Kaz’s nostrils flared, and her eyes darkened.“I refuse to change myself because you think I’m ‘too much,’ Jato.If you can’t handle me, that’s a flaw inyourcharacter.Not mine.”
Jato pursed his lips but said nothing more, instead turning around and continuing to lead them through Nyr Forest.Iyana smiled, proud of her friend for standing up for herself and not letting others dictate who she should and shouldn’t be.
“Good for you,” she whispered to Kaz, squeezing her hand.
They marched forward in silence through the jungle, following Jato’s lead for several hours.It was not any hotter than Iyana was used to in Imothia, but the wet humidity covered her body in a sheen of sweat she wasn’t sure she’d be able to wash off.Between feeling sticky and the thick air restricting her lungs, Iyana was elated when they broke through the forest line at last.She stopped and stared at the city before her in awe.
Bustling streets full of people were lined by houses made of red and brown clay, with awnings constructed from giant banana leaves to provide shade.There were stalls scattered throughout the city—the calls of the vendors wended their way through the throngs to reach Iyana’s ears.Decadent aromas of food and spices invaded her nose, making her mouth water.Children on a street corner to her right played a game where two of them swung a vine and the third jumped over it.The vine moved faster and faster until the one in the middle tripped and collapsed to the ground in a fit of laughter.Everybody appeared so…happy.They were all well-fed, dressed appropriately, and smiling.Jato seemed to be the only one with a sour, pinched look on his face.
A tall animal lumbered past them, a woman riding in a saddle on its back.The beast had a long neck with two small horns on its head and large ears that flicked away incessant flies.Its body was a rich brown color until the legs, which were striped in black and white.Like a horse, it appeared to have hooves, but otherwise this was an animal Iyana never would have been able to imagine without seeing it for herself.
“What is that?”she asked Kaz, pointing.
“An okapi!”she answered enthusiastically.“They’re really terrific pack animals.Horses don’t do well with the vines and forest floor in Nyr, but the okapis are native to this area.It took hundreds of years to domesticate them, but they’re truly remarkable.”
One warrior broke rank and sprinted ahead of them towards a palace unlike any Iyana could have ever dreamed of.It sat within the trees, above the city itself, with spires reaching up and above the canopy.It was composed of clay and bamboo but appeared impressive and sturdy.Iyana could see it rivaled the Athusia castle in terms of strength.There was a tactical advantage of having the high ground as well.She could see multiple ladders and vines that gave access to the palace—all of which could be withdrawn in case of attack.
They took their time approaching the palace.Many people on the streets recognized Kaz, giving her a beaming grin or welcoming her back.Iyana took note that none of them bowed or stopped for her, but the princess didn’t appear to mind.Instead, Kaz greeted many by name and returned their warm smiles.It seemed she was beloved by most of her people.
The palace grew the closer they got, and Iyana started to feel nervous.The last monarch she met had tried to kill her, but seeing Kaz and the people of Nyr eased her nerves somewhat.Hopefully, the king and queen here would be equally kind.
In what seemed like no time at all, their party reached the palace in the sky and alighted a ladder made of sturdy bamboo.Kaz made her way up, followed by Emmeric, then Iyana.Talon and Zane were behind her.She was surprised to climb into a courtyard complete with a bubbling fountain and gardens.Emmeric reached down for her hand and helped her to her feet.He lingered close to her as they followed Kaz inside.
“Your parents are waiting in the throne room,” Jato told Kaz after a staff member had run up to whisper in his ear.
“Now?”Kaz balked.“Look at us.We’re in no state to attend to the king and queen.”
“My orders are to bring you there immediately.”
Jato led them through halls filled with windows and plants—none of which Iyana could appreciate as her anxiety increased tenfold.Nausea churned her stomach, and she was thankful that it was empty, otherwise she’d be in the corner vomiting into a planter.The chatter and footsteps faded until all Iyana heard was a ringing in her ears.But she walked, one foot in front of the other, into yet another throne room.The last one she had been in, she was dragged out of and immediately dumped into a dungeon, then tortured.
A hand on her shoulder stopped her forward momentum.
“We just need a minute,” she heard Emmeric say.Then his hand was on her back, steering Iyana towards an open window.A gentle breeze cooled her warm skin, and parts of the world creeped back in.
“Mouse,” Emmeric murmured.He placed his finger under her chin and tilted her head until she was gazing into his bright blue eyes.“You’re okay.I’ve got you.”
“What if they’re like Uther?”she whispered.
“I don’t think they are.Look at the difference between Zane and Kaz.Her parents can’t be the same as Uther.”His finger traced slowly down her throat, his dilated pupils following the motion, before he removed his hand.“Besides, I promise I won’t let that happen again.I’d die first.”
Iyana sensed the honesty from his statement, and she truly believed he would fight to the death for her.
“And you’re not exactly defenseless now,” he added.“Your magic is getting stronger, and you know how to wield it.You defeated Uther.He’s dead.You’re going to do great in there.”
She swallowed roughly, then attempted a small laugh.It didn’t convince either of them.“I guess my track record with royalty isn’t that great.”
“I’d say it is, actually.”
One of her eyebrows raised.“How do you figure that?”
“Well, you defeated one despotic emperor.And you’re great friends with the new emperor and a crown princess.”
Iyana took a deep breath.“I can do this.Thanks, Em.”She reached out and held his hand, making sure he felt her appreciation through the bond.
“Any time, Mouse.”Emmeric led her back towards the others.
“All good?”Talon asked.
