Chapter 1
Natalia woke to a tender kiss upon her lips.
“Wake up, Natalia of Karkov.”
“Jillian . . .” groaned Natalia as she rolled over with a simultaneous yank of the cover. “You’re so annoying.” Unfortunately for Natalia, it wasn’t unusual for her to be disturbed by her twin sister in the middle of the night.
The girls fought for control of the blanket as Natalia tried to hide. Jillian firmly pinned the blanket to the bed, keeping it from Natalia. “You are mistaken, lovely Natalia. ’Tis not Jillian. Although . . . If I am not mistaken, I have heard of this astounding warrior known as Jillian.”
“Astounding?”
“Yes. Astounding. Isn’t she the girl who makes grown warriors look foolish?”
“She’s the girl entirely too astonished by herself,” Natalia retorted.
Jillian broke character long enough to howl at Natalia’s quip.
Natalia knew she would regret asking but couldn’t suppress her curiosity. “If you’re not my incorrigible sister, who are you?”
“I thought you’d never ask. I am the prince of Lucenze.”
Natalia giggled at Jillian’s altered voice, which was comically deep and disguised by a silly accent. “Is that how Lucines sound?” asked Natalia.
“This is how we sound,” replied Jillian. “I am the most handsome prince in the world and have been told you are the only one who is beautiful enough to be my bride. I have come to take you back to Lucenze.”
“Please do. Maybe I’d be able to sleep in Lucenze.”
“Sleep?” gasped Jillian, still attempting a Lucine accent despite obviously not knowing how. “Certainly not. Why do you think I need the beautiful Natalia? Not to watch you sleep. I can tell you that much.”
“You’re awful,” snapped Natalia, renewing her fight for the blanket. “Leave me alone, Jillian,” she begged as they wrestled. Jillian was stronger, quicker, and always determined to be victorious, no matter the competition. Natalia knew better than anyone that opposing Jillian was useless and surrendered, resorting to stubborn poutiness. “Fine. I’ll just lie here and ignore you. Anything else only encourages—no, it challenges you to see how far you can take things.”
“You have seen through my ruse. I’m not the prince. But I saw him just now.”
Natalia rolled her eyes at her sister’s latest lie and grumbled, “Tell him I’ve changed my mind about becoming his queen. I’m too tired. He can take the astounding warrior. You’re almost as beautiful, and I’d finally be able to sleep.”
“I tried to make him believe I was you. I thought he wouldn’t know the difference.”
“He must’ve heard Natalia was the nice twin. You couldn’t pretend to be nice for very long.”
“Good point, nice sister. But that wasn’t it. He outsmarted me.”
“Better luck next time,” muttered Natalia, sleepily losing interest.
“He’d heard the way to tell us apart. One is better with a sword.”
“Oh,” chuckled Natalia. “Is that what he’d heard? So, this’s how you were unable to pass as me? Nothing to do with our completely different personalities. Instead, he somehow discovered you were too good with a sword to be me?”
“Yes,” responded Jillian. “He brought dueling swords to test whether I was Natalia or Jillian.”
“Surely he must’ve considered you could conceal how great you are with a sword.”
“Ah, but remember, he’s very intelligent. He knew that Jillian of Karkov could never pretend to be bad with a sword.”
“I’m bad with a sword?” Natalia asked.
“Compared to me.”
“I hope you didn’t kill him, Jillian. Would be such a waste of a handsome prince.”
“No, of course I didn’t kill him. You’d never forgive me for that. But, still, you’ll have to find another husband, because he’s way too humiliated to show his face in Karkov again.” Jillian excitedly stood in the bed, rising up over Natalia. “After I spun him around, I spanked his butt with the flat of my sword.”
While Jillian was mimicking the spanking motion with her hand, Natalia swept Jillian’s feet from beneath her, knocking her off the bed. The room was too dark for her to see Jillian lying on the floor, but when she heard her twin burst into uncontrollable laughter, Natalia giggled, until Jillian became silent.
