of them would come to her rescue when they were able. But for now all she needed to do was to block his attacks, the only problem is, he was in the army a skilled fighter and something she couldn''t say about herself.


    "Well princess, let''s dance." Kahinu said. He swung his sword towards her and she blocked it, barely. He was stronger than she was, but she already knew that. He swung again, and this time she needed to do her best to jump out of the sword''s way. "You have trained in the ways of the sword, good that gives me at least a challenge." He swung again and this time she was not able to block him. He grinned from ear to ear. "Those it hurt little princess, that is what you get from playing with toys that are meant for men." She gave him a smile.


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    "There is only one problem, a sword is a weapon not a toy." She replied, and ran towards him. He swung his sword again, but she dived, tackling him to the ground. He hissed when his head smacked against the ground. "Ow those it hurt." He wanted to throw her off, but she used all her weight to keep him on the ground. He might be a strong man, but he was no match for her. Or gravity.


    "Get off!" He screamed. But she didn''t, get off of him.


    "Zeudi, are you alright?" It was Idris. "Fitsum, she is hurt. Take her to the house and let that witch doctor treat her."


    "No, boss you take her. I will deal with him. The rest of you take those who have survived to a shed." Fitsum said to probably the others of the group.  She only got up when she saw Fitsum appear by her side, they were maybe ordinary thieves, but she trusted them. They have protected her, even when she was the one killing their former boss. They stood by her when she learned about her brother''s betrayal. When she got back she needed to pick a new personal guard, and she already knew who she wanted if they were willing to leave their rogue life behind. Idris wrapped an arm around her and took her with him, but she couldn''t see or hear anything. Why was this, she was not hurt that badly? Or was she? Why else would Idris be so worried, because he loved her? Maybe this was it.


    "Witch doctor, what is wrong with her?" It was Idris again, she was still able to hear him. That was a relief, but why was everything else so blurred?


    "She is just experiencing an adrenaline rush, and that wound is not that deep." Her voice was so muffled, but still Zeudi was able to figure out what was being said. This was however not an easy feat. Only there was not much what she could do.


    "Do you really think that you have won, well think again princess. Your dear old father is as good as dead, and when he finally beats the dust. Our true king well accent on the throne, rather you are alive or not." Her heart sank was her father sick, when did this happen? He was fine when she left the capital, but that was a few months ago, and she knew all too well that illnesses could kill quicker then a knife. She started to breathe very rapidly, she needed to go home. No matter the danger.


    "O shoot, she starts to hyperventilate. Quick take her inside and think of a way to calm her down." Arsema said. There was no audible reply, but she was dragged into the house. The people who were hiding in there made way for Idrisher

 Chapter 12, part 1

    The sun was not yet up, but Idris was already putting his weapons in all the hidden places. He wanted to be ready for everything, even if he would lose his life in the process. She was worth it, she was the future of this kingdom and he wanted to help her. He was not the only one that was already awake, the most of his men were too restless to even go to sleep. And there was Sennay who had spent the night with his sweetheart. Something he himself wanted to do with Zeudi, but he had seen how angry she was after their kiss, which he completely understood. So he thought it was wise to give her some space. He heard a door opening and some light footsteps in the hallway, was she trying to escape? There was only one way to find out, he walked over to his door and opened it. She was sneaking down the staircase, her sword wrapped in a leather band, hang on her waist. He didn''t say anything, he just followed her. She stepped outside through the backdoor, so maybe she wanted to take a bath before going on the road. But she stopped in the middle of the garden, pulled out her sword and started to do some passes. He smiled, interesting they were making themselves ready to go, and she is heading his words.


    "Practice, every day."


    He watched her as she moved, it was just like a dance. Her movement sometimes a bit uneven and wonky, but still it was not how she did it. It was that she practiced, maybe their daughter... wait what? Their daughter? If he was lucky enough to be her consort and if they were lucky enough to get a daughter, he would personally teach her the way of the sword. And their son, again if they were lucky to get one, would learn how to take care of the people. He got that this was the way that things were done, but maybe it was about time to change them. In his mind, it was indeed not fair that only the women could rule the kingdom. In his mind, the throne should go to the one who worked hard for it. Not only by winning battles on the battlefield, but also by serving the people. She stopped and looked up to the sky, the dark sky started to get some hints of red. So the sun was not as faraway.


    "It is time to pack your things, princess. You are going home." He said, she looked at him. A bit shocked and amused. "I am going to wake up the rest of the house, we will eat breakfast on our way there." She nodded and rushed towards him.


    "Wait a second." She said, while wrapping her arms around her waist. "There is a chance we will die today. So I want to hold you, and listen to your heartbeat." He nodded and in turn wrapped his arms around her. They were standing there for only a minute, but still it looked like a lifetime. "Thank you." She said, while stepping back.


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    "There is nothing you should thank me for." He replied and the walked back to the stairs. Where his men, including Sennay were standing.


    "Do not mind use, we will wait until you are done." Simret said, Idris shook his head.


    "One day I will kill him." He said.


    "Get in line." Zeudi replied. All the men started to chuckle. "But now let''s get serious, well all know what..."


    "Wait with the speech until you step outside." Sennay said, pointing towards the door. She frowned what did he mean by that? But he came over to her and grabbed her arm. "You need to see this, you all need to see this." Now all of them followed them outside. Idris looked in amazement at the crowed that had gathered on the village square. All of them were armed with something, Zeudi had placed her hands in front of her mouth. "Aranchi, told me that news of the attack has reached the village nearby and folks from there had traveled all night to stand with you, Zeudi. You are our new ruler, not your brother who is letting others do his dirty work." Zeudi nodded slightly.


    "I am only not able to promise them a safe return." She said.


    "We never asked you to promise use that, girl. We just want to stand and fight with you. This is our kingdom, and you have worked so damn hard to get to know it." The witch doctor, he couldn''t remember her name if his life depends on it, stepped forward. Around her body she carried little pouches with most likely herbs, in her hand she had a large rolling pin. He didn''t want to make her angry. "Your mother touch you how to cook, sow and how to aid people, not because she believed you needed to care for them. But it was one big getting to know the people you will rule one day, the people that would be in your care. And it those not hurt in getting a lesson in humility as well, something your brother also needed to get." Idris nodded in agreement. Zeudi lowered her head and sighed.


    "My mother was a great teacher, and I want to honor her memory. But I also have seen that her lessons were not complete, it is true that in the past men were the ones who protected the kingdom. Making the queen dependent of the consort, which means that men started to believe that it is their right to rule the kingdom. And I do not blame them for that, because what is the rule of the queen? I can only promise that I would at least try to make my children, if I am blessed enough to get them, better." Zeudi said, and she looked at the rogues. "After this is over I want to ask you to replace the men you have killed in my personal guard." They nodded and she smiled. "Well that is enough talk, let''s go."

 Chapter 12 part 2

    They traveled much slower than he would like. But all those villagers didn''t have a horse, and Zeudi had decided to walk among them. During their walk, they came past the graves of her former personal guard. Where they stopped to dig up the graves, yes, not something they would do again, but Zeudi needed one of the smaller men''s armor. Which she was currently wearing, and they had stopped in Mji. Somehow, he still was not sure about how, they had heard what was going on and a large number of the citizens joined them. They even gave him a uniform similar to the one Zeudi was wearing. It made somewhat proud to wear her symbol on his chest, a white dove flying into a star of gold. The cape was also white and so pristine, it will not stay that way once they start fighting. Maybe once this was all over, and they made it safely out on the other end. He would talk with her about a more useful color. He looked at the cape behind her and sighed, the color suited her. It was the color of peace, but also of death.


