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She scanned the crowd surrounding the wagon, looking for a single person. She knew he was down there and knew he\u2019d be beside the wagon. On a normal day, he was easy to pick out of a crowd from both his clothing and the ever present honour guard. Today was not a normal day. Today, he wore white as his fellows did and his guards mixed in among the others around the wagon.<\/span><\/p>\n There.<\/span><\/p>\n She spotted his long brown hair. Feeble sunlight winked off the solid gold clasp that bound its length into a long tail. She smiled; the sight of her only son\u2014her only child\u2014always lightened her heart. She watched as Sahiren took one of his fellow Dragon Warriors\u2014a woman named Chounen\u2014aside and held her as she cried. Even the ever exuberant Nalshen seemed depressed as he sat with one of the younger priestesses.<\/span><\/p>\n Her smile became a frown as she located the thaumaturge Nahiro. He stood still, staring at the bundle wrapped in white cloth lying on the wagon. At the distance he stood from her, his face was unreadable, but she could make a guess on what it was.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHe blames himself,\u201d a velvety soft voice said at her side. \u201cHe couldn\u2019t get to her fast enough.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI only hope he recovers,\u201d Shinjaloye replied. \u201cI can\u2019t have him looking at the new Warrior and wishing them to be Shanye.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWere Nahiro and Shanye close?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNot as close as Shanye would have liked, but Nahiro considered her to be a good friend and confidant.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Rikkala nodded. \u201cI would instead worry about Nalshen. From what I\u2019ve been able to gather, he also blames himself. Not for not being able to reach her in time to heal her as Nahiro does, but for not staying closer to her in the battle. Invisibility is a wonderful ability, but an invisible woman isn\u2019t immune to Zalite arrows.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Shinjaloye smiled, but it faded quickly. \u201cI worry about him not at all. The young priestess he sits with will keep his head on straight and prevent him from becoming lost in his grief.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n At this, the Fire Sage laughed. \u201cI can guess at the methods she\u2019ll use to do so.\u201d Rikkala paused. \u201cWhat of the Crown Prince?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSahiren is familiar with loss, sad as it is to say. I worry that all the losses he has suffered in his life are why he still refuses to take a bride. He is, perhaps, afraid that if he opens his heart to someone new, he\u2019ll be hurt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI can understand that,\u201d Rikkala said in a soft voice. \u201cAt least he has his fellow Warriors to associate with.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere is that blessing. Kal Sharash knew what he was doing when he Chose my son.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHe always does, Honoured Majesty, though his reasons aren\u2019t always clear to us mere mortals.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Shinjaloye shook her head. \u201cWhen will you perform Shanye\u2019s ritual?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cTonight. If we delay any longer, it may not take.\u201d Both women shuddered at the thought. \u201cIn some countries, I hear that they bury their dead in the ground,\u201d Rikkala continued. \u201cIn Doval, they construct elaborate wooden boxes to contain the bodies before they\u2019re put in a deep hole. The hole is filled in with earth and the site marked by a stone with the person\u2019s name on it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Shinjaloye looked ill at the thought. \u201cThe ways of other people are different. Just as the Fire Lord dictates that we burn our dead, I\u2019m certain that the other four Sky Lords have rituals they wish their people to follow. Though, how burying a body in a box allows the soul to fly free to dwell eternally with Kal Kiterr is beyond me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cPerhaps Nahiro could explain it to you,\u201d Rikkala suggested. \u201cHe communes with each of the Sky Lords on occasion. It would educate you in the ways of your neighbours and give him something to do rather than blame himself for Shanye\u2019s death.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIs that why you brought up the subject of Dovalian funeral rites? Better that than for a darker reason.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve had no conflict with Doval since Sahiren was born. Had he been a girl child, Emperor Lehenar would have been more aggressive.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMuch as I craved a daughter as any woman does, I prayed to the Fire Lord for a son. I\u2019d rather die than see a daughter of mine married to Lehenar\u2019s eldest son.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHis eldest?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cLehenar has many children, but most of them are illegitimate. Only Leshmiir would have been suitable. To offer a lesser son would have been an unforgivable insult.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Rikkala shook her head. \u201cImperial politics are beyond me. Though, if Lehenar is so desperate for an alliance, I pity Emperor Kenjariyo.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAs do I. I hear he\u2019s been trying to marry off the elder of his two daughters with little success. Regarding Leshmiir, he feels as I do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHave you considered trying to interest Sahiren in the idea?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOf marriage? More than once. In the Tiger Princess? No. I can\u2019t bring myself to, not after this tragedy.\u201d She sighed. \u201cI need to find him a bride, and soon. My councillors have been bringing it up far too often of late.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMy advice to you is to wait. Let him grieve for a time. I will pray for guidance. Perhaps he has no interest in marriage because Kal Sharash has a plan for him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI hope so. I would hate for our line to end with him. The people won\u2019t accept an illegitimate Heir.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cGo. Find Nahiro. Ease his pain. I will do what I can to help this situation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Shinjaloye smiled at the other woman. \u201cYou\u2019re a good friend, Rikkala. Kal Sharash be with you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAnd with you, my Empress.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Chapter 2<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Chapter 1<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Summer, 874<\/b>\u00a0 <\/p>\n <\/p>\n She scanned the crowd surrounding the wagon, looking for a single person. She knew he was down there and knew he\u2019d be beside the wagon. On a normal day,…… <\/p>\n