Expecting retaliation, Natalia was startled when Jillian said next to her ear, “Now that you’re awake, I need you to come with me.”
“I’m not awake,” responded Natalia. “I’ve adapted to sleep through your nightly chaos.”
“Something’s being built in the courtyard,” said Jillian. “Something for tomorrow’s training.”
“How do you know?”
“I heard the builders from the privy window. They’re building something significant.”
“If something significant is happening tomorrow, then we need our sleep.”
“No,” responded Jillian. “We need to be prepared.”
“Getting sleep is being prepared.”
“I don’t need sleep.”
“You don’t need to cheat either. Whatever this is. Whether it’s something to break into or out of. It doesn’t matter. You’ll master it like always. If not, well, that’s why it’s called training.”
“Natalia. I am not a son.”
“Yes,” laughed Natalia. “I’ve noticed.”
Ever since the girls had become aware that they never should have been allowed to live—according to the custom of Karkov, their father should have produced a male heir and killed any of his children who might have been a rival for the throne—they had been obsessed with discussing their unlikely survival and what it meant. The twin sisters had differing outlooks on the matter.
Natalia considered their lives to be a lasting evidence of their father’s immense love for their mother. A Lion is obligated to provide Karkov with a male heir. After their mother, Eryyda, died in childbirth, their father should have taken another wife. But the birth of a male heir would’ve required him to eradicate his only children with his true love as rival heirs. It would have been the death of all that was left of her. So, the Old Lion, as he was known, had disregarded what was required of him in order to preserve a part of Eryyda in his life.
Of course, Jillian’s perspective was different. All she saw was the burden placed upon her. It was up to her to validate their lives. “Karkov has always had a male Heir. A Lion. It’s been this way for hundreds of years.”
“They all know you can be Lion,” said Natalia.
“That’s not enough,” Jillian responded. “It has to be more than can be. It must be that I am. Without any doubt.”
“You are. No doubt.”
“You’re not a Kark,” Jillian argued. “Karks don’t like change. What could constitute a greater change than submitting to a female Lion?”
“What choice do they have? It’s either me or you. And it won’t be me.”
“In my case, it can’t be that I’m the best option available. I have to be the greatest there ever was.”
Natalia sighed. “You won’t prove that tonight. Just go to sleep.”
“How can I sleep when boys younger than us are away on the raids? We’re fifteen. Father saw battle by the time he was twelve. We are hidden behind the training, and it’s being noticed.”
Natalia knew Jillian was right. She’d overheard a Kheshkev complaining about Riked’s staying to instruct the girls instead of leading the raids. Kheshkev were the elite warriors, and Riked was the most revered among them, lower than only the Old Lion in the chain of command. His absence from the raids was controversial, which could make all of Karkov question why Jillian was being withheld from battle.
“What do you want me to do?” Natalia asked.
“Help me
annihilate whatever we face tomorrow. I’ll dominate tomorrow and demand to join the raids.”
“Demand? You’ll never learn how to talk to Papa.”
“Then I’ll dominate and let you convince him for me,” said Jillian. “Each doing what we do best.”
“How would we get past the guards?”
“The guards are at the bottom of the stairs.”
“Which is our only way out.”
“Sweet, sweet Natalia. Do you ever set your mind to mischief? We have a perfectly usable window in the privy.”
“I’m not jumping from this height.”
“We’ve been taught how to jump and land,” Jillian said. “But we’ve also been taught to scale walls.”
“Not for the purpose of cheating in our training.”
“Why’ve we been taught anything if not to accomplish our intentions? I intend to know exactly what tomorrow will bring. We spend three times longer on strategy lessons than on skills. Would it not be weak strategy to ignore what I’ve discovered?”
“The coursings in the wall aren’t deep enough,” Natalia said.
“What do you think the rope in the corridor is for?”
