Days later Amenah tied her horse to a tree before making her way to the academy entrance. She smiled brightly at the guards and servants who walked past her as she waited outside the class. Finally having peace she calmly watched the wind blow the flowers while waiting for the lesson inside to end.

  She was early, but the options were to come later to deliver the meal to her father; or stay home and listen to her twin argue with Chiara. Thus she did not hesitate to rush to her father’s academy to deliver his meal.

  A young man rushed from the gate she had entered, his hair that should have been tied up with a red string flew in the wind behind him. His red and black garments shimmered in the sunlight immediately catching her attention.

  His big brown eyes scanned left and then right for what she could only guess to be his seniors; and seeing no one he ran even faster heading straight for the door she was blocking.

  Holding her father’s meal securely in her hand Amenah spun on her foot to avoid the blind student. The red string he was holding signified that he was in his last year, although everything about his presence screamed junior.

  Most seniors were aware that they were examples for the younger pupils at the academy and acted accordingly. A true senior would come on time, and tie his hair correctly. A true senior would not run, and a true senior would have eyes and not race towards her like a madman. He must get away with things solely for his looks. A handsome face always evades punishment.

  Amenah sighed and reached up to catch the student by the back of his collar before he could race up the steps to enter the class. “You must not run in Scholar’s Sky.” Releasing his collar she added, “As a red string you should be aware of the rules.”

  The young man’s jaw dropped before bowing in respect. “Second Lady Aljehni, I Kemal Adel sincerely apologize. I stopped to help a merchant and his ox which took much longer than I expected it to. Now I am very late so…” he laughed nervously and glanced at the entrance to the door. “I should go in.”

  Amenah raised her eyebrows in astonishment. Was he serious? “Senior Kemal Adel, you have already broken the rule of time, running, and dress, why break another? The class will be done shortly, you have missed it. Wait and accept your punishment.”

  Could this Kemal Adel be an imposter? Her father had spoken highly of him. Surely the top scholar of this generation was not this rule breaker? Amenah could hardly believe it, but the red string and his introduction could not be a lie.

  Kemal stayed frozen in place, barely blinking as his gaze stayed on her. The intensity was so uncomfortable that Amenah found herself moving backways. She was afraid of nothing, but this man before her had her nervously wondering if there was something on her face. Still she refused to fidget. She would rather die than show unease to a scholar.

  Suddenly he moved, his arms reaching up to tie his hair, his sleeves tightening along his biceps shocking her. How does the top scholar have a body fit for fighting? Her eyes trailed to his hair, the loose curls similar to her own, a stand escaped his finger and she followed it to his neck, his Adam's apple bobbed and she immediately dropped her gaze. Surely there has to be a rule for doing whatever he is doing in public.

  He finished and flashed her a smile and she coughed to give herself an excuse for her racing heart. Dharam never said he was handsome. His eyelashes curled up perfectly, and when he smiled a dimple on his right cheek appeared.

  “Second Lady Aljehni if possible may you please,”

  Amenah blinked and ran her thumb over her nail. Once calm she noticed his reddened cheeks. Was he nervous?

  “Please do not be here when I am punished.”

  Amenah’s lips curled into a smile she failed to mask. “Senior Kemal Adel, you need not refer to me as Second Lady Aljehni, it is uncomfortable,” she pursed her lips. A red string calling her so formally, he was most likely older than her by a few Blue moons. Quite possibly similar in age to Herom.

  Kemal grinned and Amenah chose to be annoyed instead. His grin was definitely the reason he was called the best scholar of the generation despite his infractions. That smile helped him evade numerous punishments she was sure.

  “Then what shall I call you Second Lady Aljehni?” he asked excitedly.

  She shifted her father’s meal box to the other hand and controlled herself. “My name is fine. I am Amenah.”

  Kemal took a step towards her and she yelled at her feet to stay in place. “Is that not the name of Lady Aljehni? You seem a bit young to be the lady of the house.” He reached his hand out for the food box in her hands. “Allow me to assist you.”

