by Dele Daniel
Please let Jason had been right, I thought to myself.
I took deep breaths, trying to convince myself that after the rescue mission we’d just survived, kidnapping one man should be a piece of cake. We had not long ago managed to take down a whole group of royal guards, so we should be able to take down one man without an issue.
But this time, you’re trying to take a man right from under King Henry’s nose, a voice in my head argued. Even if I didn’t want to think about it, I knew that being in King’s Forest, so close to the king himself, was bound to be a lot different from sneaking up on guards out in the open, on neutral territory. The king’s advisor, on the other hand, was going to be on the royal grounds. Defeating someone outside was a lot different that overpowering them in their own backyard.
I shook my head, knowing it wasn’t the time to be having second thoughts. This had been my plan, and the girls were out here because of me. If I got cold feet now, it would be an insult to them all. So I had no other option but to stay strong and deliver on my word.
And to come home alive, just like I’d promised Remington I would.
***
It was just before dawn by the time we made it to King’s Forest. The grasses around us gradually grew greener, the roads more smooth, and the buildings more elegant and impressive. It already felt like years since I’d been in this area, and with all the drama I’d been submerged in, I’d almost forgotten how affluent this part of the land was. In spite of myself, I found myself once again astonished by how rich everything looked in comparison to my hometown.
I cast glances around at the girls, observing the looks on their faces. The sight of King’s Forest was still astounding to me, so I could just imagine how incredible of a sight it was for them, having never witnessed it before.
They undoubtedly felt the same as I had when I’d shown up to Promenade the first time, before being arrested and all that drama. I had been a different girl back then, though—one who still had hope that things would turn out all right and that I was going to make things better for my people by playing by the rules.
How times had changed.
Now, I knew that the only way things would get better was if all the rules were broken, because those rules had never been meant to serve me and my people anyway.
Not before long, the palace came into view. Though we stayed hidden in the woods, we had a pretty clear view of the gates.
We were precisely where we needed to be.
“Here is good,” I said, bringing Dolly to a stop. The other girls stopped around me, some of them still looking around in amazement.
“Unbelievable,” Shiva said. “Here we are, barely surviving from day to day, while people out here are living like this?” She shook her head in simultaneous awe and disgust.
“This is nothing,” I said. “If you had seen the secret chamber Jason took me to.” I exhaled. “The Arnazuri people once lived just like this, if not better. The Kingfishers took it all from us and hid it. Our kings and queens were the most beautiful and the most powerful to walk the land. You have no idea how rich our culture really is. How rich and important we really are.”
“Well, if we keep fighting, one day we can restore it,” Nasheeda said, a stern and resolute expression on her face. “What now?”
“We wait,” I said, hopping down from Dolly to stretch after what had been a long ride. I pulled some carrots out of my bag and fed some to her and Max and then passed them around to the other girls to feed their horses.
Then the waiting game began.
***
“Are you sure this is the right area?” Nasheeda asked an hour later.
I shifted uncomfortably from my spot on the forest ground. “Yes. We just have to be patient,” I said, although I was trying to convince myself just as much as them. After a half hour, I had started to grow concerned as well. I replayed the conversation I’d had with Jason at least a dozen times in my head, trying to figure out if I had misheard him. I would never forgive myself if I’d brought the girls out here for no reason.
While the city was still and quiet, it would slowly be coming to life as people began waking. The last thing any of us wanted was to get caught.
After another ten minutes, I was just about ready to throw in the towel. But then, we finally saw some movement.
The gates began to part open, and out walked the man who could only be Tonabi. He was a small and slender man, just like Jason had described, and he wore glasses that magnified his eyes. He pace was slow and steady, completely at ease as he headed toward the trail Jason described as his meditation spot.
For the umpteenth time, I replayed Jason’s words in my head.
“My brother has always been a piece of work. I know it’s a struggle for his advisor to deal with him from day to day, especially since he’s the one who really makes all the decisions on Henry’s behalf despite never getting the credit for it. His name is Tonabi. To help get into the mind frame to put up with Henry, he wakes up before everyone else—around six in the morning or so—and goes out to meditate. Sometimes, I have trouble staying asleep, so I wake up early.
I’ve seen him from my window, leaving the palace to do his morning meditations. I’d almost feel sorry for the guy if he wasn’t such a jerk. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t mind not being credited for my brother’s crooked ways.”
Apparently reaching his preferred spot, Tonabi stretched first and then crouched into a kneeling position and closed his eyes.
I snapped my fingers once, and the girls sprang to action.
Knowing we didn’t have a second to spare, we charged forward, descending upon Tonabi without a sound. He took a deep breath, falling deeper into his meditation and not having a clue we were there until Nasheeda seized him, having snuck up directly behind him to wrap her long arms around him in a crushing bear hug.
I quickly pulled out one of the gags that had been used on Remington and Adey, stuffing it into Tonabi’s mouth before he could scream.
But without warning, he swung a limber leg forward and kicked me square in the stomach. The wind was instantly knocked out of me as the sharp pain ripped through my gut. I toppled over onto the ground, gasping.
