Before the sun rose high in the sky, Aminah and Herom made their way to the Medes estate. Just the two of them on horseback raced through the capital.

  The Medes estate was on the opposite side of Cabimal and at a swift pace the sound of the horses pounding into the paths through the town, heard by early shopkeepers preparing for the day.

  That morning his mother had only told Herom to get dressed and follow her. Up until they passed the tea shop, Herom had no idea where they were going. The only thing he did know was that this was not a normal morning. Judging from the dead look in his mother’s eyes, he knew something was wrong.

  Racing through the gates to the estate, Aminah dismounted her horse in seconds, handing the reins to the waiting servant. With a wave of her hand she motioned for Herom to follow her to the armory. She finally dropped the hood of her cloak and motioned for Herom to do the same.

  “I came as fast as I could,” his mother greeted with a bow.

  “Grandmother,” Herom greeted, “Grandfather.”

  At the head of the table sat a tall man, some grey growing into his black hair. His pained brown eyes held wisdom and experience. His body did not accurately show his age, but underneath his clothes he was littered in scars.

  “Aminah the message did not require you to come here.”

  At grandfather’s words his mother dropped to the floor. “Father please, I ask you to take Herom with you,” she pleaded. Her left hand snaked around his pant leg forcing him to kneel as well.

  Herom’s mouth went dry. Take him? Take him where? His knees hit the wooden floor with a thud.

  Commander Medes rose from his seat. “This mission will last eight Blue Moons, there is no need to part from him.” He made his way to lift his mother from the floor.

  “My son has no desire to marry, allow him to follow the Medes path, have him dedicate his life to the border.”

  Herom sputtered. This was punishment for not marrying? “Mother, is this because I told father that there was no one I fancied?” When his mother did not respond he faced his grandfather, “For 8 Blue moons? Have I done something wrong?”

  “Silence,” his mother ordered him as she continued to give grandfather a pleading look.

  “The Medes family have always served the military, generation after generation. We guard the walls, we fight in battles, we protect the people of the capital,” the corners of his grandfather’s mouth dropped. “Aminah, I will not take Herom with me.”

  “Father, the Medes family is moving to the northern borders, this is a great time for Herom to go and,” she swallowed, “gather some experience,” she pushed.

  Herom swallowed his feeling of betrayal. If his parents were only going to sell him off he never would have denied the position as captain. If he was captain his mother would not be able to do this.

  Setting her sword on the table, Grandmother Medes made her way to him and squeezed his shoulder. “Aminah, you truly wish to keep your son in the dark? He is old enough to know.”

  The elders were speaking in circles, and Herom could feel his annoyance warming his body. “If I may-” he interrupted the discussion, “what is being discussed right now? Who is leaving?” His eyes scanned his mother’s, grandmother’s, and then finally settled on his grandfather’s face.

  “Trouble.” Grandfather Medes answered. “The capital is burning hot, and our family is no longer equipped with water.”

  “So grandfather is leaving?” Herom asked in confusion.

  Grandmother Medes gave him a light tap on the cheek. “The Heavens blessed me with only one daughter. When we travel, this estate will be empty, we will rely on our daughter to keep it up and maintained,” she spoke in a sweet voice, but something about her words prevented anyone from disagreeing.

  The entire Medes family was relocating to the border? They would be gone for a few Blue moons, and his mother wished to send him with them. Why?

  “King Saamun wishes to expand the kingdom past the river, encroaching on the unclaimed land,” Grandfather Medes explained. “It is likely this will be my last mission before I retire, my bones are getting old and your brother will take over,” he explained to his mother.

  “Aminah what your father is saying is that the mission will be dangerous; bringing Herom would make it even more so.”

  “King Saamun may find more peace knowing that we are far away, but bringing Herom with us, if he does well that pride and honor will be ill received,” Grandfather Medes said while squeezing his mother’s hand. “I know you are worried, but sending Herom to fight by the border will only make the fire more ferocious. It will not calm it down.”

  “What fire?” Herom breathed out, only realizing that he spoke when all eyes went to him.

  “Father, I am at a loss of what to do.”

  Herom’s mouth was agape as he stared at his mother. When was she ever confused?

  Grandfather Medes seized Herom up and grunted. “It would help if he marries, the sooner the better.”

  Herom stifled his sigh of annoyance.

  “This is for the safety of your family. Find a nice lady and marry her. Then to show loyalty to the king leave Cabimal. Claim to desire a peaceful life away from politics and military.”

  Herom bit the inside of his cheek, he understood now. It was Chiara that had pointed it out almost a moon ago. How powerful the Aljehni name was, how much of an oddity it was for the Aidkjeen kingdom to have two highly respected families. It was Chiara who studied how other kingdoms fought and destroyed one, or married them as one.

  King Saamun had no intentions of marrying the families.

