Aaleyah rode the horse through the rain as quickly as she could. The sycamore tree was through the woodlands at the bottom of the mountain. It normally took fifteen minutes to ride there, but with the speed she was going she would be there in no time. She would go off the main trails, so others could not follow.
Glancing back repeatedly she saw no one as she raced through the capital. The city was quiet, where were all the people? The only sound she heard other than the racing of her own horse, was the harsh autumn winds. The leaves blew an ominous sight of shadows throughout the sky, swirling in dark formations before landing on the ground. Mother told them to make sure no one followed behind, thus Aaleyah should feel relief at the lack of people. She gritted her teeth and pushed for the horse to gallop faster.
The sycamore tree was home to an infinite amount of memories. Her races with Saan and Zale, the first time Dharam broke his arm, as well as the time Aaleyah climbed so high up she got stuck and Herom had to fetch her. She clung to his back the entire way down, and once on the ground she refused to let go. Everyone had memories at that tree, but as she raced to it she realized it had been Blue moons since they had all been there together.
She clutched the mane of the horse as it jumped over a small creek. She had made it to the woodlands, the tree would be coming shortly. Dharam would not be there because he was behind her. She could not sense Zale either. Guiding the horse around the trees she slowed down to a trot.
As Aaleyah travelled she repeated the plan. Wait at the sycamore tree. High Prince Hammaan would deliver the token, a token? Was he personally coming to give the token, or was he going to send someone to grant it? Shaking her head she repeated the next part of the plan. If on the way to the sycamore tree you are being followed, go to Grandmother’s armoury and rig the explosives with the bead of our hair clip. She tapped at the hair clip that sat above her braid.
At the old sycamore tree wait for one hour, then travel to Zuzbois. In Zuzbois go to the academy of music and say we are friends of Patron Zareh.
The horse walked past the last cluster of trees before it stepped into the clearing. In the middle of the soft green grass was the old sycamore tree. It was a tall beacon that shone in the light, the rain must have already passed for the leaves held droplets of water.
As she slid off the horse she led it to the riverine to drink. On the ground she pierced one of her daggers into the dirt and placed stones in a circle around it. Once the shadow passed the brown stone the hour would be up. Then she turned to investigate the tree.
It could be possible High Prince Hammaan sent the token and hid it. The same way she would send secret messages to Saan to plan attacks on her brothers. Circling the tree, maybe she needed to climb to search the branches.
Finding nothing she climbed down and took a seat next to the stones, Zale’s horse made its wait toward her and nudged her shoulder.. The estate was overrun with Stilits, many of her family may still be trapped there. Would it not be faster to go to High Prince Hammaan directly and ask for help? He already planned on coming anyway. If she was lucky she would run into him on the way! With such a great idea she jumped to her feet. Forget talks of legacy, that is nothing without family.
Jumping to her feet she grabbed the horse’s reins; just in case she should leave a way for her family to know she was here.
Taking out the hair pin, she wrapped it in silk and hid it in the small hole at the base of the tree. She had to push hard to fit it in, then she covered it with leaves. Admiring her work she hopped on her horse and raced towards the palace.
At the Aljehni estate Aminah and Havil were surrounded by the commonfolk. The Stilits were killed, their bodies turning the ground red.
“Why do you point your weapons at me?” Aminah asked them. She held onto her staff tightly to keep herself from falling to the ground. When she and her husband had destroyed the last Stilits she thought her family’s path was shining in the light once more. But the world proved her wrong as a herd of men and women surrounded them with their makeshift weapons.
“Our family was destroyed in an explosion on your order!”
“My son innocently went to fetch the food and goods the king graciously gave, only to die instead!”
“You may have hated your family, but did you have to kill ours as well!”
Aminah coughed up blood, her legs collapsing and she leaned on her staff to remain upright. “I am not responsible for the deaths of innocents. Nor is my family.”
“Did you kill your family because they found out? Were the Medes and their loyalty to the kingdom too much of a hindrance in your plan to obtain power!”
“Enough! General Aminah Aljehni would never harm the innocent, and she would never harm her family,” Havil defended. He motioned to the bodies of Stilits on the ground. “Do you not see that we are on the same side? We fought off Stilits and lost our loved ones same as you. Why must you blame us for pain despite the proof before your eyes?”
“You fought them because they knew you were wrong! We will attack you for your crimes!” The makeshift leader of the mob aimed his rake at them causing all others to follow suit. Aminah leaned her head on the staff, perhaps this was her end.
Units of guards raced through the estate from all gates. Commander Valyt led his men through the West Gate holding up a token. “Halt by order of Duke Majidi, the Aljehnis are to be taken in for questioning.”
