'A victorious woman does not worry about the battlefield, because she knows that her victory is certain.'

-Gift Gugu Mona, Woman of Virtue
***

She felt it in the air.

Her home. She was finally back to her home.

An eternity seemed to have passed since that fateful day.

The moonlight shimmered through the canopy of the trees, and she could see the silhouettes of the men on guard, near the village entrance.

The light from their torches blinked against the shadow of darkness that shrouded the forest clearing.

Rayna heard the crunching of leaves beside her.

“We are here.”

Walder sounded just as relieved, as she felt.

They had been riding for two days straight.

Escaping unseen from the Palace was an easier feat, due to the secret passageway that Walder guided her through.

The physician and maids serving Alagr, had been tasked with keeping up the ruse. They had to refuse attendance to anyone, until Walder returned.

To Zaryna, Rayna was still by her husband’s side. They had no inkling of their plan.

He had two of the fastest steeds from the stables, ready for them near the opening, which lay just on the outskirts of the palace boundaries.

Rayna could sense the constant state of apprehension of her companion. She knew Walder was worried about Algar.

The fact that he had commanded him to accompany her here, was strange enough.
Algar stated so himself- Walder was the only man he could really trust in the entire palace.

Then, why would he send him away when he needed him the most?

No matter how hard she tried, Rayna couldn’t understand the motivation behind his actions.

Was that boy this much of a fool?

Walder clearly did not want to do this. He would have preferred being in the Palace, by Algar’s side; rather than leaving him surrounded by traitors who were out for his life.

If luck was on her side, then Algar would be long dead by now.

On her part, she had tried her best to stall their progress, making their journey longer than necessary. Exploiting her condition, she had made Walder take several stops, complaining of pain and cramps.

The old man had been too gullible for his own good. While Walder grew increasingly distressed about Algar’s condition, Rayna tried her best to delay his return to the palace.

The longer Algar remained without his assistance, the more would be the chances of his death. If not by the fatal poison, he might already have been killed by the ministers, impatient for the news of his death.

“I think I will proceed alone from here.”

Walder seemed hesitant, as he held the reins of both the steeds. She could see he was torn between his duty and concern.

“Go, Walder. My men will kill you the moment they see you.”

Rayna knew she could have him killed; that ought to be better for her plan. He will never return back to the Palace.

But she had seen the man’s kindness on more than one occasion.
He had supported her during Gillian’s fight, and her father’s release. She knew he was a wise man.

Why he felt the need to serve a monster like Algar, was beyond her understanding. His misplaced loyalty however, was not something she was going to punish him for.

“Are you sure? I-"

“I am. Go, Algar needs you.”

Her words were enough for his resolve to strengthen and he gave her a curt bow, before mounting his ride.

“I hope you have the decree.”

She nodded.

“Then, I will take my leave. I will be back for the Prince, soon.”

Rayna wished that day would never come.

She wanted to tell him that he would probably be killed the moment he entered the capital, since his fealty to Algar, was no secret. But she knew the headstrong man would never listen to her.

“I will wait.”
______________________________________

“You…”

Kane’s dazed voice, attracted the attention of the other man guarding the village gate, who rounded the corner to march towards him.

“What’s wrong, Kane? You saw some-"

His own jaw seemed to drop to the ground, as he looked at the weary figure of the woman standing before them.

Rayna ignored the stupefied expressions of the men, and met their gazes with her own urgent one.

“Where is my father?”
______________________________________

Gillian could hardly believe his eyes.

Standing before him, in the confines of the chieftain’s hut, was the woman he had thought he would never see again.

Then again, this wasn’t the same woman who had been ruthlessly following him around for years, demanding his affections.

This was not the woman whose one true pleasure was to exert her authority over others.

No, this was a changed woman. Her eyes were cautious and alert, with their depth hinting at deep-buried secrets.
Her face was gaunter than he remembered; and there was a sense of disillusionment surrounding her.

She looked like a woman who had suffered through hell, and still persevered.

Gillian had seen enough carnage in his life; he had survived many of them. He knew the scars that a survivor carried- both physical and emotional; the same scars, that lay hidden in Rayna’s eyes.

His eyes fell to her stomach, where the folds of her dress hugged the contour of her swollen womb.

So, it was all true after all.
He had been right. She was with child again- that man’s child.

