The Warlord's Demand

by Irene Danger

  The-a-town-a-truly-a-was-a-impressive-a-with-a-its-a-construction-a-and-a-mechanics.-a-Through-a-the-a-middle-a-of-a-the-a-city-a-there-a-was-a-a-a-running-a-river-a-that-a-had-a-to-a-have-a-been-a-created-a-by-a-someone-a-who-a-was-a-knowledgeable-a-of-a-irrigation-a-systems.-a-Did-a-he-a-supply-a-running-a-water-a-to-a-all-a-the-a-homes-a-under-a-his-a-domain?

  The-a-city,-a-though-a-she-a-had-a-seen-a-it-a-at-a-night,-a-was-a-still-a-beautiful-a-within-a-in-a-the-a-daylight.-a-The-a-Warlord-a-obviously-a-had-a-a-a-certain-a-standard-a-that-a-he-a-expected-a-of-a-those-a-he-a-ruled.

  And-a-then-a-there-a-was-a-the-a-wall:-a-large-a-and-a-imposing-a-and-a-infallible.-a-She-a-stopped-a-paying-a-attention-a-to-a-the-a-city-a-and-a-couldn't-a-help-a-but-a-look-a-at-a-it.-a-And-a-the-a-Warlord-a-was-a-steering-a-them-a-right-a-toward-a-the-a-massive-a-entrance.-a-There-a-was-a-citizen-a-ambling-a-in-a-and-a-out,-a-comfortably,-a-and-a-Siyura's-a-heart-a-leapt-a-now-a-that-a-she-a-could-a-see-a-out-a-of-a-the-a-doors,-a-freedom-a-beckoning.

  The-a-Warlord-a-stopped-a-his-a-horse-a-right-a-before-a-they-a-would-a-have-a-gone-a-through-a-the-a-archways.-a-Siyura-a-had-a-to-a-lean-a-her-a-head-a-back-a-to-a-see-a-the-a-top-a-of-a-the-a-wall.-a-She-a-saw-a-that-a-it-a-had-a-jutting-a-stations-a-that-a-no-a-doubt-a-held-a-soldiers.-a-To-a-her-a-right,-a-she-a-could-a-see-a-wooden-a-beams-a-criss-crossed-a-to-a-hold-a-men-a-who-a-were-a-making-a-repairs.-a-They-a-were-a-held-a-up-a-by-a-cords-a-and-a-had-a-metal-a-brackets-a-to-a-hold-a-up-a-their-a-equipment.

  "Are-a-you-a-impressed?"-a-he-a-murmured-a-and-a-jarred-a-her-a-out-a-of-a-her-a-reverie.

  "I-a-supposed-a-I'm-a-as-a-impressed-a-as-a-any...newcomer-a-to-a-Sytadel."

  "This-a-wall-a-will-a-be-a-the-a-greatest-a-achievement-a-of-a-Sytadel."-a-He-a-said,-a-sliding-a-off-a-the-a-saddle,-a-taking-a-the-a-reins-a-to-a-walk-a-the-a-horse-a-forward.

  "I-a-thought-a-that-a-would-a-be-a-you?-a-The-a-male-a-who-a-holds-a-the-a-glory-a-of-a-Haldane-a-in-a-his-a-hands?"

  He-a-glanced-a-at-a-her,-a-the-a-gold-a-pieces-a-of-a-his-a-uniform-a-glinting-a-in-a-the-a-day-a-light,-a-"I-a-am-a-not-a-an-a-achievement.-a-I-a-stand-a-as-a-a-a-legend.-a-What-a-part-a-will-a-you-a-play?"

  "I-a-have-a-no-a-desire-a-to-a-play-a-a-a-part."-a-She-a-said-a-stiffly.

  "That-a-matters-a-not."-a-He-a-said-a-reaching-a-up-a-and-a-pulling-a-her-a-off-a-the-a-saddle.-a-He-a-cupped-a-her-a-face-a-gently,-a-searching.-a-She-a-didn't-a-look-a-into-a-his-a-eyes.