“For lowering and raising the candles,” Natalia replied. “How will you explain the rope cut loose from its binding?”
“Why would we cut the rope loose from a perfectly good iron frame that could be anchored in the privy seat before we throw the rope out the window?”
“You’re going to wedge the chandelier into the privy hole?” Natalia laughed. “Now I’m just glad your plan has us going out the window and not down the hole.”
“So, you’ll go with me?”
“I wouldn’t be able to sleep while you were on your expedition. My top priority has now become the next sleep.”
“Tomorrow night I’ll let you sleep the whole night,” Jillian vowed.
“And who’ll also be asleep? By my side?”
“I will.”
“You promise?”
“Yes, yes. We’ll dream together,” said Jillian.
“The same dream?”
“Of course not.” Jillian sounded offended. “One of us wouldn’t enjoy it if it was the same. I’ll dream of victory in battle and you of the handsome prince.”
Natalia asked, “You don’t even know his name, do you?”
“His name isn’t important. I only care if he’s handsome. My Natalia must be taken away from here by a striking prince from the West.”
“Only the West? Are there not handsome princes to the east of us?”
“Too many motives for revenge to the east. My Natalia must be safely to my west.”
“With a handsome prince,” added Natalia.
“Only if he’s handsome giggled Jillian.
Chapter 2
Four large cauldrons held fires that created an island of light within the sea of darkness. Most of the legendary courtyard remained in shadow. The courtyard was where Lions, from the time they could stand, were taught to be the most powerful warrior of their nation. They emerged from the courtyard as a Lion, with eradication being the only alternative. The courtyard held many national treasures, which served as symbols both of Kark victories and of what was expected of a Lion. Only its centerpiece, an ancient stone obelisk, was illuminated by the fires.
The army’s crew of builders worked within the circle of flickering light. The younger builders erected scaffolds, while the seasoned carpenters built wood-framed walls. The two most senior builders conversed at an excessive volume. Their conversation would have been dangerous even if it had been whispered.
“We’re getting older, Stolar, but our work has never been more important,” said Čevi proudly. Čevi always took delight in his work, even if his contribution was limited to keeping up morale.
Stolar gave him a look that suggested he disagreed.
“I know you agree we’re old,” Čevi said. “So you must not see the significance of this.”
Putting down his saw, Stolar asked, “How many lands have been conquered because our work carried the artillery and supplies? The Old Lion couldn’t have taken Fjordland without our bridge.” Stolar was more serious than his workmate, and he was usually ornery when paired with Čevi. “Whatever the warriors needed of us, we built. Now we build for children’s games. It’s meaningless.”
“We’re constructing history!” responded Čevi. “A Daughter will be named Heir. This’s for her. The most extravagant lesson ever taught. The most enormous set ever built. Nothing like this has ever been done. And crafted by our hands.”
Stolar scoffed.
“You’re right to be proud of the victories we enabled. But by having a hand in forming the next Lion, we’ll be a part of an entire generation of victories. Even after we’re gone.”
“Don’t be a fool, Čevi. That girl can never be Lion.” Stolar paused while his workmate gasped at his statement. “How can she be? A Lion passes on the Lion seed, so that our next Lion is born. Can she pass on the seed?”
Čevi was dumbfounded.
“If the girl cannot pass on the seed, then she’s not a Lion,” said Stolar. “We’ll look back on this and see how our talents were wasted. Just like Riked’s time has been wasted on training these girls.”
“This is treasonous, and I won’t stand for it!”
“I’m not the only one who says this. While making equipment checks, on the day of deployment, I came upon three Kheshkev who were furious. Riked not commanding the raids was a great offense.”
“It is Riked’s foremost duty to prepare the next Lion,” argued Čevi.
Stolar shouted, “There isn’t a next Lion to prepare!”
His statement hung heavily in the silence between them, until Stolar returned to sawing lumber. “Forget it. I was only getting you riled up. It makes the time pass. Now we can return to our usual way. Čevi talks. Stolar works. Stolar does all the work. Čevi does all the talking.”
