Kon, 1,000 years ago...

"Thank the gods," Ade said, as the creature's footfalls disappeared into the rain. "One of these days, you're going to get us both killed."

Kitaya rose and stretched. "But not today my friend." Just as she plucked her clothes from the ground, two figures came down the incline one man one woman. They were dress in the black gold and red of the castle guard, and bore capes on their shoulders.

It wasn't until they were a few feet away that Kitaya recognized them as Jafari and Isolde, and prepared herself for what was sure to be a vicious tongue lashing.

"Lady Kita—" Jafari, captain of the Castle Guard, stopped short and gave her his back. "Why do you not have on clothes?!" The rough guttural sound of his voice grated on Kitaya's ears.

"I went for a swim." She shrugged, and shook out her skirt before jumping into it.

"In the river? In this weather? Have you no sense of self-preservation? And you, Ade. I ought to strangle you, boy." He leered over his shoulder at the person in question. "You should know better than to indulge her in her nonsense."

Ade held his hands up as though he expected Jafari to follow through with the threat. "Sorry uncle."

Kitaya cringed at the use of that human term. She pulled on her sopping wet shirt, frowning at the dirt and grass stains that may never come out.

"Relax Jafari," Isolde said. "You know once Kitaya get some crazy idea no one can stop her. Thanks for not letting her kill herself, Ade. And Kitaya, Eriani has been looking for you for the last three hours. There's a carriage waiting in the breach."

What for? Kitaya wondered. She hadn't spoken to the Queen since the day of the accident. Perhaps Eriani would finally let her see Kemah, or maybe it was something silly, like getting prim and pretty for some guest they were having for dinner. Either way, it was best not to keep her altori waiting for too long.

They rushed up the incline and into the breach where their ride was waiting. While Isolde and Jafari ran to an underpass, Ade and Kitaya hopped into the carriage. Wool blankets were on the plump gold seats and Kitaya wasted no time throwing one around herself.

The ride through the city was a quiet one, with both of them staring out their respective windows. As they neared the heart of the nation, the statues of Kon's past rulers came into view. Kitaya's eyes locked onto Zalika, Kon's third ruler and the woman who was hailed as being the ender of the millennia war. Tall and proud she stood, gazing into the sunset, into tomorrow. In her right hand was a stone likeness of the Behemoth.

To think that some time in the near future, the very people who wanted Kon destroyed would be able to gaze upon Zalika's likeness. It was sickening to say the least. She'd probably be screeching and cursing from beyond the grave.

Kitaya smiled as an idea came to her mind. A way to show the Ravinians that they and those of their ilk were not welcomed in Kon. And it started with the Behemoth.

Moments later they pulled into the main courtyard of the castle. The cobblestone was littered with puddles and the tiered fountain was overflowing with water. Dark clouds stretched over the savanna, touching every inch of the horizon. Which meant the rain wasn't going to let up any time soon.

Ade and Kitaya ran from the carriage into the main vestibule. The castle had quieted down for the day, no more scholars, ambassadors or disgruntled citizens clogged the main vestibule – only the usual guards and attendants.

"Staying for dinner?" Kitaya asked as she rung her braids out. She an Ade had already left a sizeable puddle on the floor.

"Sure, the food here is better anyway."

"Alright. I'll see what Eriani wants." She also needed to ask Eriani's permission to make an announcement at dinner. The Queen could very well say no, just to spite her for what happened to Kemah. But Kitaya was hoping she wouldn't be so petty, especially since he was doing better.

The walk to the Queen's office was a quiet one, save for the constant drone of the rain from outside. She missed the quiet days in the castle, when she was just a little girl. Not worrying about her future, not worrying about leaving her mark on the world, not constantly butting heads with everyone. The Queen was nicer to her back then too, allowing her to make mistakes, not being so critical of everything she did. Eriani would make time to play with her in the garden, or tell her stories at night.

Kitaya couldn't remember when or how their relationship became so contentious, but she was sure there was no going back to the good days. And it made her all the more bitter towards her altori.

Kitaya was so caught up in her thoughts that she almost walked by Eriani's office. The door was ajar, but she still knocked before stepping inside.

Eriani was seated behind her desk as usual, tucking away various things into various drawers and shelves. As the Queen's gaze raked over her, Kitaya made a face. No doubt she looked raggedy. Her hair was probably a mess, and she was still drenched to the bone, leaking water everywhere.

Kifalme, the Crown's Mount was taking up the entire southern side of the office, spread out on a thick, hand-woven rug. He yawned and stretched, tongue curling and paws spreading as he fluffed his wings.

"You wanted to see me?" Kitaya asked, folding her arms across her bosom and staring at the ground.

"Kemah has been asking for you all day."

"And? You won't let me see him so what does it matter?" Her tone was a little more defensive than she'd intended. In some way, she didn't blame Eriani for cutting her off. She would've done the same in the Queen's position.

Eriani leaned back in her seat and folded one leg over the other. "Dinner is in an hour, and we have a guest. Please get yourself in order."

"About that... I have an announcement to make at dinner. If it's possible," she tacked on, when Eriani gave her a disapproving stare.

"Very well, but no nonsense out of you. I mean it."

"Of course." Kitaya gave a small bow before retreating from the office and making the long trek to her room. By the time she got there, she was shivering in her wet clothes. The warmth of the room was a welcomed relief.