  "I'm-a-leaving-a-for-a-a-a-couple-a-of-a-days."-a-He-a-said-a-and-a-she-a-felt-a-awkward.-a-Why-a-did-a-that-a-matter?-a-He-a-didn't-a-seem-a-like-a-the-a-man-a-who-a-ever-a-explained-a-himself.-a-She-a-chose-a-to-a-not-a-answer.

  "I-a-owe-a-you-a-information-a-about-a-your...comrades."-a-He-a-said-a-in-a-a-a-quiet-a-amused-a-voice.

  Yes.-a-He-a-had-a-promised-a-her-a-information-a-about-a-Adrian-a-and-a-Cera.-a-It-a-had-a-completely-a-slipped-a-her-a-mind-a-much-a-to-a-her-a-shame.

  "Cera-a-has-a-been-a-captured.-a-I-a-imagine-a-Farrow-a-has-a-managed-a-to-a-take-a-control-a-of-a-her."

  Siyura-a-swallowed.-a-She-a-had-a-known-a-that-a-Cera-a-had-a-been-a-struggling-a-to-a-evade-a-her-a-purser.-a-She-a-had-a-not-a-gone-a-into-a-detail-a-during-a-their-a-written-a-correspondence,-a-afraid-a-of-a-it-a-being-a-intercepted.-a-She-a-had-a-been-a-planning-a-to-a-give-a-full-a-disclosure-a-after-a-Cera-a-helped-a-her-a-evacuate.-a-But-a-she-a-was-a-here,-a-closer-a-to-a-Siyura-a-than-a-she-a-had-a-been-a-since-a-the-a-war-a-started.

  She-a-licked-a-her-a-lips,-a-afraid-a-of-a-her-a-next-a-question,-a-"Adrian?"

  The-a-Warlord-a-studied-a-her-a-for-a-a-a-moment-a-and-a-moved-a-his-a-face-a-closer-a-until-a-his-a-lips-a-hovered-a-over-a-hers.-a-Anyone-a-who-a-passed-a-them-a-might-a-think-a-they-a-were-a-seconds-a-from-a-kissing.

  They-a-wouldn't-a-see-a-his-a-features-a-letting-a-forth-a-the-a-monster-a-she-a-accused-a-him-a-of-a-being.

  "He-a-escaped."-a-Then-a-he-a-picked-a-her-a-up-a-and-a-threw-a-her-a-into-a-the-a-entrapment-a-boundary.

  *****

  The-a-embers-a-were-a-gone.-a-But-a-the-a-iris-a-in-a-the-a-sky-a-was-a-watching-a-her.-a-It-a-called-a-the-a-tears.-a-Or-a-maybe-a-it-a-was-a-the-a-rain?-a-The-a-iris-a-said-a-something-a-to-a-her—straining-a-to-a-reach-a-her-a-ears.

  What-a-did-a-it-a-need-a-to-a-tell-a-her?

  She-a-turned-a-her-a-head,-a-not-a-wanting-a-to-a-confront-a-that-a-sorrow,-a-wanting-a-the-a-tears-a-to-a-stop-a-falling-a-on-a-her.-a-Because-a-she-a-could-a-not-a-understand-a-it.

  Nor-a-could-a-she-a-understand-a-Sana-a-laying-a-next-a-to-a-her—her-a-brown-a-skin-a-free-a-from-a-rot,-a-her-a-eyes-a-clear-a-from-a-madness-a-and-a-unspeakable-a-sorrow.-a-The-a-same-a-eyes-a-on-a-Sana's-a-face-a-were-a-recongnizbale-a-because-a-they-a-were-a-on-a-her-a-face.

  "I-a-can't-a-hear."-a-She-a-said-a-her-a-voice-a-broken.

  Somewhere-a-a-a-wolf-a-howled.

  Sana-a-gave-a-her-a-a-a-sad-a-smile.

  ****

  Siyura-a-truly-a-could-a-not-a-stay-a-conscious.-a-The-a-pain-a-in-a-her-a-body-a-was-a-so-a-excruciating,-a-she-a-begged-a-for-a-death-a-to-a-come-a-take-a-her.-a-How-a-could-a-anyone-a-survive-a-this?