All eyes went to the token in his hand, the Leaf Token that only days earlier belonged to her.
The people backed away and allowed Commander Valyt and his soldiers to enter the circle they had made.
Aminah could not move as she watched Commander Valyt come forward and salute her. “General Aminah Aljehni, by order of the king I am to arrest you and your family. Come with me willingly and I vow to do all in my power to keep your children safe.” The second sentence was softer so only she and Havil could hear.
Behind him Samira walked her horse towards her father. “I will find Captain Herom.” She did not wait for her father’s answer and rushed off.
Her chest burned in agony. “Commander Valyt-”
“This is the best I can do, this one humbly apologizes.” Commander Valyt turned to face his troops, “Take them under arrest, they must remain alive, if anything happens to them you will pay.”
Aminah barely kept her head up as guards came and took her staff from her hand. Her body fell into Havil's arms. Her fingers maintained the position and shook from having held it so long.
At the East Gate troops lifted a passed out Dharam from the ground.
South of the East Gate, Herom shielded Roset with his body as the men and women kicked him. Around him Asbed draped his body over Amenah’s as the mob attacked. Heated with so much anger they gave up on their weapons and kicked to their heart’s content. Zale spit up blood as a kick landed on his shoulder, and despite Chiara’s screams he did not move away from her, shielding her from the people.
“Stop!” The sound of a horse’s gallop made its way to the crowd. “By order of the king the Aljehnis are to be taken in for questions. Anyone who continues to attack is disobeying the king’s order.”
Hearing her voice Herom lifted his head. Samira? From the east he heard the sound of another horse.
“Third Lord Aljehni has been apprehended.” Herom turned to face Iddin. His military uniform was a stab to the chest. When he disbanded his group it was so his friends could accomplish their dreams, now he wonders if it was the correct choice.
Iddin dismounted his horse and addressed the crowd. “This estate was gifted to the Aljehni family at the start of the kingdom by our first king. Thus it is private property, anyone remaining here shall be arrested.”
The threat was heard loud and clear and the civilians raced to leave the estate. Some of them pushed others out of the way to fight to be the first to leave.
Once they were gone Iddin made his way to Herom, “Brother, if you truly wish for me to hate you, you must not look so pitiful.”
Herom sucked in a painful breath as Iddin helped him up. He was unsure what to say, while happy to see his friends, he was unsure if friends was the proper word to call them. Whose side were they on?”
Samira dismounted her horse and moved to his side as he stood and thrusted a small ceramic jar into his hand. “You have too many injuries, take this. Share it with your siblings.”
Herom stared at the jar of medicine.
“Hide it! Are you trying to get caught!” Samira glanced at the guards coming their way and cursed.
“We do not have enough time, you will all be arrested. This morning there was an explosion. All the people who lost their family from the protest were told they could fetch food and other items from the king. When they went, an explosion went off killing most of them, for those who were not, they were killed by Lieutenants Zacacai and Sabni,” Iddin rushed to report.
Hearing the names of his mother’s second and third in command, “Where are they now?”
Samira quickly glanced at Iddin before she turned back to Herom, “They are dead. Helan said Lieutenant Sabni took his life with Helan’s blade.”
Helan was there! “Is this what my family is being trialed for?”
Iddin nodded. “We know your family is innocent but we need time to gather evidence so until then cause no trouble.”
Samira nodded and stood at Iddin’s side. “Herom we promise to do everything in our power to save you and your family. And if we cannot then we will risk our lives to help you all escape.”
Iddin placed his hands on Samira’s shoulders. “Enough they are here.”
Samira reached for Roset and lifted the child into her arms. “You are too injured to exert any more strength.”
Herom debated throwing Roset through the hole, but knew his brother would not run away. He would cry and simply get recaptured. With a glance towards Asbed and Zale, those two would not be able to make a run for it. Zale was barely awake, his shallow breaths as he clutched his side was worrying. Herom could only hope Aaleyah was far enough away not to feel it.
At the palace, Saan stood in the courtyard by the backgates. His father said he would train with him but suddenly was pulled into a meeting. These moons his father had less and less time to train with him. Always off sending messaging, receiving messages, talking to captains of the guard, leaving to places Saan was not allowed to follow.
“Stop looking so pitiful, it is not the sword's fault,” Hammun snickered from his spot at the tea table.
Turning to face his brother, “Are you not going to spar with me?”
Hammun crossed his ankle over his knee and flashed his brother a look of pure disgust. “I recall telling you I wished to read in the library. Was it not my wonderful brother who forced me to join him outside? Stop being pitiful and train. The faster you exert yourself the faster I can go inside.”
