Chapter 35

On the eve of receiving Cera's letter, Arielle sent her reply with a messenger. She reiterated to her sister that she didn't want to receive another letter until Aurora was found, safe and unharmed.

That was nearly over a month ago and she hadn't gotten a letter since. It angered her. She wondered how Aurora was fairing, all alone in a foreign land. At least Wasifah was with her.

In the thick of war planning, Arielle contemplated telling Bayan the news of their daughter. She feared he may become distracted, but he had a right to know. Bayan was livid. It was a response that made Arielle smile at the time. He did care for their daughter, despite his constant absence in her life.

The Lombard King, Alboin, arrived in Sirmium a fortnight before the implementation of the war plans. He would finally meet the Hun monarchs face to face after communicating with them via written correspondence. Alboin joined Arielle and Bayan in the large war tent. They were to discuss the plans for the attack.

Upon first meeting the Khagana, Alboin was astonished by how small she appeared. Standing taller than the average person, her slim athletic figure, along with her fuller hips and thighs, caught him off guard. He expected her to be broader, taller, and more threatening looking considering how she communicated in her letters.

"The other half of my men will be stationed in the south," he said, rubbing his blond beard. "What is your plan after Justin finds out we ransacked his allies?"

Arielle had a strategy in mind. Leaning over, she began to sift through a wooden chest. Alboin's eyebrow quirked up as he observed her from behind. A small smile played on his lips as he admired the way her curvy thighs filled out the tight trousers.

Bayan caught the king's smug face and said, "Is there something in your eye, Your Highness?"

Alboin had stared too long. Arielle turned around, holding a thick rolled-up parchment. Once she laid it onto the table, Alboin averted his eyes from Bayan.

"I will not attack the Byzantines because we are still allies with them, in writing so to speak," Arielle explained. "We, however, are not allies. I will turn a blind eye if you decide to attack Justin."

"We will work well together," said Alboin.

He donned his helm and shook Bayan's hand. The two locked eyes, staring in silence for a long while. Alboin broke the stare and smiled. "I will meet you at the Adame, Khagana," he announced, bowing his head as he exited the tent.

Bayan, arms folded, turned his head. "He was ogling your ass like a ripe fruit."

Arielle blinked, surprised that was the first sentence to come from his mouth. She laughed, flattered by Bayan's unexpected jealous tone. She thought it comical that another man found her physically attractive. She chose to ignore Bayan's comment, placing further silent distance between them.

"I'll be back in two days." She rolled up the parchments and set them back inside the wooden chest. On her way out, she grabbed her kozak then heard Bayan call her name. "Yes?"

"Have you heard anything about Aurora?" he asked, his voice numb. Arielle gave a slow head-shake.

It was funny. In a way, Alboin felt like he was celebrating with the enemy. As soon as this war was over, he and the Huns would become trivial enemies again. They were only working together to defeat the Gepids and stir the Byzantines' ire.

In the Adame, all members of the clan gathered with the exception of tribespeople coming and going. Alboin caught sight of the Khagana's mother. Her peppered hair was in a long fishtail pleat that reached her knees. The trousers she wore did little to hide her shapely thighs. The leather corset cinched her waist, accentuating her large chest and square shoulders. The Khatun was taller than the Khagana and possessed a slightly more angular appearance.

"I have been notified that we haven't received this season's payment from the Byzantines," Arielle said, startling the king. "That's twice now."

She followed his line of sight. He was staring directly at her mother. Arielle hid her smirk and grabbed a flute of wine off a tray.

"It looks like we may be working together longer than expected," he roused. "Your army better be trained well, Khagana. I don't want to lose a significant portion of my men."

Arielle raised an eyebrow. "My army is full of diverse tacticians. They train every month religiously."

It wasn't the direct response Alboin hoped for. He drank the wine and saw a tiny child, possibly no older than six, running through the crowd. She had blonde hair with hints of copper that was almost as long as she was tall. The child was running toward his direction and stopped behind the Khagana.

