Remembering where Moshtok's tent had been in the settlement, and knowing his sister 's clan might still be in possession of it, Zaria, with Divan and Pritel in tow, led her seasoned companion down the dusty path. It was hoped that this very tent, where Moshtok had hidden Branka and the Amazon girl, Tomyris, just one year before, might still be a haven for her present needs.

Standing in front of the leather abode and calling out Moshtok's sister's name, no one answered. Eventually a woman from an adjacent tent came out and asked who the strangers were, and the nature of their presence there.

"I am Moshtok's friend," Zaria replied. "He was my teacher. He is now with my sister, Branka in the West."

The woman, who was soon joined by her twin girls who peeked out from the folds of her robe, spoke cautiously and looked about to see if they were being observed while in the street.

"Take your horse around to the back of Moshtok's tent," she hastily ordered. "Tie him there," she added emphatically. "Then come inside my tent to talk. It is not safe for you out here."

The young woman gathered her children and quickly went back into her leather abode. Zaria, as advised, led Pritel around the tent, out of sight from the path, and fastened his reins to one of the turdy tent posts. Divan, who followed was told to lay down in the shade of the tent, and to wait, which he obediently did.

Returning to the dirt pathway, she and Tanzu Han went to the front of the woman's tent where she cautiously let them in, closing the door flaps securely behind her. Once inside, there was the smell of food cooking, and the warm atmosphere of a nomad's tented home, though it now seemed sadly absent of any man.

"I recognize you," the woman said, finally attempting a smile. "You're the princess. The one once kept in the rock fortress and who helped break the curse of Sharvur's disease. The girl with the magnificent tattoos."

Zaria's arms and neck were still covered by one of Tsudros' colorful shalls. She just nodded at her host while keeping it tightly around her, acknowledging her former origins.

"But why are you here?" she asked excitedly. It is a very bad time for all now, Zaria. You will certainly be captured if you're seen anywhere here in our Pazyryk lands."

"I have come with this worthy sage from the steppes. His name is Tanzu Han. I wish to find my other sister, Svetlana. She was captured with Branka and me over three years ago. And she, too, was under the power of the king . . . until he gave her to a general for his loyalty."

"Yes. And poor Branka . . . who remained his sex slave. She was finally fortunate to have escaped with Moshtok. I know they were lovers. Many of his clan have wondered about their fate."

"He and Branka are safe with my people." Zaria said reassuringly. She continued to look cautiously around the inside of the tent. "And now, Branka is with child."

"That is wonderful!"

"I only wish I knew of Svetlana's condition here. I had heard after Sharvur was brought back to power, he took her again. Into the palace."

"This could have happened. No one is certain of any events now. We only know that the king was removed once more by his generals. Whether he is dead or alive is not known. Many say he is hiding. Some say dead."

"And what do you know of Murka? He was Sveltana's master, and later her lover. He was a good man . . . She had fallen in love with him.  And by now she must have their child with her."

"I cannot say, Zaria. I do not know of this man you speak of. But much has happened since the return of the generals once more. No one knows who is in the palace now. It is too quiet. Those inside only demand food and send warriors out to find more slaves. Even our own people are treated badly by them. And none of them has been announced as a new king."

Zaria looked at Tanzu Han, helplessly.

"I will go into the palace," he said boldly. "To learn of the conditions there . . . and of the kingdom. I do not fear for my life. Here or anywhere."

Zaria looked into the old man's eyes with admiration. I will go with you," she said softly. "There must be some respect left inside the citadel for the position I once held there. It is the only way to learn of Svetlana and Tsudros."

When the young woman heard this, she could only admire Zaria for her commitment to those whom she loved. She felt there was little point telling her guests once more of the dangers and uncertainty surrounding the palace, inside and out.

"You may both stay here with me and my daughters this night," he woman offered. "You and your animals will need food and water. You must be exhausted from the long journey here."

"You are most kind . . . and they call you?"

"Gema is my name."

"Thank you, Gema. But we could stay in Moshtok's place. That is if no one is . . ."

"I am not so certain it is empty. I have seen smoke rising from a cooking fire inside on some evenings. No one here can say who stays there. It is rumored that someone from Moshtok's clan sleeps there on some nights."

Where are your children's father?" Zaria asked, hoping not to hear the worst.

Gema just hung her head.

"He was killed by the faction of generals who brought Sharvur back to power. It was known that many of us here in the settlement were against the former king. Sharvur had all the men killed whom it was found out did not support him. Most of the fathers and brothers living around here did not survive that scourge. But now . . . he is out again, and there is only confusion and fear."

Zaria felt the tears well up in her eyes as she could see the little twin girls looking out at them from behind a curtain.

"Man is a beast because he forgets he is a beast," Tanzu Han whispered under his breath. Both Gema and Zaria nodded quietly.

That evening the guests of Gema were treated to a warm meal and soft blanket on the floor to sleep on—Tanzu Han in the kitchen, and Zaria in the room with the shy girls.

* * *

The next morning, after checking on the animals, Zaria found the girls lively playing with Divan. and Pritel seemed content with his containers of food and water. After some tea and the flat bread so characteristic of the Pazyryk people, Zaria and the old sage made ready to walk up the sacred way to the palace and attempt to enter it.

When they reached the heavy wooden door, usually closed and fortified by four armed warriors outside it, the massive structure was ajar. This was both troubling and fearful to Zaria. Yet it was seen by her as also fortunate, as she Tanzu Han were able to pass freely into the citadel, finding even the hallways eerily quiet and devoid of the men and servants, which Zaria remembered had populated it.

As they passed through this lower level and started up the ramp to the second terrace, music could be heard wafting through the stonework chambers. When they entered where the wall torches burned brightly in the great hall, they could see a large crowd of men, all seated on the floor but boisterous.  Accompanying the musicians, who played loudly to the side of the gathering with their flutes and drums, were a cluster of naked bodies—all young females the age Zaria had been when abducted into the kingdom. The girls of various tribes seemed compliant under duress and danced in the same way Zaria and her sisters were taught, to move their nakedness in a sensual and vulgar manner, moving tauntingly just out of reach of the mostly middle-aged but virile-looking men. These were obviously the new generals and supporting warriors who looked on, drinking and talking.

At that point, Zaria had a choice to turn and hastily exit down the ramp where she had come in. She was still unseen by the men who were locked in a competitive pro-temporary kingship of the palace. Or she could move forward into the hall, making herself eventually known to the entire crowd. Her companion boldly showed no fear of this inevitability and waited for Zaria's unspoken decision.

She took a deep breath, nodded to Tanzu Han, as started forward, eventually in full view of the crowd. Zaria continued onward into the center of the great hall and walked out onto the dance area where the music suddenly stopped. The girls, confused, ceased in their erotic movements, and her presence caused total silence among the astounded men in the room.

As she moved with the old sage even more central to the audience, Zaria boldly and silently removed her colored shall, revealing her tattooed arms and neck. She then with absolute confidence, slipped off her top garment, leaving her naked from the waist up. She proceeded to turned around with her arms out slowly, revealing the majestic dancing leopards on her back to the men.

Someone among the stunned warriors called out, "It's the princess!"

Another excited voice from in the chamber exclaimed, "Our protectoress has returned! The kingdom shall be revived!"

Immediately, the young dancers reverted to their youthful modesty and struggled to cover their private parts. The musicians could be seen bowing their heads in supplication. And in a simultaneous act, the once rowdy and irreverent men suspended their speechlessness, consumed by the event which could only be perceived as divinely inspired. 

The drama was unequivocally seen by the edgy men as an awaited transformation of the chaotic atmosphere, and new future direction of the palace itself.

* * *