He swallowed his guilt, as soon as he heard her impatient voice,

“My father?”

Her gaze was directed at the chieftain’s sleeping figure. She had not once looked at him.

“He is sleeping at the moment.”

Rayna’s eyes were brimming with tears, as she strode towards the bed, stopping just at the edge.

“What happened?”

The hoarseness of her voice, did little to mask the fear underneath.

He knew it must be a shock to her to see the chieftain in such a state. But Gillian could hardly contain his own consternation in this situation.

They had almost lost all hopes for her return. Yet, here she was.

There were innumerable questions he wanted to ask. Her haunting eyes, and deplorable condition, were a testimony of his own failure. He had failed to save her, to protect her.

Nevertheless, how was she here?
Had the boy finally regained his sanity, and decided to undo the wrong that he committed?

That seemed highly unlikely…

“Tell me what happened to my father!”

Rayna’s voice had taken a fearful edge, and Gillian had to force his own doubts aside, to answer her in the calmest voice he could muster,

“He has been unwell for a while.”

He did not want to tell her about the severity of the situation. He did not want to frighten her with the possibility of her father’s demise.

Her posture had gone stiff.

“How bad?”

Her tone carried an uncanny acceptance. He could see the quivering of her hands, as they clutched the folds of her dress.

Gillian knew he had to be honest with her. It was the least he could do, after all that she had been through.

“He has been unconscious for the past three days.”

The dismal tone of his voice, was enough to tell her what she needed to know.

“Rayna, I-How did you-"

“Later. I will answer all your questions later.”

His words were stuck in his throat, as soon as she met his eyes, with her own tortured gaze.

“I want to be with my father.”

She wanted to be alone.

With a stiff nod of his head, Gillian exited the hut, knowing that there was still some time left for him to get the answers to all his questions.
______________________________________

Maybe the heavens were punishing her.

There could be no other justification for this.

Her father- the man who had been the epistome of strength for her, now looked so weak.

She could hardly recognize him beneath the scruff beard, and the wrinkles surrounding his face. He seemed to have aged a decade in these months.

Oh, father!
What have you done to yourself…?

Rayna knew something was amiss by the manner of the men she had met at the borders. They had blanched when she had asked them to take her to him.

It had struck as something odd to her.

Kane had fussed about how she needed to take some rest first; that the others would be ecstatic by her return. He had even proposed to take her to meet Olga and their daughter.

But no matter how tempted she was to see the little babe, or offer her body some much needed food and sleep, she had to see her father first.
Before the news awakened all the villagers, she had to meet him.

Hence, she had adamantly refused all their concerns, and demanded to be led to him.

Her apprehensions had proven to be just right however, the moment she entered the hut.

Her father was sick.
And by what she could gather from Gillian’s defeated expression, he was very ill.

She knew she was the reason behind his infliction.
She knew she was his greatest weakness. Seeing her in pain, and still being unable to help her, must have been insufferable for him.

What he didn’t understand, was that his being alive and well, was the most significant motivation he could ever give her.

“You should have taken care of yourself, father. Look…I have returned. Your daughter has returned, just as she promised.”

She stroked the rough skin of his face, as she sat beside him, letting the tears fall freely down her cheeks.
This was not how she had imagined their reunion.

Rayna stilled when she felt his body stir.

“Father?”

She was alert at once, prodding him gently.

With a heavy groan, he opened his eyes.
The whites of his eyes were stained yellow, and she gasped at the deadness of his gaze.
He did not appear to be in his senses.

“Rayna?”

He croaked incomprehensibly.

Rayna bent down to kiss his forehead.

“Yes, father! It is me. I am back. I am free at last. You do not need to worry about me anymore, father. Just get well. I have a lot of things to tell you.”

He did not seem to grasp her words, looking blankly at her.

“I’m dreaming.”

His lips moved in a murmur. Rayna wanted to shake him awake, but refrained.

“No, you are not. This is real, father.”

Her chocked words, spoken through a haze of tears, elicited a dreamy smile from him- the only indication of him being alive, before he closed his eyes and collapsed back in the darkness.

Rayna stayed beside him for a few more hours, seeking comfort in his shallow breaths, which seemed to be coming out more laboriously with each passing moment.

She sat and thought.
She knew she had to devise a new strategy. She was not naive enough to make wishful assumptions.
It was clear to her- her father will die.