Abbaseh tugged on her mother's pants to grab her attention. Arielle swiftly turned and knelt so her daughter could whisper in her ear. Nodding her head, she kissed Abbaseh's hand and shooed her away.

"I must leave you for the evening."

"Mother duties outweighing your other duties, Khagana?"

Arielle's eyes narrowed. She did not appreciate his surly tone. She often experienced responses like his from the court in Persia. The council members made her feel like her power was diminished by being a mother. It was a battle she could never win.

She clapped back. "While I am in the middle of planning a war, sometimes I must also breastfeed my child." Alboin coughed, spitting the wine back into the cup. "Enjoy yourself. I'll be back on the field in two days."

He kept his gaze low as he raised his cup, bidding her farewell for the evening. And he was glad. He wanted that conversation to end.

Xerxes embraced his daughter, comforting her as she cried inconsolably against his ear. Elif's distress escalated as she forcefully discarded the mashed fruits and wheat, scattering them across the floor. Even the fermented milk, which Xerxes had resorted to as a last-ditch effort, was met with vehement refusal.

With perfect timing, Arielle burst into the room. She loosened her blouse by undoing her corset just a bit. As she received the baby in her arms, she made her way towards the bed. In a heartbeat, Elif's cries faded away as she eagerly suckled on her mother's breast.

Arielle stole a quick glance at Xerxes, noticing the tears welling up in his eyes. With both of them spending more time at home these days, Elif craved their constant presence. Determined to prepare her daughter for her upcoming absence, Arielle put in extra effort to transition Elif from breastfeeding three times a week to twice a month. Now, she was back to nursing three times a week.

"She can't keep doing this. I can't run home when I'm on the battlefield," Arielle stated, gently rocking Elif in her arms. "We need a wetnurse."

"She's rejected the last two."

Arielle let out an exasperated sigh, casting an irritated glance at her baby daughter. If Elif insisted on being so challenging, Arielle had a clever plan to find a middle ground with the little princess. She would embrace the role of both Khagana and mother, all at once.

Bayan waited at the front for Arielle. She was running late this morning. The trek to Sirmium wasn't long or tiresome. He was worried that the Lombards would begin the march without them. Finally, he heard horse hooves in the distance. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Arielle riding with her entourage, wearing her war kozak.

"The Gepids know we're coming. They'll be ready for us," he said, tightening his gauntlets.

Arielle adjusted the heavy brass headdress on her head. The brass plate lay neatly on her forehead and nose. "The archer line goes last. I will stay back until I am needed."

Giving a nod to the soldiers, Bayan initiated their march towards the south. As he quickened his pace, a soft coo reached his ears. Believing it to be a harmless creature, he proceeded cautiously. However, a sudden squeal and gurgle made him pause.

"Is that a baby?" he asked, confused.

He lifted the veil on Arielle's kozak, unveiling Elif's chubby face beaming with a smile. The baby princess was nestled snugly in a leather and fur backpack, her tiny legs dangling from the leg holes as her little fingers clung to her mother's veil.

"Arielle, what is this?"

"I need to nurse her. She won't be in the way. She'll be with me the entire time."

Bayan gawked at her with wide eyes. "God, Arielle, you can't bring a baby with us! This is a warzone. You really are committed to this war, I'll tell you that," he laughed at the absurdity of it. "Just when I think you can't surprise me further, you continue to do it."

She yelled, her voice trembling, "I'm the only one who can feed her! She refuses to eat anything." Seeing the expression on his face, she anticipated his next move. "I'm coming with you. You can't stop me. We hold the same rank."

Bayan felt his patience being put to the ultimate test by her behavior. His eyes darted towards Elif, who seemed to be delighting in kicking her mother's leather armor and happily gnawing on the veil.

"Ledo. Casan," he proclaimed. The two soldiers hurried over. Without breaking eye contact with Arielle, he commanded, "You two will be responsible for guarding the princess should the Khagana be called into battle."

The soldiers bowed and Arielle smiled warmly, thanking him with a nod. Bayan continued leading the army in silence, listening to the baby princess mumble gibberish.

