Kaija: Queen of Stone

16.5

Time passed at the speed of a snail. I stood outside Mara's door, on guard. I made an oath to protect her and though tension was high, I still would. My eyes grew heavy as I pushed sleep away. If I did not occupy my time, I feared I was going to lose my mind standing stagnant. I was either waiting for the sun to rise or set. Seeing one or the other. Anai and Mara were entangled in my life.

Steps sounded from the stairs. I straightened, clasping the hilt of the spear. No one should have been up at this hour. Though, I was unsure what hour it was.

Qia appeared, her black hair wavy from the braids. I sighed in relief and relaxed my position.

"Good morning," she greeted with a shallow wave. "It's nice to see you."

"Good morning." My voice was monotoned.

"Have you slept yet?" she asked with a narrowed eye. "You look terrible."

I sighed. Qia read me like a book, arching a brow. "Just a wink."

She nodded, stepping past me. She placed a hand on my shoulder and offered a kind smile. "Relax now, Hona. I can get Mara ready for the day. Why don't you prepare for the journey?"

The quest. I had almost forgotten. The kiss replayed in my mind. I had rejected Mara and humiliated her. I remembered my thoughts from last night. This quest could be a dangerous one. This could be the last time I ever saw her again.

I swallowed hard and raced down the stairs. I knew what I needed to do.

The blacksmith wasn't far from the castle. I could pay Bent a visit and hurry back before her departure.

I reached the bottom of the stairs and flung open the castle doors. Following the stone path, I arrived at the front door of the blacksmith's shop in just minutes.

The shop was run down, the windows dark with dirt. The wooden boards harboring the contents of the shop were rotting, some planks missing.

I ascended the three steps, tottered on the uneven porch and knocked on the horrid black door, chipping off paint as I waited for a reply.

I stepped back as the large door swung open, revealing a large burly man with a gray beard and balding head. He raised a brow toward me and pressed a large hand to the doorframe. I was stunned that the shop did not collapse under the weight.

"Good morning, Bent," I started. "I have come to see your wares."

The man's brow lowered as he vacated the doorframe, leading me in with the gesture of his hand. His posture deviated, and so did his voice. "Come, come," he answered in a kind tone. "The Queen's General, how exciting! What honor have I to speak to you?"

"I am searching for a dagger," I explained, looking around the crammed, dim-lit shop. "For the new queen."

The blacksmith repeated what he said back, mumbling it to himself as his eyes scanned the air. "Aye, aye," he said, walking to the back of the shop. His footsteps shook the small room. "I just finished a few pieces. With the announcement of the Rabaka invading you can never be too careful."

"I'd be glad to see them."

"Certainly."

Bent disappeared behind a door leading to the back. He chatted from the other side, his voice strained as metal clanked.

"I am glad we are free of Baria," he began. "I was thinking I would make shackles next for our own feet!"

I pressed my hands into my pockets and looked around the shop as Bent continued to talk to himself.

"I don't think I would have the heart to do such a thing," he argued with himself.

The small shop was decorated in weapons. Axes, swords, daggers, and other strange things I had never seen before were laid out of the tables and mounted to the walls. I remembered the first time I stepped foot inside this shop. It was back when we were training with Rooke.

Jonga and I had tried each weapon, hoping to find a fit to our fighting style. I approached a spear in the corner of the shop and touched the hilt. The same feeling coursed through me from the first day. Just as brothers would, Jonga followed in my footsteps, picking a spear similar to my own.

"Try this!" Rooke yelled, tossing him a spear.

I gripped the hilt and twisted, wielding the spear. I smiled, the adrenaline coursing through my veins.

Bent returned moments later, pulling the memory from my mind. He huffed, almost slamming his head on the doorway as he stumbled toward him with bundles in his hands. He laid them out on the table and stepped back.

"Please, pick any you want."

I picked up the first satin cloth in envy green. It reminded me of the castle walls. Unwrapping it, this dagger was like one I had seen before. I could not place where. Holding the dagger in my hand, it touched the veins on my wrists. I glanced at the curved blade, turning it to see if it had any significance about it.

"It's a regular dagger?"

"Aye," the blacksmith answered, reserved. "It is."

"Do you have anything a little more special?" I questioned. "This is after all for the new queen of Udan."

The blacksmith nodded, drawing forward, he pulled a dagger from the third cloth dyed in crimson. This one differed from the first. The blade gleamed violet, etched with dull gray carvings leading down to a bound hilt of leather. The violet reminded him of Mara. It was simple, yet beautiful, demanding power.

"And this one?" I pointed to the object.

"It is made of silver," Bent explained. "It was supposed to be a gift for Baria but since she has passed—"

"I'll take it," I interrupted with a smile, fiddling in my pocket for the silver coins I saved from Baria. She had given them to me when I had agreed to become her king. She was not one to share her wealth, but Baria would do anything to get what she desired.

"No, no," Bent protested, waving his hands in front of him. "I won't accept any coin from you."

I nodded, still smiling. "Then I shall leave it as a tip."

Bent smiled as I picked up the dagger and in its place left the silver coin. Before standing, the blacksmith stopped me.

"Wait, General Hona," he called, leaning down. He picked up another dagger, the last one in the bunch. This was black, almost obsidian like the night. The hilt was shrouded in a black cord almost like Mara's was. They were different yet one of a kind.

"I want to give you this," he said, "as a thanks. I found it out by the riverbed and thought it would be a good present."

I took the dagger in my hand and smiled. "Thank you, Bent, for your kind gift."

"Give the queen my regards," he said, nervous. "Udan is a much safer place in her hands and in yours."

"Let us remind her of that," I said. "Join me at the stables to wish our queen farwell."

For the journey to Kaija was underway.