    "You think too much, boy." The witch doctor behind him said. "You need to keep your head in the game." He smiled when he looked over his shoulder.


    "Wasn''t you who complained that I didn''t think at all?" He said.


    "That is when you and your gang of hooligans started to dig up that grave. Don''t you know how many spells I needed to cast to protect you lot?" She snapped at him. He had not known that at the time, but she had told them on the way to Mji.


    "How did we suppose to know that there would be uniform waiting for use in Mji. And if you had known, you should have told use. Besides that, it was Zeudi''s idea, and I think that she knew the risks." He said, they Witch doctor pressed her lips so hard together that they formed one single line.


    "I knew the risks." Zeudi chimed in. "So stop blaming him, Arsema." So that was the old hag''s name, would he remember it? Probably not.


    "You should have warned them, the death is not that forgiving when you disturb their final resting place. Even if you know them in life." Arsema said.


    "I would not have done it without you, Arsema." Zeudi replied. "And like Idris said, we did not know about all the armor that was waiting for use in Mji." Arsema hoofed.


    "You should have more faith in your people. And the power of pigeons." Arsema said. He looked at her, so she was behind the armor and more people. "Al lot of people will wait for use by the bride, mark my words. That young prince will find out that his reign is very short-lived." He shook softly his head, that woman was something. The woman leaned more towards him. "Aranchi asked me to ask you. To keep her lover in life, she those not want to raise their child without him."


    "What! Is, Aranchi pregnant!" Sennay screamed. Sennay looked at Arsema. Who nodded slowly.


    "But I didn''t tell you." She quickly added. Sennay looked at him, with a mixture of happiness and fear. Something he could understand, he was happy to become a father. But he was heading towards a war, which could cost him his life.


    "Boss, I hope you do not mind..." Sennay started.


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    "Stay in the back, Sennay." He quickly said. Sennay nodded with a huge smile on his face.


    "I hope it is a girl. I always wanted a daughter." Sennay said. Idris shook his head with a smile.


    "No matter the gender, I hope that the child will take after the mother." Simret said, which was answered with a loud laughter. Idris smiled only, the towards the capitol was close by.


    "Alright focus!" He said, the laughter died down. "We are almost there. So game faces on, we all know what to do. Fitsum, you take over Sennay''s place."


    "Understood." Fitsum replied and they switched places. Arsema laid her hand on his arm.


    "I will leave you to it. Good luck." She said, and then stopped with walking until she was outside their ranks. Zeudi slowed down until she was at his side.


    "Are you ready?" She asked him. He shook his head. "Good me neither." Was that a good thing.


    "Before we pass the bushes, I wanted to say that I love you." He said. She gave him a smile.


    "Then it is a good thing, that I love you back." She replied.


    *******


    There were indeed people once they left the forest behind them. This would be the second time that he would visit the capitol. It was the only city in the kingdom that actively chopped down the trees that grew to close by. This made it easier to see an enemies'' army. So they were already spotted and troops were already for their arrival.


    "Sir, state your name and business." The soldier in front of the bridge asked.


    "Idris Gedlear, of the princess personal guard." Idris replied. "If you are going to ask the where about of captain Bestel. Then I need to inform you that he died protecting the princess against a group of rogues."


    The soldier looked at him with narrowed eyes.


    "We already knew that captain Bestel was killed during an attack. But I have not seen you around the soldier camp." The soldier said.


    "That is because I have never being there. But that is not the point, sir. The point is really why are you stopping use?" Idris said. They had agreed that he would do the word, until they figured out if the soldier was a friend or not.


    "We are stopping you because Prince Woldu ordered us. He said that you were part of an enemy army." The soldier said. "And there is nothing that tells me otherwise, as far as I can see."


    "Well, then you better look again, Kifle Oolmay." Zeudi said well, stepping forward. "This is my army and since when became, I, the enemy?" The soldier looked at Zeudi with large eyes.


    "Princess, is that really you? Prince Woldu told use that you were dead." Kifle said. So that is how Woldu wanted to play. Idris looked at Zeudi who put her chin up.


    "Do I look dead?" She asked, and Kifle wildly shook his head. "So am I allowed to enter the city, together with my army. Because there is clearly that my beloved brother is trying to steal my throne, and I have heard that my father is gravely ill." Now Kifle was looking anywhere but at Zeudi.


    "I am so sorry, princess, but I have my orders and ..." Kifle started.


    "Let them in, she is alive and breathing so she outranks you. Oolmay." A man with his warm ivory skin, and long gray hair. Came up to them, the man was wearing a somewhat similar uniform as he was currently wearing. Only his cape was red, and the symbol on his chest was a lion in a heart shape. "And I think the man in those new, shiny uniforms are the rogues who bettered Bestel and his men." Idris bowed his head.


    "They are, but I also know that they were hired to kill me. Which they didn''t do, instead they have protected me while I was attacked by Woldu''s men. Twice." Zeudi said. "That is why I have chosen them as my personal guard, captain Eyob Codwood." She now took Idris by the arm. "He is also my fianc¨¦e." Wait, what, when did he pop the question? Or when did she pop the question? When did he or she agree to this? The man looked at him and nodded.


    "At least he those not claim to be a soldier." Captain Eyob said. "Well, princess, you can add your father''s personal guard to your army. Because I rather die than serve your brother." Zeudi nodded.


    "Thank you, captain."

 Chapter 13

    The army, her army, walked down the streets. Merchants started to pack up their stalls when they saw them aproce, mothers dragged their children inside their homes. Her father''s personal guard surrounded her own men. Idris leaned towards her.


    "Do I miss something, or did you just decide for the both of use that we are getting married?" He asked her in a whisper. She shrunk a bit, that was true. She had introduced him as her fianc¨¦e, but she knew Eyob Cobwood and he would have killed Idris and his man. It did not matter if they were part of her personal guard. They had killed his best friend and brother in arms, it did not matter if it was in battle.


    "Sorry about that, do you object?" She asked. He shook his head, this made her smile and her heart also skipped a beat. He looked so handsome inside the uniform, the white cape that waved behind him made the look complete. So strange that the change of clothing could change her perspective of him. It did not matter how much he protected her when he was wearing his old clothing, in her eyes he stayed a rogue. But now that he was wearing the uniform of her personal guard, it made him the man she had being waiting for. Funny that they had already met before all of this. "Good, but I do think that we need to discuss this further once we defeated my brother." She said, and he looked at her with those cloudy gray eyes. She hated the fact that they were marching into a battle, one she didn''t know the outcome. Maybe she should have stolen some moments with him while they were traveling, something she now regretted.


    "Do not think about it too much." He said. "We are almost at the palace and you know what will happen once we reach it. Please stay close to me and Fitsum, just as we did inside the village." He looked over his shoulder. She smiled at him, because she didn''t want to point out that they got separated during that fight. But she already knew that this was also on his mind.


    "Do not worry about me, if that happens again. Then I will stay close to Eyob. He was my mother''s best friend and he will not betray me." She said.


    "I thank her highness for her faith in me." Eyob said, clearly eavesdropping. "But your fianc¨¦e is right, it is better you stick with one of your own men. My men and I will do our best to live up to your trust." Idris looked over his shoulder and nodded towards the man.


    "If she trusts you, then who am I to disagree with her. So I hope you will look out for her." Idris said. Eyob nodded, and looked at his men. Zeudi smiled at them, but when her gaze went back to the road in front of her... That smile disappeared, they were facing an army which was much larger than her own. And it was not only the numbers that made her doubt her decision, this army existed only out of trained soldiers. In the front was her brother, he was the only one on a horse. He smiled when he saw her.