Rouran Khaganate

With each passing day, Aurora's irritation grew as Gohar continued to keep her in the dark about her discussions with Qutlug Khatun. The strict security measures in the palace meant that Aurora couldn't move around freely, which only added to her frustration. And to make matters worse, Tengri's constant presence by her side was starting to wear on her nerves.

Tengri's confidence in his archery skills was unmatched, believing himself to be the best in the east. Aurora couldn't help but imagine the hilarity that would ensue if he were to face her mother in a competition. She knew he wouldn't stand a chance. Despite their frequent dinners together, she found herself spending even more time with him during the day.

Mara was consumed with jealousy and frequently expressed her disdain for the prince. Aurora sympathized with Mara's feelings, but she had to find a way to please Tengri. He was quite a challenging person to deal with.

Around a month back, Tengri's chambermaid was replaced by a new face - Maiyo. Aurora observed that during dinner, Maiyo would disappear for an extended period, citing a trip to the kitchen for water. Aurora, familiar with the palace layout, knew the time it took to make that journey. Tengri, engrossed in his tales, remained oblivious to Maiyo's vanishing act.

Aurora interrupted Tengri mid-sentence, resting a hand on his knee. "I need to go the bathroom. Remember your spot in the story. I'd love to hear how you fought off a mountain lion," she said.

Sneaking into the hallway, Aurora discreetly watched as Maiyo made her way across the courtyard in the center of the palace. Keeping a careful distance, Aurora kept a close eye on the maid's actions. Maiyo finally reached the Khatun's wing, which explained her prolonged absence while fetching water. It appeared that she was sharing secrets with the Khatun!

Aurora could feel the heat rising within her as she waited anxiously. The minutes ticked by slowly, causing her to fret about Tengri's growing concern for her whereabouts. At last, Maiyo exited the Khatun's quarters, carrying a pitcher of water as she headed back to the prince's chambers.

Determined, Aurora intercepted Maiyo and blocked her path. "I saw you come out of the Khatun's room. Has she sent you as a spy?"

Maiyo shakily answered, "No, princess, I swear."

"You disappear in the middle of dinner every time I'm with the prince. You're a spy!" she barked, shoving Maiyo's shoulder.

"Princess, please! She is only trying to protect you!"

Aurora's forehead wrinkled. "Protect me from what?"

Looking towards Tengri's chambers, Maiyo conveyed her message without words. Understanding her without explanation, the princess allowed her to pass and enter the bedroom.

Aurora stood in the hallway, glancing back at the courtyard. Qutlug Khatun was doing her best to shield her from her own son. Tengri may have had a huge ego and a bit of arrogance, but he wasn't a complete brute.

"There you are," Tengri said, finding Aurora's hand in his. "You get lost on your way to the bathroom?" he teased.

"I was caught up in conversation with Maiyo. Sorry if I kept you waiting."

Waking up, Wasifah found her vision blurred in the darkness. Her head felt heavy, causing her to struggle as she tried to sit up. Getting off the cot, she made her way unsteadily towards the door. Upon realizing it was locked, she felt a sense of panic. Each step she took seemed like a monumental task, as if she might collapse at any second. It was clear that someone had tampered with her wine.

With a determined shove, she rammed her shoulder into the door, but it refused to budge. Struggling to catch her breath, she made one last attempt before sinking to the ground. Leaning against the door, she rested her head in exhaustion. Glancing down, Wasifah spotted a thick white smoke swirling in from under the door.

In an instant, her instincts kicked in and she became extremely alert. She crawled over to the bed and tore the sheets off, exposing Mara's nude figure. The princess was not present in the bed. Mara was in a deep slumber, her breathing steady and slow. She had consumed more than three glasses of wine.

"Mara, wake up, you useless Alp!" she shouted, shaking Mara's arm. The room was filling with white smoke. Wasifah coughed and struggled to get onto the bed. The smoke made it hard for her to breathe, and she collapsed to the floor with a loud thud.