  Handing him the food box Amenah crossed her arms. “I seem a bit young?” she repeated with a wide smile. Breaking into giggles she flipped her dark curls behind her shoulder. Here she is staying resolute in seeing the young lord, and he thinks she is her mother! “Am I to thank you for such a compliment?” It is uncommon for her to be confused with her mother. Despite the similar names her mother was easily recognizable. Rarely do people mix up a general and a weapons maker. She giggled, Dharam will certainly find this all very entertaining.

  “My apologies second Lad- Amenah.”

  Her heart pounded, has her name always been so soft? Maybe it is just his accent? He is probably from the east, his consonants being said through exhales; of course it would sound beautiful. “Yes?” she answered, trying not to seem disillusioned.

  “I did not mean to imply that you seem young or childlike, I meant that you seem too young to have already been with child.”

  “Ah,” Amenah pretended to hear. “I look too young to be a mother, but not young in general,” she pouted and nodded her head as if she understood. “In other words I look unmarried.”

  Kemal swiftly agreed. His smile was so wide that this time both dimples appeared on either side. “Yes you look like you are not married, ah not that you are not beautiful. I have no doubt that you will be married soon. That is if you would like to be,” he stammered.

  A scholar? Until she saw his dimples she had no plans on marrying at all. Devoting her life to the military and continuing the Medes legacy. “I understand Senior Kemal-”

  “Kemal. Please just call me Kemal,” he corrected, stepping to the side to block the sun from shining on her face.

  “Kemal. You are correct, I am not Lady Aljehni. My mother, while her name is Aminah, she is usually called General Aljehni, whereas I am Amenah,” she gave emphasis on the vowels in the names. “They are quite similar, but I do hope that you can hear the difference.”

  To her shock the scholar stood repeating her name, the three syllables leaving his mouth; his lips pulling her into a trance.

  “It is nice to meet you, Lady Amenah. You are the first daughter of my teacher. Please allow me to pay you proper respect.”

  Amenah crossed her arms behind her back. “Then I shall call you Scholar Adel?”

  His reaction was immediate, animated hands waving no, his eyes somehow widening more than than they naturally were. “No no no absolutely not! This one is not a scholar yet, I am still a student hoping to achieve greatness. To call me a scholar before I have succeeded is bad luck.” He looked left and then right taking a step closer to whisper, “If I lose my luck and fail to become a scholar will you take the blame?”

  Amenah cursed herself for not controlling her grin. Dharam had told her of the superstitions that passed throughout Scholar’s Sky, but hearing it from a real student, this student was comical. Her twin did not believe in the superstitions. How could they? The strictest teacher was their own father. She took a step closer and smirked when he moved back. “My apologies.”

  Noise came from behind her as students slowly began to trickle out. As she moved her hair off her neck she addressed him. “It seems my father has finished his class. Entering with me may help lower your punishment.” She turned to walk in, leaving the food box in Kemal’s hands.

  Behind her she heard him mutter, “I sure hope so.”

  Making her way past the rows of desk Amenah stands at her father’s side casting a shadow over his scroll.

  Placing the scroll in his hand down he motioned for her to come to stand in front of the desk, “Amenah, what a lovely surprise.”

  Amenah pointed to the nearby table for Kemal to put the box. “Father,” she greeted. “Mother sent me to ensure you eat today.” She spared Kemal a glance.

  “There must be chaos at home that you are escaping,” he mused.

  Amenah pouted and peered down at the scroll her father had sat down. "The Scriptures of Peace?”

  Her father smiled warmly and turned to the pretty-faced senior behind her. “Kemal, have a seat here.” He pointed at the desk to the left of her. Picking up his walking stick he pointed it at Kemal as he spoke. “What prevented your attendance this morning?”

  Amenah watched the way Kemal slid into the desk with grace. Perfectly kneeled back straight and a resolute expression. This was the scholar her father spoke of, so different from the rule breaker she met outside.

  “I went off to retrieve the Poems of Rahn,” he said in a deep tone. Far deeper than Dharam’s or even Herom’s.