  The-a-black-a-webs-a-that-a-were-a-weaving-a-across-a-her-a-eyesight-a-only-a-allowed-a-her-a-to-a-see-a-parts-a-of-a-those-a-who-a-were-a-over-a-her.

  She-a-remembered-a-hearing-a-Umla's-a-stern-a-voice-a-ordering-a-her-a-to-a-drink-a-liquid-a-she-a-had-a-held-a-up-a-to-a-her-a-lips.-a-She-a-didn't-a-want-a-to-a-drink,-a-didn't-a-want-a-to-a-move,-a-just-a-wanted-a-to-a-fall-a-back-a-down-a-into-a-oblivion.-a-Every-a-pump-a-of-a-her-a-heart,-a-pushing-a-blood-a-into-a-her,-a-was-a-like-a-fire-a-burning-a-her-a-alive.

  "Lady,-a-you-a-need-a-to-a-sleep."-a-A-a-soft-a-voice-a-said-a-above-a-her,-a-coming-a-from-a-a-a-homely-a-woman-a-whose-a-hair-a-was-a-covered-a-in-a-a-a-white-a-bonnet.

  "It...hurts..."-a-she-a-rasped.

  The-a-lady-a-looked-a-sympathetic,-a-"I-a-know,-a-pet.-a-Just-a-sleep,-a-you-a-are-a-safe.-a-Umla-a-is-a-taking-a-charge-a-of-a-your-a-care."

  Umla.-a-Umla-a-who-a-had-a-a-a-secret.-a-Umla-a-who-a-was-a-like-a-her.

  She-a-slept.

  When-a-she-a-awoke-a-again,-a-the-a-pain-a-had-a-lessened.-a-Slowly-a-sitting-a-up,-a-she-a-realized-a-she-a-was-a-in-a-the-a-tower-a-room.-a-The-a-sky-a-outside-a-of-a-the-a-window-a-had-a-turned-a-orange-a-and-a-happy.-a-The-a-sky-a-hadn't-a-look-a-like-a-that...it-a-had-a-been-a-afternoon-a-light,-a-right?

  Yes.-a-It-a-had.-a-It-a-had-a-been-a-early-a-afternoon.-a-And-a-busy.-a-And-a-the-a-wall.

  And-a-the-a-Warlord.

  That-a-motherfucker.

  He-a-had-a-thrown-a-her-a-into-a-the-a-boundary...no,-a-not-a-into-a-it.-a-Near-a-it.-a-Far-a-enough-a-not-a-to-a-kill-a-her,-a-close-a-enough-a-to-a-damage-a-her.-a-She-a-moved-a-slowly-a-because-a-it-a-hurt-a-to-a-go-a-faster,-a-and-a-shoved-a-the-a-sheets-a-off-a-of-a-her.-a-Her-a-thighs-a-were-a-bruised-a-with-a-black-a-and-a-purple-a-splotches.-a-She-a-had-a-twisted-a-in-a-the-a-air,-a-instinct-a-to-a-put-a-her-a-hands-a-out-a-in-a-front-a-of-a-her,-a-and-a-had-a-met-a-a-a-force-a-that-a-pushed-a-against-a-her-searing-a-and-a-shocking.

  She-a-looked-a-at-a-the-a-skin-a-under-a-the-a-chain-a-around-a-her-a-waist-a-and-a-saw-a-the-a-language-a-had-a-burned-a-into-a-her-a-skin.-a-Inspecting-a-it,-a-she-a-couldn't-a-conclude-a-that-a-it-a-wouldn't-a-permanently-a-scar.

  Siyura-a-could-a-remember-a-seeing-a-him,-a-standing-a-there,-a-his-a-hands-a-folded-a-in-a-front-a-of-a-him,-a-watching-a-it-a-happen.-a-He-a-looked-a-mildly-a-interested-a-like-a-he-a-was-a-seeing-a-something-a-he-a-had-a-only-a-heard-a-in-a-theory.

