“He was stopped near the forest on the border with Zulen.It’s infested with Hollows, which made it impossible to construct a barrier in that region.Cameed, you have patrolled in the west.We have multiple outposts in lieu of the Barrier in that area.”
Cameed, the eldest sister, bent on one knee and lowered her head.“That is correct, Father.I have served at eight of the twelve outposts in the west.The mountains in Zulen and the forest act as natural barriers.The numbers of Hollows we see are nowhere near the numbers on the Barrier, but there have been, at times...incursions.”
Incursionswas one way to describe the horde that had attacked an outpost a few years ago.Prince Jolen, Finnrey’s full sibling, had barely escaped with his life.
The king looked thoughtful.“Putting aside the fact that we had assumed Zulen had fallen to the Hollows, is there a path from their kingdom to ours?”he asked Cameed.
“Sire, in my opinion, no.That forest is, as you said, infested with Hollows.No one who had ever entered it has come out alive.”
“Rise.”He gestured to Cameed who stood.“This manclaimsto be a citizen of Zulen—a prince, no less—and he travels with an armed escort.”
We all murmured in surprise at this.Not only would it be shocking for someone to pretend to be from a lost kingdom, who would dare approach Highcastle with armed soldiers?
“This imposter will reach the castle in two days,” my father continued.“When he arrives, we expect he will demand the Claiming Rite.”
Cameed gasped audibly, and Riah took a step back.I don’t think they knew what the Claiming Rite was any more than I, but the way my father said the words sounded ominous.Before we could all break protocol and start asking questions, recognized by the king or not, a man I had not known was present hobbled forward.He used a gnarled walking stick, almost as tall as he was, to aid him.A young man also stood at his side, ready to steady him.
Stooped and wrinkled, this man with thin white hair and rheumy eyes was Ceba, the oldest person in Earsleh.He had been alive at the beginning of red vein virus, almost a hundred years ago.He had already been a husband and father by then and remembered it quite well.
“Our esteemed Court Historian Ceba will explain the Claiming Rite,” the king said.“I must admit, like you, I had not heard of it.”We all nodded and leaned forward.Ceba’s voice was often hoarse and quiet.
“The Claiming Rite is an ancient ritual,” Ceba began, his paper-thin voice barely audible across the short distance between the dais and we princesses.Cameed moved closer, and we followed, gathering at the base of the stairs.The six of us made a half circle, and Ceba seemed to meet each of our eyes in turn.It was so rare for us to be told openly of our history.We left that to the designated Court Historian.The rest of us were taught that defense and fighting were what mattered to our survival, not books and the past.We were encouraged to practice fighting, not waste time reading.Outside of the schoolroom, I seldom saw books.I only saw maps on patrol when I was shown what areas I was responsible for.
“The rite existed for thousands of years,” Ceba continued.“The last time it was performed was ninety-seven years ago.I remember it well because it was the year before red vein virus spread to Earsleh.The contender that year was also from Zulen.He failed and returned home, disgraced.”
Ceba leaned on his stick and paused, taking a few raspy breaths.“I have thought on it, and I believe the last time the rite was successful was two hundred and nineteen years ago.My father told me of it and his father told him.Indeed, my grandfather was Lord High Council”—he gestured to Lord Ashe—“at that time and was ordered to escort the claimed princess to the border.”
I jerked in surprise.What was this rite?Why would a princess be required to leave Earsleh?
“The contender that year was not from Zulen.I cannot remember from which kingdom he hailed.I read through the ancient scrolls—as many as I had time to peruse in the few short hours since the runner from the western patrol came to deliver the news.I could not find any instance when a prince of Zulen was successful in the Claiming Rite.”
“That is good news,” my father said.“Did the scrolls tell you anything of the Zulenii people?No one has seen or heard from the kingdom since the emergence of the virus.Reports I received from the furthest outposts in the west are that the Hollows in the forest and beyond bore the markings of the Zulenii people.”
I almost asked what markings but kept my mouth closed, remembering my place.
Ceba nodded.“From my understanding of Zulen, their fall to the Hollows was predictable.They have always kept to themselves, rather isolated because of natural geography.I understood them to be a peaceful people with little interest in the art of war.They prefer to sing, paint, and dance.They always produced the most skilled artists of the five kingdoms—except in metal work, of course.”
We all nodded.Everyone knew Earsleh had the best metallurgists as metals were our most valuable natural resource.
“If this man and his retinue are truly from Zulen, then our information must be faulty or incomplete,” the king said.“Only a great warrior would survive that infested forest.”
“I will know if he is lying,” Ceba said.“The Zuleniis are easy to recognize by their markings.”
There was the mention of markings again.
“I see,” the king said.“And, assuming this is not an elaborate sham, what motive might this...prince have in coming here and resurrecting the Claiming Rite?”
Ceba bowed his head, and for a long moment, I wondered if he had fallen asleep.Then he looked up, and he looked at me.“Everyone knows Earsleh women are exceptional warriors.That is why they have so rarely been defeated in the rite.Having a woman like that on the throne of Zulen would be a tremendous advantage, especially in these times.”
“I see.I see,” the king murmured.
I wished I understood.Clearly, if a woman lost the Claiming Rite, she would be carried away to another kingdom.The rest was still a mystery, which intrigued me enough to make my blood rush in my ears.An entire kingdom we’d thought lost!I sank to one knee and bowed my head, an indication I wished to be recognized.Behind me, I heard Broga mutter something.
My father cleared his throat and then said, “Yes, Lady Mara.You have a question?”
“What is this Claiming Rite?”I asked, keeping my head bowed.“I don’t understand what it involves.”
“Good question,” Ceba said.“I should have explained that before.You do it.I’m quite out of breath.”