  Her father’s eyes twinkled in amusement and she knew this had to be a trap. “Ah yes, the Poems of Rahn. Am I correct to assume you believed having this collection of poems would help you pass the exams?” He tapped Kemal’s satchel with his walking stick. “You must have spoken to graduates who fed you with hopes and secrets. They must have told you that these poems would be necessary to pass the final review.”

  Kemal opened his satchel and pulled out the poems. His reluctant face hid his dimples, but his eyes truly held her attention. He was tricked and realized too late.

  Amenah recalled Kemal’s plea for her not to be here when he was being punished. “Father, I should really be returning home.”

  Her father shook his head. “Before you do,” he placed the scroll in her hand, “please read poem 86, ‘The Drive of Success.’”

  Amenah gave Kemal an apologetic glance and opened the scroll. Then proceeded to find the poem to read.

  The Drive of Success

  For life you must experience

  All flowers struggle to bloom

  To avoid the natural order

  Is to deny the caterpillar its cocoon

  No shortcut for the sun to cross the earth

  No slights on protecting the fire in the hearth

  For success we must experience and we must fail

  No shortcuts will be worth what you can avail

  Closing it she obeyed her father’s silent order to return it to Kemal, his fingers warm as it made contact with her fingers.

  “Thank you for reading Amenah.” Her father clasped his hands behind his back. “Senior Kemal, perhaps you can explain what Rahn was implying when he wrote this.”

  Kemal stood solemnly from his seat, and Amenah averted her gaze from his neck that was now in her eyesight to his robes.

  “Rahn states that all flowers struggle to bloom. In life we all experience struggles and should not try to avoid it. One cannot always radiate fame and even success. The sun itself must travel a great distance to warm the earth the same way.” Kemal glanced at the poem. “No shortcuts can be avoided, no infractions must be forgiven, this student was late to class, I ran within Scholar’s sky, I purchased poems in hopes to get an edge on exams. These infractions must be punished.

  Her father smiled at Kemal’s self-reflection. “Amenah, thank you for reading. Get home safely.”

  Seizing the moment to leave she bowed goodbye to her father, nodded to Kemal and exited the room swiftly. Catching Kemal’s gaze as she did so.

  Reaching the door she heard him tell her father. “I sincerely apologize for my infractions. Please punish me so it stays in my memory.”

  “Copy the Scriptures of Lein. The mannerisms and philosophy shall ensure you do not make the same mistake again. You can leave when you finish,”

  Amenah closed the door behind her and made her way to the library instead of home. Finding a scroll on xazas she sat by the window to read, the petals from a nearby tree blowing in the wind.

  Time passed and Amenah was halfway through the scroll when he called out to her. “Amenah, you made it home safely.”

  Setting the scroll down she rose to her feet, dropping her head in submission. “Father.”

  Havil glanced at the scroll, “Are you making preparations for battle?” He motioned for her to come. “I will walk you to the gate.”

  Grinning Amenah shook her head and closed the scroll, to set it back in its proper place. Meeting her father outside, the two walked together.

  “Father, the senior that I met today is your favorite?” She asked with a teasing smile.

  He chuckled. “What gave you this impression?”

  Amenah tilted her head. “He introduced himself to me. I recall his name from father and Herom’s words.”

  “Not Dharam’s?” Havil asked, already aware of the answer.

  Amenah held back her scoff. “From the moment Dharam entered the academy he has been trying to achieve the top scores. In competitions all he does is complain about a certain someone with natural talents.” She snickered. “Dharam would dare not mention his name.”

  Her father hummed. “And now that you have met him, what are your thoughts?”

  “I think he is late.” Amenah immediately answered. “Still he seems like someone father should be proud of. Father is an excellent scholar with excellent disciples.”

  “You heard the news?” He asked with a sad smile.

  Amenah nodded. “The entire kingdom has heard the news, father. After the graduation ceremony Kemal Adel has chosen you to be his master.”

  Her father’s mouth wore a tight line.

  The two reached the gate and Havil squeezed her shoulder. “Head home. No more stops in other places,” he told her with knowing eyes.

