(Public Domain Photo)190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs94NuOsA6T
When I return home, my mother turns to me from tending her garden. "Are you ready to continue your duty?"
I nod.
She gives a half-smile, small, but visible. "You are Queen-to-be."
"My duty is to my people."
"You are my daughter. You will be a great Queen."
I lead my patrol along the river. Nothing to worry about. The birds are quiet. Ripple tosses her mane and begins to trot; we have been getting help from the Fiyori for three months now. It has been three months since Vegas left. For some reason, I have counted them in my head. Popplar has become my biggest supporter, not to replace Kimberly, of course, but to carry on her memory. He knows all of her dreams, and he and I want her visions to remain alive. Riding beside me, he brings his big red stallion to a halt.
"There is nothing here, Jenna. Nothing but useless water," he notes.
"Yes, Princess, what is the Queen planning to do about this? What are you planning to do about this?" Debra, a young woman about 27, asks.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekV9ePYQGc
I turn to them. I have four other warriors in my patrol, and they all look tired, like they could not defend our territory if they wanted to. We are sick, even though we have not been drinking the water. The land is dying, so there is no choice for the Queen's decision.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uOGiJvAaI
"We are moving. Women and children first. The Fiyori have made a place for us on their territory."
"What?" Debra protests. "Our memory will be lost. Our children will be half-breeds. You will go on to fall in love with a Fiyori and be no better than your mother when she ran off with that Richard!"
"You will not speak of my mother, your Queen, in the way!" I snap.
She shakes her head. "Our people are going downhill. I thought your mother would make a good Queen, but she has reached her peak; and you are not promising."
I begin to argue, but I am caught speechless.
"Debra, you will show more respect to our leaders," Popplar replies in cold anger.
"You wait until I tell Prince Alto."
Debra's fondness for Prince Alto is well-known, as well as her rejection by him. Popplar sends his horse toward her; the horse balks and rears. Debra begins to panic, but her brother, Herald, comes to her rescue.
"Popplar, enough. We have lost enough," I whisper, and I turn Ripple to trot back toward the forest.
I feel like a failure. No one has ever gone against my mother...perhaps doubted me...but my mother? It has always been her legacy that gave me an edge, that caused people to have some hope for me. Now that her legacy is fading, would they take me as their leader?
"Father," I whisper to the early morning sky, "I do not know You, but Vegas called You that. My uncle used to call you that. Kimber used to call you that..." I close my eyes. "Things have been so empty without her. I do not want to be Queen..."
"She used to pray like that," Popplar whispers, putting his hand on my shoulder. "I didn't understand, but I see when all things are falling apart, there is a comfort in it."190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0dCKo7uGU
"Popplar, do you know how to pray?" I ask.
He shakes his head. "But perhaps we can figure out together." He takes my hand.
I smile and turn back to the sky. "Father, we ask Your guidance and Your love, for we are lost and broken."190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTzJjCUT4b
I feel a peace wash over me that I have never felt before, like fresh water, even fresher than the water the Fiyori bring us from the Shye River.
"I think we are supposed to say 'Amen.' Kim said that it means: 'let it be so.'"
"Um, okay. Amen, Father."
Popplar grins. "Come on. We need to head back. They need their Queen-to-be."
I wipe my eyes and slip into my saddle. I direct Ripple beside Popplar on his big red draft stallion.
"Thank you, for being here for me."
Popplar plays with his reigns. "Thank you for letting me, Jenny. Kimberly...she meant so much to me, and I know she would have wanted me to be here for you, especially now. So it is my honor." I send Ripple on, but Popplar continues to stay behind. I stop. "Jenna? This God that she ran after so much...you know...she was not perfect...we are warriors, how could we be?...but she chased after Him with such passion, such a fiery heart. I want to chase after Him too like that. If He made such an amazing woman like her, I know He must be great, right?"
"Yes, and to know Him would be something marvelous."
"There are things about Him I do not understand, like why He allows bad things to happen, but then I realize, we are all free. Humans take lives as soon as we bring them into the world, and humans, not God, are to blame. He is a Gentleman, and He gives us the freedom to choose what our lives are like. Equally. Fairly. Everyone gets to choose. If everyone chose good, it would be great; but a lot of people do not tend to do that. However, there are some good people in the world, and those good humans, all the ones I have ever known, have Him in their hearts...and they have this beauty about them...because they know that no matter what, He is there for them, waiting for when they call out to Him. You and I both need to find that beauty, Jenna. Right?"
I smile. "It is a journey, and we will go it together."
"Jenna, from this day on, you have a brother. You have not lost a sister, but you have gained a brother."
I smile. "And we have a Father."
He nods enthusiastically even as the tears fall.
"Popplar, she will always be with you in your heart." Suddenly, I remember the ring that I have around my neck, and I give it to him: chain and all. I had been absentmindedly keeping it to myself because of Kimberly's memory, but it belonged to him.
"Thank you," he whispers, but before I can give it to him, a bird swoops down and snatches it.
Sundance deposits it into his hand and lands on his shoulder.
"Sundance..." I greet. She turns her head to the side and caws. Popplar frowns at her. "She has chosen you."
He blinks, never having a bird of his own. He is the only Marshlander I know that has a fear of birds. He hesitates a second, then nods. "Well, then, Sundance, it's you and me, huh?" He puts the necklace on and deposits it in his shirt. "I will take care of you, and you will look out for me."
When we arrive back to our village, it is divided. Apparently, Debra and her brother beat us back, and my mother is silently watching the village leaders argue with Aunt Genevieve beside her. When we arrive, everyone turns to us.
"Jenna, we will make you our Queen," Debra offers. "You can marry Herald, and I will be your adviser. We will overtake all the kingdoms."
I frown at her. "You think I would betray my mother?"
"Just what I thought. You are weak, just like her."
Garrett steps forward. I think my mother is going to end their lives. I think she is going to be ruthless, as she has always been known to be.
"Very well, Debra, take your accomplices and go. You have no place here. My people will leave tonight with the Fiyori escort." She turns to me. "Jenna, you will oversee the elders getting there safely. Popplar, you are her new knightinguard; you know your duty. You will protect my daughter with your life."
A knightinguard is the guard that is always by the Queen's side, much like Garrett to my mother.
"Yes, Queen."
"Garrett, take your men and escort these traitors to the border."
"Prince Alto will hear of this!" Herald warns.
"It is the king that is killing us. What do you not understand about that?" the Queen replies coldly.
Once again, I see that a Queen, even a Queen of warriors, must be merciful. In mercy, there is a strength.
Seventeen go with Herald and Debra. I join my grandmother as the remaining village leaders escort their elders to us. Ripple paws the ground nervously as they approach. The afternoon air is tense as we wait for the Fiyori escort. My heart feels like it beats in my throat and makes it dry.
As the afternoon turns to dusk, we are prepared with belongings wrapped and strapped to horses. Children skipping or sleeping in sleds. My brother joins us, completely recovered. He squeezes my arm and kisses my forehead as I sit mounted beside my mother.
As the escort comes, I recognize Lance and Waene, the sons of Fiyori Lord Alden..then the princes, Canvasi Prince Cole and Fiyori Prince Orson. Then, Vegas.
All else in the world is frozen at a halt, and I know my heart is beating in my throat now. "Vegas?" I stutter.
He grins. "I told you I would return."
I leap down from my horse and rush to him, my vision blurring with tears. He dismounts from his brown mare to catch me. He holds me tight, as if to shield me from the world and all of its hardships. "A warrior must know hardships; it makes us strong," the elders say; but maybe, love is not such a bad idea.
190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeD74uYTzA