Panicked, Shiva jumped forward and punched Tonabi in his stomach—or at least tried to. But he gripped her fist just in time, twisting it painfully until she jumped back with a yelp that sounded like a siren in the quietness surrounding us.
My eyes bulged, quickly looking around and praying no guards had heard her.
Meanwhile, Tonabi—a far more skilled fighter than any of us could have anticipated based on the looks of him—wiggled his way out of Nasheeda’s grasp. He was just about to remove the gag from his mouth before Sentana jumped forward, swiveling her body around with a spinning kick that hit him in the wrist before his hand reached the gag. He was knocked off balance and fell to the ground.
The other girls pounced him all at once, not letting him remove the gag or climb back to his feet.
Finally regaining some air into my lungs, I stood and hurried over to the pile of them on the ground. I pulled the ropes from by bag, quickly tying his feet and then his hands.
Thinking the battle was over, we pulled him into a sitting position. His eyes stared back at us, wild and furious.
“Get him onto the horse,” I said, still slightly winded. I pointed to Max.
But with one last surprise attack, Tonabi head-butted Shiva. She cried out again before another girl tossed a hand over her mouth.
Snarling, I grabbed a stone from the side of the road and clobbered Tonabi in the back of the head with it. He slumped over, unconscious.
I tossed the stone aside and dusted off my hands. “Let’s go.”
CHAPTER 23
“Uhm, Genesis?” Sentana said, bringing her horse to a stop. “I think you should probably take over from here.”
We’d reached the Zagada forest. It was just as I remembered it—dark, dreary, and full of trees, with complicated vines lining the gr
ound, waiting to trip anyone not accustomed to walking over them. I had learned to maneuver through the jungle long ago, but it was obviously as disorienting as I anticipated it to be for anyone not used to it. Even the horses, with the exception of Dolly, seemed nervous.
I gave Dolly a kick to the sides, bypassing Sentana to take the lead. “Everyone, stay close,” I said. “And be careful.” I looked backward, seeing the fearful looks on the others girls’ faces. None of them were hunters, and their reactions just reinforced how unwelcoming the area was to strangers. I felt a certain amount of satisfaction, hoping this was proof that the royal guards wouldn’t stand a chance in Zagada. There may have been more of them than Hawk members, but the jungle itself would help us fight them.
After traveling farther into the jungle, I stopped at what I felt would be a good place to set up camp. Remington and I used to use this particular area to rest while we were hunting.
Hence, I knew that once he’d gathered the Hawks, he would easily guess that this was where I waited.
I looked toward Tonabi, seeing that he had woken. He shot daggers at us with his eyes, clearly furious. But there was fear lurking beneath his expression as well.
I nodded toward a nearby tree. “Tie him up there,” I said. “I’m going to catch us some food.”
“All right,” Nasheeda said.
I prepared my bow and arrow while she and the other girls set to work pulling Tonabi down from the horse and carrying him to the tree I had indicated.
It was only a matter of minutes before I managed to score a satchel full of wild rabbits. I dragged them back to the area I’d left the girls, finding them all standing guard around Tonabi.
“Relax,” I said. “He’s not going anywhere.” He shot an angry glare my way and I smirked. “Even if you got yourself down from that tree, you would never make it out of this jungle, you pampered royal.”
“Hell, I’m from this area and I would never be able to find my way out of here,” Shiva said, shaking her head. She then looked toward all the rabbits I’d gotten. “You really are something, Genesis.”
“You caught all of those by yourself?” one of the other girls exclaimed, wide-eyed. I shrugged. “This is nothing.”
“I bet,” Nasheeda chimed in. “There’s a reason you and Remington were known as the best hunters in the whole Arnazuri community.” She smiled.
Feeling a slight flush coming to my face, I averted my gaze and started gathering sticks. “Let’s get a fire started.”
“Here, let us,” Nasheeda said. “You’ve done enough in catching all those rabbits. The least we can do is cook them.”
Gratefully, I handed over the sticks and the rabbits and took a seat, relishing the chance to relax. The moment was short-lived though, for I could feel Tonabi staring at me.
I climbed back to my feet and walked toward him, practically feeling his hatred for me radiating through the air. He tensed against the tree.
I removed the gag from his mouth. “Not interested in keeping you quiet now,” I said. “Your people need to hear you.”
“Why? So they can follow my voice here?” “Exactly.”
He gave me a snarl that turned into a laugh. “And what is that going to do for you? Do you think being here is going to give you some kind of advantage against the king’s guards?”
“Something like that.”
“Well, you’re wrong, Genesis.” He said my name like a slur, and I had little doubt that he knew who I was. “You’re terribly mistaken if you think you can ever outsmart them.”
“Well, I’ve done it before. So maybe you’re the one who’s terribly mistaken, Tonabi.” “How the hell do you even know me?”
I smiled. “Jason.”
“The traitor. I’m glad he’s dead.”
I slapped him hard across the face, my hand moving as if on reflex.
Tonabi grimaced and spat out blood, narrowly missing me. “You can be as angry as you want, but it doesn’t matter. The royal guards will get here and stomp the Hawk rebels like a bunch of pesky ants.”