  Kissing her father’s cheek Amenah bowed and walked towards her horse; a brown male who greeted her happily.

  Havil watched her leave and returned to the afternoon classes. As the sun was setting he returned to check on Kemal. The candle was burning low, but he seemed just about finished.

  Approaching his table Kemal rose to greet him. He waved his hand. “No need for formalities, your punishment is over.” He motioned to the paper. “Have you finished?”

  Kemal reached for a paper that was set to dry on the side and handed it to him

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  He scanned it satisfied with the neat symbols. “This is the task I gave you?” He motioned to the paper he was scribing. “Then what are you writing now? Why have you not gone home?”

  Kemal cleared his throat. “This student missed morning classes, if the morning class work is not done this student will fall behind.”

  Havil smiled in approval, a dutiful scholar indeed. “Good, be sure to clean up when you leave. Come to morning classes on time,” he told Kemal, returning the assignment.

  As he left the Academy grounds the students bowed goodbye. “Scholar Aljehni,” they greeted and waited for him to nod them off with a smile. Once he had done so they raced off to meet with friends and to head home.

  Outside the gates Havil saw a different brown horse tied to the same tree Amenah had chosen earlier. “Herom, have you caught anything today?”

  Herom gave his horse a light pat and headed towards him, leaving his weapons behind. “Today the hunt did not go well,” he reported, grabbing the food box from his father’s hand. “This time we search for the Blood Leopard. It has been spotted wreaking havoc on farmers and small homes. Luckily no one has been injured.” A group of men trotted past to say goodbye to Herom. Herom smiled brightly and waved them off.

  Havil headed towards the stables that his children somehow failed to use and retrieved his horse. “Be careful, rumors say that killing a female Blood Leopard will leave a mate who will vow to destroy yours.”

  Herom chuckled. “Luckily for me I have no mate., he answered walking back to the road and his horse.

  Havil frowned. Had no woman caught his eye? He walked his horse to the road. “The rumors say that killing one’s mate could bring you bad luck, or death of one of your own,” he added, curious about his son’s thoughts. He had been of marrying age for four years, and not once had he spoken of a lady. It must be that he spends his time with the soldiers, and Second Lady Valyt must scare off the other women.

  “Not to worry, our plan is to injure it just enough to move it away from Cabimal. We are not sure if it is a female or male, even if we did accidentally kill it, with so many arrows how would it know who to blame?” Herom mounted his horse.

  The two rode home in silence, and after he entered the stables and watched his eldest tie his horse to a tree that he spoke.

  “Do you not fear someone stealing the horse? You believe that you have the money to just buy another should something happen to it? It is because you do it, that your siblings follow suit.” He and his wife, no matter how many times they repeated themselves, their children tied their horses to random trees; even if there was a perfectly good stable nearby.

  Herom untied the reins from the tree and walked his horse to the stables. “It is easier to retrieve the horse when it is at the gate. Sometimes I leave quickly.”

  Havil had no time to respond, for it seemed the twins had planned another ambush.

  Zale jumped from a tree branch and attacked Herom with his wooden sword, Aaleyah charging behind him.

  Herom blocked Zale’s attacks. “You have to train better than that,” he snickered.

  Havil smiled and walked into the manor in search of his wife.

  Zale rammed his body into Herom, and Herom clutched his stomach to grit out, “Good hit. I yield. I yield.”

  Zale grinned and crossed his arms victoriously, and that was when Herom moved. Zale’s smile turned into shock as Herom grabbed his ankle and tossed him to the ground. “Zale, as an Aljehni you must remember. Winners learn to conceal their fear of defeat, but they also always move as if they will lose.”

  Zale huffed and looked past him, and Herom glanced quickly to spot Aaleyah climbing a tree. “Ley Ley! What are you doing up there? Avenge me!” he yelled, kicking Herom and rolling to the left.

  “For the kingdom of Aidkjeen!” Shouted Aaleyah hurtling herself out of the tree to attack her elder brother.