He will die, and she will be left all alone once again.

Her son- her little tiger, was the only thing that mattered now. And she could no longer afford to be weak.

Those few hours of solitude, gave her a clarity of mind. She knew what she must do now- to secure her and her son’s safety.
______________________________________

Rayna exited the hut, only to be greeted by a sobbing Olga, who threw her hands around her in a fierce hug.

“Oh, Rayna! You are here! I almost refused to believe Kane when he told me that you had returned.
How are you? You don’t know how sorry I am-”

Rayna smiled, despite her worries, pulling back to look at her.

“I am alive.”

Olga’s excitement dimmed when she took her appearance.
Her eyes were fixed on her swollen abdomen, much like that of the other villagers who had gathered around her.

Rayna could see them sizing her with anxiousness- looking for signs of the torture she must have suffered in the capital.

She felt their gazes on her- filled with disbelief, confusion, sympathy, relief, guilt…and pity. They saw her as some broken soul, battered beyond redemption. They had probably expected her to be crying inconsolably.

Huh. That was all a woman was expected to be- a victim. But not her.

She refused to be a victim.
She had not escaped that hell, to live the rest of her life drowning in self-pity.
She will take the rein of her life. She will prove these people wrong.

They loved and supported her- that much was apparent from their concerned gaze; but she had to make them realise that she deserved more than that.
She had earned much more than that.

Smiling calmly at the rest of them, she finally fixed her gaze on Olga.

“How is your daughter? I have yet to meet her.”

Olga’s expression turned to understanding, and she grinned gratefully.

“She is a handful. I cannot wait to show her to you.”

“I will. I have to some matters to attend to first.”

Detaching herself from the woman’s arms, she strode assuredly through the crowd, acknowledging their tentative greetings with a firm smile.

They will not see her break. They will never see her break.
______________________________________

“Rayna…”

She knew they had to be alone for what she was going to discuss with him.

Their hut- the one that had been her home once, seemed to be the best option.

It was just as she had left it.
Piles of fur lay in a corner, along with a stack of needles. Unfinished fabric draped over a chair. The place seemed deserted.
Had he not spent any time here?

Had he already made another home, with that girl?

“What happened, Rayna? Please tell me. How did you manage to leave?”

She sighed, facing him with a cool expression.

“You should have kept this place a bit tidy.”

His eyes flared, and he took a few restrained steps towards her.

“That is not important at the moment! You have to tell me what happened, so that we can prepare a proper strategy. If they attack, we will be ready for them. I have been training the men for months. We will protect you this time. You will be safe. But first, you need to tell me how you managed to leave.”

Rayna could see the fear in his eyes- the fear of facing defeat.

“The King is dead.”

Her flat voice, stopped him short.
He frowned, taking in the information.

“The King? But we already know that. He died months back.”

Rayna shook her head.

“No. I am not talking about the old King.”

Realisation dawned on Gillian, and ran a hand over his face, letting out a relieved breath.

“That bastard is dead? Good riddance. How, though?”

“Poisoned.”

Rayna succumbed to the temptation of comfort, and sat herself in one of the chairs.

Her heart ached when she remembered all she had dreamt of, months back, sitting in this very chair.
She had dreamt of a future with her husband; had dreamt of them being a family.
Gillain would love their son, and forget all about that girl…

How pathetic!

She had been a foolish girl.

How wrong was she to think that a man held the key to her happiness…

Men were nothing but monsters.
All they were capable of, was unleashing their sick designs on unsuspecting women.

She had seen the entirety of their ugliness over the course of a few months. She was sick of them; their mechanisations, perversity and foolishness. She had long vowed to never allow any man to ever have control over her- neither her heart, nor her body; and she intended to keep that vow.

Gillian’s eyes were filled with affinity, as he sized her tired appearance.

“They must been after you too.”

Rayna leaned her face back, closing her eyes with a sigh.

“Yet, I escaped.”

There was a short silence.

“Yes, you did… You must be tired. Especially in your c-condition… I-I will leave you to rest. Rest assured, I will keep you safe.”

Rayna’s eyes flew open, and she fixed him with an accusatory glare.