    "It is good to see you alive and well, my dear sister." Woldu said.


    "Cut the crap, brother. You are only glad that I am still breathing, so that you have a change to end me." Zeudi replied. "And do not think for a second to lie about it." Woldu just shrugged.


    "What a relief that I would not have wasted my breath, but sister are you really going to fight me?" He asked, she straightened her back.


    "It seems to me that I have no other option, brother." She said. She pointed to the people behind her. "The people of Cidor want me as their queen." He simply looked at the people behind her. Then he shook his head. "I am willing to fight for their future, Woldu. You may think that I am weak, because I go these missions. But look where that brought me, I am walking among my subjects. I am not rising above them."


    "Sister, you did me a favor of not wasting my breath. I will offer you the same. You are indeed too weak to rule this kingdom." He said, and then raised his hand with his sword. "Soldiers of Cidor, attack!" The soldiers grabbed their swords and started to march.


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    "Moron, point these men to my personal guards quarters." She said, Moron bowed. "Simret, you take the others. Sennay once you are settled I want you to go back and get Aranchi, I am in need of a new lady royal. Take one of the horses." Sennay nodded, and the men followed Moron. She looked at Idris with a defeated look, she knew full well what he wanted to say to her. And she was not morning the loss of a friend, Armana was never really her friend. But she had a lot on her mind right now, now that her father was sick. She now needed to step up and act as a ruler, was she ready for that. There was only one way to find that out. "Idris you can follow me." Her chambers were in the same hallway. "Close the door would you." He cracked a smile.


    "Are you now the one giving orders?" He asked and she nodded. He turned around and closed the door. She sneaked up from behind him and when he turned she kissed him. He stiffened up at first, but then he started to relax and to lean in. She took a step back.


    "I am sorry." She said. He gave her a smile and pulled her in for another kiss.

 Chapter 14

    The days inside the palace started to bleed over in one and other. Every day Zeudi got up before the sun rise, to practice her sword fighting. When the sun comes up she needs to eat and get ready for meetings with officials which could take hours. She had told him that once they got married, yes they were still engaged, still he did not know how that happened, but she told him that these meetings would split up. This was something he wasn''t looking forward too, but he at least was able to prepare. But he was relieved when those stuck up nobles were ready to call it a day.


    "Your highness, are you really serious. Our daughters are too precious for such tasks." One noble said, another next to him started to nod.


    "But sir Polissard, you had no problem sending your son to serve in the military. Is he not too good for that." Another noble, whose name escapes him, said in response. This debate was going on for days, and the end was nowhere inside.


    "Sir Nereriou, I am the princess of Cidor, the future queen. And I have learned to cook, to sow, basic medicine and now I am learning how to use a sword. The excuse of something being too precious to do something, belongs in the past. All what we need to do now is looking to the future of our kingdom." Zeudi said, and now all nobles started to nod. Finally, they are agreeing with her.


    "But sword fighting?" The man piped up. "Why those a woman need to learn how to use a sword?" Idris lowered his head.


    "The same reason we men are learning it from an early age. To protect ourselves and those we love." Idris said, he knew that he was not allowed to say anything, but this was going on for long enough. These men were not acting like grown up men, rather they acted like children that didn''t get their way. Granted some of them had served in the army and those who did agree with Zeudi. But those peacocks, he now understood the meaning behind that word were driving him nuts. "Sorry, your highness. But I couldn''t hold my tongue." He said while bowing his head.


    "As future consort I might say you have that right, son." Sir another name he couldn''t remember said. "And he is absolutely right, if I had a daughter I would sleep easier if she knew how to defend herself." He stated, then he looked at the man next to him. "Sir Polissard, you have two beautiful daughters."


    "You know full well that I have, one is going to marry your son in a couple of days." The man said. Sir o what was his name, nodded and smiled.


    "And son, is a lucky guy. But let''s say they were attacked on the road and their guard gets killed. Just as what happened with our princess, only this group is not so gentle and wanted to harm her. Would ...."


    "I know where you are going, sir Croilenet. And it is rather a low blow, pulling on my heartstrings." Polissard said. But the man motioned to the others at the table.


    "But that goes for all of use, all of use have a daughter, niece, cousin, granddaughter. Maybe a daughter-in-law, even are own wives. Would benefit of this, yes we all imaging their lives to be different. But the world is never been safe for those who can not defend themselves and it will never be safe. But we can help those to learn how to defend. Besides what if they learn those extra skills, it also will benefit the greater good. If they learn basic medicine, then your gill be the Witch doctor will drop. That is for sure." Sir Croilenet stated, of course if playing on the heartstrings those not work, talk about their overflowing pouches. As if they needed to be worried about a Witch doctor''s bill, but it was not his place to say anything. But he could still judge them, in silence.  "But what our princess, and future queen is saying that we need to stop thinking about only ourselves and also look at those who are less fortunate." Idris looked at the man, just when he started to like the guy, he needed to say something like that. The door of the council chamber opened and the maid who showed his man to their quarters entered. Moron was that her name?


    "Your highness I am sorry to interrupt, but you requested an update about your father." Moron said, bowing their head. He already thanked her for the interruption, if not for her, he would have killed one of those....


    "What is the latest news, Moron?" Zeudi asked, her voice sounded defeated. Which he could totally understand.


    "The consort is conscience and requested you." Moron said. "He also asked for mister Gedlear." Idris doubted the latter, but he was not going against anything right now. So long he was able to leave this room. Zeudi stood up from her chair.


    "Let''s meet again, gentlemen. I wish you all the best." She said, she didn''t wait for their good wishes. She jolted towards the door, and he followed her. Fitsum and Sennay were waiting for them at the door. He as captain of the personal guard was the only one allowed in that room. The rest needed to stay outside, Zeudi and he had come to an agreement of three guardsmen at all time. At night there would be two of them standing outside the door of her chamber and one, which was always him, inside. Oh, he only kissed her good night, and then silently watches the room. Sure if anybody would believe that, although they had not consumed their relationship. But all good things take time, that was what he was telling himself. He knew that he loved her and that one day they would be able to take that final step. She sighed in relief when the door of the chamber closed behind them, she didn''t bother to tell him that he was out of line. Idris already knew that, but he was not going to apologize for it. He meant what he said and she knew that too. He walked by her side, servants jumped to the side, bowing as they walked past them. This was still something he needed to get used to. They finally reached the chambers of Zeudi''s father, he had been in there every day since they got here. But back then the man was fast asleep, healing. Arsema, he finally remembered the name of the old hage, was staying with them until the consort was better. Something the palace witch doctor wasn''t too happy about. But there was nothing he could say or do to change that old woman''s mind. The doors of the chambers swung open and Zeudi and he entered.


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    ********


    Idris didn''t know what to do so he stayed a few steps behind Zeudi, who was kneeling down.


    "Hey dad, how are you feeling?" She asked, the eyes of the man on the bed opened as soon as he heard his daughter''s voice. His hand went slowly towards her cheek.


    "My beautiful girl, you are finally home. What took you so long?" He said, his voice sounded pretty crisp. Zeudi sighed and started to recap the story of the last couple of months. The man sometimes looked at him when menaced his name. "So Woldu did all of that? I do not want to believe it, but I know that the evidence is there to support your story." The man said, and he sighed. "Your brother still blames you for your mother''s death. Which is unfair to you, I knew that your mother was sick. And I have pleaded with her not to go, but she wanted to be there, She wanted to help, and she wanted to do that with you." The man grabbed Zeudi''s hand. "I knew once she left the palace that she wouldn''t come back, I think she herself knew that as well." Zeudi nodded slowly, Idris saw her shoulders shake. Without a second thought he rushed towards her side and kneeled down next to her, wrapping an arm over her shoulder. "So you are the rogue that stole my daughters'' heart?" Idris looked at her father and nodded.


