347 years ago

  “What is a nd without hope?” Yuitra had asked Diné the day before the Gods left.

  The two goddesses were spending their st day together in Yuitra’s pace. While Diné was excited for the new journey, Yuitra was nervous about leaving her people behind.

  “What is a nd without hope?” Diné repeated slowly, eyes glued to her sister. “It’s a nd where people don’t believe new beginnings are possible. It’s a nd that sees no future for itself, I'm afraid.”

  Yuitra nodded slowly, then lowered her face. “I can’t help but still be puzzled by Fate, my Diné.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Yuitra shut her eyes.

  “You see what is destined to come and I can live in that destiny. But what has been determined by the Bck Wind, by Fate, is immune to our power. That I don’t understand.” She said tearfully. “We are Gods. Why isn’t that enough?”

  Diné grabbed Yuitra’s hands.

  “This is about what I told you yesterday, isn’t it?”

  Yuitra nodded.

  “You’re afraid, but you shouldn’t be.” Diné insisted.

  “I am Beginning.” She cried loudly. “It cannot do this to Us.”

  Diné pulled her sister into a hug and squeezed her tightly.

  “My people.” Yuitra choked, face wet with tears. “They’ll die without me.”

  Diné began rubbing her sister's back as she sobbed in her arms, her one opened eye glued to the hourgss across the room. She rocked her sister in her arms for what felt like forever. When she pulled back, she looked into her sister’s eyes of hollowness.

  “Fate is unknowable for you, but you should count your blessings.” Diné said finally, breaking the brief silence. “It is I who carry the burden of seeing the Bck Wind itself. It is I who have foreseen Our fate. It is I who have seen how the world we have built together will destroy itself…..

  And that is a burden I wouldn’t wish on anyone.”

  ***

  Present Day

  After the intense conversation between Lady Ewer and Prince Jaho in the library, Jaho and his traveling group followed Lady Ewer back to the oldest pace of them all, the Pace of Yuitra.

  As the only sanctuary of the beloved Goddess, the pace exuded opulence and eternal time. Intricate patterns of silver and gold lines resembling the flow of time etched on its high ceilings complimented the polished, white and gold marble colored tile floors. And on its white walls, many shelves holding ancient artifacts including the Oracle of Fire, a Tongue of Desire, and Death’s Arrow, hung.

  Once they arrived, Lady Ewer showed the group to their rooms and left them to rest before dinner. Obo and Ginna shared a room on the eighth floor, while Enu and Jaho each took a separate room on the ninth floor.

  Inside of Jaho’s room, the smell of rain filled the space. It didn’t take the young prince long to see that someone left the window open after the rain shower. When he went to close it, a tiny blue bird suddenly nded on the windowsill. He gently tapped the blue bird’s beak then walked away, leaving the window open.

  Since they were only staying for one night, Jaho didn’t bother unpacking. Instead, he moved his bags under the bed before falling backwards on the soft, satin sheets. Drowsiness fought to take over his body, daring him to sleep. His eyes had been closed for only 84 seconds when he suddenly felt soft fingertips under his ankle. Jaho instinctively kicked the mysterious fingertips away.

  When he opened his eyes, he immediately jumped off the bed.

  “Lady Ewer!” He yelled. “What are you doing?”

  Lady Ewer was naked, draped across the edge of the bed.

  “Get out!” He shouted.

  Lady Ewer ughed in his face.

  “What is so funny?” He asked angrily.

  Instead of answering, Lady Ewer made herself even more comfortable on the bed.

  Anger rushed through Jaho’s veins.

  “Have you gone mad?” He asked, fists clenched.

  Lady Ewer raised her right hand, eyeing it curiously.

  “You can say that.” She said slowly. “Are you attracted to these hands?”

  Jaho cursed to himself and angrily walked towards the door.

  He aggressively yanked the door open before turning his attention back towards Lady Ewer.

  But she was no longer there,

  Only a blue bird.

  “No.” He gasped.

  Jaho frantically looked around the room, searching for Lady Ewer.

  After no success in finding her, he turned his attention back to the blue bird.

  “Who are you?” He whispered.

  The blue bird let out a small chirp.

  “Reveal yourself.” He commanded.

  The blue bird let out another small chirp.

  “Now!” He yelled.

  The blue bird suddenly began fpping its wings.

  Then without warning, the blue bird transformed into Mesy.

  Jaho stumbled backwards, nearly tripping himself.

  “Mesy.” He gasped.

  The young Queen of the Mountains had a huge grin on her face.

  “Darling…” She drawled. “Did you miss me?”

