The Iron Forest: Ancestor's Legacy
Chapter Three

Music rumbled through the palace as the festivities continued well into the night. Sana tried not to listen to the celebration that permeated the walls of her bedchamber.

‘May their future matrimony secure a lasting peace between our clans.’ The words stung deep, like a festering sore. She felt lost, confused. Her father would send her off to the east, but why? It was bad enough he forbade her relationship to Ikesh, but the arrangement made to the Kutassan prince was a complete insult. Tears burned her eyes.

A knock at the door broke her thoughts.

“Go away!” She barked, but the knock continued. “I said, go away!”

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“Ikesh?”

She swung open the door and bit back a cry. It was not the same Ikesh she remembered from the day before. His bright cheery eyes were sunken behind dark circles; his expression dull as a rusted knife.

Seeing her, he nodded, then turned to the palace guard dressed in an indigo blue tunic behind him. Ikesh dropped a couple coins in his open hand with a tap on his shoulder. The guard departed into the shadowy hall.

Ikesh crossed the threshold, and the door closed behind him. Sana leaped to wrap her arms around his neck and press her lips to his. After a moment, a gentle push from Ikesh forced her back a step.

“You heard about the marriage arrangement.”

“I did.”

“Well, I’m not going through with it.”

Ikesh shook his head. “Sana, I love you more than the world, but we both know that is all out of our hands. We’ve always known this was going to happen, eventually.”

She glared. “My father spoke to you, didn’t he?”

Ikesh nodded. “This morning before the feast… Your brother, too.”

“And what did they say?”

“He… he told me your marriage proposal was best for the Shankur and not to intervene.”

You’re not telling me the whole truth. When he began to fidget with his bracelet, Sana prodded. “What else did he tell you?”

“If I disobey, he will have me hanged.” He gave a nervous glance at the door. “I took a huge risk coming here, Sana.”

“Hanged?” That surprised her. Maholin had not witnessed an execution for many generations.

“Yes. With the banquet going on downstairs, I figured this was my only chance to see you before things get crazy. Thank the ancestors I have a few friends among the palace guards.”

She scoffed. “And they haven’t gotten crazy already?”

Ikesh moved to her bedside table and picked up a wolf made from cotton stuffed with pine straw. The stitches were wide and uneven, with a face that looked more like a deranged rabbit than a wolf. “You still have this?”

“Of course.”

The corners of his mouth lifted. “I made this for you when we were kids. You said it was ugly.”

Sana laughed a little. “It still is, but I cherished it no less.”

He lifted the wolf’s head. A row of stitches, smaller and better aligned, held it together. “I see you sewed the head back on after your brother ripped it off.”

“Pavel still has the scar where I hit him with a tree branch.”

Ikesh chuckled. “I remember that.”

Footsteps echoed from the hall. They both froze until the sound passed the door and went down the hall.

Ikesh placed the doll back on the table and headed toward the door. “I should get going before I lose my head, as well.”

“Please wait. Don’t go.” She reached for him, holding out her hand. “What say we leave here tonight, you and I? We can go north to Ancestor’s Tear and not have to worry about my father or that wretch of a prince.”

Ikesh grabbed hold of Sana’s hand and pulled her toward him. He bent and kissed her. With both hands behind his head, Sana held on for as long as she could. But time didn’t stop like she wanted, and he broke free, leaving her standing in the bedchamber.

*****

Sana watched the warriors fight below the Ancestral Oak. Swords struck against spears while the men fired japes at each other. Crowds gathered to watch each fighter’s attempt to best another. It was more of a spectacle than true combat. Wooden weapons marked failure with bruises and disappointment.

She should be there, showing her skill. But she couldn’t.

Her eyes went to where Ikesh stood among the warriors with a disinterested look. Despite her desire, going down there would add to an already awkward day. That, and the sparring between clans, was his arena and not hers.

Behind her, the sound of a robe shifted across the stone floor. “Will you be attending the feast tonight, Princess?”

Sana turned to see Shayla, drifting toward her in a flowing gown of sheer cotton over a muslin dress. Cousin to Sana on her mother’s side, Shayla’s tan complexion and pretty smile could bring out the light in anyone’s darkest day. They shared the same green eyes and dark brown hair, but Shayla kept hers at shoulder length to keep the curls under control.

