Araman

~ 18 ~

   They were all up early the next morning. It was another half days ride into the Canah before they reached the Unisayan grounds. They crossed the river at a wooden bridge concealed by a few trees, which Kassen had not noticed before.

Raliena appeared much brighter but as they neared the grounds she found herself remembering when she had last been there and dwelled on the number of Unisayan that had lost their horns needlessly.

They stopped just after midday and ate a small meal before Araman and General were to venture into the forest alone and return with their prize.

Once she had finished her meal, Raliena went into her tent to change into the traditional clothes of an Araman.

Kassen's mouth dropped when she stepped from the tent again, now dressed in purple silk, laced with gold detail around her chest and cut up the hem of the skirt which flowed neatly around her. Her off the shoulder sleeves were also gold lace and hung down her sides.

Kassen had never seen her look so regal and judging by the stares of the other men, neither had they. Derio was nudging Kassen in the side as if he hadn't seen the beautiful creature that stepped into camp. He hit him away in frustration and smiled at Raliena.

The Araman ignored their stares and wrapped the golden cloak around her shoulders and put her hood up.

She smiled back at Kassen.

"Shall we?" She said and started walking into the forest.

Kassen got to his feet, suddenly feeling conscious of how travelled he looked in his clothes and made to follow.

"If you are not back by the time the sun sets, I am coming to find you, General." Dergen muttered before Kassen could leave, grabbing his arm roughly.

"It is not I she should be concerned about." Kassen retorted, pulling his arm from Dergen's grasp and walking away to find Raliena. He was not sure how he had refrained from punching the Advisor.

Kassen caught up with Raliena and they strolled beside each other in silence for a while.

"It is not far." Raliena said, breaking the growing tension.

"We are not here to kill the Unisayan, Raliena. You can trust me."

"I know." She replied smiling at him, then was silent again.

Finally, they came to a halt a few trees away from a small clearing. A fallen tree was almost waiting for the Araman to be seated.

"Stay upwind and wait till I have hold of the horn, then the Unisayan will be paralyzed. Strike just as I let go." Raliena looked up sadly at Kassen's sympathetic expression.

"Stay with me while I heal it, please." These last words were a request to him.

"Of course." Kassen replied, concerned for her.

He left to find a tree to hide behind and Raliena was alone, ready to face again the place where she had seen a Unisayan murdered and gained her unusual ability.

The ground beneath Raliena crunched as she paced slowly into the clearing. She kept her head bowed and tried to still her heart that raced faster with each step she took. This was what she was meant to do, what was expected of her for the fate of the Kingdom. Why was it so hard for her?

She closed her eyes when she reached the fallen tree she planned to sit on and breathed deeply, thinking of nothing other than the smell of the trees and sound of birds calling, as if trying to calm her confused spirit.