  Jaho immediately jumped onto the bed and pulled Mesy by the waist. The two hadn’t seen each other since their st fight.

  “Of course, I’ve missed you.” He rushed out. “You haven’t answered my letters. How are you?”

  Mesy sucked her teeth.

  “Busy.” She mumbled. “Being Queen comes with a lot of responsibility.”

  Jaho started to rub small circles on her back.

  “And Trykar? How’s he treating you?”

  “He really likes me.” She confessed.

  “Yes?”

  Mesy nodded shyly.

  “He’s opened my eyes to a new way of Being. I’ve never felt more alive.”

  “I’m so happy for you. I—-”

  “And I may have even exploded someone.” She blurted, interrupting him.

  Jaho’s jaw dropped.

  “Whattttt?” He stuttered.

  Mesy waved him off. “Don’t worry. I put him back together.”

  Jaho began shaking his head with a smile.

  “Well, mostly.” She added shyly.

  Jaho suddenly pulled Mesy closer.

  “I thought you were still mad, my love. What’s changed?”

  Mesy slightly pulled away from him.

  “Are you still getting married?”

  Jaho dropped his arms from Mesy’s waist.

  “That’s what I thought.” She responded, then made her way towards the top of the bed. Once she was there, she pulled the sheets back then covered herself with them.

  “Come join me. I didn’t come here to fight.”

  Jaho’s eyes narrowed. “Why are you here then?”

  Mesy patted the spot beside her,

  “Come.” She urged. “I won’t bite.”

  Jaho’s eyes darted to Msy’s lips.

  “Maybe, I want you to bite.” He flirted.

  “You’re going to have to get a little closer if you want me to do that.”

  Jaho slowly licked his lips before quickly covering Mesy’s body with his.

  “I missed you.” He whispered again, then kissed her softly on the lips.

  Mesy’s hands shot up and went to the back of his head, pulling him closer to her.

  “How much did you miss me?” She whispered. “Clearly not enough if you are here in Itra without the king.”

  “Mesy.” Jaho moaned. “Nothing is going on with Lady Ewer. I’ve told you this.”

  Jaho detached himself from Mesy and fell backwards on the bed.

  Mesy propped herself on her side. “Why are you here then?”

  “I’m here on behalf of the crown.” He revealed. “You’re not the only one with responsibility.”

  “Duty?” She asked, eyes narrowed. “Before the moon bleeds? That is strange.”

  “Yes.” He said, jaw clenched. “For duty.”

  Mesy took a long look at Jaho, not quite believing him.

  “How’s Larel?”

  “Mesy.” Jaho moaned again. “Do you just want to fight? I’ve told you time and time. Larel is duty, not desire.”

  Mesy rolled her eyes.

  “The Desert’s traditions are very outdated.” She responded, clearly annoyed.

  Jaho covered Mesy’s right hand with his.

  “Enough, Mesy.” He said firmly. “The wedding will happen.”

  “And what if I get married? Would you like that?”

  They had this argument many times already.

  Jaho turned his entire body towards Mesy. “I will always be yours, Mesy.”

  Mesy’s heart fluttered.

  “But we are a family of tradition.” He continued.

  “Tradition.” Mesy scoffed. “In the Mountains, weddings are binding acts of love.”

  Jaho aggressively shook his head. “Our traditions are not rooted in love, my sweetheart. They are rooted in prosperity and abundance. Please, understand this.”

  Mesy turned her head from Jaho.

  She wanted to cry but she also didn’t want to spend what may be the st good time they’ll have together crying.

  “I have to tell you something.” She whispered.

  “What is it?”

  Jaho’s heart suddenly began to pound faster.

  “I have chosen to bear a child with Lord Horn in my first year of reign.”

  Jaho started to rub his chest. “Is that it?”

  Mesy looked over her shoulder. “Yes.”

  Jaho blew out a breath. “Thank the Gods. I thought it was something worse.”

  Mesy quickly turned her entire body in Jaho’s direction.

  “You don’t understand.” She said, clearly unhappy. “When I become with child, I won’t be able to leave the Mountains. Trykar will keep me in the mountains for safety.”

  “We’ll deal.” He assured her. “It’s your responsibility……your duty to the crown, and your duty to Trykar.”

  Mesy’s breath hitched.

  “Unlike you, I understand duty and responsibility.” He joked.

  “Are you not a bit jealous? What if I fall in love with this Lord?”

  Jaho grabbed Mesy’s chin.

  “You’ll always be mine.” He whispered. “And I’ll always be yours.”

  “You think so?” She whispered back.