  “Amenah’s marriage to Kemal is also because of this.” When his sister married Kemal, because he could find no job in the capital he would take her all the way to Tamon.

  Herom shook his head. This was all planned from the beginning.

  “Yes, and if you leave the capital perhaps we can find a logical way to have Dharam and Asbed go with you.”

  Grandmother Medes frowned. “To slowly move the Aljehni family out of the capital is not an easy thing to do, but marriage is a time of celebration. If Amenah grew with child then naturally Chiara and Aaleyah would have to travel to help.”

  “Naturally,” Herom repeated in horrified shock.

  “Naturally,” Grandfather Medes stated. “We are unable to take Herom because we are leaving for military purposes, every success he makes will only burn a hotter fire on the Aljehni estate.”

  “The separation of the Medes and Aljehni family will ease the king’s worries, together we command too many troops,” Grandmother Medes added with a sad laugh.

  “What if there is not enough time? What if there is no time for marriage? What if the fire is already spreading to the gardens of the estate!” His mother’s voice grew louder. “Mother, Father, what if there is not even time for Amenah’s wedding? Even if we arrange a marriage for Herom there is no time to do all the steps without arousing suspicion. There is no time, there is no.” she said in a cold voice. “So please, father. If you care for me at all, I beg you. Please take my son, keep him safe. Take him away.”

  “I have already told you that will only make things worse.” Grandfather Medes replied without sympathy.

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  Herom dropped his head to the floor.

  “Ay, little Aminah, sending off one still leaves the little cubs alone. Why send away the strongest wolf in times of crisis?” Grandmother Medes pinched Herom’s cheek. “This wolf will fight out of the traps to protect the cubs, keep him close.”

  “Is our family in this much danger?” Herom wondered aloud.

  Grandfather Medes grunted. “Herom, is there truly no one you fancy? No lady you have been seen speaking to?” He snapped his fingers. “Ah what of the Valyt girl?”

  “Samira, I am unable to propose to her,” he conceded solemnly.

  Grandfather Medes chuckled. “No need to seem so despondent, we Medes men can always achieve what we aim for.”

  “Surely it is not because of your looks?” Grandmother Medes lifted her chin high. “You are a sought out bachelor, what reason could this Valyt girl-”

  “Samira,” Herom corrected.

  Ignoring him, “-have to not desire a union?” she finished.

  Herom glanced towards his mother for help, but she seemed to have the same curiosities. “Her heart belongs to another.”

  “Hardly a reason to give up,” Grandmother Medes said.

  “She can simply take her heart back and give it to you,” Grandfather Medes stated obviously.

  Herom fidgeted with his cuff. “If the fire burns, I would have stolen my friend’s heart and placed another in danger. Those are crimes I refuse to make.”

  “How noble,” Grandfather Medes commented with annoyed eyes.

  “Yes, what a true Medes,” Grandmother Medes added. “Just like you, Javad,” she turned with a prideful gaze to her husband.

  “I am noble, he is stubborn.”

  His mother clasped her hands. “Then this meeting is all for nought.”

  “You were not asked to come,” Grandfather Medes deadpanned.

  “Especially at sunrise, the poor boy looks as if he rolled out of the bed onto a horse.”

  His mother bowed, and Herom followed. “Then we shall depart now.”

  Grandmother Medes chuckled. “Comes and goes as she pleases, you would think having a family of her own would give her an understanding of time and manners.”

  “There is nothing more to say mother. You, and my entire family are leaving and you will not take Herom with you,” his mother stated with a frown.

  “No need to word it as if you are an abandoned child.” Grandmother Medes slid her hands over one of the blades hanging on the wall. “We are leaving to help lower the tension. I quite enjoy my time here in the capital. I will not have enough time to take my weapons with me, so I abandon them for you.” She picked up two karambit knives. “Look, these were custom made. Aiyah.”

  Grandfather Medes picked up a sword and unsheathed it. “I have been unable to fight anyone with this blade.” He rubbed the hilt affectionately.

  Grandmother Medes gave the armoury a once over. “We will be leaving this in your care.”

  Grandfather Medes put the sword down and took grandmother’s hand. “Leyahn, there is a way that you can stay.”

  Grandmother Medes slapped grandfather’s chest. “It is done together or not at all,” she said, a fire reigniting in her eyes.

  Grandfather Medes shrugged. “My life is only filled with stubborn women.” He winked at Herom, “Choose your wife well.”

  His mother stared at all of the weapons, blades, swords, daggers, the finest fans, and whips. “Mother it is not the armoury that I need.”

  Grandmother Medes caressed his mother’s cheek. “I know child. Life is about lessons, it does not wait to see if you are ready for the next. As parents we do what we can to protect our children.” She placed her other hand on Herom’s shoulder. “And as children, we give our parents unbound trust.”

  Herom squeezed his grandmother’s hand. “When will you depart, Grandmother?”