“I am sorry, commander, but I find little comfort in your words. Afterall, you had once vowed to protect me with your life, as your wife…and look how that went!
The first chance you got, you chose another woman over me. It’s funny you would choose to fulfil your duty now. I wonder where this sense of duty was, the day you left me with those monsters, in the meadow.”

Her words had hit their mark. Gillian refused to meet her eyes, as he clenched his jaw in shame.

For her own part, Rayna felt lighter, after getting the load off of her chest. She knew she had to say this to him someday; it was only better for it to be today.

“And if you think I will ever agree to rest in this place,”

She motioned to the interior of the hut, before continuing,

“-then think again. This is not my home anymore. I am no longer your wife.”

Her statement drew a sharp look from him.

“Rayna, I know what I did was wrong. I should have tried to save you that day…But you couldn’t possibly expect me to have forgiven you for all you did to me! I saw you push Lynette down the horse! I thought you wanted to kill her.”

Rayna straightened her back, fixing him with a vicious look.

“What I did to you? Well, I hope you are satisfied now, for you finally got your revenge! I may have made a mistake once, but I am sure you will be glad to know, that I paid more than my due share of price for that. You forsake me that day; and in doing so, you subjected me, and my son, to hell!”

Gillian’s face paled at the mention of their son- a son he thought he had lost.

“Rayna, I-"

Rayna balanced her hands against the arm of the chair, and pulled herself up.

“No, Gillian. I do not want to keep you from any satisfaction you might derive from knowing about my plight. It might provide you with some consolation, that the villainess woman, who had so craftly destroyed your delightful future with your sweet, little lover, met her well-deserved end. It might comfort you to know, that what I did to you, in a fit of passion and naivety that one night, was done to me again and again, over the course of months!
I was humiliated and degraded in the worst possible manner.
That man- that bastard, used me like a rag doll. He kept me imprisoned within four walls, treating me no better than a slave. I hope that quenched some of your thirst for revenge.”

Rayna knew what she was doing.
She had never meant to relive those horrendous memories; but for what she had planned, this was something inevitable.

To her satisfaction, her words seemed to have their intended response of leaving Gillian flushed with shame and guilt.

“I-I did not-"

She could see his throat working to bring the words to his mouth.

“Well, you must be disappointed to see me here. With me gone, you could have led a happy life with that girl. But now, my return has dented your plans. However, worry not, commander.
As I said before, I am not your wife anymore. I had married another. What you do with your life, is no concern of mine. You may live your life the way you want, and with whoever you want. I have already lost everything…”

Gillian’s face was contorted with humiliation. He stayed rooted at his spot, as she let a few orchestrated tears to escape her eyes.

When he spoke next, his voice was crushed under the weight of his regret,

“Rayna, I know you have suffered a lot. I-I will never be able to take back all those sufferings. But believe me, I derive no pleasure from such sadistic thoughts.
I am not a monster, Rayna. I might not have loved you, but I never wished any ill upon you. Whatever happened to you, should never happen to anybody. As for what you did, I already forgave you for that. I only ask for you to forgive me too.”

Rayna looked at him with a piercing gaze. Beneath the sharp bow of his brows, sat the pair of most haunted eyes.

“You forgave me for that night. But what all should I forgive you for? Shall I forget about the atrocities I had to suffer because of you?
Do you think it is that easy- forgiving you for abandoning me when I needed you the most?
For saying those horrible things about our child? For refusing to accept him?”

She choked back a sob, adding to the effect of her words.
Just a few more seconds. She had to play on his guilt for a few more seconds, to get what she wanted.

Gillian shook his head fervently.

“No! No, it is not. I know that. But I want you to know that I cared for our child, Rayna. I did love him. I just took too late to realise that…too late.”

His eyes watered, and she knew she had broken through his resolve. She had broken him enough to bend him to her will- using his guilt as an instrument.

“Yes, you are right. It is too late. And now, I am going to lose my father too.”

A tear rolled down his face, as he looked at her with a beseeching gaze.

“I really wish our child was alive now. That it was him in your womb, instead.”

She palmed her bump, and spoke in a fiery tone,

“Well, your wishes won’t bring him back. And this child, is mine. I will not have you say such hurtful things about him.”

Rayna had decided in that moment that she would never disclose her child’s real identity to him, or anyone here.

Perhaps that was the biggest revenge she could get on this man- rob him of his chance of being a father to his own son.