Ade was already up there waiting. He was sprawled in front of the lit hearth, lazily tossing her spear up. "You know, I could make you one better than this. With the right materials of course."

"I may just take you up on that offer, but dinner is in an hour and there are going to be guests." She took a throw pillow from her bed and tossed it at him. "Go get ready."

"Alright, mother," he said.

Kitaya scowled and went to throw another pillow at him, but he was already out the door.

Ade stayed around the castle so much that he had his own official unassigned room. And the castle's outfitters kept clothes around for him. Kemah always joked that soon he'd be in the portraits on the walls too.

Kitaya wasted no time getting herself clean and proper. The most she could do with her hair was pull it back in a tight bun and hope it behaved. As she stared at her reflection in the mirror, she took a deep breath, "You can do this. I can do this."

She smoothed her skirt, the gold bangles on her wrists clinking together, and headed out. As she walked the familiar halls of the castle her mind shifted to her plan. At the center of said plan was Mellidius, but she wasn't too worried about him. Her training with Kemah had prepared her for this moment. Finally she'd be able to put everything she'd learned to proper use.

When Kitaya went into the dining hall, she found it empty. Everyone was still gathered in the antechamber. She caught sight of Samiel, the archivist talking to Mellidius and Shara. Though for what reason he was here, she didn't know. Eriani was seated in one of the plush black settees, nursing her first glass of wine. She only gave Kitaya a cursory glance.

A pair of hands landed on her shoulder and she startled, her heart jumping into her throat. She whirled around to scald who she thought was Ade, only to come face-to-face with Kemah. Her rage evapourated like a cloud of steam, and she took a step back.

His right arm was bandaged and in a sling, and he cheeks were a bit gaunter than she remembered. "Not happy to see me?"

"I am," Kitaya said, a little too quickly. "I just..." She didn't know what to say. 'I'm sorry' didn't seem like enough for almost getting him killed. Part of her wished he'd just yell at her, be angry. She'd taken so many tongue lashings from Eriani, that she was immune to them at this point. "Why can't you just be angry with me?" She didn't realize she'd said it out loud until she saw his reaction.

Kemah frowned at her, a look that seemed foreign and unwelcomed on his face. "Kitaya. Just because I'm hard on you sometimes doesn't mean I don't care. I just wish you would hesitate, just a little bit every once in a while. I age every day worrying that you'll die an early death due to your recklessness."

Her shoulders sagged. He'd told her time and time again that her actions affected those around her as well – one of the few lessons he'd taught her that didn't seem to stick. "I know. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize to me, my dear. Show me that you can do better, alright?"

Their conversation came to an abrupt halt when someone cleared their throat loudly. "Hello there, I hope I'm not interrupting," Samiel said with a smile. "It's good to see you on your feet, Kemah. I heard about the uh..." He glanced at Kitaya. "The accident."

Kemah pat Kitaya on her shoulder as she bristled. "T'was nothing too serious Samiel. I assume you wish to speak with me about my trip to Ravinia."

"Partly. I'm here to speak with her Majesty about the Ravinians' visit to Kon. Making amends with our enemies is quite the historic event. It should be properly documented, don't you think?"

Kitaya snorted. "If you want to waste ink and parchment." That comment earned her a scowl from Eriani, and from all the way across the room too.

"Interesting." He took a pad and pencil from his coat. "And what exactly about this visit is irking you Lady Kitaya."

"It's disrespectful. There are people still alive today that witness that war. You're one of them. There were a lot of people who died. To bring the people who opposed them here would dishonour their memories."

He scribbled away on his pad. "So you don't believe in atonement?"

"Death is the greatest atonement. So let them suffer and rot. Instead of inviting them here to sully our good name." She punctuated her point by folding her arms and narrowing her eyes at the Queen.

Samiel frowned and glanced back forth between Eriani and Kitaya. "I supposed not all problems are solved with diplomacy. Kon's third ruler wasn't very diplomatic herself, and nigh as rash and willful as you, my Lady." He tapped his pad, his face growing thoughtful. "Now that I think about it, I strongly believe you two would've gotten along well."

An attendant walked in to announce that dinner was ready and they all filed into the dining chamber. Kitaya took her usual seat next to Eriani and opposite Mellidius. From the corner of her eye, she watched Ade slip in from the door that led to the kitchen and take a seat further down the table. She could only shake her head at him.

The queen rapped on her glass with a spoon to draw everyone's attention to the head of the table. "Before we begin, Kitaya had something important to tell us." She gave Kitaya a warning look as she nodded for her to speak.

Kitaya stood, and stared at Mellidius across the table. "Mellidius, first charge of the royal house of Kon, I challenge you for the right to wield the Behemoth." Silence descended over the table, as thick, heavy and tangible as spring fog. But she didn't care. By law, Mellidius couldn't turn down a challenge.

"Oh my," the Archivist said. "So many historic things happening. There hasn't been a challenge for the Behemoth in nearly ten millennia." He was scribbling so fast on his pad, it was a wonder the thing didn't catch afire.

"Are you sure about this?" Mellidius asked. He didn't seem at amused by her challenge. If anything, by the set of his jaw and the slight curl of his lip, he seemed irate, like she was bothering him.

Which would make kicking his face in all the more satisfying. Kitaya stuck her chin out. "I'll set the date."