    "I believe I am sir. She keeps introducing me as her fianc¨¦e, but I still have not figured out when I popped the question." He replied, her father started to smile at first, but then started to laugh. "I hope that her heart is the last thing I will ever steal."


    "Well, young man there is one other thing, but that is not a discussion I want to have with you." Her father said, Idris felt his cheeks burn up. O that was indeed another thing, uhm.


    "I am sorry for my involvement in all of this, you may find it hard to believe. But me and the rest of my crew knew nothing about what was going on. We figured it out after we already attacked your daughter''s men." He said and lowered his head. "But still that those not excuse our actions."


    "It indeed those not, but you are paying her back. Your men are currently outside." Her father said.


    "Two of them, sir. The rest is sleeping for the night shift or training with your own guard." Idris replied. "One of the men just requested to be on the night shift. His girlfriend, your daughter''s new lady royal'' is expecting their first child and he wants to take care of her." Zeudi''s father looked at her and she shrugged.


    "I couldn''t trust Armana, after she poisoned you. And I needed a new lady royal, so I picked someone who I could trust. Sennay, the guard in question, is a very loyal. To not only Idris, but also to me and now to his growing family." Zeudi said. Her father nodded and sighed again. "Dad, I think we have been talking for long enough. You need some more rest, before you reign those nobles in." Her father again started to laugh.


    "Are they talking in circles again?" He asked.


    "That is putting it mildly." Idris replied instead of Zeudi. Her father looked at him and shook cheerful his head. "Yes, I couldn''t keep my mouth shout."


    "Which is a good thing, in my book. Those nobles, well they just need to listen to what the two of you have to say." Her father said, he then points at Idris. "He might be the captain of your guard, but he is right now also your fianc¨¦e. So let him speak during those meetings, he has a brain and mouth, let him use it." She nodded and she started to lean against him. Idris was glad that her father was agreeing with him, at least for now.


    "I will think about it dad." She replied, and stood up. "You take some more rest, and as for you." She now looked at him. "I might have a kiss or two for you to steal."


    "Hello, I am still awake." Her father said. Idris also stood up and smiled. "Go off you two and enjoy the rest of your day."


    ********


    They rushed towards her chambers, he stopped for a moment.


    "Nobody, let me repeat nobody. Not even the two of you is allowed to interupt us." He said, Fitsum and Sennay started to gniffle behind their hands. They knew that what he was asking was an imposible feet. There was always something that would interupt them, but he kept on trying. He closed the door and turned around. She was right behind him jawning. "Zeudi are you alright?" She was also a bit on the bleak side. She nodded at first. "Don''t be so stubborn, I can see that you are not." He said, he lay his hands on her shoulders. "There are here no kisses for me to steal. There is here a princess that I will put to bed." She clearly wanted to protest, probably to tell him that she was fine. But he shook his head. "Dammit woman, go to bed and take a nap." He pointed towards the bed, and she went under protest, but she went. It took them half a hour for the first knock to land on the door. He got up from the chair and walked at the door. He opened it, Moron was standing on the otherside. She also looked rather uncomfortable. "What is it, Moron?" He asked calmy, which did not help.


    "Sir, the nobles are refusing to leave." She said. He growled, those stuck up nobles are getting on his nerves. But he right now had the blessing from Zeudi''s father to speak up, so maybe this is a good thing.


    "Thank you, Moron I will handle this." He then looked at Sennay. "Get another men to guard the outside. Fitsum you will keep an eye on our royal pain in the butt, she is not allowed of bed until I say so." Fitsum nodded and sighed.


    "But she outranks me, Idris." He said. Idris narrowed his eyes. "And you." He sighed that is true.


    "I do not care, she is not allowed out of bed." He snapped. "I am going to deal with some nobles." And he walked away with big strides. The nobles were still where Zeudi and he had left them, he could hear them through the closed off doors. He didn''t go for an easy entrance, kicking in the door.  All the nobles jumped up.


    "Where is the princess?" One of them asked.


    "In bed, you lot tired her out." Idris replied, all of the nobles looked to one another. "So why are you all refusing to leave?" The nobles did not answer him. "What is this, did a rogue steal you tongues. I know one thing it was not one of my men. But the princess is not able to attented this meeting, so I will do it for her. As I am her fiencee, and accroding to the Consort that gives me the right to use my voice." Again none of the nobles reacted. "So what is going on with the lot of you, are you still arguing about sword fighting lessons for girls?" Again no reply.  "Well let I put it this way, there will come conscription for military service. For both boys and girls, the girls will learn sword fighting there, if you like it or not..."


    "You can not do that." One of the nobles jumped out of his seat.


    "Sorry to say this, sir Limollac. But he can do this, as the future Consort." Sir Croilenet said. "And I think with this said, our discussion is over and we all should go home." He stood up and started to make his way to the door. "Captain Gedlear, out princess choose well. And I hope she is able to get some rest. She has been working hard the last couple of weeks."


    "Thank you, sir Croilenet. I hope so too." Idris said, but his day was not over yet. There were apparently more things that needed Zeudi''s, but now his, attention. But he was willing to work as hard as he needed to give Zeudi the time to rest.

 Chapter 15

    Woldu was passing his cell up and down, and then up again. He couldn''t believe that it has been weeks and his weak sister has not sentenced him to death. Which was something that would not happen under his rule, which he already had demonstrated. Every treat to his throne would be eliminated. But his plan to take the damn thing had not worked, it failed because his weak sister had learned how to use a sword. She might be weak, but she was smart, he needed to give her that at the very least. He indeed had not calculated the fact that the soldiers in his army would have loved once in her army.  She was right that not all of them would be as ruthless as he was. None of the men was paid enough to kill his family, but what would be the right amount of money? Well that was something he was not sure of, and he hated that fact. Armana sat in the cell next to him, on a little bench. Her beautiful raven hair in tangles, the dress he had given her was covered with dirt and spots. She was worthless, as were all his men. Useless, none of them had succeeded in the task he had given them. His men had failed him, by not killing his sister. Granted he was not able to that either, but that was because he had not counted on her using a sword. And Armana, well she had the easiest task of all and even that failed. His father was still alive, and according to the guards, who are rubbing his nose in his own failures, his father was on the better hand. He was even walking small distances in his own room, while Zeudi was running the kingdom. Together with the gentleman rogue, that was now her fianc¨¦e. He shook his head, this all was a bit too much for him. So he kicked once again, against his sack of hay. How long before the neighboring kingdoms discover their weakness, how long before they attack and those good-for-nothings come to beg for him. That was kept him going, the last couple of days.


    "Did you hear, captain Gedlear has made a scabbard for the princess. Decorated with a moon and stars." Soldier Nultu said, one of the guards. "You know it has been a running joke, that she wanted a man would give her the moon and stars if he could. Well this is his way of doing just that." Woldu wanted to trow up, because he had heard that line coming out of his sister''s mouth. She wanted a man who loved her for her and not what she was giving him. What a ton of horse shit. But she got what she wanted, like always. That rogue indeed loved her, and even in the dungeon he had heard about how he stepped up. He already declared that there will be a conscription for military service, for both boys and girls. Which sounded like a good idea, even in his ears. But then the part about giving the girls lessons in sword fighting, what would that do? He was not sure.