Teaming up with the prince definitely had its advantages. Aurora had more freedom and could explore the palace at night. This special privilege was given to her by Tengri in exchange for having dinner with him twice a week. She made the most of it by frequently visiting the courtyard to relax and unwind.

Maiyo was on Aurora's mind. Suspicion arose the moment she laid eyes on the maid. Never did she imagine that the maid would be involved in exchanging information with the Khatun. Qutlug, a woman Aurora barely knew, seemed peculiar. Rarely seen in the palace, it was understandable given the recent tragic loss of her husband. She needed time to grieve in peace.

Aurora struggled to find her place in this new environment, fully aware that her departure was imminent. However, as she shared more meals with Tengri, she began to question whether leaving was still in her plans. Gohar's delay in finalizing the alliance made her wonder if there was even going to be an alliance at all.

Rising from the bench, Aurora was about to return inside when she caught sight of the water in the fountain. It glowed with a brilliant orange reflection in the distance. Startled, she turned around quickly. The palace was ablaze, flames licking out of the stone windows and doorways.

Running through the corridors, soldiers in black leather armor seized servants from their quarters. The motionless bodies offered no resistance to the fire that engulfed them. The soldiers tossed servants and Khagan Yollig's men out of the windows. Aurora witnessed the bodies piling up in the courtyard, as the acrid odor of burning flesh made her feel sick.

Getting into the palace was out of the question. She swiftly moved through the courtyard, keeping to the shadows. When she got to the front wall, she leaped to grab the ledge, but it was too high. Thinking quickly, she tipped over a barrel of wine and pushed it to the wall.

Scaling the ten-foot stone wall, she spotted Tengri on horseback, flanked by a legion of soldiers. Beside him, perched high on his black mount, was the murderer, Buyruk Chor. Aurora's breath caught in her throat. By the horses, she saw Wasifah, Mara, and Gohar, all bound by their ankles and wrists. Thankfully, they were still alive, thank the gods.

Tengri locked eyes with the princess and smiled. "I wondered where you'd run off to. We should be on our way soon after every soldier has been disposed of."

Aurora turned around to see the palace engulfed in flames, and her eyes landed on two soldiers leading Qutlug Khatun towards a waiting carriage. With a cloth covering her mouth and her hands bound, Qutlug's tear-filled gaze met Aurora's, her cheeks streaked with soot.

"You killed all your brother's men," she breathed. "How could you do such a thing?"

He ignored her question. "We won't have enough room for all your friends," he said, glancing at the slumbering Huns. "You'll have to decide who isn't coming."

The suggestion he made was outrageous—to pick one of her companions to meet a tragic end. She simply couldn't bring herself to do that. Her bond with Wasifah and Mara was too strong. Even though her relationship with Gohar was strained at the moment, she had been her mentor for a whole year.

This was a new side of Tengri that Aurora had never seen. He was heartless, giving orders to eliminate his brother's soldiers, abducting his own mother, and killing foreign guests. And now, he was asking her to decide who should be executed. No, this was ridiculous.

"I am not going to order any of them to be executed. I would prefer to be released to go back to Pannonia," she said, lifting her chin. "You may do whatever you please with your people, but my people have nothing to do with this."

A smirk played on Tengri's lips as he shifted his attention to Buyruk Chor, conversing in a language that Aurora could partially understand. She managed to pick up fragments of their dialogue.

"Decide or I will decide for you, princess."

Was this the true meaning of being a ruler—having the power to make life and death decisions? She thought back to the lessons she had learned from Gabrielle. Statecraft and strategy were battles of intellect, and she knew she had to be sharp to come out on top. She wasn't so sure she could outsmart Prince Tengri.

Gohar, a respected Alp, was crucial to the Barsils tribe. Wasifah, a high-ranking officer from Persia, was indispensable to the Shah, Xerxes, and Arielle. Additionally, Aurora relied on Wasifah for protection. Mara, a budding Alp, held a special place in Aurora's heart.

She couldn't choose.

Maybe strategy would be her friend now, if she used it wisely. Aurora cleared her throat. "Are you planning to run this empire with a palace in ruins?" she asked.

