Princess Kaiya of Valla

We rose early the next day and rode on in complete silence. Even the birds had stopped singing, as if they sensed our loss. Every time a twig snapped, I jumped.

It was perhaps no great surprise when the flapping of a bird sent the entire Nohrian group into disarray.

Elise's wily pony spooked and bolted, crashing into Zodiac's rear end. He squealed and kicked, cantering away.

I pulled back on the reins, and his strides slowed.

But the bird and Elise's pony had scared the rest of the herd. Leo's mare galloped up beside Zodiac, accompanied by my brother's loud cursing. Zodiac, thinking it was a race, shot forwards again, moving from a steady canter into a full-pelt gallop and shooting away from the group.

"Steady!" I pulled the reins. "Who-oa! Trot, Zodiac!"

He eased back into a fast canter, but it was still too much. The trees were coming towards us quickly, almost impossible for me to steer him around. As we approached the next, he went one way -- and I went the other.

I flew over his head, turning as I fell and landing on my back. My sudden dismount startled him so much that he screeched to a halt. He lowered his head and snorted at me, his eyes wide.

I pushed myself upright. My back was sore, but everything seemed to be working.

"Thanks, Zodiac." I stood up slowly. "At least that made you stop."

"I am the forgotten dragon," an echoing voice whispered.

I took Zodiac's reins and looked around. No one was there.

"The betrayed king," the voice continued. "The entombed god."

Chills raced up my spine. "Hello?"

Something rustled in the trees behind us. I turned around just in time to see a bolt of magic roaring towards me.

***

The floor was hard and lumpy beneath my back. My ears were ringing, and my chest ached. A breeze was blowing over me, and I shivered. Where were my blankets?

Oh, hell. Have I passed out again?

I slowly opened my eyes.

Yes. I was not lying in my bed, but in the forest. Gunter was standing over me, holding the reins of his horse in one hand and those of Zodiac in the other. I could hear hoof beats all around and the others shouting my name, but it faded in and out, overpowered by the horrible ringing in my ears.

Gunter started speaking, but I could only catch some of his words. "Ah ... coming to. Thank ... I only just ... you, my lady. Did you fall ... Zodiac?"

I sat up, wincing as my back twinged. Pain shot across my chest, and I pressed my fingers against my ears. "Gunter, I can't hear you properly. Someone attacked me with some very powerful -- and very loud -- magic."

"Kass!" Norton exploded through the overgrowth and dropped to his knees beside me. "There you are! What happened?"

I explained it to him, too, and told them both about the words I'd heard.

"Then whoever attacked you must also be the person who tried to kill me," Norton said. "They're trying to catch us while we're away from the main body of the group. Perhaps it's because of our Vallite royal bloodline?"

I was still finding it hard to believe that I was a Vallite princess. I'd only just got used to the idea that I was Hoshidan royalty, for goodness' sake.

"It seems likely," Gunter said, coming closer so that I could hear him properly. "You need to keep your wits about you. I do not wish you to meet the same fate as Semyaza's flower, my lady."

Norton frowned.

"Kass!" Xander and Indra trotted through the trees. Xander halted by Gunter and immediately dismounted. "Kass ... you..."

I tapped my ears. "Come closer. I can't hear properly."

He crouched beside me, frowning. "What happened?"

"I fell off Zodiac while he was bolting through here, and before I could get back on, someone attacked me. We think it was the traitor."

The others were coming through the trees now. Xander helped me to sit up a bit more, and pain shot across my ribs. I gasped.

"Where does it hurt?" he asked as Sakura reached us. Elise, Felicia, Flora, and Jakob drifted after her to see if they needed to intervene.

"My chest and my back," I groaned. "And my ears -- it's so loud."

Sakura put her healing rod against each of my ears. The ringing sound faded.

"Which hurts more?" she asked as she worked. "Your back or your chest?"

"My chest. I think my back is just bruised."

She examined my chest first, gently pulling up my tunic. A large bruise was already spreading over my lower ribcage, as deeply purple as a plum.

"Have I broken a rib?" I asked. My chest seemed to hurt even more now that I could see the damage.

Xander put his arm around my shoulders. "Surely she'd be in more pain if she'd broken a rib, Princess Sakura? She managed to sit up."

