no idea how it would play out, but I had a feeling it wouldn’t be good.”
“Why?”
“When Alchan was a few hundred years old, I asked him about it. I was close to our parents, but Alchan had neither of his, not really. When he was young, he idolized and loved his mother, then…she was gone. So, I asked.” Seanev sighed. “He told me he hated her. She had, in her own anger at Behron, left Alchan to die and never dared to find the courage to come back. She’s the reason he closed off his heart so long ago, Mave. For centuries, the only person Alchan could be considered close with was Luykas. No one else was safe.”
“Well, I need you to tell me where she is. I’ve been asked to see if I can…convince her to go back to Leria’s community.”
“Ah. She’ll be staying with the rest of the nobles waiting for Alchan’s acknowledgment.”
“He didn’t tell me what happened to your arm,” she pointed out as she followed him.
“Ask him to tell you after I’ve left. I’m not feeling up to explaining it again. I’ll be fine to fight.” He rubbed the bandaged arm as she stepped up beside him on the trail.
“Of course,” she said, accepting it for now.
They walked the entire way in silence, finding the small camp made by the so-called nobles.
“What makes an Andinna a noble?” she asked softly, looking over them. “I thought mativas owned and ruled everything.”
“They do, and the mativas are normally classified nobles if they weren’t already. Others are great warriors who have established themselves. I’m sure our parents would have been given titles if they had won the War. Many noble houses were started by offshoots of the royal family. The royal blood dies out, but wealth and influence don’t. They become diplomats who go abroad or merchants of great wealth, various spheres of power they can get into and further their own ambitions. And oftentimes, the mativas and the nobles’ houses were one and the same. Nobles are invited to festivals the queen is attending and hosting. There’s some privilege to it.”
“Ah. Wonderful. I know the type.”
“Please remember, these are Andinna and warriors as well, even if they were born into wealth and privilege. You know Asari’s nephew, Kenav. He’s a noble-born Andinna and a warrior.”
“Oh yes, I know Kenav,” Mave growled.
Seanev visibly winced. “I’m sorry. I forgot you knew him from…”
“It’s fine,” Mave said. “Point her out, so I can impress on her the importance of leaving.”
Seanev walked into the camp, and Andinna turned to them, bowing. They left whispers in their wake.
“There she is. The King’s Champion. General Lorren’s daughter.”
“Kelsiana would be proud.”
“The last of the Lorrens together again.”
Mave was glad they knew who she was. She needed a reputation to do her duty effectively.
Seanev stopped at a male in front of a tent.
“We need your wife,” he said, staring down the male. “Don’t argue with me, Venar.”
“Didn’t plan to, sir,” the male said, eyeing her before going inside the large tent. A moment and some hushed whispers later, a female who must have been Alchan’s mother came out, followed by three males. She couldn’t find much of her in Alchan or vice versa. He and Luykas had to be spitting images of their father.
“What can I do for you, General Lorren?” She looked only at Seanev. Mave looked at her brother with a raised eyebrow.
“I don’t need anything. This is Mave Lorren, King’s Champion.” Seanev gestured to Mave, then stepped back as Asari looked at her.
“Good day,” Asari said softly. “I didn’t think I would be executed today.”
“You won’t be,” Mave promised with a smile. “I’m here to ask you to leave. I know no one can force you, but the king thinks it’s for the best.”
“I’m sure he does,” the female said, blinking several times as tears filled her eyes.
Don’t lose your temper, Mave. You’re just here to pass along the message that Alchan would like to see her leave, even if no one can force her. Skies, I wish I could force her. Those fucking tears don’t belong here. She doesn’t get to be the one who cries when she hurt my brother.
“While I’m only supposed to be delivering the message, I’m going to take the liberty to say I agree with him,” Mave tried. She just needed to convince this female to leave.
“I wasn’t a very good mother in the end, but I was hoping he would be willing to give me a