  “Am I wrong?”

  Jaho brought their mouths closer, just merely inches from each other.

  “Tell me that I’m wrong. Tell me there is already someone else.”

  Mesy slightly flinched.

  “No.” She said unconvincingly, then pulled him into a kiss.

  Jaho swiftly flipped Mesy on her back.

  He trailed soft kisses along her neck, only stopping when Mesy asked him to remove his clothes.

  “We have to be quiet.” He whispered, then pced a kiss on her stomach. “And quick.”

  Mesy ran her fingers through his hair.

  “I’ll try.” She breathed.

  Jaho chuckled.

  “Be good.” He flirted, followed by a wink. “For me.”

  ***

  While Mesy and Jaho were reconciling, Enu was getting a tour of the Room of Remains by Lady Ewer. Inside, four towering bookshelves holding some of the many artifacts collected by the Goddess Yuitra stood.

  Enu had just spotted an empty white case, the white case. But when he went to touch it, Lady Ewer lightly swatted his hand.

  “Don’t.” She warned. “This case hasn’t been moved since the war.”

  Enu pced his hands back into his pockets.

  “I can’t believe Mikael really destroyed the dagger. The White Dagger would have saved him.”

  Lady Ewer nodded. “We really don’t know that…..and remerging the cosmic order would have been deadly for everyone.”

  “Yuitra didn’t mind devouring Itra eons ago with it.” Enu countered quickly.

  “Men with egos forced her to do that.” Lady Ewer responded quickly. “Don't insult the Goddess in her sanctuary.”

  Enu quickly raised his hands. “My apologies.”

  Lady Ewer resumed the tour to Enu’s delight where he was mesmerized by the great power surrounding him. Timeless power.

  After the tour was over, Lady Ewer led him out of the room and back to his room.

  “Do you ever think things went too easy in the war?” He asked, only a few steps behind her.

  Lady Ewer stopped walking. “What do you mean?”

  Enu cleared his throat before answering.

  “King Mikael was the Incarnate of Yuitra.”

  “And?”

  “Why couldn’t he have gone back in time?”

  Lady Ewer let out a deep sigh then turned around to face the prince.

  “Yuitra is Time not Fate.” She sighed. “As we know, what has been seen by Diné through the Bck Wind must come true.”

  “But why destroy the White Dagger? Why not give it to someone?”

  “Only an Incarnate can use the White Dagger. One must possess the very essence of Yuitra.” She expined, a hint of annoyance in her voice. “Maybe you should spend more time in our libraries.”

  “Maybe I should.” He ughed. “And what about the missing Temporal Daggers?”

  “Lost.” She answered quickly, then resumed walking with Enu quickly following behind.

  She really didn’t want questions about those daggers, so she walked as fast as she could. Once they arrived at the shiny blue door, Lady Ewer quickly informed Enu the bell clock would ring when dinner was ready and walked away. But instead of heading back to the kitchen, she quietly made her way to the basement where a locked chest was hidden under a white cloth. She looked over each shoulder before taking a key out of her shoe and used it to unlock the white treasure chest. And there they were: the missing Temporal Daggers, the Daggers of Maturation, Luck, and Destiny.

  They mysteriously turned up three months ago.

  ***

  “Wow.” Mesy breathed, voice and legs both still shaky.

  Jaho, barely hanging on the edge of the bed, wiped his slick mouth.

  “Okay?” He asked.

  Mesy nodded quickly.

  Once she was able to regain her breath, she pulled Jaho to y beside her.

  “Does the council know you’re here?” He asked, arms now tight around her.

  Mesy shook her head.

  Jaho started to ugh.

  Mesy pinched his arm. “What’s funny?”

  “I can’t believe you've been following me. ” He answered, still ughing.

  Mesy rolled her eyes then snuggled further into his side, her head on his chest.

  “Are you mad?” She whispered.

  “No. I just wished you would’ve visited the pace. It’s not really safe here right now.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Jaho hesitated before answering.

  “The magic has become even more erratic, I’m afraid.”

  Mesy’s brow furrowed. “I’m not following.”

  Jaho waved his hand in the air. “Take here, for example.”

  “Itra?” She asked.

  Jaho nodded.

  “I thought it was getting better.”

  Jaho shook his head. “Every 14th day, time continues to freeze. The days continue to pass the Itran people by and they are losing hope, my love. The actual nd of hope is losing hope.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “And they pray to Yuitra, hoping she’ll hear them wherever she is. But they receive nothing in return.” He continued. “They are getting restless. According to my father, some have already joined the opposition.”

  “The Recimants?”