"Not n-necessarily." Sakura put her healing rod against my chest. "It c-can be h... difficult to tell, P-Prince Xan... Prince X-Xander..."

"Explain it as if you're just talking to me," I said. "Don't be nervous."

She nodded, her cheeks flaming. "It c-can be hard to tell if injured ribs are bruised or broken. B-both injuries are healed in the same way, so it doesn't really matter as long as the lungs aren't p-punctured. This will help a lot, but they might still feel a bit s-sore."

She applied more pressure to her healing rod, her eyes narrowing in concentration. Some of my pain lifted, leaving only a little ache behind.

She checked my back, but that was definitely just bruised, so Xander helped me up. Norton stood up and backed off, but Ryoma came forwards. "Do you want me to help you on again, Kaiya?"

I looked at Xander to check his reaction. It was my intention to accept Ryoma's offer regardless, but I was wondering if he'd glower about it.

He just took his arm from around my shoulders and raised an eyebrow.

I went to Ryoma and Zodiac with a smile.

Ryoma gave me a leg-up and held Zodiac still while I put my feet in my stirrups. Then we made an about-turn and rode in the direction we had actually been intending to travel in.

***

An hour later, we finally emerged from the forest and saw Castle Gyges before us.

It was shaped like a pyramid, with a layered array of walls and stairs protruding, creating a series of odd segments and watchtowers that rose all the way up the angled surfaces. At the centre, a large flight of steps led from the bottom to the crown, which was a little building at the top.

The sandy stones were crumbling, and grass and vines grew through the cracks and wrapped the castle in their green embrace. It sat almost entirely on an island of its own. Only a thin strip of land remained between the castle grounds and the short plain outside the forest.

"Wow!" Elise said. "I've never seen a castle like that before!"

Neither had I. In a strange way, I preferred the dark, threatening Castle Krakenburg over this. Castle Gyges looked abandoned, like a palace for ghosts -- a place devoid of human life but filled with unspeakable terrors.

Perhaps I'd just read far too many stories during my time in the Northern Fortress.

"Advance with caution," Xander warned.

We rode towards the thin land-bridge slowly, our hands on our weapons. It was just as well.

A shadowy figure appeared before us -- another demon, wearing a black, hooded cloak that hid its features. We pulled up short and drew our blades, but it stayed still.

"I recognise you!" Norton exclaimed. "You're the one who came to Hoshido and killed Mother!"

The demon laughed. "Indeed. Now I have come to kill you. Do you have any idea how amazing this feels? Not only have my own children come to fight me, but you've all grown so strong. There can be no greater challenge of my abilities than this!"

The demon threw down its hood. Standing before us was King Sumeragi.

"Father?" Ryoma exclaimed. He came forwards.

"Once I was a king, but now I am a lowly servant to Anankos," the demon said. "My fall did bother me for a time, but no more! Not with opponents like you. I'm so happy, my son. Look how strong you are now! This will be a glorious battle."

Ryoma drew his sword and stepped forwards.

"No!" I leaned across my horse and grabbed his shoulder. "Be careful. He could summon something."

"Who am I to deny his wish, Kaiya? I have to free him from Anankos."

The former King of Hoshido smiled. "I expect nothing less than your best -- you will be getting mine!"

He held out his hand, and a sword slowly materialised in his grip. Ganglari.

Ryoma glowered. "There is the proof that you are not my father! He was a respectable man, a just king, and a true samurai. You, the murderer of my mother, are not him. I will destroy you for pretending!"

Ryoma charged towards Sumeragi. But the man I'd thought was my father vanished, just like he had done after he'd killed Mother.

"Show yourself!" Ryoma turned around. "You can't hide from me this time!"

Sumeragi appeared behind him and swung his sword.

"Ryoma!" I screamed. "Look out!"

Ryoma spun on his heel and raised his blade to block Sumeragi's strike. He managed it, but his balance was off. He stumbled backwards into Zodiac's chest, and Sumeragi lunged after him.

Xander swung his sword down, blocking the blow. Then he spun the blade around and struck Sumeragi, carving into his shoulder.

Sumeragi stumbled back, seething anger in his eyes. "Nohrian! What business of yours is this?"

"Your son is my ally," Xander said calmly.