Imagine the plight of living in a constant guilt over the death of a child, who was living well, and healthy before your own eyes!
That was bound to be his greatest punishment.

Yes, this will be her child, and hers alone.
She needed no man to raise her son with.

“Of course, I did not mean that. I wish you well. I will pray for the health of this child. As long as it can provide you some comfort.”

Rayna scoffed.
With a broken expression, she raised her tortured gaze to his.

“I have lost everything, Gillian-everything.”

She could see the helplessness in his eyes, and knew it was time to seek her ultimate revenge.

He moved closer to her, setting his imploring eyes on her face.

“Give me a chance to repent for my sins, Rayna. I have promised the Chieftain to protect you. Just tell me what I can do to lessen your pain, and ease my guilt.”

Ah!
Finally…

She looked at him through the fog of her tears. She knew the only way she could control him, was to manipulate his sense of guilt. He was a righteous man; and would do anything to atone for his wrongdoings.
And in his eyes, he had done her a great wrong.

“You would?”

Gillian’s face tensed with resolve, eager for a means to abate some of his remorse.

“Yes, I will. You have my word. Name what you want.”

Rayna took a quivering breath.

“Then give me the title of the Chieftain.”

Gillian seemed taken aback by her blunt words.

“What?”

Rayna put some distance between them, before continuing in a firm tone,

“I heard that father declared you as his successor. I want you to relinquish that title to me.”

“But, Rayna-"

“Why? Can’t you? Does that title mean more to you, than your promise? Or is it because I am a woman?”

She took steady steps towards his stunned frame.

“I am my father’s daughter. I have all the right to be the next chieftain. It is unfair to refuse that to me, just because I am a woman.”

She did not want to add the thought that she had more sense than all of them combined.

She did not want to tell him that while men depended on their muscles and strength, a woman made decisions with a cool, calculative mind.

The fact that she was more aware of the capital politics now, than ever, was an added advantage.

She knew her father would not survive.
For him, Gillian must have been the obvious choice for a successor. But she could sway the people’s opinions to her side. They were already sympathetic of her plight.
The fact that she was their chieftain’s daughter, also worked in her favour.

She would make use of their sentiments. Their pity will be her weapon. Hopefully, she will not be facing much resistance.

She had to become the leader of this clan- for the future of her son, as well as that of her own people.

“What happened? Already regretting your words?”

She raised a challenging gaze at him.
Gillian looked at her with a growing clarity.

“You had this planned already, hadn’t you?”

Rayna smiled coldly.

“I suppose you know me quite well.”

He didn’t seem angry- only acquiescing.

“You are a smart woman, Rayna.”

“Oh, do not blame me here. You know this is the least you can do to atone for the hell you put me through. If you tell the people that my father asked me to be his successor, when I returned, they will not doubt you. They all know how much he loved me. Moreover, if you do this, you will be free to live your life the way you want. I will not object to your relations with that girl. I will even agree to your marriage with her. What more do you want?”

Gillian looked at her with inquisitive eyes, like he was trying to decipher the woman before him.

“I am not as cheap as you think. I will agree to your wishes. Not because I am swayed by your generous offer, but because I know you need this.”

Rayna's composure faltered when he neared her. His haze seemed to penetrate through all the defences she had so painstakingly built.

“You might pretend to do this for power, but I know there is more to this. I know you need this, much more than me. I will be happy to remain a warrior. As long as I can serve my clan, I will die happily. And as far as Lynette is concerned, I will oblige to whatever she wants.
But for you, this title is the only legacy you will have from your father. You need this distraction to forget about the horrific memories from the Palace, don’t you? This way, you will never be under another man’s control. Am I right?”

Rayna gulped, finding his words too real to ignore. She had never wanted to express her intentions out loud. But somehow, Gillian knew about most of them.

She let out a dry laugh, and placed a gentle hand on his arm.

“You give me too much credit, Gillian. Well…I do not care what you think of my motivations. Will you do it, or not?”

Gillian shrugged her hand off, and fixed a sincere expression on his face.

“If this will help ease a fraction of your sufferings, and help atone for my sins, I will gladly do it.”
______________________________________

One Year Later;

Rayna gazed lovingly at the angelic face of her son, as he suckled at her breast.

Her heart seemed ready to burst with love.

Her son. Her little tiger.