“Do you not find it pathetic that you lack martial skills?” Saan mocked, but by the way Hammun turned the page of his book and sipped his tea; the answer was obvious.
Saan walked to check the scroll triple checking that he understood. The Dlumaeni sword dance was one of quick jumps and spins. The moments required focus and skill. Saan had mastered the footwork, but holding the sword and jumping without hitting himself was difficult. “I wonder if Leyah learned the Aljehni sword dance yet.”
“What are you muttering about now?” Hammun peered up from his book.
Saan knew Hammun would not care, but there were not many other people to ask other than the guards. “Do you think Aaleyah mastered the Aljehni sword dance?”
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
“Probably not, Aaleyah has an aversion to swords, she would learn the Medes staff dance first.”
“The weight is not too different.”
Hammun chuckled. “Aaleyah is stubborn. She has refused the sword for so long, now it is just to prove her siblings wrong.”
“If Leyah mastered the Medes staff dance, then I need to practice more. I refuse to be too weak to stand at her side.”
The Medes staff dance, also known as the Zuhus Dance, required quick arm movements and spins. The speed and agility was a sight to behold. Commander Medes moved with power on the battlefield, the staff spun around his body striking the enemies before they could realize. A precise cheetah his staff was, easily switching it from left or right to attack, his body bouncing his weight between feet finding the perfect opportunity to strike.
His daughter, General Aminah Aljehni had a flexibility that made it impossible to strike her. The staff was an extension of herself, and while her feet took one step, her staff struck three. Her dance was deadly but ethereal. A preying panther in the fog, she maintained stamina and allowed her lower body to rest while the staff attacked.
Commander Alakko was more powerful than his sister. While General Aljehni moved with an ethereal deadly grace, Commander Alakko performed the same dance with a tiger’s strength. The staff resembled claws striking out to kill with one precise hit. He incorporated kicks and quick steps to move him across the battlefield. Outnumbered five to one meant nothing, his troops felt instant relief when his hand touched his staff.
Saan studied his scroll. If the Medes dance was based off of cats, his family’s sword dance was based off of birds. Hence the jumps and spins he studied. The strike of the sword was a bird's wings, the hit was wind that threw the opponent backwards. The sheath of the sword in the left, and blade in the right, allowed for Saan to be injured multiple times. His father had promised to help him perfect the moves, but here alone Saan had to study the pictures. His hand gripped the scroll as he tried to twirl the hilt of the blade in the other.
After some time Saan asked to spar with one of the guards. Losing three times Saan gritted his teeth and prepared to ask to try once more when he heard a yell.
“Saan!”
Hammun paused from reading his book and stood, “Aaleyah?”
Saan made his way in the direction of the doors. “Open the gates.”
The guards at the wall hesitated, his hand pushed against his head in slight pain. “Young prince, this rider’s identity is not confirmed.”
“Saan!”
He heard her scream and glared at the guards. “That is fourth lady Aaleyah Aljehni, open the gates.”
The gates opened and she raced through. The horse had not even stopped before she hopped up, falling into his arms. “Saan. you have to help. You have to find your father, my family is in danger. You have to do something, Dharam was- he was. Saan you have to help!” Her hands gripped his shirt.
Saan automatically wrapped his arms around her and shuddered at the bloody hand that returned. “Where did this blood come from? Are you injured? What happened?”
Aaleyah was disappointed with his response and turned to his brother. “Hammun please. My family desperately awaits for the arrival of your father. Without him they will fall. Please! We have to go. We have to help Zale, Dharam was- my parents need desperately- stop looking at me and go!” She screeched.
Saan ignored the blood and hugged her. “Hammun find father.”
Hammun nodded and immediately set off with a couple guards behind him.
Aaleyah fought to get out of his arms. “Your father, I have to retrieve the-” she hesitated and stared before swallowing and studying the guards around them.
“Retrieve what Leyah?”
Aaleyah’s eyes did not move from the guards. “Who trained them?”
Aaleyah usually spoke in a high tone, exhaling her words in a light key. But as her eyes darkened her voice hit a low that Saan never heard. “Leyah, you are safe, tell me what has happened?” Aaleyah spared a moment to glance at their surroundings. “I was training, that is why there are swords here.”
The guards who had hesitated on opening the gates drew his bow in their direction. Aaleyah dodged it and immediately struck back. Her dagger sparkled in the light as it flew through the air striking his neck, making a guttural choke before he fell to the ground.
“Aaleyah!” Saan reached for her arm, but the guards suddenly began to attack in earnest. A spear flew in Aaleyah’s direction and Saan instinctively pulled her towards him. “How dare you attack!”