  Wide eyed Herom spun on his foot to catch her. “Aaleyah!” He yelled once she was safely in his arms. “What were you thinking?” He turned to give Zale a look that had him drop his wooden sword with a pout. “That is enough.” He was no longer filled with amusement as he set Aaleyah down to stand.

  He motioned for the twins to stand before him and tapped the side of his head, “What were you thinking? You could have gotten hurt. Is it so fun to play that you throw away your own safety?”

  Zale and Aaleyah stared at the ground, both of them lightly kicking peggles with the tip of their boot not responding.

  “Aaleyah, jumping out of a tree? You could have fallen. Broken a bone! If I had not moved away from Zale fast enough I would have failed to catch you!” Herom yelled, finding himself annoyed with their lack of worry.

  “But you did catch her,” Zale muttered as he stared at the ground.

  Cocking his head, Herom took a step towards him. “Care to repeat that Zale?”

  Zale raised his head unafraid of his angry stare. “You always catch us. It is not as if we could have gotten hurt next to you,” Zale said in an obvious tone, then he nudged Aaleyah. “Right Ley Ley?”

  Aaleyah gave one affirmative nod. Her eyes sparkling with false innocence. “Of course. We never have to worry that you will not catch us. You also said one had to expect the unexpected, you told us that our ambushes help you train. Now you are mad at us? Are we being reprimanded because we trust you?”

  Herom placed his hands on his hips and stepped back. “No one is reprimanding you.”

  “I agree,” Zale said, “you do not get flustered or surprised when you hunt tigers,”

  “Or leopards.”

  “Or criminals.”

  “Or other scary creatures.”

  Zale and Aaleyah crossed their arms and spoke at the same time. “We have faith in our brother’s abilities,” they said with a confident smile.

  Herom rubbed his temple in sudden exhaustion. “Where is Amenah?”

  Zale shrugged. “Why would we know? We were planning our ambush,” he responded, already bored again.

  “Are we going to be reprimanded for not knowing where she is too?” Aaleyah asked with a pout.

  Herom groaned and pushed Zale’s head to move him out of the way so he could finally enter the manor. “So you do not know where anyone is?”

  Aaleyah scratched the corner of her eye. “We have not seen anyone.”

  “Well…” Zale said, scrunching his face, “there was Asbed.”

  Aaleyah crinkled her nose. “Right there was Asbed.”

  “He wanted to join the ambush, but that would have been too many people.” Zale shook his head disapprovingly.

  Aaleyah placed her hands on her little waist, mimicking her older sisters. “That and he always likes to be in charge.”

  Zale pointed to his chest. “And we all know I am in charge.”

  Aaleyah cleared her throat with a glare.

  “I mean we, we are in charge. Both of us,” Zale said with an easy smirk.

  Herom rolled his eyes. “This conversation was no help. I am going to find your elder sister, go bother Dharam.”

  “But Dharam does not always catch me,” she whined to his retreating form.

  “Agreed, Dharam is less fun. How about we go find Asbed!” Zale shouted.

  “Yes, he will not be expecting an ambush.”

  Herom wished the best for his younger brother as he walked through the manor in search of his sister. Passing the library he peered inside, but only found Chiara. Walking in he tossed one of her braids behind her shoulder and sat next to her by the bookshelf. “What are you reading this time, Chiara?”’

  Chiara sat the book in her lap, leaving a blue lotus to mark her page. “The Aidkjeen history. When the Dlumaeni and the Aljehni families began to work together instead of apart,” she replied. She sucked in a breath and Herom knew she needed to talk.

  “Herom, do you think it is strange the way our kingdom works?”

  Relaxing in his seat he crossed over his knee. “What do you mean?”

  Chiara set the book on the nearby table. “Most kingdoms do not have two powerful families. Most kingdoms can not even have two powerful princes.” She turned to face him. “If by off chance the sun shines brightly on two paths in the same kingdom there are only a few options.”

  Herom nodded. “Which are?”

