by Candy Crum
She was surprised Kemet had such beautiful fertile land. She’d expected a wasteland. They'd passed through some desert, and it was exactly as she'd expected. The twins informed her a large chunk of Kemet was covered in sand, but Arryn loved that most of their trip didn't require being stuck in that part of the country.
As they grew closer to the outskirts of what used to be a less populated area of the old capital, the larger structures Arryn saw in the distance grew bigger.
"What is that?" Corrine asked, pointing.
Bast smiled from her horse. "Those are pyramids. Kemet has many, but those are the largest. Remember when I said there was sacred land the new ancients dared not touch? There it is, the great pyramids of Giza. They were built thousands of years ago."
"As large as they are from here, I can only imagine how incredible they will be up close," Arryn said.
"You have no idea. There is an ancient area several days’ ride south called the Valley of the Kings. Some of the greatest kings of ancient Kemet are buried there," Bast said. "When we get to Jadid, you'll see we have followed our ancestors' lead."
"The capital is not far from Giza," Cleo said. "We're almost there."
Arryn had noticed that Samuel seemed enamored of everything as much as she and Corrine were. While he was a cranky old rearick, he appreciated hard work and dedication. The Kemetians had that in spades, something his people had lost while seeking riches during Adrien's rule. They'd put all their time into the mines to make as much coin as they could, forgetting a bit of themselves in the process.
As the sun rose directly overhead, the group made their way to the great river to cool off and let the animals drink. Snow and Dante were both happy to take a swim, while Echo dove from overhead to catch herself a fish. Before the tigers exited the water, they managed to catch a nice snack, too.
Once they were finished, everyone applied olive oil to their skin to help protect them from the sun. While it wasn't perfect, it minimized the need for healing sunburn each evening.
Arryn thought back to her many travels. She'd been sequestered in the Frozen North, left for dead, and managed to find her way home. From all the way up there, she'd traveled to Kemet. From one extreme climate and landscape to the other, with thousands of miles between.
Over the last year, her life had changed more than she'd ever imagined, and that was never more evident than when they arrived at their destination and saw the thirty-foot-tall walls of Jadid. They stopped at a respectful distance while trying to regain their wits before going inside.
"Bitch and Bastard," Arryn whispered, looking at the tops of the walls.
The sun had nearly set by the time they arrived, but it still gave off enough light for her to see the soldiers posted every ten to twenty feet. She smiled when she saw bows on their backs, and she imagined they had swords on their hips. The guards at the gates were armed with staffs and strange semi-sickle-style swords on their hips.
"What the hell kinda weapon is 'at?" Samuel asked.
"It's called a khopesh," Amon answered. "I carry one of those as well. The curve along the inside is great for grabbing your enemies, while the outer curve is sharp enough to take off a head if needed."
Samuel's eyes lit up. "Well, I like it! I want one b'fore we leave this place."
Arryn and Cathillian both laughed, but Cathillian was the one who spoke. "All right, son. If you're really good, I'll get you one."
Arryn was embarrassed by how loud she snorted when she saw the look on Samuel's face as he slowly turned to stare Cathillian down.
"Lad, I swear to the Matriarch..." He shook his head, mumbling under his breath as he faced forward. Arryn was certain she heard him mutter something about Cat needing a ripe green switch applied to his behind.
Looking around, Arryn saw Bast and Cleo behind the wagon, whispering to one another. "Everything okay back there? We don't know our way around, so I was kinda depending on you two to lead the way." She smiled back, and both girls looked at her with concern on their faces.
"You might as well tell them," Amon called back, looking at the floor of the wagon with an amused smile on his face. "They were going to figure it out anyway."
Arryn's brows furrowed. "Tell us what?" She turned back to the twins. "Figure out what?"
Both twins sighed heavily, their eyes closing. Bast opened hers and looked at her sister before peeking around the wagon. "How did you know?"