    "Guards, can I get I some water?" Armana asked, her voice was cracked. He rolled his eyes, maybe she could use some sword fighting skills. The guard was not reacting to her request, he kept on talking about how great that captain Gedlear is. Of course, he thinks the man is great, he came from the same background. He rolled with his eyes. "Guards! Can I get some water?" This time she yelled, and this time the guard reacted. But not in the way Armana had hoped for, she was now standing by the door. Her hands were clutched to the bars. The guard, soldier Nultu, walked up to her and threw the water in her face. She gasped and Woldu needed to admit this was a masterly performed by the guard.


    "Here is your water miss, do you want anything else. A blanket, new dress, some upper class dessert?" He asked, but Armana shook her head. Woldu nodded he approved this kind of treatment towards prisoners, he doubted that his sister would. But she was not here to intervene. Armana turned around and stared to make her way back to the bench. He smirked maybe he could use her for one last time. He waited until Nultu had left them.


    "Armana, what a shame. That bastard ruined your pretty dress." He said.


    "He did not do that, it was already ruined." She said, she was almost at the point of breaking. Good, that was what he needed, her being as desperate as she now was. He wanted to smile in delight, this was going to be easy.


    "Armana come to me, I do not want the guards to ruin more." He said, she looked at him with large eyes. "Come to me, I want to give you a huge." She looked a bit unsure, but she came to him nonetheless. She was not as smart as his sister, which in right now was a good thing. He spread his arms wide through the bars that separated them. She took another step towards him. She was now in reach and quickly grabbed her by the throat. Strangling her, she was fighting against his grip. But there was nothing she could do about it, he was too strong for her. Slowly her movements slowed down, and then her eyes fall shut. He kept his grip on it until the pols in her neck faded until it was no longer there, she was dead. His mother was right, if you want something done, you should do it yourself.  He let go and her lifeless body fall to the ground.


    "Guards, guards! There is something wrong with lady Armana!" He screamed. Soldier Nultu and his partner in crime reacted immediately. Opening the door to her cell, both of them were standing so close to the bars of his cell. One of them had the keys on his side, the other his sword. This was somehow too easy, but he was not complaining. He grabbed both items in one grab, running to the door of his cell. He knew which key he needed to use. So he did not have to waste time to find it. He opened it and slammed the door to Armana''s cell shut. It would not stop them, because one of them still had his keys. But it would stall them enough to make a run for it, he was going to teach his sister a lesson. The lesson about alimenting your enemies, when she had the change.


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    ********


    Zeudi smiled at her father, he was sitting at the table in his chambers enjoying a meal she herself had prepared for him.


    "I knew that your mother had taught you how to cook, but I did not know you were so good at it." Her father said between bites. She gave him a smile, knowing that her father was lying. She had spotted him in the kitchens when she was preparing meals for him and her brother, but she was not going to point it out to him. It made her happy that her father was getting better and he was able to get out of bed more often. Arsema had told her that his road to recovery would be a long one, but that she, Zeudi, and the palace witch doctor Batha Grenver could handle by themselves. Which meant that she was going back to Hifadhi, something Zeudi could understand. Her father took another bite, and smiled. "Are you thinking about that man of yours?" She shook her head. "I have heard from captain Codwood that he has stepped up."


    "He has, currently he is now handling the nobles all by himself and they hate it." She replied, her father started to chuckle. "But right now he is at the smithy, working on something." Now her father narrowed his eyebrows. "I understood that it is a present for me, and it is tradition in Salama to make something instead of buying it." Her father nodded.


    "That I know, but what those he needed to make? He has already given you your sword." Her father said, and her hand went towards it. Her father already complimented Idris''s craftsmanship.


    "I think that I already know." She said, right when the door opened. Idris entered the room, and in his hands he was holding a scabbard. Which made her smile. "I knew it." She said and stood up.


    "Who spilled the beans? Was it Sennay?" Idris asked and she shook her head, when walking towards him. "Then who?" She lay her hands on his shoulders.


    "I figured this one out all by myself." She said. He visibly relaxed and smiled, and he handed her the scabbard. It was made with metal covered with red leather. The leather was decorated with a moon and stars. She gasped, turned around to show it to her father. "Dad look." Her father nodded.


    "It is a nice scabbard, my daughter. Your fianc¨¦e is very skillful with his hand, as well with his words." Her father replied, she nodded. But that was not the thing that she wanted him to see.


    "Do you know the time you asked me, why I rejected all those peacocks?" She asked and her father nodded.


    "You replied me, that none of them were able to give you what you wanted. You said you wanted a man that if he could, would give you the moon and stars." He replied, and Zeudi now pointed to the decorations. His eyebrows shot up at first but then softened. "So this man has given what you wanted. He is not only skillful, he also knows how to use his brain. Which is not a bad thing." Her father looked past her. "You choose well, my child." That was something she already knew. But it was good to know that her father approved her choice. "If I only released it sooner, maybe your brother would have not acted the way he did."


    "Sir you can not blame yourself for prince Woldu''s actions. He is an adult and is responsible for his own actions." Idris said. Before she could reject, but she would have said the same thing.


    "I was never good enough to rule, in Woldu''s eyes. No matter if you understood me or not." She said instead. Her father nodded.


    "Have you decided what you want to do with him?" Her father asked and this was not the first time. She shook her head, on one hand she knew that he would always be a treat to her. As long as he kept on breathing, but on the other hand could she live with herself if she ordered his death. "I know this is not an easy decision to make, but you should make a decision and quick. Your brother is a clever man and those cells will not hold him back for long." She lowered her head, that was also something she already knew.


    "Could you take the decision out of my hands?" She asked no one in particular. But both men shook their heads.


    "I love to, sweetheart. But he is your brother. " Idris said. Her father nodded, he was thinking the same thing. She opened her mouth to say something when the doors of the room slammed open. Soldier Nutlu entered.


    "Consort, Princess, captain Gedlear. What a relief to find you all together." The man said, he was clearly out of breath. She already suspected what he was going to say, otherwise he wouldn''t be here. "Lady Armana is dead, she is strangled to death by prince Woldu." The man started. "When soldier Callace and I went to check on her, prince woldu meanced to escape."


    "What!" Idris and her father said. But Idris raised his hand, before soldier Nultu could repeat.


    "Never mind, I heard you the first time." He said. "Soldier Nutlu, was it?" The soldier nodded. "Go to the quarters of the personal guard, I want every member of both guards inside the palace." He quickly looked at her father. "If you agree with that of course, sir."


    "Why would I object." Her father replied. "Let them guard the servent corridors as well." Idris nodded, and both of them looked at soldier Nultu.


    "Tell Sennay to bring his girlfriend into Zeudi''s chambers." Idris said and then looked at Zeudi. "You already know where I going to send you, and I do not want to hear how you can defend yourself." She was thinking of doing just that, but he knew her to well.


    "Then I will keep my mouth shut." She said and he smiled. "Dad, take care." She walked to the open door, Fitsum and Simret were standing there. Waiting for her to come out.


    "Simret, you will enter my chambers, untill Sennay and Aranchi arrive. Then you will move towards the servants corridors." She said both off them nodded. "Are you agreeing with me here?" Idris nodded. "Good, then let''s go." With big strides they went towards her chambers. Fitsum stayed at his post outside, and Simret entered the room. It didn''t take long before Sennay and Aranchi arrived.


    "I will take my post." Simret said. There was no trace of the jokster, he was serious. She nodded, and sighed.


    "Be carefull, if Woldu wants to enter my chambers. He will choose that way." She said, not knowing why she embrased him. He nodded and wrapped his arms around her as well.


    "I will." He said, then broke off the embrace.