“From the moment the Daughters were born, they were raised to be Lions.” Čevi waited for a reaction from Stolar before continuing. “Why raise them that way if they can’t be? I could understand considering this experiment a failure if they weren’t able, but they’ve shown their merit. Especially the violent one. If she’s proven worthy of being a Lion, then why would we all not be proud of our work?”
“If she became Lion, how would we get our next Lion? Would she take a conquered king’s seed?”
“Never!” Čevi exclaimed.
“This is what the Kheshkev say. They are the voice of our nation. We’re just builders who need to get some work done.”
Čevi picked up one end of a board. He rotated it many times, as if too distracted to determine which side its crown was on. “It sounds to me as if the Kheshkev betray the Old Lion.”
Stolar released a sigh of frustration. “He’s the one who got himself cursed.” He pointed west. “We are old enough to remember what was said about those mountains.” The imposing, snowcapped Axis Mountains, commonly referred to as the Kark Divide, split the world between the West and what belonged to the Lion. It was always believed that a Lion could not cross this boundary or he’d be the last of his lineage. Stolar asked, “Doesn’t it seem to have come true?”
“How so?” responded Čevi. “That was many years ago, and the Old Lion remains perfectly alive.”
“Think about it. He doesn’t have a son. He’ll be the last of his kind, just as the curse said.”
“You think because he crossed some mountains to rescue Lucenze, daughters
were born to him instead of a son?”
“And he still hasn’t had a son,” added Stolar.
“He hasn’t had a son because he didn’t want his daughters killed.”
“It doesn’t matter what I think. The Kheshkev think it’s time for one of their own to join the Lion’s blood.”
According to the Way of the Lion, the Lion’s blood could never mix with that of his own subjects. The Lion mated with the conquered. And the Heir was born from an act of war, not descended from the ruled.
After considering Stolar’s words, Čevi thought aloud, “A Kheshkev mated with the warrior Daughter.”
“Now you’re catching up,” Stolar responded.
“Only the greatest Kark warrior would be worthy of such a first. It must be Riked.”
“The Kheshkev say it should be Riked’s son. Said to have Riked’s skill but with the power and size of the Old Lion. He is the warrior of their generation. She is a worthy mate. Imagine the Lion they would produce.”
“The Old Lion would never allow this. Even speaking of it is treasonous.”
“But did the Old Lion not commit the first crime? By not fulfilling his obligation?”
The argument had become heated, and the two were on the verge of blows, too distracted to notice Jillian had taken a step out of the colonnade in order to confront them. Natalia yanked her back behind a column.
“You’ll let them talk this way about Father?” Jillian said.
“We’re not supposed to be here,” responded Natalia.
“What about how they’re speaking of me? Like I’m some broodmare. That’s fine with you?”
“Of course not.”
Jillian was easily angered. Natalia was used to seeing that in her sister. But there was something different going on within Jillian. She was hurt by what they had overheard. Jillian’s reaction made Natalia afraid of what she might do. After nearly being seen by the builders, the girls were forced to stand tightly against each other, face-to-face in concealment, for what seemed like forever. Their father often said the worst battles were eerily quiet beforehand. That’s what Natalia thought of as she studied Jillian’s silent rage.
Chapter 3
The girls were surprised, the next day, to learn their training would not involve the courtyard or its elaborate project. Instead, Riked arranged for sparring work within the corridors of the castle.
Ready to face the challenge, Jillian asked him with frustration, “Why are we not in the courtyard?”
“As I understand it, you’ll not be allowed in the courtyard for a while,” answered Riked.
“We’ve already seen it,” Natalia admitted, prompting a nudge from Jillian. “What?” squealed Natalia. “You’re the one who wanted so badly to know what it is. Now I’m not allowed to be curious?”
“You two went into the courtyard?”