Amon smiled again. "You're not as stealthy as you think. I had a feeling after hearing some whispers in my bar, but when you both acted stranger and stranger the closer to the city we got, my suspicions were confirmed."
"Ahem." Arryn exaggerated a throat-clear. "Again, I say, tell us what? Figure out what? Why were you being stealthy?"
The twins nudged their horses, urging them forward. They didn't dare look Arryn in the face, but each mumbled a quiet, "I'm sorry," as she passed. Though Arryn had many questions, she said nothing as they made their way forward.
Amon flicked the reins, urging his horses forward, and he looked down at Arryn. "C'mon. I have a feeling you won't want to miss this part."
With furrowed brows, Arryn sent a silent message for Snow to move forward. The group followed fifteen or so feet behind Bast and Cleo. Arryn badly wanted to peek into their minds and see what they'd hidden from her, but she respected their privacy. She just needed to be patient for a little longer.
Before they'd reached the wall, the guards at the gates shouted to those on top to open the gates and dropped to their knees, bowing their heads. Horns across the wall howled into the sky, alerting everyone inside to their arrival.
As the gates opened, Arryn saw a large group of armed guards on horses galloping toward the twins. As they brought their mounts to a halt, each guard bowed their head just as those at the gates had.
"What the hell?" Cathillian asked.
"Uh..." Arryn said, her jaw falling open as she watched the display. She had no idea what she was seeing.
Amon stopped the wagon at a respectful distance, and the rest of the animals followed suit. The guards looked behind the twins and eyed Arryn suspiciously, but Cleo pointed back as she spoke to them. The men's expressions immediately changed from concern to relief, or it seemed that way to Arryn.
After a few moments, the guards bowed again before moving back inside. Bast and Cleo looked back over their shoulders, Bast giving Arryn and Cat a guilty, toothy smile before turning back around.
The twins led the group through the gates and into Jadid. As their mounts walked along the road, Arryn watched in amazement as large groups of people gathered along the edge, everyone kneeling as they passed.
"What the hell is this?" she asked no one in particular. Her eyes flashed white as she connected to Bast. You're royalty? Is that what this is?
She saw Bast's head turn slightly as if debating turning around to look Arryn in the eye, but she didn't. Instead, she nodded. Yes. We're the daughters of Queen Asim.
Arryn's eyes widened. You're freaking PRINCESSES? Her mind spun. She never in a million years would have guessed the twins were princesses. She couldn't believe it.
"What is it?" Cathillian asked from Arryn's left.
"The twins..." she started, shaking her head in disbelief at what she was about to say. "They're princesses. They are the daughters of Queen Asim."
"What?" Corrine exclaimed. "Princesses?" She stared at the girls in awe.
Cathillian's eyes widened, then his expression turned thoughtful. "Well, if you think about it, it makes sense."
"Excuse me?" Arryn asked. "I remember the fairytales from Arcadia. Princesses do not act like Bast and Cleo."
Cathillian laughed. "Have you ever seen or known a princess in your life before them?"
Arryn shrugged. "I don't know. Does Talia count? She was a royal bitch. Pretty sure she thought of her father as a king, which would make her the princess in her little fantasy."
"Think about it. They came to us seeking help to save their land. Had they
been peasants or farmers, it would have been to save their own land, not the country. They spoke about the late king and their patriarchal society and how things had started to change. They knew a lot about the land and history, including past kings. They're highly trained and very well educated. They had a presence that demanded respect, something that isn't rampant in commoners. There was a lot of mystery behind the twins, and this makes it all fit together."
There was a long pause as Arryn thought about what Cathillian had said. He wasn't wrong. The girls had presence, and they knew far too much about things that weren't what Arryn would consider typical about their homeland. Knowledge and training like they had were received in an expensive education.
"Fine. I see your point. Still, I don't understand why they'd hide it."
"Do you introduce yourself as a badass?" Corrine asked.
Arryn shot her a look. "Language. And no, but that's different."