  Grandfather Medes laughed. “You mother chose to ride here before the sun could rise because my letter stated we would be leaving in the early morning. We will ride past your estate to say our goodbyes.” His candid words did not match the regretful pupils of his eyes. “Aminah, you always did find trouble,” he smiled.

  “Your brothers thought about this carefully, we are not abandoning you,” Grandmother Medes promised his mother.

  His mother’s grim face did not ease. “I understand mother.” She pulled Herom to stand. “Say goodbye to your grandparents.”

  Herom bowed deeply. “May our next meeting be under a calmer sky.”

  At the palace, Duke Majidi watched from his perch on the balcony as Saan snuck out. Most likely he was leaving to meet with the Aljehni family. He gave a nod to some of his men to follow but not stop him. When it came to the youngest princes, if they were unaware of their lack of skills, they would not perfect them.

  Staring up at the sky he prayed that today would be the day he received a letter. His sister had pleaded for him not to come until she called for him. She hated for him to see her when she was… He tapped his fist on the stone railing, he had followed the king’s orders. Soon news of the small academies being destroyed by the Stilits would pass throughout the kingdom. The only academy left unscathed was Scholar's Sky.

  When word gets out that the Aljehni academy was left untouched, the rumours would be easy to create. Scholar Aljehni commanded the Stilits to destroy the academies so there would be no choice but to go to his. Duke Majidi tapped on the stone again, soon the Aljehni name would lose all standing. Then what?

  Hearing footsteps approaching he turned with a cold expression. “What is it?” He asked sharply.

  A servant bowed. “Duke Majidi, Concubine Megera has called for your presence-”

  He moved as fast as he could without running. The sun had only risen two hours ago, why was she awake? He wished to see her, longed to see his sister, but to be up so early did that mean she was not sleeping well?

  Reaching the door to her chambers he gave it four loud knocks. His hand hovering over the door ready to knock more when he heard movement. The door opened a crack and he heard his sister’s voice telling him to come in.

  Stepping into the room the smell of incense permeated the air. The chamber was empty of all servants.

  “I told them all to leave.”

  He made his way past the curtains that separated the room and gasped. “Why are you wearing this?”

  Megera sat on the sofa, her dress a deep dark blue that was almost black. The sleeves of her robe were so long they covered her hands. Atop of her head was a hat that kept a thin sheer cloth covering her face.

  Duke Majidi made his way to her and knelt on the floor. Lifting his hand he rubbed the cloth between his fingers. “Let me take it off?” He softly pled.

  Her head shook, and he allowed the cloth to slip from his fingers.

  “No need,” her voice was hoarse, most likely from crying for too long.

  “I need to see your face when I speak to you, Megera.”

  Her sleeve covered fingers moved from her lap. “Khastan, is it true what the servants are saying?” She coughed, her small fist coming under the hat’s cloth to cover her mouth. “You are harming Aminah?”

  He squeezed the hand on her lap. “Megera, surely you did not call me here to speak about General Aminah.”

  Megera opened her mouth to speak but inhaling started a coughing fit.

  He rushed to give her tea. Placing the tea cup into her hand. “How long has it been? What is wrong with your voice?” His fingers lingered on the sheer cloth but he still did not remove it. Hopefully his sister would move it on her own.

  “Your actions towards Aminah are unfair,” she rasped.

  He refrained from rolling his eyes. “You have not spoken to me for almost a moon and now that I am finally here you reprimand me?” He asked indignantly.

  “You must put this feud against Aminah to rest,” she cleared her throat. “She has a family.”

  Duke Majidi huffed through his nose. “So do I. I have you, and I had a wife and child.” He released her hand and rose to full height. “I have lost almost everything because of her!”

  Megera slowly stood, wincing as her legs held up her weight. “That is not fair. You ordered me never to speak of this, but you always bring it up.”

  Duke Majidi chuckled darkly. “What more do you have to add to the situation, I am aware of what happened.”

  Grasping a corner of his sleeve she pulled him towards her. “To start Aminah tried to save-”

  He pulled his arm out of her hold. “Enough. Aminah was skilled and was armed. If she truly tried to save Istria, then I would still have her by my side today.” He swallowed his anger and forced himself to smile. “Megera, you are all I have. Why are you not on my side?”

  Megera lifted the hat from her head.

  Duke Majidi's breath stilled, he would not stare, he would not say anything. There was nothing he could do even if he wanted to. His sister’s face was bruised once more, her neck covered in bite marks, her lips swollen and bruised. “Look at the life we lead,” he said in a careful tone, his anger barely held back, “is it so wrong for me to blame Aminah?”

  “Khastan, please listen to me. Do not cut me off.” Her head shook, her brown eyes watered.

  Khastan helped her sit back down. “Fine. Say whatever you would like, I swear that I will not interrupt you.”

  Megera picked up her tea cup and took one last sip before diving into the past.