Before Natalia could implicate them further, Jillian hurriedly diverted the conversation back to the construction. “What’s being built?”
“What do you think it is?” he asked.
Natalia blurted, “I think it’s a new castle. One more fitting for females.”
Both Jillian and Riked laughed at Natalia’s suggestion. Riked followed up by asking, “What would make this castle more fitting for Natalia?”
Natalia smiled and said, “I’ve never seen a castle fit for a queen. I just know this isn’t it.” All three of them laughed together until Natalia continued, “Allowing other women in the new castle would be a nice beginning. Wouldn’t mind more windows. Some other colors besides black stone—”
Jillian interrupted, “Now that her imagination’s triggered, it could go all day. Won’t you tell us what it really is?”
“No. Your father will tell you when he’s ready.”
“At least give us a hint,” pleaded Natalia. “A tiny morsel of information.”
From the way Riked looked at Natalia, Jillian knew he would bend at least a little. Natalia usually got her way and was far more dedicated to the art of manipulation than she ever had been to physical training.
“We’ll work extra hard. And not say another word. Nothing off topic. Strictly focused on our tasks the rest of the day.”
“Without saying what it is . . .” began Riked, and Natalia flashed a smile of victory at Jillian. Distracted by Natalia’s antics, Riked repeated himself. “Without saying what it is, I’ll only tell you that today’s training is the beginning of what will happen when the build is completed.”
“And today’s objective is . . .?” asked Jillian with anticipation.
“It’s this corridor. One of you is the aggressor. The other the defender.” The girls involuntarily morphed into the obedient apprentices they’d been their whole lives as Riked continued, “Now, if I was training a Kheshkev it’d be different. If you were Kheshkev, I’d only tell you to get past the defender, whether he was incapacitated or not. Just reach the objective. The other end of the corridor. But a Lion must survive. I’m not concerned with losing a Kheshkev. There’re thousands more. Your death could be the end of your kind. I can’t have you leaving a threat behind you. From behind, you are vulnerable. So, you must kill or debilitate every enemy you meet.” After a pause, Riked asked, “With that being said, is this a valid reason to be slower than a Kheshkev?”
Jillian answered, “No.”
Riked looked only at Jillian when he said, “You have to be first. The fastest through the corridors.”
After handing Jillian and Natalia their sparring swords, Riked positioned Natalia in the corridor facing Jillian. “Natalia, you must prevent the attacker from reaching your father. He’s in the throne room receiving guests.”
“Receiving guests?” Laughing sarcastically, Natalia suggested, “You should make the scenario more believable for us to be properly motivated.”
Jillian couldn’t help but smile. Natalia hadn’t kept her promise for very long.
Riked moved Jillian to the opposite end. “You’re the aggressor. His assassin. Get past your obstacle with efficiency. If Natalia delays you at all, she has won. Leave no threat.”
Without hesitation, Jillian charged at Natalia. With a sparring sword gripped firmly in both hands, Natalia was prepared, but Jillian quickly darted to Natalia’s right and jumped onto the wall. All Natalia could do was lunge at Jillian with her sword, which allowed Jillian to use the clashing of swords to keep her boots on the wall. Jillian ran two strides upon the side of wall to evade Natalia’s defense. Upon landing, Jillian rotated her sword and jabbed Natalia aggressively in the back. Natalia fell onto her knees with a loud scream as Jillian sprinted victoriously to the other end.
“Great!” exclaimed Riked when Jillian returned. Natalia was still working her way back to her feet. “Now again. Vary your method each time.”
Jillian changed her maneuver every time, just as Riked requested, and the pain inflicted upon
Natalia worsened with each repetition. After being knocked onto the stone floor eight times, Natalia was still lying on her back when Jillian returned.
“Get up, Natalia,” ordered Jillian.
Natalia was purposely waiting so Jillian would have to watch how difficult it was for her to rise. When Natalia did finally stand, she was staring angrily at Jillian.