Corrine shrugged. "Seems no different to me. If you go around introducing yourself by titles or what you can do to people, it might make them think differently of you. When you met me, did you see a sweet but lost druid child, or did you see a filthy dark druid who might be a danger to your people?"
Arryn swallowed hard, her words catching in her throat. Corrine was right. "I sensed goodness in you," Arryn said after several stunned moments. "But you're right, I did see a potential danger if you turned out to be a decoy or dangerous yourself."
"I meant you no harm. I went there to warn you and your people, but my dark druid heritage was evident in my skin, hair, and eyes. I couldn't hide it, even though I didn't want you to judge me on that. They were able to hide their titles, which didn't matter in the Dark Forest anyway." Corrine smiled.
"She's way too smart for an eight-year-old," Cathillian said.
Corrine shrugged. "I don't know how old I am. I could be older or younger. It's not like anyone taught me how to understand the passage of time before I left the Terres Forest, and my family never celebrated my day of birth. I just guessed based on my size."
Arryn smiled and reached out to squeeze the girl's hand. "That will change. I promise. You don't have to worry about anything like that again."
"Thank you," Corrine said. "Hmm..."
"What?" Arryn asked.
"Do you think I'm older?"
Cathillian laughed. "I wouldn't doubt it, with all that sass and wit, not to mention you're smarter than half the people I know. Definitely smarter than Sam."
"Hey! That's it, ye lil shite. Ye been a pesterin' me fer days."
Cathillian laughed again. "Well, you've been so quiet, I had to get you to talk somehow, didn't I?"
Samuel shook his head. "Yer lucky yer over there and that Arryn likes ye."
"I wouldn't go that far," Arryn said. "You can have him if you want him."
Cathillian's mouth dropped. "How dare you? I swear you give me away every chance you get. Keep at it, and I'll think you're serious."
"That's one hell of a way to make an impression on the people you came to save, arguing and ribbing each other to death back there," Cleo said.
That sobered Arryn as she looked around. She saw tears in many eyes, and some called out to the group, thanking them. The roar of voices had been so muddy that she hadn't been able to pick out what anyone was saying.
She mentally kicked herself for being so wrapped up in worrying about the twins' secret as well as joking with the guys. Her anxiety level was high, and she’d reverted to jokes and insults to cover it.
But now wasn't the time.
As they moved through the city, Arryn gasped as she got a full, unobstructed view of a large pyramid. There was a large open area in the front and windows with balconies all over. While they'd modeled their pyramids after those of the old ancients, it was obvious they'd updated the design from the ones Arryn had seen.
To the north of the pyramid was a large shelter with at least ten long tables underneath, each one full of food. On the steps of the pyramid was a beautiful dark-skinned woman with perfect braids in an elegant up-do wearing long, billowy white robes.
Her hands went to her face, covering her mouth as she descended the stairs. Bast and Cleo climbed off their horses and ran to her, wrapping her in a tight hug.
"Welcome home!" the woman Arryn assumed was Queen Asim said. There was more than twenty feet between them and the others, but Arryn could still hear the love in the mother's voice.
The twins released their mother and turned toward Arryn and the others, waving them over. For the first time since Arryn had known them, she saw tears spill down their cheeks.
Snow and Dante lowered themselves to the ground, allowing Arryn and Corrine to climb down and make their way to the others. Cathillian, Samuel, and Amon all followed, Amon showing respect for their mission by allowing them to go first.
"You must be the help we so desperately need," the presumed queen said with a smile. She wiped away happy tears and stepped forward. "I'm Queen Asim. Welcome to our home."
Confused, Arryn stared awkwardly for a moment before bowing. The twins snorted as she straightened with a look of pure embarrassment on her face. "I'm Arryn. Nice to meet you. Sorry for the awkwardness. I was too busy not knowing who you were." She eyed Bast and Cleo, and they both shrugged.
"You never asked," Cleo said.
Arryn looked at her incredulously. "Yes. That's how introductions are always done. 'Hi, I'm Arryn, are you a princess?'"