Ryoma recovered and struck at Sumeragi. The King blocked his blade, then attempted to counterstrike. His shoulder injury made the movement weak. Ryoma stepped out of the way and caught Sumeragi's side. As his father staggered, he kicked him in the stomach.

Sumeragi fell. Ryoma advanced, raising his sword for the kill. But Sumeragi rolled away. He came up without his blade, his fist swinging in a right hook, and caught Ryoma square in the jaw. My brother stumbled backwards, and Sumeragi reached for Ganglari.

As his fingers closed around the hilt, Ryoma stabbed him.

The sword cut clean through Sumeragi's spinal cord. He fell. As Ryoma crouched down beside him, I realised that he was crying.

"Father?" he murmured. "Are you...free, now?"

Hinoka, Takumi, and Sakura pushed through the group to fall at Sumeragi's side. Norton came and stood next to me, and we looked on together.

"You've all become so strong," Sumeragi said, feebly clutching his wound. Blood spread through his cloak.

Sakura had already burst into tears. Now Hinoka started weeping.

Sumeragi smiled faintly. "Why are you all crying? You have surpassed my hopes for you as warriors on the battlefield and as royalty of Hoshido. I could not have wished for anything better. Be proud of who you've become. And...know that I am." He tried to lift his head. "Nayoko, Kaiya...come here."

Norton moved forwards. I hesitated.

Xander held out his hand. "Go. He was your father in everything but blood, and he did a much better job for you than mine. Say goodbye to him, or you will forever regret it."

I dismounted and put my reins in his outstretched hand. Then I went to my Hoshidan siblings and sat at Sumeragi's side.

"I must apologise to you," he croaked.

"Why, Father?" Norton asked.

"I'm sorry that I wasn't able to protect you that day. Your life could have been so different...if only I'd been stronger."

Norton exchanged a look with me. So that was why Sumeragi had been so fixated on challenging his abilities.

I smiled sadly. "It doesn't matter, Father. Our lives have been good. Perhaps it was always destined to be this way."

Sumeragi released a breathy laugh. "Such a...forgiving young woman. Thank you. Tell me...did you find Mikoto?"

"Yes, we did," Norton said.

"That's...good." Sumeragi was starting to slur. "Though I loved her dearly, my time with her was so brief. At least I can spend my last moments...with you. My children, all grown up...I'm so glad we could meet again."

He began to disintegrate.

Ryoma touched his fading shoulder. "Father, no!"

"Now I can...rest without regrets," Sumeragi murmured. "After all, I believe that you...can win this war..."

"We will," I said.

"Good," he whispered.

And then he was gone.

"No." Ryoma clenched his fist around the air where his father's shoulder had been. "No!"

Azura drifted to a halt beside us. Ryoma slowly stood up, and she hugged him. As he wrapped his arms around her back, she stared bleakly at the castle before us. Anankos had taken so much: her father, her surrogate mother, and everyone her friends had loved.

Everyone I'd hardly been given a chance to love.

I went back to Zodiac, feeling numb. Xander returned my reins without a word, but he squeezed my shoulder.

Ryoma came to my side, seemingly determined to help me mount again. Looking at his pained expression was enough for me to regain my wits.

Once I was in the saddle, I looked into Ryoma's eyes. "Do you remember what I said to you at Castle Shirasagi after Mother died?"

He shook his head, a tear splashing over his lashes. He didn't have the energy to hide it this time. He was broken, defeated. Just as Anankos intended.

"I told you that everything would be all right," I said. "And wasn't it true? Look how far we've come. The war is over; your kingdom at peace. You've protected your siblings, and Norton and I are both at your side again. You've even made allies, all of whom are prepared to fight with you today. You will be all right. But you must hang on to your strength a little bit longer, so that you can keep these things forever. And so that you can make Anankos pay."

Ryoma sighed and closed his eyes. "Yes. Yes, you're right. I'm ready."

He hefted his sword and walked back to the head of the Hoshidan group. Takumi, Sakura, and Norton followed him. Camilla leaned over her wyvern's neck and held Hinoka's pegasus still as she remounted.

I looked at Xander. "Are you ready?"

His gaze hardened. "Yes. We will make this dragon pay for the suffering he has caused to us all."