 Chapter 16

    Aranachi and Zeudi were sitting on her bed, normally they would talk about everything, their boyfriends, her pregnancy. But now they were silent, and both of them looked at a door. Zeudi was watching the servants'' door, while Aranachi kept an eye on the main entrance. Aranachi was shivering, and held one of her hands on her stomach. Zeudi needed to confess that she wished that Aranachi was not inside this room. Not because she did not enjoy the company. But Aranachi was pregnant and Zeudi was undoubtedly Woldu''s pray. She already hated that Simret was on the other side of the door. But she needed to resist every fiber in her body, to not call him inside. Knowing that he would be safe and sound. She looked at her hands for a moment, they were shacking as well.


    "Zeudi." Aranachi said softly. Zeudi closed her eyes and took a deep breath. There was a sound at the servant''s door. "Zeudi, what should I do?"


    "Hid in the bathroom," Zeudi said, "place something in front of it and only come out of it if I or Sennay comes to get you." Aranachi nodded and rushed to the door that led to the bathroom. Would she be able to place something in front of it, Zeudi did not know? But there was no time to worry about it now, the door opened and Woldu stepped into the room. His hands were covered in blood, for a brief second she saw Simret''s lifeless body, but that was before the door closed behind her brother.


    "You need a new guard dog sister, I needed to help the one at your door out of his misery." Woldu said, with a large grin on his face. This was all she needed to confirm that Simret was indeed dead. She lowered her head, and bite on her lip to hold back her tears. She would never hear him crack a joke, or see the grin on his face. He would never see Sennay''s little one and to see for himself if it takes after the mother. "What is this, are you saddened about the fact that the man died. Sister you are really weak."


    "Of course I am sad, he was a friend." She replied, with a broken voice. "But that means I have friends, that does not make me weak. Quite the opposite. Brother." She straightened her back and now looked him straight in the eye. "But you are here to finish what you have started." Her hand went to the sword at her hip. He nodded.


    "Rather I kill you, or I die trying. Seems to me like a fair deal." Woldu said, he raised his sword and rushed towards her.


    *********


    Idris couldn''t believe the fact that he was not at Zeudi''s side, but everything else kept him away. The father of Armana had heard about her death and demanded to speak with the princess or with him. The man was not kind about it, accusing them for his daughters'' death. He did not even back down when Idris reminded him that Armana was imprisoned for treason. Something Idris could admire if it was not at such an imposible time.


    "Sir Flortia, I am very sorry about your daughter''s death. But Woldu is still out there." Idris said, but the man shook his head.


    "I do not care if he is. I want to see my daughter." Sir Flortia said, so that was the core of this. The grieving man wanted to see his daughter, which was a reasonable request. Idris nodded if this meant that he could go to be at Zeudi''s side.


    "Soldier Nultu, take the man to his daughter. And offer him some water, he is going to need it." Idris said. Soldier Nultu nodded and motioned to sir Flortia. Sir Flortia looked at Idris. "I already told you that her killer is still out there, and his target is the princess. My fianc¨¦e and therefore I need to be with her." Now Sir Flortia started to get why he needed to go.


    "Then get him, for my daughter." Sir Flortia said, Idris turned around and started to run towards Zeudi''s chambers.


    "Captain Gedlear, I have heard that Woldu was spotted inside the servant''s corridor." One of the Consorts guard said and he came just out of these corridors. Why is he not there looking for him? Idris did not stop to ask him this, the guard in question was a young man, which probably feared for his life.


    "Go and inform the guards man in front of the princess chambers." Idris pointed to the direction. The guard nodded and rushed away, Idris on the other hand rushed into the servants corridors. Which he knew all too well, the first weeks he had explored them with all of his men. Which now came at hand, something he had not suspected. Who was he kidding, not himself of course. He knew that there came a time that he needed to know every nook and cranny of the palace. He only did not know that he would need this information this soon.  The corridors were narrow, and this was not the first time he wondered how the servants menaced their way there it. He got into the corridor that leaded towards Zeudi''s chambers. Where he found Simret laying on the ground in a poodle of blood. There was no need to get closer, to tell him that his best friend was dead. And no one needed to tell him who killed him, Woldu. But there was no time to grief his loss, this meant that Woldu was inside her chambers. Maybe Fitsum and Sennay were already inside, dealing with the bastard. But there was a change that Woldu took care of them first. So he needed to go in to see it for himself.


    ******


    Araya considered himself to be a proud and considerable man. But when he heard Zeudi''s story, how his own flesh and blood tried to kill him. That was a though medical brought to swallow. He still hoped that his daughter would be merciful towards her brother banishing him to another kingdom. He knew that she had considered every option that there was, even banishment. But when she explained her fear that Woldu would raise an army to opus her once again, well this sends shivers through his spine. She was wise not to make rushed decisions based on her emotions, something his wife would have done. He slowly shook his head, his daughter may look like his beloved wife, but the two were so different in character. True they shared the same ideals, but that was it. His wife would never have cooked a meal for him, even though she could. No, his daughter was her own person and was a force to be reckoned with. The fact that she had found someone who shared her views and believes, was something that made his heart overflow with joy. The plus point was that he liked the man. Araya looked at the door, it has been a while since he had set foot outside his chambers. He knew that he son had escaped and this would not be the best time to go for a walk. But if his son was on a murdering spree, he needed to go to him first. He grabbed his sword and walked towards the door, swung it open and was met by captain Codwood.


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    "Sir, I think it is best if you stay in your chambers." The man said.


    "You know as well, as I that I will not listen to you, or anybody else who is going to tell me this. So you have two options, you come with me, or stay here in the hope that you do not need to explain yourself to that shiny new captain of my daughter." Araya said, captain Codwood shook his head.


    "For everybody, who wonders where the princess got her stubbornness from." The captian muttered under his breath.


    "From her mother and I, respectively. Captain, now move out of my way." Araya demanded, the captain did this and they started to march towards his daughter''s chambers.


    "Captain, captain!" A young man''s voice called. Both man turned around, it was the newest member of his guard.


    "Tesfay Conwin, what are you doing here. Did I not send you into the servants corridors?" The boy nodded, how old would he be? Maybe he just barked into adulthood? No wonder the kid has upped out of his duty in the fear of the murderous prince.


    "There is no need to be hard on him right now, the boy is young and clearly needs more time to become a man." Araya said. "But this means that Woldu has moved to the corridors, and we all know where he is going." Both man nodded.


    "I already told captain Gedlear. He told me to relay this two the guards in front of the princess door." Tesfay said, he was still shaking. Araya smiled at the boy, he at least was a good messenger. The three of them walked towards the chambers, where the guards man were laying on the ground. "What happened here?" Tesfay asked. Captain Codwood rushed to the man, laid his fingers in their necks.


    "They are wounded, but both of them are still alive. Tesfay, go and get some help for them." Codwood said, the boy sprinted away. "He is a good kid."


    "Agreed." Arya said, he laid his hand on the door nob and pushed it open. But he was not prepared for what he was about to face.


    ********


    It was by some kind of miracle she was able to avoid his attack, but now she needed to call upon all her training. Which in Woldu''s eyes might not be a lot, which was true. But she was smaller, and quicker than he was. At least that was what Idris told her, the first time he trained her inside the palace walls. So she blocked or jumped out the attack''s way. Looking for an opening. But of course, Woldu as a well-trained swordsman, was not giving away any. Still she needed to do her best to stay alive, maybe she could stall until however came in first to save her. She slammed against the front door which stayed closed, what happened to Fitsum and Sennay. Maybe he got to them first, maybe it was most likely. He wanted her, and getting her personal guard out of the way was of course the first step.