Asim glanced at her daughters. "You didn't tell them? I taught you better than to lie!" She looked at Arryn. "Please forgive my daughters for their rudeness."
"Did you... Did you just tell our mommy on us?" Bast asked.
Arryn crossed her arms over her chest. "I sure did, Princess Bast."
Asim laughed, letting her head fall back a little. "I see you're a lot like my children." She took a step forward and placed an arm around Arryn to lead her toward the shelter house. "Come. There is much to discuss, and I fear there isn't a lot of time. I want to know all about you, your land, and your friends, and then we can talk about how we can stop the upcoming war."
Chapter Seventeen
After checking the stables and making sure every house in their twenty-home community was safe, John made his way to his wife, Mariella. It was his turn to keep watch over everyone, but he needed to eat. When he walked through the front door, his wife smiled as she set a plate of hot food down on the table.
"Anything interesting tonight?" she asked.
He smiled. "Not unless you count a random sand cat getting into the stables and pestering the horses. I suppose that's a good thing, though. I'd much rather be bored than to have something exciting happen."
"That's certainly true," she said. "I just hate you being out there alone."
He shrugged as he crossed the room and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead when he reached her. "The odds of anything happening to us this far out is unlikely. We're a couple of days’ travel away from where the monsters were reported, and we have all agreed to send messengers if that should change. We'll have plenty of time to evacuate. On top of that, with all the excitement going on south of us with the beasts, people are too afraid to wander around and rob people. There's no need to bother more than one person a night."
"What are we supposed to do if those things decide to come up this way? What if a messenger doesn't make it?" Mariella asked.
He sighed as a comforting smile crossed his face. "I know you're worried. You've been worried for weeks."
She nodded. "Well, before a few weeks ago, they only came out of there once every few weeks, and they weren't violent. They just sniffed around before going back in. In the last several weeks, there have been more than a few attacks, and they've killed everyone they ran into. They seem hellbent on destruction. Death." A chill ran through her.
John ran his fingers through her hair, gently cupping her face in his hands. "Would you feel better if we went to the capital?"
"The queen shut down the city. I've be
en able to buy and sell, but that's only outside the gates. I don't know if they're allowing anyone in anymore. I never checked."
"She sent notice to everyone that Jadid would close its borders but that anyone who wanted to seek shelter inside was welcome. I believe that stands. If you're that worried, we will go first thing tomorrow. Will that make you feel safer?" he asked, his eyes boring into hers.
She smiled softly and nodded. "It would. You're right, I don't think she would turn her back on us."
John was about to speak when a guttural growl ripped through the night. His eyes darted toward the door, and he looked back at his wife. "I think our timeline just moved up. Grab the bags, get on one of the horses, and go. Now."
Mariella's eyes were wide with panic as she gripped her husband's shirt, pulling him to her as he turned to run out the door. "Not without you! I won't go."
His eyes flashed blue as he placed a gentle hand on his wife's belly, which had the tiniest budding curve to it. "This isn't about us. You have to go. I'll be fine. I'll catch up soon."
Her brows furrowed as tears filled her eyes. She jumped as another loud roar rattled the windows. "I love you!" she said, kissing him. "You better not die."
He smiled. "Not a chance. I'll be right behind you. I have to warn the others."
Taking a deep breath as her husband ran out the door, Mariella hurried to their room and grabbed the emergency bag they had packed for this very reason. She slung it over her back and made her way out the back door of the house toward the stables.
She beat on every back door she came across until she saw magitech lights or lanterns come alive inside. That was the signal for people to get up and get the hell out. By the time she got to the last house, she saw a young man of about eighteen fleeing toward the stables.
As the final house in the community, someone inside was given the duty to grab a horse and ride as hard and as fast as they could to the next village and warn them to head toward Jadid and tell them hell had arrived on their doorsteps.
That should have happened for them, so the hellish beasts had either come through the desert and bypassed the communities, or far more likely, they'd killed everyone, and the messenger had failed to make it.
