"Daddy!" Iasa screeched, running into the open arms of her father.

The group had walked to the shore after Iasa and Orlan had recognised the ships, which were now all anchors down, the soldiers waiting for their next orders.

King Gregor had rowed ashore with Darien- the head of the army- to organise the disembarking of the soldiers.

Orlan briefed the King on the lay of the land and Darien was soon sent back to the ships to organise the unloading.

The Kings gaze eventually fell to the others who were waiting and watching patiently.

"Daddy, you remember Eboni and Bren?" Iasa said, smiling cheerily as she stood next to her friends.

The Kings eyebrows shot up in what Eboni could only describe as surprise and amusement no doubt because the last time he had seen the three of them together they had been at each other's throats.

"Of course, hello again Sister Eboni, Brother Bren." He said, nodding to each of them.

"Good to see you to your Majesty." Bren replied, nodding back in respect.

"This is Kas, Head Warrior to his brother, Chief Atu, of Sher Wood." Iasa said, steering her father away from Bren and pointing respectively to the brothers.

"Sher Wood?!" The king said, startled.

Eboni watched in silence for Kas and Atu's reaction. She knew that the King had tried to claim the land of Sher Wood for his own during the early years of his reign.

"Yes daddy." Iasa replied for the brothers- who were both stood straight, eyes guarded and narrow as they took in the squat man in front of them.

"Goodness! How did you get onto their land?" King Gregor asked his daughter, bewildered.

"They asked nicely." Atu replied coolly.

"Of course, of course. What powers do you possess then, I presume you do considering you are on this journey?" The King asked, bumbling as his cheeks flushed red, no doubt intimidated and embarrassed to be in the presence of men much younger and stronger than him that he had tried to - and failed- to conquer.

"Wind." Atu said before sending a strong gust of wind towards the King, sending him stumbling backwards.

"I see, good, good. And you, Warrior?" The King asked, pulling nervously at his collar.

"Earth." Kas replied.

"No demonstration?" The King said, his eyes darting around preparing for a show of power like Atu had given.

"You are standing on and looking at it." Kas replied, smirking as the realisation that the Barren Land wasn't so barren anymore hit the king.

"This is Raus, he controls water." Iasa said, steering her father away from the brothers and the growing tension. "And this is Kimi, a strong fighter and friend of Raus. They are both from the mountains of Cerina."

Both Raus and Kimi nodded in respect as the King stopped in front of them.

"Shall we go inside? I am sure we have much to discuss." Eboni said, pushing Kas and Atu forward first to keep them as distanced from the king they could get.

"Good idea!" Iasa replied not giving her father a chance to reply. Taking his arm in hers they followed the others as they all made their way inside to sit down at the table.

Eboni was relieved to see that Kas had had built two more chairs for the king and Darien.

Perhaps it is a sign of a possible reconciliation between them, she thought hopefully.

"My general will join us soon. I have ordered my soldiers to make camp and rest for now." King Gregor said, sitting next to his daughter and Orlan.

As if on cue Darien returned, sitting himself between Orlan and Raus in the only free seat available.

"Tell us how you knew to come here now." Atu asked the King once everyone was settled.

"Since you left Rolezal I have had my lookouts tracking your whereabouts, when I was alerted that you had left Admari and we're heading to the Barren Land I figured that it would be a good moment for me to catch up with you and see what was happening with my own eyes." He replied.

"And what of God's Land- what state was it in when you left?" Eboni asked, fearing the answer to the question she had mustered up the courage to ask.

The King looked to her and then Bren, his eyes sympathetic, brows creased thought. Her heart began to race. That was not a sign of good news.

"God's land is still standing. There were some deaths and many injuries. I have sent word to High Priest Jon for him to join me- us- here before I set off. They should be here soon. I think it would be best if you were to hear the details from them."

"We understand, thank you." Bren said stoically.

"But father, with you and Darien here, who is holding court at home?" Iasa asked.

"Your Uncle, my good for nothing brother. I am hoping this huge trust in faith I have placed upon him will do him some good." The King replied- Darien raising a quizzical brown at the Kings words, choosing to stay silent on the matter.

"But politics is something you should not fret about my daughter. I am quite thirsty and tired from the sail over, I think I will go and rest for the remainder of the day. We shall talk again tomorrow."

"Your soldiers have begun to make camp, some fresh water springs will be useful for them, I will go and make them now." Raus said, standing to take his leave.

"Thank you young man, very kind of you. When the brothers and sisters of God's Land arrive, we shall all sit down and discuss properly everything that you have learnt on your journey and begin creating the battle plans." The King announced, standing quickly obviously eager to get back to his men.

"But father- surely now would be the best time to discuss such important things, we are on the brink of war and-" Iasa began before her father set him hands on her shoulders, silencing her.

"You don't have to worry about anything anymore my darling Princess. I am here now along with my army. I had no choice but to let you disappear and go on your journey but I will not let you do it anymore. You are not strong enough for war. When you left you could barely even control your power, I do not see how much a few weeks could possibly have changed that. No. It is too dangerous for you.

Now my men and I need rest. Do not worry about dinner, I have a chef who will prepare all the meals for you and your friends now. Dinner is at first sun down. I bid you all a good afternoon."

Without a second glance King Gregor strode purposefully out of the tower and towards the tents that had begun to be erected.

"Is it too late to refuse them fresh water?" Raus said, glaring at the retreating figure of the King and his general.

"Iasa, don't you dare listen to him. You are strong, and you will fight." Eboni said, walking over to her side, pulling her in for a hug as a silent tear trickled down the Princess's cheek.

"Eboni is right, you are strong. You need to prove him wrong." Kas said supportively.

"You will show him, his General and all those soldiers just how strong and powerful you are!" Kimi chimed in, smiling as Iasa nodded in agreement.

"Come Raus, let's go and help the soldiers. I'm going to move the ships out to sea on the other side of the island so any ships approaching won't be able to tell what they are up against." Atu said, standing by Raus.

"Good idea. We can't plan anything without the King- sadly he's the one that controls the army. I suggest we rest, organise our weapons, meditate and practice control." Eboni said, looking purposefully towards Bren who nodded grimly at the prospect of connecting with the darkness in his soul.

"I'm going to meditate upstairs." Bren said, wrapping an arm around Iasa as she curled into his side.

"That sounds good, I will do that too." Iasa said

Eboni heard the strength returning to Iasa's voice as she stood in a loving embrace. She couldn't help but feel at that moment that her brother and the princess were truly meant to be as they disappeared up the stairs.

"Shall we take stock of the weapons?" Asked Kimi, pointing to creates piled against the wall near the stairs.

"You two go ahead, I will be in my room, also meditating." Eboni replied.

"I will come and get you just before the first sun goes down for dinner." Kas said, giving her a heart-warming smile.

"Thank you." She replied, finding herself unable to stop herself from smiling warmly back.

"Ooh! Is this a bow and arrow?" Eboni heard Kimi ask as she began to climb the stairs.

"Yes, this small crate is full of weapons we managed to get off of Sher Wood, the rest is from the Rolezal armoires." Kas's voice replied, growing quieter and quieter as she ascended to the top floor and to her room, where she could once again meditate and feel connected with her soul.

The picture above is the first cover I ever made for this book! How times and talents have changed!