He was just as handsome, as she had always imagined. Though, she had been surprised to find no resemblance of his father in him. She recalled wanting a child who would be just like Gillian- a dark-haired, fearless warrior.

And while her dear Edgar had hair as dark as the night, all his features resembled his mother. Everyone in the village left no chance of commenting on their uncanny similarity.
He was his mother’s warrior, they said; and Rayna couldn’t have been prouder.

She had been a little apprehensive of the people’s reactions to him. For them, he would be the mad King’s son. But to her pleasant surprise, they accepted her son as one of their own.

They never reminded her of his supposed parentage. For them, he was the son of their clan, the child of their chieftain.

She had often noticed the sad gazes that Gillian casted at them- probably wanting to see his own son in him.

She had almost regretted lying to him.

But then, she would see that girl by his side- as his wife, and she would harden her resolve.
He will never know Edgar is his son.

Rayna smiled as she heard her son’s soft snores. Fixing her dress, she placed a loving kiss on his cheek, and lay him down in the small cot that Kane had placed in her father’s hut- their home now.

It seemed only yesterday, that the people had gladly accepted her as their new chieftain.
Their protestations were more vocal however, when she disclosed her intention of allowing Gillian to marry Lynette.

They had been outraged. Nevertheless, she had managed to persuade them, with arguments of her remarriage, and the fact that she carried another man’s child now. Finally, they had relented.

Over the months, they even warmed up to the new order of things. Gillian and Lynette seemed happy enough; though, she never missed a chance of fixing him with an accusatory gaze.

She vowed to never let him forget about what he had done.

That man- the one she had pledged her heart to once, was now just a stranger to her.

He was the lesson she had needed in her life, to remind herself never to love another as fervently as she had loved him. She will never be that silly girl again. There was only one man who will ever hold her heart now- her son.

“Chieftain!”

Kane’s pressing cry, piqued Rayna’s attention. She checked upon Edgar, before moving swiftly to the entrance of the hut.

“What is wrong?”

Closing the door softly behind her, she frowned when she took in his pale face.

“It is the new King. He is here.”
______________________________________

As Rayna sat before the royal retinue, she could hardly contain her contentment.

She finally faced the final phase of her well-laid plan.
If all went according to her strategy, she will have fulfilled her vow to herself, as well as her father, by the end of the day.

She had been waiting for them to come for her.

Unsurprisingly, they had been too busy with managing a volatile capital and establishing some semblance of normalcy and stability there, to take the pains to visit her.
Even then, they had definitely bitten into more than they could swallow.

None of them had been ready to deal with the mess Algar had left behind. And now, the news was widespread, that the King was travelling to different villages and seeking assistance and peace with the Chieftains.

With the urgency they had shown in overthrowing the bastard’s rule, Rayna would have expected them to be a little more prudent; but clearly, she had overestimated them.

“Chieftain, it is an honour to meet you.”

It was the new King who spoke, his voice cautious…Raquel’s son, who had laid his claim to the crown, and who now sat before her, looked weary; his shoulders drooping with responsibility.
She almost pitied his laughable state.

Rayna smiled formally.

“Likewise, Your Highness. To what do we owe this esteemed visit?”

The men looked at one another, seemingly agitated.

“Chieftain, I-I suppose you know the reason behind our visit.”

She saw her commander’s furious gaze on the King, and chuckled.

“Commander, do grant me a few moments alone with the King. We have some matters to discuss.”

Gillian frowned, his protest ready on his tongue, before she fixed him with a firm stare.

“Now, commander.”

He agreed, albeit reluctantly, motioning for the rest of the guards to leave the tent.

“Your Highness, I will expect the same from you, if we are to have any discussion. Please send your men out.”

The King seemed more hesitant.

“You don't believe a woman will be able to overpower you, do you?”

Her words caused him to flush in embarrassment. In another second, he had ordered his reluctant men to leave.

“Well, now we may discuss this reason. Do enlighten me on what it might be?”

The King sighed, before looking at her with solemn eyes.

“I know Algar handed to you the decree, pronouncing your son as his heir.”

There was no need to pretend anymore. Rayna was relieved that she could finally put her theory to test. If this man had even a little sense, he will take the right decision.

“Yes. Yes, he did. What about it? Are you perhaps here to threaten me?”