  Jaho nodded.

  “Is that why your father is giving Jannar to me? For protection?”

  “One of the reasons.” He confirmed. “But it’s also the vote.”

  Mesy’s heart fluttered. She removed her head from Jaho’s chest.

  “What about it?” She asked nervously. “Does he not trust me?”

  “My father trusts no one.” He mumbled. “But he is concerned that certain members of the High Court still hold grudges. This vote could bring chaos to the Desert.”

  “And by certain members, you mean me and my family?” She asked angrily.

  “Mesy.I—-”

  “If your father is indeed guilty of decimation, we will have no choice but to intervene. He should not rely on Jannar’s pce in my court.” She interrupted. “I am not to be bribed.”

  Jaho pulled away from Mesy.

  “My father would do no such thing.” He said angrily.

  “We will see about that.”

  Jaho aggressively rubbed his hands down his face. His body was suddenly tense.

  “I don’t want to fight, Mesy.”

  “Me neither.” She agreed, then grabbed Jaho’s hands. “I don’t think you should spend your time worrying though.”

  “Really?”

  Mesy slightly shifted her body away from him before answering. She knew she had to prepare him.

  “We have no control over Fate. We can only accept the Bck Wind’s doing.”

  A tear suddenly slipped down Mesy’s right cheek.

  Jaho quickly reached out to rub it away, then cradled her face in his hands.

  “What’s wrong?” He asked softly.

  Mesy shook her head. “I just love you.”

  “I love you too.” He whispered.

  “Are you really here on behalf of the crown?”

  Jaho let out a small chuckle.

  “Yes, Mesy. My father sent me here to ensure House of Yuitra is still loyal.”

  “And are they? Is Lady Ewer still loyal?”

  “She says so.”

  “Not surprised.” She choked. “She likes you.”

  “But she did mention something strange.” He responded, ignoring her st remark.

  “What was it?”

  “Lady Ewer says a guy came around wearing a cloak.

  Mesy suddenly pulled away.

  “A cloak? In the Desert? That’s strange.”

  “That’s what she said. She said he was wearing a cloak that he wouldn’t take off.”

  Mesy’s heart began racing.

  “And what did he want?”

  “He wanted to know more about the king.”

  Mesy felt a bit of relief. “Is that it?”

  “He also said he wants to go home. Lady Ewer thinks he has been running from someone.”

  Mesy’s heart began racing again. The sudden worry in her eyes was evident.

  “And what was his name?”

  “When we got here, she told me his name was Talbar.”

  “Talbar?” She repeated.

  Jaho nodded.

  “Talbar.” She repeated again.

  Jaho frowned. “Am I missing something? Do you know a Talbar?”

  “Tal-Bar.” She repeated again, this time much slower. “Tal-Bar.”

  Then it dawned on her.

  Mesy jumped from the bed.

  “I have to go.”

  Jaho’s face fell.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Mesy rushed towards the window.

  “I’ll take good care of your sister.” She shouted over her shoulder.

  Jaho ran after her.

  “What’s wrong? Do you know Talbar?”

  Mesy ran her fingers through her hair, clearly frustrated. “I don’t know what I know.”

  “Yes, you do.” Jaho answered.

  Mesy frowned.

  “Why were you really following me, Mesy? I know there is something wrong. You keep looking away from me.”

  “Where are you headed to next?” She asked instead.

  “Mesy. Answer the question.”

  “You first.”

  The two were suddenly in a standoff, not saying a word for a long moment.

  “Jaho.” Mesy yelled suddenly. “Tell me.”

  “Fine.” He relented. “Aridisa.”

  For a millisecond, Mesy had drifted. Her soul briefly left her body. Jaho didn’t notice.

  “You are joking. Tell me you are joking.” She responded

  Jaho shook his head. “My father demands it.”

  Mesy was suddenly on edge.

  “Your father is sending you to die.” She hissed. “Aridisa is a death trap. Even us in Mountains are aware of this.”

  “I’ll be fine, Mesy. The commander is with me.”

  “The commander?” She ughed. “What good will the commander be when a nd of fear turns into a nd of monstrosity?”

  “You can always come with me.” He joked, trying to lighten the mood.

  “Even Trykar wouldn’t allow that.”

  Mesy’s bones suddenly felt like they were on fire. She knew she needed to find Talo, but she also didn’t want to leave Jaho alone in Aridisa when the moon bleeds. She had to make a decision.

  “Tell me you’ll be safe.” She begged.

  “I’ll be safe.” He replied instantly. “Aridisa’s darkness is not impenetrable.”