The sound of cluttering behind him drew his attention and he glanced back to Aaleyah holding the spear that was just thrown in her hand.
“They are here for me.” Aaleyah’s hand wrapped around his arm and she yanked him backwards. Standing in front of him she spun the spear in her hand testing the weight in her hand before taking the offensive stance.
“What would they need you for? Lower your weapons.” The second sentence was directed to the guards that jumped down to form a semicircle around them.
“You foolish girl. If you made it out, why would you come here?” One of the guards asked as they pulled out their swords.
Saan was growing aware of two important things. First, these guards wished to harm Aaleyah. Second, due to the attack they already made, it did not seem to matter if Aaleyah was alive or dead. He was not certain if they would attack him or not, but with a hand on her spear he pulled her back. “Stay behind me.”
“I am Prince Saan from the House of Dlumani, leaders of the Aidkjeen Kingdom, and I command you to lower your weapons.” Behind him he reached his hand back to find Aaleyah’s and squeezed it.
The gates swung on its hinges and a group of men rushed in with swords drawn. A man on the tall side stepped forward and laughed. “Young prince, your words may be strong but you lack the ability to give them any power. We have our orders, just give us the Aljehni.”
Saan did not care for the way the man slurred Leyah’s family name and as he stepped back his foot stepped on the blade he was practicing with earlier. Quickly he bent to pick it up, his eyes never leaving the man as he patted on the ground blindly before grasping the hilt in his hand.
“We lack the time to educate you young prince. Give us the girl.”
Saan aimed his sword in the guards direction. “Attack and you will be arrested for treason.”
The guards aimed their swords in response. “Young prince, are you skilled enough to stop us? Have we not watched you spare and fail? You lack the skills and ability to perfect your sword, thus you will lack the ability to protect her.”
“Who do you work for? Why are you doing this?” Aaleyah asked her spear aimed in their direction.
The man chuckled and painted a wide smile on his face. “Who do we work for? We are loyal to the Aljehnis.”
The men wore the same smile and repeated the phrase. “We are loyal to the Aljehnis.”
Saan shuddered. He did not have the skills to fight them off. They were the palace guards; their jobs were to protect him. The guards that watched over the Dlumaeni bloodline were to be the best, they were trained by Aaleyah’s family, the recent generation of guards being led under Herom Aljehni’s guidance.
With a peek in Aaleyah’s direction Saan saw that she was determined. The killing intent was forming a cloud around her. Saan swallowed his nerves and focused. “If you wish to harm her you will have to get rid of me first.”
The men attacked. In seven moves the staff was knocked out of Aaleyah’s hands. Saan was no better, he focused on the steps he had learned but it seemed to be of no use.
Aaleyah was pulled by her hair, a hair stick fell to the ground but the sound was covered by her yell. She pulled out a knife and reached above her to slice at the man’s wrist, forcing him to drop her. As she fell to the ground she rolled away and picked up the staff once more.
Saan could not watch Aaleyah for long, he gave up on using the moves of the Dlumaeni sword dance and opted for fighting with the moves he knew. Moons ago Herom Aljehni taught him how to fight an opponent that was stronger than him. He had said to use the opponent’s strength against them, Saan jumped in the air and struck. Before he could make another hit the guard groaned.
“Prince Saan, you must take her out of here.” The guard’s hand shook and he tilted his head left, and then right. “Trust no one.”
“What are you saying? Are you ill?”
The guard smiled the eerie smile once more and turned away from him in the direction of Aaleyah. “ To die for an Aljehni is to die with honor.”
Ill or not, Saan would not sit back and watch him approach Leyah. He rushed forward and hit the guard's head with the hilt of his sword. The guard collapsed and Saan had a quick moment to breathe and see what was happening.
Aaleyah held two knives in her hands and fought savagely. With every kick she made she would cut the men around her. Wherever she could hit she would, it did not matter if it was their arm, leg, or neck Aaleyah would strike and then retreat as quickly as she came. She was surrounded by them, they all took grabs at her and Saan rushed to help.
Saan realized his faults, he was fighting to stop them and with hopes to get her out. But as Aaleyah threw her knife into someone’s chest and flipped away Saan realized. Aaleyah was fighting for her life. Her swings were wild, and the skills she had were not capable enough to fight off multiple people at once, the fear she must be feeling was only limiting her more.
Saan rushed to her and pulled her towards the door of the palace. His hand slid off the edge of her sharp blade but he still wrapped his hand around her wrist. “We have to move now.”
“Little Aljehni, very rarely do I see twins, I wonder if you will bleed the way your brother did,” one of the men sneered, a cocky grin appearing on his face when he knew he won.
