The star of Ishtar could be seen high in the night sky. Not a single cloud dared to venture near it. Staring at the glistening light, Katiya stood on top one of the many stone buildings that surrounded the plaza. The guards had not been dispatched and her target was nowhere in sight. She had enough time to enjoy herself before anything happened. The worst case scenario was that she would fail to rescue Yuuri and Prince Kail would kill her on the spot. If that were to happen, she at least wanted to relax before her death.
As the wind picked up, Katiya hurriedly placed her arms around her stomach. Though she had snatched a scarf to cover her face from Dorius, she had neglected to do anything about the rest of her clothes. The dancer outfit provided no resistance to the now harsh winds that swept through the open plaza. No longer were there any bodies to shield her from most of the force.
"When Dorius finds out, he'll definitely kill me," Katiya sighed.
"If you knew that much, then why did you come?" a voice whispered in her ear. She jumped, swinging her leg back, trying to kick whoever snuck up on her. Dorius easily blocked her kick, grabbing her ankle. "Katiya—"
"I'm not here for Yuuri," she hurriedly explained, pulling her leg out of his grasp. Before she had left, she had already thought of an excuse. "Prince Kail will be here as well, remember? This will at least save us the trouble of fighting to get out of his palace."
Their target was Prince Kail. As generals of Mishkerna, Katiya and Dorius had volunteered to sneak into Hattusa in order to kidnap Prince Kail. Using him as leverage, Mishkerna planned to assert their independence from the Hittite empire and return to their peaceful days, isolated from the world.
"And the girl?" he asked, doubting her intentions. "You'll just leave her?"
"I'll use her as a hostage too," she murmured, turning away from him.
Dorius sighed and began to rub the back of his head. "Two birds with one stone? Really, Katiya! Why can't you just let it go?"
"Dorius, you know the elders would agree with me. Why don't you?" The elders of Mishkerna still fervently believed in the old, peaceful ways of the Saints. If there was a fellow citizen, or any person, in need, it was a Saint's duty to help.
"Because I don't think she's one of us."
"What? The girl mysteriously appeared out of that spring right over there! And you don't think—"
"No. I don't. I'm sure something else is happening around here. Couldn't you figure that out with the news about the death of that servant child?"
"Then, all the more reason to find out now! If she is a Mishkernian, we save her. If not, we just go for the prince. Deal?" Dorius just stared at her. Katiya never followed orders, but she did keep her word with promises. He only managed to sigh before the sound of hooves began to echo throughout the plaza.
They had arrived. Katiya and Dorius jumped off the roof and hid behind the wall of the building. After the horse stopped, she peeked around the corner. There, on the chariot, was Prince Kail. The many soldiers he had brought began to file out, taking their positions around the plaza. She could feel the adrenaline beginning to pump through her veins. Prince Kail would not be an eay catch.
"The last morning star of this year's water season is rising," Prince Kail said as he stepped off the chariot, looking at the bright star which now seemed to pulse fervently. He turned back to the chariot. "After tomorrow we enter the fire season and we'll have a dry spell. The wells won't fill again until next year."
It was only when Prince Kail had reached a hand towards the chariot did Katiya notice the small, strangely dressed girl behind him. The vest-like thing she wore was very fluffy, as if it had been stuffed full with feathers for warmth. The rest of her attire was skin tight, showing off her tiny, delicate figure. Her black hair seemed similar to a lion's mane as she jumped off, grasping the prince's hand to steady herself.
Suddenly, a man came running up to the prince. "Prince Kail, the troops have been deployed around the seven wells. We can probably protect you even if the Queen's personal soldiers attack."
"So, there is bad relations between Prince Kail and the Queen," Dorius whispered. "Perhaps this plan might not work as well as we thought."
"Prince Kail is their prized prince, remember," Katiya retorted. "He is probably the only suitable one out of them all to rule their empire. They can't afford to lose him."
The prince only nodded. "Thank you, Kikkuli." He turned to Yuuri. "Yuuri, this is the well you appeared from. Get in the water and I'll send you back to your homeland."
"But! The Queen can manipulate water! Won't she just interfere with you sending me back to Japan?" The girl was anxious. Not to mention completely upset. Her voice trembled with every word she spoke.
"Japan?" Dorius placed a hand on Katiya's shoulder. "Katiya, there's no city or town in Mishkerna that goes by that name. She isn't one of us."
Indeed, Yuuri wasn't theirs. However, Katiya couldn't keep her eyes off of her. There was something different about her, not just because she came from the unknown land of Japan. Though the girl clung to Prince Kail, like a small child to its protector, she had an air of knowledge, as if she knew far greater things than any other person.
"She might try to oppose us," Prince Kail began as he placed both his arms on Yuuri's shoulders. His voice was quiet, trying to soothe the girl. "But I can use an equal magic, and I'll stop her. Go ahead, don't worry."
Reluctantly, Yuuri stepped towards the spring. Each stepped seemed to drag, making it look as if time was slowly coming to a halt around her. A dark shadow grew across Prince Kail's face each time she inched closer to the water.
When she had finally reached the edge of the water, Yuuri took a deep breath and began to wade into the water. Immediately, the surface of the water broke and the liquid rose into the air, beginning to surround her. The girl screamed, trying to break free, yelling for Prince Kail to save her.
As the people nearby began to run to her rescue, Prince Kail stopped them, holding out one of his arms. Suddenly, the wind picked up, causing Katiya to yelp in surprise. The men screamed, grabbing on to anything near them in order to keep their feet on the ground. The gust of wind began to flow towards the spring, causing the water to thrash about.
