I lead some of our people to the Fiyori: women and children and elderly. The men will go later. I follow my mother's instructions to the point: be vigil. We are weak, but we are not naïve.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpksacZT2F
But the Fiyori are sincere. They are lovely. Their kingdom is intertwined with the trees. Some of their village is on the forest floor while other houses rest in the branches of the canopy. As we follow along the Shye River, my stomach grumbles. It has been so long since I have seen clean water and the silver of the fish darting among the rocks at the bottom. My mouth begins to water, and I hear Vegas chuckle beside me. When I look over at him, I see that Popplar and the rest of my group have the same look as me. For the first time in what has seemed like forever, we have hope.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1z1IJWqd91
When we arrive at a medium sized house, Lord Alden greets us. He is a humble man, and his appearance matches this aspect. He wears a white dress shirt without a tie and black jeans, nothing special. He welcomes his sons that dismount behind him. Two of their young warriors in training come to take the horses. 137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuB79eZXpT
Lance's twin sister, Ariel, smiles and nods to me; we hang out sometimes at the warrior ceremonies when the Marshlanders are allowed. Sometimes all the territories meet up to honor new warriors or when the king arrives. We are banned from most of these events, except those arranged by the king, because my grandmother had a history of using vulnerable times at ceremonies to start wars and take territory. There are no rules that says it is improper; mostly it is an implied rule. When the territories are gathered together to celebrate events, it is just naturally understood there would be peace, but my grandmother was more ruthless than my mother in her time. 137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMixYynC5jn
Ariel, of course, has changed since I saw her five years ago; she has to be about twenty or so now. She is taller, slim but muscular, and wears a yellow and black lycra uniform the Fiyori use for training. The two young warriors wear matching suits, and I know they must have been in the middle of a training session. I feel awkard in my rubber boots, khaki jeans, and thick purple jean jacket. I tug off the jacket and deposit it over my saddle as I dismount. A cool breeze traces over my bare arms and wisps through my cotton shirt. 137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06JrdYvYcu
Fall is making its presence early in this part of the mountain. Winter would be hard in our territory; at least here, we will be able to help the Fiyori in exchange for a safe place. The king will not visit until spring, and hopefully, Lord Alto will figure out how to clean our water. After we stay here a few months or so, we will return to our own territory right at the border of the Fiyori so that they can continue to help us without alerting the king, anyway.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTto8kOB5ba
"Welcome, Princess Jenna," Lord Alden greets. "We have food prepared for your people, and I am having our young warriors set up tents."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvqUXrl05m
Frances, the youngest daughter of Lord Alden, races to him from a distant place in the forest that I can see opens to another clearing. She shoves long black banes from her eyes as she comes to a halt.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqujxxVUFJ
"Daddy, everything is ready," she huffs as her mother joins her. From where I stand, I can smell the scent of fresh sweet bread, which the Fiyori are known for.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUVQwPEeml
"Welcome, Marshlanders, we are honored to be able to help our neighbors," Lady Vanessa adds.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiCrdJmGti
The crow's feet around Lord Alden's eyes become more prominent as he chuckles, "My love, we have passed the formalities. Let's eat!"
They lead us into another clearing, and we let the children eat first and then the adults. My stomach is so full that when I pull off my boots and tuck into the fresh sheets waiting in my tent, I sleep all the way to the next afternoon. When I awake, I am angry with myself. I never sleep this long.
I quickly pull my hair into a ponytail and put on my boots. I slip on a new shirt from my bags while chewing a dental cube: a mixture of sage, papaya juice, aloe vera gel, and brown algae. I chew for two minutes and spit it at the very back of my tent and check my breath to make sure it has retained the fruity smell of papaya. Just because I am late does not mean I have to offend people with morning breath, even more-so because I am running late. 137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtqQXRLvk6
When I get outside, my brother is talking to Popplar. Well, arguing is more like it.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEGh2HKM2L
"She is my sister, and I want to bring her breakfast."
"No, let her sleep. She has worked very hard, and she deserves rest. As her knightinguard, I have the authority to set her tent off-limits, even to you."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWX5nnStUb
My brother has a plate of bagels and a glass of milk.
"Popplar, I am up," I reply, amused.
"Good morning, Jenny, your brother has brought you breakfast."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwvZTJGfNs
"Yes, but it may be cold," Wren grumbles, eyeing Popplar.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfEmjS9ghc
I laugh.Wren hands me breakfast and puts his arm over my shoulder.
"Walk with me."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcHxaaqZfK
When we are far enough away, we sit in between the roots of a giant tree. He steals one of the bagels.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpqHcZNJ5T
"So, who is this guy?"
"Popplar? Wren, what a silly question."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVY2z1sLtn
Wren rolls his eyes. "Do not play dumb."
I swallow my mouth full of food and stare at the rounded toes of my boots. "Vegas."
"Yes, everyone noticed, but no one is bold enough to say anything. They asked me to talk to you. Mama suspected, but she has never dealt with these teenage girl problems."
"Why is it such a big deal?"
"The people do not approve, Jenna. He does not know our ways. He has never known our struggles. You are expected to produce the next Queen. She will need to be raised by someone who knows our ways. Do you not understand that?"
I am offended. My whole life is mapped out by learning to be Queen. What aspect of my life, of my journey, will be my own? "What if I raise her myself?"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qgUHKGZNL
"So what? He still does not know anything about our people."
"He can learn."
"Jenna, look at me."
I sigh and meet his steady, sincere gaze.
"We are at the weakest we have ever been. Our people are depending on you, and they are looking up to you, despite what it may seem. Do NOT let them down."
He is not telling me what to do, but he is relaying a message. I cannot be mad at my brother. I lean into his shoulder, and he kisses my cheek.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cRINCLw1N
"But whatever happens, my dearest sister, I want you to be happy. You deserve that much."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuk2wsWjqVb
I shake my head. "We ALL deserve that much. And I will make sure we find it." 137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCly0w7dhE