  Chiara held up her thumb, “First option is to marry the families. The two powerful families become one.” She held up her index finger, “The second option is for one of the families to leave. Settle elsewhere and lead a different area." She held up her middle finger, “Final option, and this is the most common of all.” She took a breath. “One of the families is murdered. The Dlumaeni Royal family has been in power for a long time, however our reputation continues to rise. Our family is loyal, but is it not strange that within the Aidkjeen kingdom there are two highly favored and loved families? Some even argue that Aljehni power is equal to that of the royals.”

  “How so?” Herom asked.

  “Mother comes from the Medes family, a high ranking military power full of leaders. She also commands the leading forces as a general, making the Aljehni family a strong martial power. Father runs one the top academies in the kingdoms, thus we have power in education. Then there is you,” she tapped his foot with her own. “Herom Aljehni, an instructor for the palace guards. The only reason you are not captain is because you refused. The guards you train receive positions within the palace, one could argue that you have eyes and ears everywhere. And if you have eyes and ears in the palace, then the Aljehni family does.

  Herom nodded. “Great analysis.”

  “Are you quizzing me?”

  Setting his foot down he rested his elbows on his knees so he could lean closer. “So what do you think our family should do? Shall we move? Shall we stop accepting positions? Shall we try to release our power?” As he asked he caught her fearful expression and chose to lighten the topic. “Or,” he smirked, “do you suggest marriage?”

  Chiara sucked her teeth and turned away from him. “I was only making observations,” she muttered while picking up the book she sat down.

  Herom nodded amused. “Right Chiara the Observer. Still, we should discuss this. Who would have to accept this marriage?” He clasped his hands. “A loyal sacrifice for the good of the kingdom of course. The princes are both so young compared to Amenah who is at a Red and seven Blue moons old.” Herom continued to tap his chin in deep thought. “Of course you are also three Blue moons older than them as well. I suppose this sacrificial duty would have to fall upon Aaleyah. Unless a certain someone wished to volunteer, regardless of age, for the sake of the kingdom of course,” he smirked at her fidgeting.

  Chiara held the book close to her chest. “I am not that much older,” she quietly said.

  Herom sat back in his chair. “What was that? I could not hear you clearly.”

  Chiara stood with a huff. “Amenah is only four Blue moons older, it is not that much.” She said moving to put the book back in its place.

  Herom nodded seriously. “Right for Amenah, of course. You are correct.”

  “Besides, the other kingdoms do not have many princesses. Who will Prince Hammun marry?” Chiara shuddered in disgust. “The only princess in the kingdoms surrounding us is Princess Mauhna from the Trivplah Kingdom, and she is just,” Chiara’s deep breaths blew strands of her hair “awful,” she explained with a grief stricken face.

  Herom snickered.

  Chiara stomped her foot. “Prince Hammun cannot marry her, he must not.”

  Herom hid his smile behind his fist. “Well according to customs the eldest should be married first. So it would actually be Prince Saan who would hypothetically marry Princess Mauhna.” He rose from his seat. “There is one thing you have not taken into account, Chiara.”

  “What?”

  Herom lazily made his way to her. “If you truly believe Prince Hammun has a liking towards you, then your research will not matter. There is no need to search the history of the kingdoms, and our families to create historical excuses to like someone Chiara,” he told her and then kissed her temple before heading out.

  Herom had made it to the door when Chiara’s voice cried out behind him. “I never said I liked anyone!”

  In his study Havil sat next to his wife. “Aminah,” he trailed his fingers on her arm, “the tension is not easing.”

  Aminah remained silent, allowing him to pull her until she rested her back against his chest.

  “Hammaan was right,” he told her, referring to the past conversation of sending one of their children to the palace or leaving.

  Aminah squeezed his hand on her waist. “Our family is strong. You are strong.”

  Havil rested his chin on her shoulder. “The king does not wish to hear my advice. I received a message from his majesty today.”

  “About our family?”

  “No, about the graduates of the academy.”

  “What did it say?”

  “The king is not accepting new scholars at this time.”

  “That is not so bad.”

  “No, it is not. But within the king’s court, his majesty refuses my advice as well as the advice of all the scholars I have taught or established a friendship with.”