"I will be relocating to China. I have many allies there thanks to my mother," he told her confidently, looking at his mother in the carriage. "You will be coming with me, but I only have room for three Huns."

"I am going with you...and I will be...what—your hostage?"

"Hostage!" he hooted. "Ah, princess, you surely enjoy testing my patience. I have treated you with nothing but respect."

He ordered for Buyruk Chor's soldiers to grab Mara. They hoisted her limp body up and Mara groaned. She was slowly waking up from the drugged wine.

A sickly feeling burned in Aurora's stomach. "No, don't!" she begged, grabbing Mara's arm. "Take...take Gohar," she muttered.

Tengri's smile widened as he saw her yield. His soldiers roughly pulled Gohar, her boots leaving trails in the dirt. In the distance, the chilling sound of a blade cutting through flesh rang out. Aurora winced at the heavy thud, imagining the grim outcome.

"A wise choice, princess. I wouldn't want to cross my allies—the Persians."

The revelation of Persia and China being allies was interesting. It was all a strategy to eliminate Gohar. He had always intended to remove her. He had no intention of choosing between Wasifah and Mara.

She did not outsmart Tengri.

Sirmium, West Pannonia

The battle dragged on relentlessly for a total of four days, showing no signs of coming to an end. The sheer size of the Hun-Avar army dwarfed that of the Gepids. Despite the odds stacked against them, the Gepids, who had spent months preparing for this moment, fought valiantly. Bayan, a master tactician, cleverly deployed ground forces to flush out the Gepids from the wooded area. He also enlisted the help of skilled warriors from the Hinukh tribe, renowned for their expertise in ground hunting.

The adrenaline-fueled excitement of battle brought out Arielle's inner warrior, a moment she had been yearning for. From her position on the hill, she observed Bayan organizing the soldiers to charge into the battlefield. With the ground troops depleting and the Lombards defending the borders aggressively, Arielle realized that she would soon be summoned to the front lines.

Galloping up the hill, King Alboin's blond braid came undone, and his eyes were bloodshot from the smoke. "My men have cleared a path to the second stronghold. Cunimund has archers in the turrets. I'll provide cover while you lead your archers," he stated confidently.

Arielle's gut feeling proved to be right. Today, she was heading into battle. Quickly, she rushed into the tent to retrieve her brass-plated kozak. Elif was sleeping on the ground, encircled by animal hides and goose-feather pillows. Arielle gently held her daughter's chubby cheek and planted a kiss on her forehead.

She marched over to Ledo and Casan. The two soldiers had been given the responsibility of sharpening weapons and mending broken bows during the war.

"You two are to keep watch over this tent until I return. If anything happens to my daughter, I will personally ensure that your tongues are plucked from your mouths."

"The princess will be safe under our care, Khagana," said Casan, bowing his head.

The way to the stronghold was currently free from obstacles, but it wouldn't be long before it was swarming with Gepids. In the distance, Bayan's warriors fought off any Gepid that dared to approach. Their swords and javelins cut through the air, leaving a trail of blood on the parched summer grass. Arielle kept her eyes fixed on the path ahead, ignoring the sounds of battle around her.

It had been a long time since she had been on the battlefield. Her nerves were getting the better of her, and she almost wanted to turn back. But Arielle knew that if she did, she would have to face her four daughters. Their voices echoed in her mind as the horse trotted faster down the dirt path. Warm tears streamed down her cheeks. She didn't know why, but for the first time in her life, she feared death.

The stronghold was within sight, its four turrets standing tall at each corner of the solid stone structure. Small slits were chiseled into the stone walls of the turrets, providing archers with a clear line of sight to shoot at any approaching threats. Meanwhile, within the towers, more archers were unleashing a barrage of arrows. Arielle carefully observed the slits, counting them and mentally mapping out the time it would take to reach each turret.

Arielle held a raised fist, halting the soldiers. "You said you would cover me," she said to Alboin. "How? You see those turrets. There are twenty archers in each tower, at least."

"We plan to ride in front to create a diversion," he explained.

