It took nearly three days to reach Polis. My horse was exhausted, I was exhausted and in a lot of pain from my injuries. I had managed to cauterize my shoulder with a heated blade to stop the bleeding, but after such a long ride it was beginning to hurt.
Dismounting my horse, I approached the guards at the gates of Polis. I looked a mess, blood still splashed across my face and on my clothes. My behaviour must have seemed so erratic, my appearance worrying. No wonder I was viewed as a threat. "I need to see The Commander!" A demand rather than a request.
The guards stopped me from entering through the gated, "No one sees The Commander unless a meeting has been agreed upon. Step away from the gates!"
I refused to move, "You need to let The Commander know I need to speak with her as a matter of urgency!" One of the guards pushed me away, hitting me directly in my wounded shoulder. It sent searing pain through my body. I saw red, anger building in my blood.
I pushed him back, striking him across the face. We Plains Riders have fiery tempers which at times doesn't always work to our advantage. This was one of those times. Both guards restrained me as I fought back until, finally enough was enough. I felt one of them strike me across the head and everything faded to black.
The next thing I remember was waking up in a darkened room lit only by a few candles. It was wall to wall concrete, sparse and cold. My hands were bound by rope, my head throbbed. My blurred vision managed to focus in on the barred door to the cell being opened by two of The Commanders sentries. They approached me and pulled me to my feet, "Where are you taking me?" I asked. One of the guard replied as they dragged me out of the cell, "To The Commander!"
This wasn't how I'd expected to seek an audience with Heda, beaten, bound and a prisoner. The guards took me to Polis Tower and directed me inside a mechanical lift that elevated us up to the top. It was incredibly disorientating. I remained calm, not wanting to give the guards any excuse to put me back in that cell or worse to execute me.
We exited onto the top floor of the tower and I was handed over to a large, bearded man with Trikru facial tattoos. His name was Gustus, and he was not a man of pleasantries, "You will speak only when spoken to. Any sign I feel you're a threat to The Commander, I will kill you myself. Do you understand?"
I remained silent and nodded my head.
He swung open the double doors and led me into a grand throne room. I looked around and saw at least four more sentries. Infront of me, to the left stood a bald man with a tattooed head, to the right a fierce warrior woman and in the centre their you sat, The Commander. You looked so powerful upon your throne of weapons and interwoven branches. You didnt say a word, just looked at me as Gustus pushed me to my knees, "The prisoner, Heda. As requested."
He moved to position himself next to the warrior woman.
Silence filled the room as each person present waited to hear you speak. Tension was high, then broken by your voice, "Gustus tells me you assaulted one of my guards after demanding to speak with me. Is this correct?"
Your tone was completely neutral, neither angry or calm. I found it unnerving. Glancing up from underneath my hood at Gustus, I waited for him to nod at me before I answered, "Yes, Heda." I kept my answer to the point.
"You either have a deathwish or something incredibly important to say. Which is it?" You were direct, not wishing to suffer fools. What I had to say was a matter of importance, I found myself speaking more freely because of this, "Azgeda plots against you, Heda. Two of their warriors spoke of The Ice Queen preparing her soldiers for battle. War is coming to Poils, Heda and Queen Nia wants your head!"
My words seemed to echo around your throne room. It was obvious I had spoken of an issue there was already some awareness of. You looked at both of your Generals and then back at me, "Where are these soldiers now?" You asked.
"Dead! They attacked me after I heard their conversation. I killed them." The man with tattoos on his head, Titus was his name, seemed sceptical of my words, "YOU killed two Azgeda warriors? Convenient!"
Having my honour questioned angered me. My temper began to rise and I struggled to keep it in check, "There's nothing convenient about fighting Azgeda soldiers. They're not the only ones who train their children to be warriors, I can hold my own."
Your General, Anya spoke next, still wary of me, "You say Azgeda declares war on The Commander? When do they march?"
I had returned to Polis to fulfil my duty to my Commander, not to be met with such suspicion, my calm was wearing thin, "All I know its what I heard. Azgeda is about to declare war, I dont know why or when. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, so you either believe me or not that's up to you. I walk in this life with honour, do whatever you will, but never question that. We have our pride, those of us from The Plains."
I watched you rise from your throne and walk over to me. I didn't know what to expect. I remained silent and apprehensive.
You pulled my hood back to reveal my face. Moving my head to one side with your hand you recognised the cut above my eye. A slight grin of recognition showed, "I thought I told you to take care of that eye, Plains girl". Your touch was soft. I was a relived you recognised me, "I guess I'm kinda stubborn that way." Confusion filled the room. The others weren't aware we'd already met. You turned to Gustus, "Gather my war council, theres a matter of Azgeda to discuss."