  She-a-was-a-going-a-to-a-kill-a-him-a-if-a-it-a-was-a-the-a-last-a-thing-a-she-a-did.

  Siyura-a-slowly-a-laid-a-back-a-down,-a-her-a-muscles-a-screaming-a-at-a-her-a-to-a-stay-a-still.-a-She-a-saw-a-on-a-the-a-table-a-was-a-a-a-tray.-a-She-a-carefully-a-got-a-out-a-of-a-bed-a-and-a-found-a-it-a-had-a-little-a-small-a-bottles-a-and-a-a-a-covered-a-bowl-a-of-a-broth-a-and-a-rice.-a-She-a-didn't-a-feel-a-like-a-eating-a-but-a-picked-a-up-a-an-a-amber-a-bottle,-a-hoping-a-it-a-held-a-what-a-she-a-thought-a-it-a-did.-a-Taking-a-a-a-sip,-a-she-a-felt-a-relief
.-a-It-a-was-a-Dianthe—a-a-pain-a-serum.-a-There-a-was-a-a-a-spoon-a-that-a-they-a-probably-a-had-a-been-a-using-a-to-a-feed-a-it-a-to-a-her.-a-Going-a-by-a-the-a-pain-a-she-a-was-a-experiencing-a-it-a-was-a-more-a-than-a-likely-a-she-a-was-a-due-a-for-a-another-a-dose.

  If-a-not,-a-oh-a-well.

  She-a-placed-a-everything-a-back-a-on-a-the-a-tray,-a-ready-a-to-a-fall-a-back-a-asleep-a-when-a-she-a-heard-a-a-a-rustling-a-noise-a-from-a-behind-a-her.-a-It-a-happened-a-quick-a-then-a-cut-a-off.

  Fuck.-a-Someone-a-was-a-in-a-her-a-room.-a-She-a-was-a-in-a-no-a-condition-a-to-a-fight-a-anyone.-a-Still,-a-she-a-walked-a-over-a-to-a-her-a-wardrobe,-a-where-a-the-a-rustling-a-came-a-from,-a-and-a-placed-a-her-a-hands-a-on-a-the-a-knobs,-a-counting-a-in-a-her-a-head.

  She-a-paused-a-then-a-with-a-a-a-quick-a-motion-a-and-a-yanked-a-the-a-doors-a-opened,-a-"What-a-do-a-you-a-think-a-you're-a-doing!"-a-she-a-demanded-a-stepping-a-back-a-not-a-sure-a-what-a-she-a-was-a-looking-a-at.-a-There-a-was-a-ball-a-of-a-fabric-a-at-a-her-a-feet-a-and-a-if-a-she-a-hadn't-a-seen-a-it-a-wiggle,-a-she'd-a-been-a-perplexed.

  "I'm-a-sorry."-a-Came-a-a-a-small-a-little-a-voice-a-from-a-the-a-ball.

  Then-a-a-a-sound-a-of-a-frustration-a-followed-a-by-a-a-a-little-a-fist.

  "Why-a-are-a-you-a-in-a-here?"-a-It-a-was-a-child,-a-a-a-small,-a-uncoordinated-a-child.

  A-a-head-a-with-a-frizzy,-a-wild-a-hair-a-covering-a-its-a-face,-a-shook.-a-When-a-that-a-didn't-a-work,-a-the-a-child-a-used-a-its-a-arms-a-to-a-move-a-the-a-mass.

  "I'm-a-sorry!-a-Please-a-don't-a-tell-a-on-a-me!-a-I'm-a-really-a-sorry."

  Standing-a-up,-a-Siyura-a-would-a-have-a-laughed-a-if-a-any-a-movement-a-didn't-a-cause-a-her-a-undue-a-grief.

  It-a-was-a-a-a-little-a-girl.-a-The-a-fabric-a-that-a-she-a-had-a-gotten-a-caught-a-up-a-in-a-had-a-been-a-the-a-voluminous-a-skirt-a-held-a-up-a-by-a-metal-a-plated-a-sash.-a-The-a-silver-a-fabric-a-was-a-shiny-a-and-a-dwarfed-a-her.