"You will lose a lot of men that way." As she reminisced about the lessons from her youth, she remembered her grandmother's wise words on strategic warfare. "I have an idea that might work better and you get to keep your men."

It was an incredibly risky battle formation. Arielle was infamous for utilizing risky strategic warfare tactics, but they always worked. By the sound of horns coming from within the fortress, Arielle assumed her unpredictably had worked. The Gepids were startled that the enemies were now at their doorstep.

Her eyes met with Gepid King Cunimund's. His reddish-brown hair whipped in the hot wind, the sweaty strands sticking to his sun-worn skin. The soldiers in the turrets began readying their bows, grabbing as many arrow holsters as they could find.

Leading her forty archers on foot, Arielle advanced towards the stronghold as Alboin and the Lombard soldiers surrounded them in a protective diamond shape on horseback. Their shields pressed close to their chests, they kept a vigilant eye on the turrets, ready for any potential threat.

The Gepids launched the first wave of arrows from two turrets. Alboin shouted, "Shields!"

The Lombards raised their shields, protecting the Hun archers in their diamond formation. The arrows rattled against the sturdy shields, shattering into fragments. Arielle swiftly crouched down, grabbing an arrow to prepare her bow.

"Pull!" she commanded, and the archers drew their bows. "Hold!"

With the arrows finally coming to a halt, the shields were raised, and Arielle honed in on a slit on the left turret. Ten archers on the left targeted the turret's peak, while the other ten aimed at the slits. The twenty archers on the right mimicked their movements.

The Gepids had a brief moment to reload and unleash another barrage of arrows. As the Lombards advanced a couple of steps, they shielded the archers again. Unfortunately, two men were struck and fell from their horses this time.

"Two dead men is better than twenty," Arielle mumbled. The arrow shower stopped. "Pull!" she yelled, drawing her bow. "Hold!"

This approach was repeated six times, and with each repetition, they inched closer to the fortress. It was effective. Thank the gods, it was effective. Yet, Arielle didn't anticipate what would happen next after she and her archers cleared the turrets. For every Gepid that fell, another would swiftly take their place in the turret. The number of archers was overwhelming. Alboin had only brought sixty men with him and he had already lost ten to enemy arrows. How could fifty men raid a stronghold? The archers would soon exhaust their supply of arrows.

Arielle failed to inform Bayan about the plan, leaving him clueless about her whereabouts and the risks she was taking. As the Khagana, she should have been more responsible. It was a mistake that even a novice wouldn't make. The archers were inexperienced in ground combat, making this situation even more dangerous.

"What happens when we reach the walls, Khagana?" Alboin shouted through the shower of arrows pelting on his shield.

Uncertainty flickered in her eyes as she looked at him. With only four arrows left in her quiver, each shot had to be precise if they were to have any chance against the Gepids. She raised her eyes just enough to spot the tapestry hanging above the grand wooden doors. A quick assessment revealed that the left turret was undermanned compared to the right. The enemy archers' poor aim presented a strategic advantage.

Arielle wiped the sweat from her upper lip. "You said you wanted to create a diversion," she hinted. When she said that, Alboin's eyes glittered with delight. "I need to get over the wall. You think you could manage to cover me?"

"What do you plan to do once you get over the wall?"

"I'm going to open the doors. When they're open, charge full force. Understand?"

Alboin nodded with a mischievous grin that made his eyes crinkle.

With a sharp whistle, Alboin gestured for his men to fan out and cause a distraction. The Lombard soldiers rode around the castle, flinging daggers at the wall men, leaving the archers exposed to the Gepid archers in the turrets. The Gepids fell from the fortress wall, crashing to the ground with a loud thud.

The Hun archers persisted in shooting until they exhausted their supply of arrows. Arielle swiftly crossed the field, slinging the bow over her shoulder. Drawing her sword, she plunged it into the stone wall. Once the blade was secure, she began to climb the wall, firmly planting her boots in the turret holes.