Saan could no longer guide Aaleyah to the door. She snaked her wrist out of his hold, and took a step towards them. “I recognize you. You are Koko, Herom once brought you to my home. You sat at the dinner table with us. Now you attack? Why?” Her golden eyes watered in anger, her fists gripped the knives tightly. “Why!”
The man Saan now knew to be Koko faltered back a step. His eyes glossed over and the smile left his face, “I a-am, we Stilits are loyal to the Aljehni.” The words did not hold the passion they held before and Koko took the hilt of his sword and hit the side of his head.
“If loyalty means harming my family, then forgive me for asking you to keep it to yourself,” Aaleyah spat out and lifted her bloody knife in his direction.
The confusion in Koko’s eyes faded. “Attack!”
Aaleyah raced towards the men and Saan gave up on the idea of running and rushed to support Aaleyah.
Aaleyah retrieved a knife from a fallen guard and yelled to Saan. “You do not have to be here. Find your father and save my family.”
“I will not leave you.” To leave her with crazy guards would be leaving her to die!
One of the Stilits made his way to Aaleyah and pulled her up by her neck. His other hand caught both of her hands. “Aljehni your family will pay for its crimes, and then your name will disappear in the sands.”
Saan rushed to get to her side but was blocked by three other men. He fought his way to her as her face turned red, her feet flared trying to kick anywhere, but unable to make a hit.
Saan swung his sword. “You said you were loyal to Aljehnis, why are you killing her!”
The Stilits released Aaleyah’s hands and slapped the side of his own head. “I am loyal!” To prove his point he tangled his hand into her hair and turned her to face Saan.
Saan could see the marks on her neck, she coughed and gulped in air. The man forced her to kneel on the ground and unsheathed the sword at his waist. “To die for an Aljehni is to receive honor!”
Saan swung his sword with a vengeance at one man and with no other option grabbed the blade from the second in his bare hand, ripping it away. He thrust his blade into the third man’s stomach and rolled on his stomach before racing to Aaleyah.
As the blade swung down Saan threw himself into Aaleyah’s side and they both rolled to the right. San felt the hot heat as the blade slid from his neck to his shoulder.
Then ever so gently were Leyah’s hands over the wound. He forced himself to rise on his elbows and scanned her body before breathing in relief. She was unharmed.
“Saan! Saan!” She applied pressure to the back of his neck.
Saan glanced up at the two images of Aaleyah’s worried face. “Do not worry, I am here, I will be fine.”
His body jolted as Aaleyah threw her knife at the man who had choked her.
“Attacking Dlumaeni blood is punishable by death. Allow me to be your executioner.” Hearing his father’s voice Saan turned to see him and his father at the door.
Koko’s head twitched before he smirked and said, “You may enact your punishment, but it is the king’s orders we follow. Even if we die, that fact remains.”
His father held back his aggravation and threw his sheathe to the ground. “Then I will deal with it after you die.”
From his spot in Aaleyah’s arms Saan watched his father move through the Stilits with the dance he had spent hours practicing. He moved across the ground barefoot, running on jagged rocks did not slow him down. With one swing of his blade Koko’s head rolled to the ground.
Finally behind Hammun, Duke Majidi, Captain Izad, and palace guards came. Saan relaxed at the sight.
The guards rushed out and circled around him and Aaleyah, and Duke Majidi made his way to stand before his father.
“High Prince Hammaan drop your weapons. By order of the king all Ajehnis are to be arrested for treason. We will stop all who get in the way.”
Saan sat up and blindly reached for his sword. This could not be happening. He turned to his father’s guard. “Captain Izad?”
Izad glanced at Saan before addressing his father. “High Prince Hammaan, this is not a battle anyone will win.”
Saan held Aaleyah’s arm as he watched Duke Majidi and Captain Izad draw their swords against his father. All around him the guards unsheathed their weapons. Behind him Aaleyah shook. “I was wrong. This was my fault. Why did I come? Why? Why? Why! Why!”
Saan clutched her arm, his blood soaking the fabric of her sleeve as guards came to pull her away. He could not let go, not like this.
“Saan!” Aaleyah screamed, her nails dug into his arms.
“You can not take her!” Saan screamed desperately. At his side his father was occupied with the guards and could not come to their aid. His brother Hammun stood by the door in horror at the turn of events.
“Saan. Saan!”
His nails bent from his tight hold on her, but the blood on his hand made it too hard. Against all his prayers she slipped out of his fingers.
“No!” He reached out to grab her grey cloak, but fate did not wish to help him. The cloak tore and Saan heard her screams as she disappeared behind the guards.