  “Are you certain this is intentional?” Aminah asked, tilting her head to look at him, her nose rubbing his cheek..

  “His majesty is trying to demote Leelin,” he confessed.

  “Leelin?” Aminah sat up and turned to face her husband. “What has she done wrong?”

  “Nothing but be a close friend.” Havil answered with a heavy heart. “I see it, when she agrees with my words and notions, his eyes darken when he looks at her. He gives her the most troublesome tasks, and when she has almost reached completion he gives her a harder task handing the almost complete one to another to reap the benefits.”

  Aminah frowned. “Have you thought about asking to retire from your position?” she asked slowly.

  “Retire? I dare not.”

  “Maybe if you remove yourself from the court to prove to his majesty you are not a threat,” she reasoned.

  Opening his arms to her, Havil held her close to his chest. “It would be quite the opposite, my Star. He would think I desired to be away from his watchful eyes and grow my own power to take over. He would think that I wished to aid you in the military, or branch out my power within the academy. He would assume I wished to rebel.”

  Aminah twirled her fingers in his hair. “We may be past that,” she gravely said.

  Herom finally spotted Amenah in the weapons room sitting on a stool “Amenah, I have searched the manor for you. Did you hear what happened outside?”

  Amenah smirked. “The ambush?”

  Herom plopped onto the stool across from her. “Aaleyah flew out of a tree!”

  Amenah giggled. “We are calling her Aaleyah now?” She teased.

  Herom glared, was he the only one who understood the problem? “Menah, she could have gotten hurt.”

  “You never dropped her before.” She continued working on her blade peeking up periodically with gleeful eyes. “Besides you never dropped me either.”

  Herom rolled his eyes. “What is wrong with this family? Sometimes I wonder if Chiara, Roset and I are the only normal ones.”

  Amenah stuck out her tongue. “There is nothing wrong with being a twin,” she looked up from her blade, “it makes ambushing all the more easier.”

  “How lucky I am you and Dharam gave up on ambushes.”

  Amenah held her tongue between her teeth as she smirked. “Right, we gave up,” she repeated as if she heard this for the first time.

  “Did you not?”

  Amenah shrugged. “Once we turned a Red and five Blue moons old we had too many things to study. Dharam had to go struggle at academy.”

  Herom chuckled. “I thought you struggled just as much.”

  Amenah rolled her eyes. “I was not as obvious.”

  “Yes, beautiful Menah passed all her exams, and quickly found her talents.”

  Amenah beamed. “I am glad you agree, it did not take me long to learn of my passion for weapons. Forming blades, designing swords. I am excited to follow mother’s legacy and enter the military.”

  Herom perched his elbow on the work table so he could rest his head on his hand. “So we just have to wait for Aaleyah and Zale to find their passion so they can stop acting dangerously?”

  Amenah laughed. “Aaleyah already found her passion, the problem is that it is not the same as Zale’s. She is unwilling to part with him. Thus ambushes are the only thing holding them together,” she told him with an understanding tone.

  “Ley Ley likes knives and fighting.”

  “And Zale is learning of his passion for music. He is trying to deny it, but it seems Zale wishes to take the path of a scholar and Aaleyah desires to walk the path of the military.” She looked up from her blade. “Two different careers, once they accept they will split up their education and rarely be together.”

  Herom shook his head. “Ley Ley can not become a warrior. She must become the Aljehni head.”

  Amenah paused, and looked up with a sigh. “Ley Ley knows. There is a fight waiting to happen and she is aware she will lose. Father will force her and she must accept. The Aljehni Head is not a position anyone can have. Our blood chose her, she must accept whether she likes it or not.” She made to return to her blade but changed her mind. “So for now let us accept the ambushes and spoil her. In two years she will lose many things.”

  Herom frowned. “Father has already started her studies, he pulled her out of sword training.”

  “It was easier for Dharam and I, we both choose military, and we did not have to wear the mantle of the Aljehni head and Protector.”

  “Poor Ley Ley.”

  “Poor Zale.”