Arielle's ears pricked up at the sound of a bowstring being pulled back. Raising her head, she found herself in the crosshairs of a Gepid. The arrow whizzed through the air, striking her brass kozak as she faltered, clutching onto the sword's hilt. Regrettably, the sword couldn't bear her weight.

Her scream echoed through the battlefield as she plummeted to the ground, releasing a grunt upon impact. As she tried to shift her position, a sharp pain shot through her back, causing her to let out a loud groan. Her archers rushed to her side in a flurry of concern.

"Khagana, we must get you to safety," a soldier said.

"No, guard the wall! Go up the wall, damn you. Leave me be!" she whined, pushing the hands off of her.

The thunderous noise of hooves reverberated through the ground, catching the attention of Gepid King Cunimund. A battalion of soldiers stormed across the field, brandishing javelins, bows, and swords. The notorious sound of a horn grew closer as they neared the fortress. Arielle craned her neck, hoping to spot Bayan following her. However, it was Csaba's horse that appeared instead.

Arielle let out a piercing scream as she was hoisted into the air. Two soldiers grasped her arms while two others held onto her legs. The group hurried towards the safety of the bushes, escaping the chaos of flying arrows and swords clashing in the distance.

"Arielle!" she heard her brother call, and she answered back.

Csaba dismounted his horse and hurried to his sister's side. Gently removing the kozak from her head, he tenderly held her cheek. "Bayan sent me to find you. He lost many men," he explained.

A tear trickled down her cheek. "Is he hurt?"

"Not from what I saw, but I'm more worried about you."

"I injured my back," she said, and hissed when her back twitched. "I fell from the turret when I was climbing it."

"Dammit, Arielle..."

"It was either that or I get killed by an arrow. I told Alboin I would open the doors and he was going to charge in."

Csaba studied the large double doors. He could get those open. The plan could still work. In less than a few minutes, he organized a group of men to ram into the door. The soldiers quickly formed a line and cut down a large tree. Together, they grabbed the trunk of the tree, supporting it on their shoulders and charged at the doors.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

Five proved to be the fortunate number. The door's latch was damaged, and the Huns released the tree and forced it against the doors. The Gepids pushed from the other side, but were unable to resist. Thirty Hun soldiers trampled over the Gepids and burst into the fortress. Soon after, Alboin led the Lombard horsemen to charge ahead.

Alboin searched the second floor of the fortress and spotted his opponent. "I will drink from your head, Cunimund!" he bellowed.

Rushing through the hallway, Anastasia's long nightgown swirled behind her. She let go of Navaz's hand and heard him telling her to slow down. She was well acquainted with this Adame and knew the layout by heart.

"Open the doors," she ordered, not slowing her quick strides.

The guards hesitated, but realizing she was determined, they reluctantly opened the doors. Anastasia hurried past them, nearly stumbling over a chair in her rush to reach Arielle's bedside.

Navaz gently grabbed her arm, whispering, "You'll hurt yourself. Let me take you to her."

Ana appreciated her husband's attempt to be helpful, even though it irritated her. Eventually, she took his hand and they made their way to the bed. Sitting down, Ana quickly found her daughter's hand.

"I would've been here sooner, but nobody woke me," she said. "I heard you were injured and came as soon as I could. What happened?"

"I fell from a tower and hurt my back," Arielle sighed, earning a gasp from her mother. "Ursula gave me some opium."

Anastasia planted a gentle kiss on her daughter's hand. "I'm relieved that you're safe, and the same goes for my granddaughter," she said. As Arielle's hand began to slip away, she tightened her grip. "How could you bring Elif into a dangerous warzone without informing anyone?"

"Now is not the time, Ana," said Navaz.

"Quiet," she snapped. "Xerxes just about had a heart attack. He's accusing you of kidnapping Elif."

Arielle scoffed, "I cannot kidnap my own daughter. Where is she? I need to nurse her soon." She looked down at her engorged breasts. She didn't know how long she'd been here, but she guessed it'd been a while since it was dawn.

"You can't breastfeed with opium in your body," Anastasia sternly reminded her.

"I would still like to see her."