He smiled sincerely at her words.

“No. To be honest, I am tired of wars. I had seen too many of them in that boy’s reign. All I want is to establish some peace for once. There is just one hindrance in that- your son.”

Rayna’s eyes flashed with warning.

“You are treading a thin line, Your Highness. I will not have you threaten my son.”

“Of course, not! I am not here with any bad intentions. I just want to make a mutually beneficial compromise. As long as that decree remains with you, there will always be a threat to my rule. My men are adamant to have that destroyed. However, you are not a common woman. You are the Chieftain of this clan, and a very important potential ally. I do not want any animosity between us.”

That had been the very reason she had planned to have this title- to be capable of protecting her son, when the time came.

Rayna levelled her gaze to his.

“And yet, you would have killed me and my unborn child, had I not escaped the palace that day.”

He did nothing to refute the fact, causing her to smile.

“Well, at least you are honest. And definitely an upgrade from that bastard.”

This piqued his interest, and he leaned forward.

“You hated him”

Rayna shrugged.

“What else did you expect? Who didn’t? Well, except for Walder….what happened to him?”

She knew the answer before he replied.

“He’s dead.”

“Ah…that had to happen. He was a good man.”

The King nodded his head.

“But he chose the wrong side. So, tell me, will you hand that decree over to me?”

Rayna leaned back, feigning contemplation.

“What do you have in store for me? How will this favour me?”

The King’s face relaxed, sensing an amicable discussion ahead.

“Whatever you want in return.”

Rayna smiled triumphantly.
Finally.

“Then, here is my proposition- I will cede my son’s rights to the throne. The decree will be destroyed before your own eyes. My son will never know of his parentage.
In return, I want you to proclaim my clan’s independence. You will sanction my land’s freedom from the capital. You have to give me a written proclamation that none of the royal forces will ever attack my lands. Of course, that also means we will never rebel against your rule, or try to interfere in your affairs. I, as the Chieftain, will publicly endorse you as the King. Surely you can do this little, in exchange of a stable kingdom.”
______________________________________

“What did the King say? Kane said you were alone with him for quite some time.”

Olga’s curious face, landed in Rayna’s view.

“Nothing important. He just wanted to discuss something about Algar.”

Olga’s expression soured upon hearing the name, only to shudder in revulsion.

"He will not attack us, will he?"

Rayna sighed contentedly.

"He won't be troubling us anymore."

They enjoyed the silent bliss, watching their children play on the carpet, before Olga spoke again,

“Ah! Did you hear the news?”

Rayna smiled at her son’s gurgling laughter, as she replied,

“What news?”

Olga seemed to hesitate before continuing,

“Lynette is with child.”

To her surprise, Rayna felt nothing upon hearing the words.

Gillian, the father of her dear Edgar, was soon to be a father again.

Poor man…so painfully unaware of the existence of his own flesh and blood.

Hmm…shall she torture him some more with the guilt? Accuse him of loving this child, when he had abandoned his first one?

Perhaps that would be too cruel...

As far as she knew, he would already be boiling in his regrets. There was nothing more she could do to add to his misery.

“That is an auspicious news.”

Olga seemed perplexed.

“You’re not angry? I really cannot understand. You loved this man!”

Rayna looked at her with an apathetic smile,

“And now I don’t. What is surprising about that? I have learnt to value other people- my son being one of them. I am the Chieftain. I have responsibilities towards my village. I am not so petty, as to pine after a married man.”

Olga’s eyes widened with a newfound admiration.

“You never cease to amaze me, Rayna! I wish my daughter will grow up to be like you.”

Rayan glanced at the loveable child lying beside her son.

“Oh, she will be, Olga. She will be a marvellous woman.”

______________________________________

THE END
»»——⍟——««

______________________________________

Author's Note-

Hello to all my wonderful readers!

It is time for me to say goodbye to this story✨

This has been one of my most enjoyable projects. I loved writing each second of it.

Rayna is by no means an ideal heroine. She is flawed. She has done awful deeds. But I found myself rooting for her.

I hope you liked it just as much! 🌸

What did you think of the ending?
I would love to know your thoughts on the fates of the characters.

On that note, I would like to thank you all for accompanying me through this journey. 💕

P. S. This was a heck long chapter!!🥴
Please point out the typos for me!
👋🏼