  She-a-didn't-a-move-a-as-a-if-a-she-a-were-a-used-a-to-a-being-a-in-a-such-a-an-a-extravagant-a-dress.

  "How-a-did-a-you-a-get-a-in-a-here?"-a-Siyura-a-asked-a-using-a-the-a-strictest-a-tone-a-she-a-had.

  The-a-little-a-girl-a-bit-a-her-a-lip-a-and-a-looked-a-everywhere-a-but-a-at-a-Siyura.

  "Please,"-a-she-a-said-a-guilty-a-but-a-without-a-fear,-a-"don't-a-tell.-a-I'm-a-not-a-supposed-a-to-a-be-a-in-a-this-a-part-a-of-a-the-a-castle."

  "And-a-who-a-should-a-I-a-be-a-lying-a-to?"

  The-a-little-a-thing-a-fisted-a-her-a-hands,-a-head-a-bowed,-a-"Well...um...there's-a-Helene.-a-Maybe-a-Greta.-a-Maybe-a-Mama—but-a-I-a-don't-a-think-a-she'd-a-care-a-that-a-much.-a-Maybe-a-if-a-I-a-got-a-my-a-dress-a-dirty."

  "A-a-dirty-a-dress?"-a-Siyura-a-said-a-slowly.-a-What-a-mother-a-would-a-not-a-care-a-about-a-her-a-small-a-child-a-sneaking-a-into-a-the-a-room-a-of-a-a-a-prisoners?

  "Mmmhmm.-a-Oh!-a-Papa.-a-Papa-a-will-a-be-a-really-a-mad.-a-Then-a-he-a-won't-a-bring-a-me-a-anymore-a-presents.-a-Would-a-like-a-to-a-see-a-my-a-presents,-a-I-a-got-a-lots-a-this-a-time!"

  Siyura-a-was-a-amused-a-now.-a-The-a-little-a-girl-a-was-a-bouncing.

  "What's-a-your-a-name?"

  "Kyaaaaa."-a-She-a-sang,-a-rocking-a-on-a-her-a-heels.

  "Well,-a-Kyaaaaa,-a-your-a-keepers-a-are-a-probably-a-looking-a-for-a-you.-a-If-a-you-a-go-a-back-a-now,-a-I'm-a-sure-a-your-a-papa-a-will-a-continue-a-to-a-bring-a-you-a-presents."-a-Siyura-a-said,-a-tempted-a-to-a-touch-a-the-a-top-a-of-a-her-a-head.-a-It-a-looked-a-soft-a-and-a-fluffy-a-like-a-a-a-kitten-a-who-a-had-a-not-a-gotten-a-its-a-adult-a-fur.

  The-a-little-a-girl-a-looked-a-up,-a-her-a-eagerness-a-at-a-sharing-a-glittering-a-in-a-her-a-eyes.

  And-a-once-a-again,-a-Siyura-a-felt-a-like-a-she-a-had-a-been-a-hit.

  "Kya?-a-What-a-is-a-you-a-papa's-a-name?"

  "Papa."-a-Came-a-the-a-sure-a-answer.

  "Do-a-you-a-have-a-a-a-brother?"-a-Siyura-a-asked-a-her-a-pulse-a-pounding-a-in-a-her-a-neck.

  Kya-a-shook-a-her-a-head-a-with-a-a-a-sassy-a-denial.

  Siyura-a-felt-a-light-a-headed-a-and-a-she-a-didn't-a-know-a-what-a-to-a-do-a-with-a-this.

  What-a-she-a-did-a-know?-a-She-a-had-a-only-a-seen-a-those-a-eyes-a-on-a-one-a-other-a-person's-a-face.-a-Had-a-never-a-expected-a-to-a-see-a-them-a-anywhere-a-else.-a-But-a-she-a-felt-a-she-a-wasn't-a-wrong.

  She-a-was-a-more-a-than-a-confident-a-she-a-was-a-looking-a-at-a-the-a-Warlord's-a-daughter.