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back
from the bottom of the stairwell. “Remember last time?” I bounded
down the stairs and arrived at the bottom as well.
    “I’m surprised you do,” I said,
panting with exhaustion as we exited the keep. She had slowed a bit
as she saw banners from the other side of the Humble Bridge.
    “Who are they?” she asked curiously. She put
her hands over her eyes to shield them from the solis which had
been setting in that direction. “I’ve never seen those crests
before.”
    “Perhaps you have not seen them because they
are not from a clan,” my father said behind us. His quick
interruption scared me and I jumped. He apologized quickly and
continued, “It’s an embassy from Kyrie, although I have no idea why
they are here. It has been almost ten years since the Battle of
Wortha Hill and I assume they are ready to make peace of some sort
with us. Perhaps they want to apologize -- fancy good that would do
-- or present a token of humility by offering us something.”
    “Where is my mother?” Lunamae asked quickly.
“I can’t see her from here.”
    “She’s probably preparing royal adornments
and getting a guard escort together. We can’t trust them to be
amicable,” my father replied, “or her for that matter.” I
took a look at his hardened face, wearing thin with age. His skin
was darkened from the work at the ironsmith shop, preparing shoes.
He was in his early forties now and grey hairs were beginning to
overtake his brown head. He had wrinkles adorning his face as well.
I never really noticed it much. He was still my father and to me I
will always remember him with a full head of brown hair and
smoother skin.
    Chief Dame Angharad came out of the keep, an
ample amount of guards surrounding her.
    “It would be good of you to follow us,” she
said, addressing us. “Lunamae, you need to be made aware of our
enemies now for when the time comes you must rule.”
    “Enemies?” I thought aloud. “It’s been so
long though.”
    “Not long enough,” Angharad said bitterly,
toying with the wooden band on her finger. “The chieftain is still
dead.” The embassy of about a dozen individuals was led up the
bridge by several of the watchmen and soon they were literally
face-to-face with us.
    “We come from Kyrie in peace and in the hope
of future peace,” one of the men stated in a gentle voice. I looked
the group over. The man who spoke was middle-aged, probably not
past his twenties. He had a head of short cropped brown hair with
only a hit of facial stubble. He had prominent cheekbones and a
long, slightly hooked nose. Many others seemed to be middle-aged as
well—most likely because of the course of travel taken it would be
easier for a younger person to make the trek. They wore unusual
clothes. They were more like bed robes than anything else. I didn’t
notice any weapons but I assumed they could have been hidden
underneath if necessary. “I am Gaius. We have heard about the
wondrous birth of Lunamae and offered our best wishes to her. We
would have come sooner but we thought things might
be—unpleasant.”
    “What is so special about Lunamae’s birth?”
my aunt questioned. She shifted under the royal robes she wore.
    “Haven’t you heard?” Gaius said surprised,
his eyes wide in amazement. “Her birth is an omen, a sign from the
stars that peace is here. A few years ago a rhymester came to us,
singing of a song that has come to pass in her. She can unite the
clans in this land and we can all live in civility.”
    “Unite the clans?” Angharad said, raising her
voice. “Have you not heard of the Wuriven? They came here almost
five years ago with the intention of killing my Lunamae. We
sent a band over there to converse to get to the root of the matter
and it is by the blessing of the Creator alone that my people left
with their lives intact. I will tell you what will bring peace.”
She paused and shouted to the guards, “Seize them! Lock them in the
dungeons.” The chief dame turned