“Don’t look at me like that,” snapped Jillian. “If you don’t like it, do something about it.”
“This isn’t about today. It’s about last night. Stop taking it out on me.”
Jillian was infuriated. Natalia was probably right, but the validity of her remark only increased Jillian’s determination. She ran directly at Natalia and lifted her right boot with a high thrust. The move was so abrupt, Natalia was completely unprotected, and Jillian’s kick drove Natalia violently backward. When Natalia crashed onto the floor, the back of her head bounced off the stone. Undeterred, Jillian stabbed the floor beside Natalia’s body and continued on to complete the exercise.
Jillian walked back to her, watching with concern as Natalia writhed on the floor grasping the back of her head. Riked was also on the floor, attempting to get Natalia to stay still so he could see her eyes. Jillian’s regret twisted into some kind of heated denial that even she didn’t understand. “Pick up your sword, Natalia!”
Natalia ignored her and continued to squirm in pain.
Jillian used her foot to slide the sword across the floor. “Pick up the sword. Now!”
Natalia reacted by slinging the sword away, screaming, “It’s a stick!” Still with one hand holding the back of her head, Natalia stood. “I’m done. It’s not me you’re fighting. So I’m not taking the abuse.”
As Natalia stormed away without looking back, Jillian could see blood on her sister’s fingers and in her hair.
“What was that about?” asked Riked.
Jillian didn’t want to reveal what she’d learned. “Just Natalia and her gibberish.”
“I’ve never seen you treat her like that. Usually that is reserved for those wishing her harm.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Who was Natalia alluding to?”
Jillian pretended to be confused, but she knew exactly what Riked meant.
“Natalia suggested you were fighting as if she was someone else. Who are you upset with?”
“The thing is, I can’t even tell you because I don’t know him.”
Riked was puzzled.
“I should be the one questioning you,” remarked Jillian. “Is that what you want, or would you like to drop it?”
“Question me,” said Riked.
Riked’s confidence made Jillian abandon her reluctance. “Tell me about your son.”
He couldn’t have been more surprised at what Jillian had requested. “You know I’m not allowed to speak about my life beyond the wall.”
“If he is a warrior, then the subject matter is very much on this side of the wall.”
“I have three sons who are
warriors.”
“Let me hear about the one who’s the warrior of my generation.”
Riked became gravely serious. “Why’s this on your mind, Jillian? What happened?”
“So, you don’t deny it?”
“Absolutely, I deny it. He’s no one you should even know until the day comes when he is to you what I am to your father. His name stands for ‘loyalty’ in the old language. That’s the reason he was born. To be loyal to his Lion. You will be his Lion.”
“What’s his name?”
“He’s your age. Not yet Kheshkev. That’s all you need to know for now.”
“He’s only Naveshkev?” asked Jillian with surprise.
Riked nodded.
“Away on the raids?” It made Jillian more agitated to realize they were the same age, yet he was allowed to participate in the raids as a novice warrior. “Then he might return a proven warrior and be made Kheshkev.”
“No,” Riked responded. “I’ve made sure of it. He’ll not advance before you do.”
“None of this matters. It doesn’t matter if his name means ‘loyalty’ if he’s better than me.”
“He’s not. But if you go around questioning this . . . it puts him in danger.”
“I’m not who you should worry about.”
“Someone is saying this about my son?”
Jillian sighed before answering, “We overheard it from some builders.”
“Which ones?” Riked took Jillian by her arms. “I need to know which ones.”
“I don’t know. The old ones.”
“Day or night?”
“Night,” she replied.
“I’ve got to stop this. Jillian, I ask you to trust me. I will end it.”
Jillian kept quiet.
“This c have a gash. Go and sew it up.”annot be heard by your father. He’ll not allow a whisper against you.”
“I’ll not allow a whisper against me. Not without proving it wrong.”
“One day no one will question you. Until then, let me handle it. You’re done for today. Natalia will
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