Yuuri screamed for the prince one more time before the water finally released her, shattered by the ever growing wind. Prince Kail staggered back a step, exhausted. Yuuri, noticing his fatigue, began to run for him.
"Get back into the spring, Yuuri!" Prince Kail screamed. "It's almost dawn. If you keep hesitating, you won't be able to go home." Slowly, she backed away, returning to her place inside the spring. He took deep breath, extended his arms once again, and began to chant, bellowing his voice towards the sky. "God of space and time. Return this girl of a foreign land to her former place. Please grant my wish—"
Before Prince Kail could finish the spell, Katiya noticed the giant shadow that appeared above Yuuri. It was a man, more like a giant, that was leaning over the edge of the closest building, which towered over the small spring. He wore a vest that seemed to have been made completely out of patches and a bandana of similar fashion. Many bracelets and chokers could be seen hung around his neck. Trophies of kills, perhaps.
Sword in hand, the man jumped down, grabbing Yuuri. She screamed, trying to free herself from her captor. Then, she froze. Though undetected by any other, Katiya noticed the girl's hesitation. Her eyes were fixed on a small bangle that was on the man's wrist.
"Zuwa of the Kashga!" Prince Kail screamed, causing Katiya to flinch at his words. He unsheathed his own sword and began to strike at the giant. Zuwa released Yuuri, focusing on his new attacker.
"Zuwa?" Katiya murmured. She turned to Dorius. "Dorius, that's Zuwa!"
"Indeed."
"It's the Kashga!" Now the guards were screaming. Men flooded out of buildings, out for blood and glory. Soldiers yelled as they charged, desperate to protect their prince.
Just as Katiya was about to run out, Dorius grabbed her arm. "He killed many of our kin at the time he was in Mishkerna," she said, turning to him. "We have to help!" He only looked at her, his expression torn. "Dorius, we can't just sit here and watch this!" But Dorius didn't budge, only tightened his grip on her arm. Realizing he wouldn't help her, with her free arm, she grabbed the dagger at his waist and used the hilt to smack his hand away.
Placing the knife in her mouth, she turned and began to run behind the line of stone buidings. Katiya could hear Dorius yelling after her, ordering her to come back. Blocking the sounds out, she continued until she reached the perch Zuwa himself had appeared on. That wretched Zuwa that tortured so many of her people was there! How could that man even be in Hattusa? He was a criminal!
Once she had made it to the top, she crawled across the roof on all fours, careful not to draw attention. At that moment, Dorius' actions started to explain themselves in her mind. If she tried to kidnap Prince Kail now, Zuwa would roam free, able to kill even more people with his bloodstained hands. If she fought Zuwa, Prince Kail was free to kill her when he was done interrogating her appearance in the city.
"Yuuri, get in the spring! Once I recite the spell, you'll be sent home! Hurry!" It was Prince Kail, still keeping Zuwa preoccupied. Katiya edged closer, now able to see over the side of the roof. Zuwa continued to take powerful swings at the prince, forcing him even further back, never giving him an opening.
Yuuri still stood by the spring, hands clasped in front of her. "Could that . . . could that thing on your head be . . ."
Zuwa, noticing her timid question was for him,stopped his wild swings. He turned to her and laughed, placing his hand on the bandana. "That's right. This is that little boy's skin. I just helped myself to it instead of yours."
The girl stood there, awestruck. No doubt shocked to hear the news from Zuwa himself. Prince Kail lunged for Zuwa's back, but was easily blocked. The two returned to their tussle. "Yuuri! It's sunrise! Hurry and go!"
"Unforgivable!" Crying, Yuuri dashed towards Zuwa. Katiya cursed. No matter how much she wanted Zuwa dead or to have Prince Kail in her hands, she couldn't let this girl die.
Jumping off the roof, Katiya took her blade from her mouth. Zuwa was now swinging for Yuuri, with Prince Kail behind him, screaming for Yuuri to stop. Aiming for Zuwa's blade, Katiya swung her knife down, knocking his sword out of his hand. Yuuri jumped above Zuwa, grabbing the skin bandana. As Zuwa flew forward, confused by Yuuri's actions and Katiya's strike, Prince Kail ran towards them, catching the now falling Yuuri.
"What?" Zuwa turned to Katiya, now crouched on the floor, ready for another strike. Huuriedly, he ran towards his sword on the ground, picked it up and readied himself. "Girl! How dare you! I'll kill you first for interfering!"
Before Zuwa could rush Katiya, one of the Kashga's began to yell. "Dawn! It's sunrise! Sunrise has come!" With one last glare at Katiya, Zuwa cursed, signaling for a retreat. There was nothing they could do here. Before Katiya could pursue them, one of Prince Kail's aides moved in front of her.
"I would prefer it if you'd stay so we could thank you for your help," he said, his eyes becoming sharp.
"That's enough, Ilbani," Prince Kail called. Cradled in his arms was a now sobbing Yuuri. "Why didn't you go home, Yuuri?"
"I . . . just couldn't. Even if . . . I had gone back, it wouldn't be over. I'm sure that if I hadn't taken this off his head . . .I wouldn't be able to keep on living . . . like before." She grabbed Prince Kail's robe, resting her head against his chest. "I can't . . . I can't forgive Tito's murderers!" Suddenly, Yuuri broke down, unable to speak anymore. No one spoke. Katiya just stared, watching the girl cry into Prince Kail's clothes. She didn't know why, but Yuuri's miserable state made Katiya want to protect her.
Katiya shook her head. Sympathizing with the enemy would be a mistake. She could not grow fond of these people, no matter what. Prince Kail gently patted Yuuri's head before looking at Katiya. "Would I be too bold in asking why an entertainer has helped us?"
Katiya only glared in return. She was caught.