"I'll let Xerxes know. Rest. I will come back later to check on you."

Arielle let out a groan as she struggled to sit up, only to fall back onto the bed with a pained expression. The effects of the opium were fading, causing her to writhe in discomfort. "Xerxes has no right to keep my daughter from me! I demand to see her!"

Anastasia's words rang out in the room, "I said I'd inform him!" Her daughter fell silent at her command. "Elif is managing just fine without you. I'll ask Revkah to take care of your milk so you don't get an infection." After kissing Arielle's hand, she stood up, gripping Navaz's shoulder tightly. The sound of her daughter's cries pierced her heart, prompting her to quicken her steps.

A few minutes later, Bayan entered the chamber cautiously. He heard Arielle quietly sobbing and walked over to the bed. Arielle locked eyes with him and wiped her tears away.

Bayan said with a smile, "Cunimund is no more. We've successfully taken over Sirmium."

She nodded in silence, staring up at the ceiling. "Bayan."

"Yes?"

"Thank you for sending Csaba to rescue me."

Despite not anticipating gratitude from Arielle, he embraced the praise wholeheartedly. The longer he looked at her, the more he thought of Aurora. He couldn't help but wonder how his teenage daughter had changed. Arielle always said that their daughter looked like him, but he didn't think so.

"Now that this war is over...I want to go look for Aurora," he said.

Arielle's eyebrows furrowed. "My grandma and Gabrielle are working hard to find her."

"It's been more than a month, Arielle! We've heard nothing."

"I trust them."

Gobi Desert

It was so unbearably hot. The seven days wandering in the desert was not anything Aurora wanted to do a second time. She had lost track of the days as every inch of this god forsaken place looked the same. She was given an animal skin filled with water by a soldier. She looked back at the caravan line. Wasifah and Mara were forced to walk behind the caravan, bound by their wrists and ankles.

Aurora walked over to them and gave them a good swig of warm water. The soldier who gave her the animal skin stomped over and snatched it.

"The water was meant for you, princess," he gruffly said.

"If they don't drink water, they will die. How do you expect them to survive in this heat?" Aurora clapped back, a hand on her hip.

"They will get water when I say."

Prince Tengri sauntered over, clicking his tongue against his teeth. He did not like the sound of one of his soldiers talking poorly to the Hun princess. As he approached, the soldier backed away, lowering his gaze.

"Kiji, are you being disrespectful to the princess?" Tengri inquired.

"No, sir."

Aurora rolled her eyes. "He is denying them water." She pointed to Wasifah and Mara. "I will walk alongside them if they aren't cared for properly."

That statement earned a small chuckle from the prince. Tengri's laugh faded and he rubbed his clean-shaven chin, staring at Aurora. He waggled his finger, hinting for her to follow him. They strayed away from the caravan line and walked over to a small boulder in between two pitiful leafless bushes.

A unique symbol was lightly carved into the boulder. Aurora's stomach twisted into a knot. She felt Tengri's hand slip over her shoulder and he gave it a squeeze.

"Do you know what this means?" his words slithered off his tongue. "This is the second symbol I've found and I thought 'hmm, that's bizarre. What are the odds that I see this symbol twice in the middle of the desert?'"

He pulled her close and Aurora flinched.

"You've been setting markers every two days," he whispered in her ear. "If I see another marker, I will make you walk behind the caravan until we reach China."

Tengri had once again proven to be one step ahead of her, outsmarting Aurora at every turn. Despite her efforts to outwit him, he always seemed to have the upper hand. She held onto hope that a family member would eventually realize she was missing from the Barsils clan.

Then, an idea came to her. If she couldn't outsmart him, she could intimidate him with threats. He seemed to like threatening others.

"I have other ways of leaving tracks behind," she said. "I could...stop leaving markers if you allow Wasifah and Mara to sit in the carriage with me and your mother."

Tengri laughed and grabbed her arms firmly. A bit too firm for Aurora's liking.

"If you leave as much as a fingernail or hair behind this trail, I will kill one of your friends."

X & G in the next chapter! :)