Chapter 53

We left at first light the next morning. The priest had arranged for the fishermen to help us cross the river, and once on the other side, we would be in the Kingdom of Fa’a, Uruk’s home country.

Despite the late celebrations, the people had gathered to bid us farewell, and they were lining the road as we walked to the river. The boats lay waiting for us as we arrived. They were smaller than those we had used to leave Zarion, but the river was calmer here, and Karim had assured me they would be able to take us to the other side safely.

Aki rushed over and climbed in, and Chaya carefully stepped in after her. I could see the others taking their place in the other boats, and I followed Chaya and sat down. The people cheered as the man pushed us from the shore, and I had to take hold of Aki’s hand as she tried to stand up to have a better view. Swimming was the last thing I wanted this early in the morning. Chaya peered around with wide eyes, but at least she stayed seated between my legs.

“Is it your first time on the water?”, I asked.

She nodded, anxiously grabbing hold of the edge as Aki crawled to the back of the boat to ‘help them steer’.

“I have never been this far from home…”, she whispered.

I put a hand on her shoulder.

“It will be okay…”

She nodded.

“Do you miss your home?”, she asked.

I sighed.

“No.”

I wasn’t willing to talk about my past even with Selene, so telling Chaya about it was out of the question. Before she had time to continue, I glanced around, but the sailor was happily instructing Aki, and I turned back to her.

“Won’t the people's belief in me be enough?”

She glanced back at Aki before answering,

“Nothing will be enough… As long as It stays in this world, you will never be fully safe. It will always want more… “

I frowned.

“More what?”

She stayed silent for a moment before saying,

“More fear and despair… It feeds on it.”

“Feeds?”

She nodded.

“It needs it as you need food and water. It can manipulate those who fall under its shadow, creating more and more destruction that gives it power.”

I shivered. I still remembered the uneasiness I’d felt and the hopeless thoughts that had crept in when I’d sat with Veena. What was that thing? I put my arm around her, trying to push away the fear, and she put a hand on mine and smiled.

“So you’re learning to resist Its pull.”

I tried to smile, but the thought of what she’d said made my mind wander.

“So, how can we defeat it?”

She sighed.

“I…don’t know. Our race has already failed to stop it once. Maybe…”

She suddenly went quiet.

“I am sorry, Rina. I cannot speak about it. I have already told you more than I should.”

She hugged her knees to her chest and fell silent. I frowned. She was the same as Veena. Why wouldn’t they tell us if it could help defeat it? I glanced at her as she stared out over the river. I sighed. It wasn’t fair. She was only a child.

“It is okay, Chaya.”

I put my arms around her and pulled her close.

“I am sorry”, she whispered.

“It is okay.”

She fell silent, and I turned to watch the other shore. We were almost there, and I could see the outline of the town of Saran behind the marina. I braced myself for what was coming. At least our boat would be the last one to arrive, so, for good or bad, my companions would have prepared them for my arrival.

I saw the other boats docking by the pier, and Uruk stepped out, walking past the soldiers lining the dock and over to talk to an official-looking person in a red robe. More and more people were gathering, peering in the direction of our boat. So the news had already spread… I sighed.

As we reached the pier, the fisherman secured the boat, and Aki scrambled out. Chaya carefully followed, and I cast one last glance at the other shore before stepping out. The people bowed their heads and brought their clenched fists to their chests in a greeting as I passed, just as I had seen Uruk do when I arrived in this world.

I halted as I came up to him, and the man I had seen him talking to stepped forth.

“Rukon, at your service, my lady”

He carried a short decorated baton, and he bowed his head, bringing his fist to his chest, before looking me in the eyes and offering it to me.

“The town of Saran is yours, my lady.”

I almost flinched, but then remembered what Uruk had told me. I put my hands on the staff and gently pushed it back, not breaking his gaze.

“How could I rule justly without knowing your people as you do?”

Uruk had warned me that this might happen, and he had spent countless hours rehearsing with me how I could refuse it without causing a mess. Ruling over a people I had never met was the last thing I planned to do.

Rukon bowed, accepting my gesture.

“Welcome home, my lady.”

At that moment, a young woman in a red tunic ran towards us. She stopped in front of me and saluted.

“Viraq’ at your service. The horses are ready, my lady.”

She turned without another word, and we followed her out of the marina. We would travel to the capital from here, and I was happy Uruk had arranged it so we didn’t need to stay in this town for long. I didn’t think I was ready for another day of celebration.

The people followed behind us as we walked, and I could hear them whisper as we continued towards the town centre. Viraq’ halted as we arrived in the city square. I almost froze. She’d been right, and the horses were ready, but if I had been hesitant to ride before, it didn’t help calm my mind seeing them. Uruk’s race was larger than humans, so it made sense that their horses would be too, but still… They were huge…

Viraq’ gave me a short nod.

“A rider was dispatched at your arrival, my lady”

She mounted her horse without another word, and Selene whispered,

“It means they are expecting us”

I tried to nod, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the horse. I felt the gaze of the people on me and forced myself to let Selene help me get up. It didn’t try to bite me, so it was a win, but I almost got dizzy from the height. Uruk took Aki with him, and Chaya climbed up to sit in front of Selene. I definitely wasn’t comfortable riding it alone, but they probably didn’t expect their Goddess to ride with Karim, so... We followed as Viraq’ set out along the street, accompanied by the soldiers.

I regretted letting Uruk plan the journey the moment we left town. Without a word, Viraq’ spurred her horse into a gallop, and we rode hard, stopping only to change mounts. The red banner in her hand cleared our path along the way until I wished we had taken the slow route and celebrated in every town we passed. It was only as I saw the city of Fa’a appear on the horizon that I stopped silently repeating the Goddess prayer.