    "You are thinking too much, sister." Woldu said, he swung again and this time he was able to cut her. She wanted to curse, but she kept her words in. This was indeed her own fault, she was indeed thinking too much. He swung again, but this time she avoided with ease. But now his sword slammed against the door and it got stuck. Good, she took her pose, to attack. Now that she got time to prepare, but she did not run towards him. No she waited until he had menaced to pull out the sword and came towards her. But this time she lowered herself, turned away from him. But still attacked him at the same time, he screamed and placed his hand on the deep wound. "I hate to admit it sister. But that was a good move, did your rogue taught you that?" She wanted to nod with pride, but she knew that this was something meant to distract her. She again took in her position and look at him, he started to pace. He was not going to give her another change like that. Another option was for her to attack, but she knew that he was waiting for her to do so. As she saw it there were only two options left and both of them had their downside. "Come up sister, show me what you have learned." He was mocking her, and it was working. She was about to run and attack him, but then she caught something in the corner of her eye. It was an simple knife to peel fruit, it was sharp. Idris had thought how to throw a knife, she quickly grabbed it and throw it. Woldu blocked the small thing with ease, and was going to say something mocking. But Zeudi rushed forward and launced gher sword into his chest. He smiled at her. "You are not as weak as I thought." And he fall on too his knees, towards the ground. He was death, he was really death and she had killed him. The front doors of her chambers opened and her father rushed in, freezing in his place when he saw his son on the ground with her sword in his chest. The servant''s door slammed open, Idris also entered the room. Only he did not freeze, instead he rushed towards her side. Checking if her wound was not to deep, and took her into his arms.


    "I am so glad that you are still alive." He said. She wrapped her arms around him, when she felt his tears on her flesh.


    "I am fine." She said. "I am sorry about Simret." Idris nodded slowly and buried his face in her shoulder. She closed her eyes and now her tears started to flow as well. This scarry episode was over, and she did not need to worry about her brother.


    "My son." She could hear her father say, behind her. She let go of Idris to face him. She wanted to tell him that she wished that things could end differntly. But Woldu came with one thing on his mind. Kill her or die trying. But she could see in her father''s blue eyes that he knew the truth.


    "Fitsum, Sennay?" She asked.


    "They are hurt, but alive." Captain Codwood entered and replied. He looked at Woldu in disgust. "I am sorrry for your loss, sir. But he knew that he would not survive this. Even if he had menaged to kill his sister." Her father nodded, turned around and walked away without a word. Captain Codwood now looked towards Simret''s corpse. "I will send some men to collect the death. Where is the Lady royal, by the way." Zeudi pointed to the bathroom door. Codwood said nothing and went to the bathroomdoor. Zeudi did not pay much attention to what happene after that, her world was turning. Was this and adreline rush? It could be, but there was no time to ask anybody this. Because her world became black.

 Chapter 6 part 2

    Zeudi stepped out off the little house. This was the first time she faced the Idris''s men and really looked at them. And they in return looked at her. Only there was someone missing.


    "Were is Armana?" She asked no one in paticuler. The men looked a one and other.


    "She escaped shortly after you did, princess." One of them did.


    "Good ridens, no offense princess. But you might be a Royal pain in the butt, but you treated us like your fellow men. That woman made it painfully clear that we were below her."  Another explained, the others nodded their heads in agreement. This made it clear to her that they were not going to look for Armana. Zeudi hoped that her lady royal would go home, instead of the palace. If Woldu went through great lengths to kill her, what would he do with Armana? This was a question she did not want to know the answer.


    *******


    Idris knew that he was dreaming, the scene played in front of his mind''s eye were all memories. The first focussed on a little girl in front of a large house. The girl had black hair with gray highlights, her blue eyes were sad. A much younger Idris walked up to her.


    "Hey Zeudi, why are you so sad?" He heard himself ask. The girl looked at him.


    "Mommy said that we are leaving in the morning." The much younger Zeudi replied. He knew all too well how he felt back then. He had grown fund of the younger princess, but Dawit, the local witch doctor who was in charge of raising him and the other orphanage, had warned him that this day would come.


    "I would miss you." He replied after a while. "Here I made something for you." It was then he had given her the bracelet.


    "Really, is that for me?" She asked, her face light up like a candle. She was so happy with the single bracelet he had made. "I am going to show this to mommy, thank you, Idris."


    The scene shifted towards him standing at the gate of his village. She had just left and he was crying like a baby holding the broken bracelet. It was just a small snippet, but it made clear to his adult self that it hurt him deeply, finding the bracelet like that. Now he knew that she felt as bad for loosing it. The scene shifted to a slightly older, but still younger version of himself. He was sitting on his bed, packing the things he owned, which was not much.


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    "What are you doing?" Simret asked. Other boys who lost their parents through the illness gathered around his bed.


    "I am old enough to stand on my own. But the current smith those not want me as his apprentice, so I am leaving Samala." Idris replied. He didn''t want to leave his home, but maybe he would find a job in another village or city. Maybe he could find one in the capitol. His adult self would have told him not to bother, there were no other honest jobs out there.


    "We will come with you." Simret said. Idris looked at the four boys surrounding his bed. Two of them would find a job, and one of them would not even reach the first village. Something he did not know at the time, so he had back then no problem of taking them along. The scene shifted again. He was sitting with Russom around a campfire, it was just after their first heist and the adrenaline was still rushing through his veins. Simret was in Russom''s eyes a bit too young for this, so had to stay behind. Something Simret and did not agree on, but there was nothing they could do about it back then. Now he was able to understand that, that particular heist was indeed too dangerous.


    "You did well, boy." Russom said, patting him on the shoulder. "If you keep this up, you will become my second in command." This was a few of the promises he actually kept. Idris became second in command, and right now he was the leader of the group. He had known that the time would come, but he had not known it would be this soon. The only thing good out of this all was the fact that he was able to meet Zeudi again, after all these years. His memories started to fade away, and the darkness overtook him, but only for what seemed a few seconds. He opened his eyes and look straight into large brown eyes.


    "Welcome back, mister." The voice of the owner of those eyes said. "I am Arsema, the leader of the witch doctors in Hifadhi. There is no need to introduce yourself, your friend already told me how I should call you." Idris pushed himself up, a witch doctor? Were his injuries that serious? "You are lucky, and should take it easy for the next couple of days." Idris nodded, slowly. Where were his men? Where was Zeudi? "They are staying in the royal house, you walk straight to the village square and then you will spot it yourself." A royal house was the largest house in a village and is only available for the royal family and their company. So he has been shown an honor.


    "I will find it, thank you." He said, the woman weaved with her hands.


    "Don''t act so noble, I know what you do for living, and if that old fart Dawit knew what you were doing, I think he would not survive it." The woman replied in a huff. She knew Dawit, that was not so strange, it seemed all witch doctors knew each other. "And now out of my house." Idris did what the woman had said and rushed out of the house.

