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Shinkokami
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Princess Shinkokami smoothed her gown across her lap. Roald stood at her side. He squeezed her shoulder comfortingly. Like her husband, Shinko's eyes were fixated on the door of the Chamber of Ordeal.
This wasn't the first time the princess had waited out the Ordeal of a loved one: Roald, Kel, Liam, Vania; there had been many. However this Ordeal was different. This time it was Shinkokami's daughter in the Chamber.
As she sat stiffly beside her husband, Shinkokami went over her knowledge of Lianokami's fears. As a three-year-old she was afraid of the dark. A few years later Prince Jasson kept the princess awake late into the night with stores of the monster that hid under the bed in the royal nursery. Lia also had a phobia that was unaccounted for: fear of small lizards. None of these things could kill her, could they?
Roald squeezed Shinko's hand. The Chamber was opening. Their daughter stumbled out to be caught by Keladry of Mindelan, her knight master. Liankokami's right hip was bleeding lightly and she sported several healthy bruises, but other than that she looked fine. Shinko stood but Roald caught her arm, keeping her from running to her daughter.
"She's fine," he whispered. Lianokami looked up to meet her parents' eyes and grinned wearily. Shinko felt like crying with joy.
Lia had made it.