“Really?” I said, folding my arms.
Before I could say anymore, though, Shiva had stormed over toward us, her knife drawn. She moved passed me to press the knife into Tonabi’s throat. “I’m already tired of your mouth. Genesis, why are you letting this creep talk?”
“Well, he needs to be heard. When the guards come looking for him, they need to hear him and know he’s alive.”
“And like I said, when they get here, they will squash you all like ants!” Tonabi yelled.
The other girls, who had gotten the fire started and were now roasting the rabbits, all looked our way.
“Oh, yeah?” Shiva said, pressing the knife harder against his neck. “Careful,” I said.
“If the stupid royals could destroy us so easily, why haven’t they done it already?” Shiva said, ignoring me. “After all of these years, why are we still standing?”
“Because you aren’t important enough for them to even care about,” Tonabi said in a condescending tone. “You’re barely a blip on the radar. The king knows you pose no real threat! And we all know you only have to worry about an enemy that is strong enough to be worried about! I hate to break it to you, but the worthless Hawks don’t fall into that category!”
Shiva exchanged glances with me, and I knew precisely all the unspoken thoughts she was having in that moment.
She was thinking about the truth I’d told them about the Arnazuri people—our unknown kings and queens that had been hidden from us and wiped out of living memory. She was recalling what I’d told them all about the hidden tomb Jason had showed me.
With an ironic smile, she removed the knife from Tonabi’s neck. “Clearly, you don’t know everything.”
With that, she and I returned to the other girls, ready to enjoy a much-needed meal.
CHAPTER 24
I stood and stretched, my belly full and my body tired. While I wished for nothing more than to lie down for a while and catch my breath, I knew there was no time to rest just yet. As I glanced around and saw the other girls getting settled around the fire, I already dreaded what I was about to tell them.
I also felt a certain amount of dread over the fact that Remington and the Hawks had yet to show up, but I had to push those concerns aside. We needed to keep moving, and I trusted that Remington knew his way around the jungle well enough to find us wherever we were. Plus, I had to trust in his uncanny ability to read my mind.
As if sensing my thoughts, Sentana looked my way. She’d just been in the process of finding a comfortable spot on the ground.
Another twinge of guilt went through me, knowing I had to tell them that they shouldn’t get too comfortable. But now was not the time to spare their feelings. My plan needed to be carefully executed, and by no means did I want to risk letting anything go wrong.
I approached Tonabi, who was still tied to the tree, sulking. If I had to take a guess, he was pretty peeved over not being fed any of the rabbit. His stomach had growled so loud a few times that we thought a bear was approaching.
Spoiled pampered royal. I knew that Tonabi had probably never been hungry a day in his life.
What could he honestly expect after the way he’d talked to us, though? He could miss a few meals, as far as I was concerned.
“Genesis, what are you doing?” Nasheeda asked, noticing that I was untying Tonabi from the tree.
“We can’t stay here,” I said. I looked back at the girls, seeing that they were just as surprised by this revelation as I had presumed they would be. They stared back at me, wide-eyed and confused.
“Uhm, why not?” Shiva asked. She looked around, her expression growing apprehensive. “Isn’t this a safe area?”
I nodded. “Yes, but there’s somewhere else that’s even safer. It’s over east. Trust me, we’ll be better off there.”
Shiva stared at me for a moment longer, as did the other girls. Then she sighed and began gathering her things. “Well, why didn’
t you take us there in the first place? Lead the way.”
***
As we hiked deeper into the jungle, I was both pleased and unnerved that the other girls didn’t ask many questions. It was nice to know they trusted me so much, but it also made me keenly aware that they were more or less considering me their de facto leader. It wasn’t a position I had consciously set out to obtain, but if it meant doing what was best for my people, it was a position I would just have to get used to.
Because obviously Prince wasn’t up for the task.
Still, I felt a little bad hearing the way the other girls struggled to navigate the tricky grounds. My feet were so well trained to walk through the twisting vines, branches, dirt, and mud that I hardly even noticed any of it. As for the other girls, though—every few steps, one of them was tripping and swearing. The farther we got, the more torn I was between wanting to laugh and wanting to apologize. After all, I had been the one to tell them to make the journey on foot so that we could give the horses a break; with the exception of Dolly, the ground wasn’t exactly easy for them to walk on either.
I trudged on, tightly holding Tonabi’s ropes in one hand and Dolly’s reins in the other.
A large and noticeable white rock loomed overhead. It was a welcome sight, even though the rest didn’t know its significance yet. We needed to make a pit stop first before reaching it, though.
“Left turn here, ladies,” I called out over my shoulder, temporarily leading them away from the rock. As we turned, we entered an even more heavily forested area. I glanced behind me again, checking that they were all with me and hadn’t missed the turn. “We can leave our horses here. They’ll be safe.”
“Are you sure?” one of them asked skeptically.
“Positive,” I said, pulling Dolly forward and petting her muzzle.
Sentana stepped forward and nodded at Tonabi. “Want me to take him for you?”
“Thanks,” I said, passing her his ropes so that I could properly tie up Dolly and Max without Tonabi trying to make a run for it.