 Chapter 17

    The days after the events started to look the same, she was not allowed to leave her chambers. He had stopped telling her that she was not allowed out of bed, because he knew that she would not listen to this and got out as soon as he left. But the one thing she insisted on was being there for Simret''s funeral, she was the one who placed him alone on that post. To be fair the corridor was too small for two persons standing guard there and Fitsum and Sennay were bedridden for days after their encounter with her brother. But they had minor injuries, just like her. Simret was dead, and there was nothing they could do about that. Zeudi had spent days making his funeral cloths, something only close family member in Samala were allowed to do. But then again, although she respected the traditions of the villages and cities, they were in the capital now and they were some kind of family. So even if one of the witch doctors out of Samala had anything to say about it, she was able to say all of this. Idris came into the room when she finished up the last stitch of the red line surrounding the cloth. "Looks good sweetheart, he would have loved it." Idris said. "He always loved getting new clothes, above getting new weapons." She gave him a smile, over the days he had shared little pieces of information about Simret, some things she knew other things she did not. But she loved the way he talked about him. He really cared for his men."How are Fitsum and Sennay?" She asked. Because they were not allowed out of bed and she was not allowed to leave her chambers to see them. Idris cracked a smile and shook his head. "Both are doing fine, blaming themselves for not protecting you properly." Idris said. "Sennay has tried to get out of bed a few times, only for Aranachi to set him straight. She reminds me a little bit of you." Zeudi started to giggle, this was not the first time he said that to her."She is the sister I never got to have." She replied, the giggle stopped soon after. "Have you seen my father?" He nodded and sighed. "He is fine, he knew that you had to take your brother''s life. He knew that there was something to be done about him anyway. But he is not able to make decisions anymore, even those stubborn nobles are saying this much." Idris said and lowered her head, Idris has worked hard the last couple of days. Attending the funeral of Armana, sitting through hour long meetings with nobles, talking with the servants and making all kinds of decisions. She loved him for all of this, and the fact that he never complained about any of this. Maybe he recolonizes that this is only a glimpse of the future they are going to have. Only a glimpse, from a future that is not that far off. "A few even said that we might get married and crowned the day after Simret''s funeral." Which was the day after tomorrow. She looked up in horror, alright she could live with the wedding. She was the one who introduced him as her fianc¨¦e. But a coronation? No that was not something she had seen coming. Her father was still breathing and physically in good health, but it was the mental part that played the role in this matter and that was something she was able to see. "They even said that everything is ready, from the wedding dress, to the crowns and all that stuff." "The nobles love to come prepared, well let''s wait until after the funeral. Is the witch doctor here?" She asked and he nodded. "That old fart is here, and he those not shut up about the fact that he can not believe we had chosen this path. The path of stealing and cheating our way through life. But when I point out that I am the next consort he simply tells me that he starts believing that when he sees the crown upon my head. He states that you still can change your mind." Idris said. Which was true, she still could."But I do not want to change my mind." She said. He smiled at her, she sighed. "Well it is time for me to go to bed, and wait for the dinner to arive." She lay the funaral cloth on the table and climbed into bed.******The morning of the funeral came, name witch doctor, the witch doctor had thanked her for the cloth. Remarking that he had no idea how he got passed that part of the ceremony. Which was not that difficult, Zeudi thought for a brief moment to her former personal guard, but she was not going to say that to the man. All members of her personal guard and even some members of her father''s guard were present. The witch doctor prayed to name. Goddess of death to take care off Simret. Saying some spells she had many times, to many times. Then it was the turn towards the clostest female family member, to throw a (look up the name of the starflower.) into the grave. And because there was not such family member she filled in the role. Then the male family member needed to close the grave. That role was for the member of her personal guard. One more spell was cast, to prevent that a rogue witch doctor could controle the death body. Which apperently had happened one point in time, this was something she had not known. Arsema never bothered explaining the many spells to Zeudi, because she was not able to use them. But the witch doctor from Salama thought differntly. "Your highness, it is an honor to meet you once again. In my minds eye I still saw you as the little girl that visited my village so many years ago." Name witch doctor said, when they left the graveyard. She looked at him and smiled. "You mean the time that I got to meet my fiancee an Simret for the first time." She said with a smile. Name looked flustered. "Yes Idris told me that you hope that I will change my mind." "Princess, I did not meant to be rude. It is just..." name said. But Zeudi raised her hand to stop him."It was rude, although you might not agree with the path Simret and Idris choose to take. That path let them both back to me. Simret died in serves of the crown, and Idris will become my husband." She said. "And there is nothing anybody could do to change these two facts." Witch doctor nodded. "You have grown into a fine young woman, princess. And if the rumors are true you will marry Idris tomorrow." Witch doctor said. The rumors were true, the nobles had told her this much before she left the palace. "They are true, I am sorry to say." She said. Before the man could ask her why she replied. "I do not know if I am ready to become queen." The eyebrows of the man shot up. "Princess, in my not so humble opinion, nobody is ready to take on that role. No matter how much they prepare for it. You have been leading this kingdom for a couple of months now. With Idris at your side, and you have done an amazing job so far. Do not loss faith in yourself or in Idris. Because you are right, his path has brought him back to you. Thank the gods for that." Witch doctor replied to her. She gave him a smile. "Glad to know that there are so many of you have faith in me." She replied."I think it his healthy to doubt yourself, before taking on this role." witch doctor said. "I personally are look forward to tomorrow. One of the bastards I helped raise is getting married." ******** The next morning came to fast, Arachni was buzing around her helping into her wedding dress. Later a red mantle would be added onto it."Zeudi, you look stunning." Arachni said, with a large grin on her face. "Idris is such a luck man." "And he better know it." Her father''s voice echoed through her chambers. This was th firts time she had seen him since that faithfull day. But was looking good in his formal robes. Which she would have told him, if her voice had not left her. Tears started to well up, and her father sighed. "I know, I have hurt you by not coming to you sooner." She was shaking her head. He was grieving the death of a child, which she completly understood. "Come with me child, it is time for you to get married." He took her by the hand and guided her through the hallways. "I am sorry about your friend, Simret." Her father said. "I know also know that Armana wasn''t his first victum, but I am somewhere glad that Simret was his last." She also had heard the news that Woldu had killed everybody that in his eyes failed him. Armana was apperently no exception to that rule. "Dad, I do not know what to say about this. He was your son." She said. And her brother, but that fact sends shivers down her spine. Her father did not remark on it as well. "No the man you killed was no longer my son. My son dies years ago, together with his mother." He replied with a sigh. "She would have loved to be here, and to meet your rogue." "She has met him, on our first mission together. And she is with use, in a way." She said, he father''s smile came back. "Thank you for that." He said. He stopped and turned to look at her. "You look so much like her on our wedding day. It does not help that you are wearing her wedding dress." So that is were those nobles got the dress from. "So now it is time for me to give you away." She looked at the doors of the throne room, they opened up under the sound of trumpets. She cluthed her fathers sleeve. He started to walk and she followed him, her chest tightend and breathing was not an easy feet. However this all faded towards the background, once she locked eyes with Idris. From that moment on it was like she was walking on clouds. He was wearing his personal guard uniform, without the cape. Had nobody bothered to give him a formal robes. It did not matter, he was looking good in it. Idris took her hand and leand towards her. "You look beautifull." He said."You do are not to bad to look at either." She said a bit to loud. Some in the hall were laughing. Palace witch doctor cleared his throat and started the long list of well wishes and of course the vows. During this time she had only eyes for Idris. She was marrying the rogue that stole her heart. "Well now we have the beautifull part out of the way, let''s go to the more serious." Palace witch doctor said. Arachni and a member of her father''s personal guard rushed forward, both of them were holding red mantles. Arachni placed the mantle over Zeudi''s wedding dress. Idris''s mantle hung were the white suposed to be. He took her by the hand and both of them walked towards the thrones. Turned around to face the crowed. "These chairs are your seats of power. Will you respect this power and use it to protect the people of Cidor?""We will." Both of them said. Now her father walked towards Idris. "Idris, this crown stands for your responsibilty. Will you wear it?" Her father said."I will." Idris replied. Her father placed the crown on Idris''s head. Now he took the crown that would rest upon her head."Zeudi, this crown stands for your responsibilty. Will you wear it?" Her father repeated the qeustion."I will." She replied. Ans he placed the crown on her head. He turned towards the crowed. "Ladies and gentlemen, I give you your new queen and her consort!" Her father said loud."Long live the queen and he consort."


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