“I’m really not in the mood.”

“Pity. It will be the last of the festivities before we head out to Saratan.”

Sana turned fully to face her cousin. “We?”

“Yes, Princess. I have been appointed as your escort.” Shayla lit up with glee. “This is going to be exciting. I’ve never been that far east before, beyond the mountains. Have you?”

Sana shook her head. “No. I’ve only traveled as far as Chomenu and the west side of the Talons.”

“Are you excited?”

“Can’t say that I am.”

Shayla came closer to watch the warriors spar. “Oh. I almost forgot. Chief Baju wants to speak with you in his audience chamber.”

“Now? What does he want?”

“He didn’t say.”

Her father didn’t have to. She knew that when summoned, the only moment on his mind was the present.

*****

Chief Baju’s private audience chamber was a small room set aside for the more intimate discussions. In contrast to other rooms used for conducting official business, this one had only a few chairs with none of the decorations found spread through the rest of the palace. Sana thought it reminded her more of a cell than an office.

Sana returned a salute to the guard posted outside as she entered through the iron-clad door.

Chief Baju sat at a tiny table drenched in light from the chamber’s lone window. A quill twitched in his hand as he scratched words on parchment. She wasn’t surprised to see Pavel standing at his side with two gray-haired elders sitting in chairs opposite the chief.

She waited at the door for her father to finish. He passed the parchment to the oldest and grayest elder who immediately stood and bowed to the chief. The elder gave Sana a smile as he passed.

“Your actions last night were uncalled for,” Chief Baju said, slipping the quill in a clay inkpot. “You are fortunate Chief Tonus was half in his cups and didn’t see your little display.”

Fortunate? Quite unfortunate, actually. Sana cleared her throat. “My apologies, Father. I will try harder next time I am deceived.”

Chief Baju’s face turned a few shades of crimson. He glanced at the remaining elder and Pavel. “I would like to speak with Sana alone.”

Pavel frowned. “But Father—”

“Alone!” The thunder from his voice and his fist smashing table caused everyone to flinch.

Pavel and the elder made a quick retreat out of the audience chamber, leaving Sana and her father gazing at each other. Her rage bubbled inside, forcing her to speak in a slow, assertive tone. “I… am not… a commodity… to be bargained with.”

“No. You’re not,” he agreed as he stood. “You are a Shankur princess and required to do what’s best for your people. And right now, an alliance with the Kutassans is what’s best.”

“By selling me off to bed them? How is that any different from being sold as a slave?”

Her father’s stare sent chills down her spine.

“The Kutassan lands to the east are of a strategic importance to us. With their alliance, a buffer can be established from any Chotukhan threat from reaching Maholin. If they side with the Chotukhan, then we risk having our only backdoor into Shankur territory unprotected.”

“But there must be another way to win their favor.”

Her father shook his head. “I’m sorry, Sana, but this is the only way. King Akutu is aging and has lost the taste for war, but his son has become more ruthless with each winter. I fear what will happen when Prince Shunlin receives his father’s crown.”

Sana was no fool to the world within the Great Valley to the east. Rich lands, once owned by the Shankur had been lost to the Chotukhan during the War of Five Winters. Since then, her people and supporting tribes used the western mountains, with its deep valleys and narrow gorges, as protection against Chotukhan tyranny.

“Let them attack. Mother spoke often about uniting the tribes and taking back Gathal.” With Ikesh at my side, Sana added silently. “I’ll lead the armies myself if I have to.”

“No. I’m afraid the Chotukhan are too powerful and you’re not ready. What you speak of is a fantasy that will bring about nothing but death and destruction.” He looked away and reached for his quill. “That is the way of things—like it or not.”

“But Father—”

“As for your marriage to Prince Tonlun, the deal has been made and there is no backing out. I suggest you pack your things. The carriage leaves in two days.”

Sana swallowed the lump in her throat, trying to imagine what her mother’s reaction to all this would be. She probably would have fought, just as Sana wanted to. But Chief Baju was right: The Shankur didn’t possess the strength to fight off the Chotukhan.

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