Some Answers.

Katherine sat wondering how her father and mother had been branded traitors. Crow Eye had ruled the lands since she was a babe. They were cruel and took no male prisoners, men were slain and women and children enslaved. Her only hope was a nomadic woman who lived in the desert. He father had spoken of her a few times and said she could be trusted. Katherine decided that she must go forth and find her to get answers. She would rest in the cave tonight and then start on her journey.

The sun rose over the valley below and Katherine tended to Freya's leg. She wrapped a moss that had healing properties around the cuts from the brambles. Sheba looked out of the cave sniffing the air. The scent of the Crow Eye barbarians had gone and all was quiet.

*Gently patting Freya's neck* "There now girl, that should help soothe the cuts. Those brambles were nasty." *She looked at Sheba* "Do you smell anything? I hope those men have moved on." *She gathered her small pack, feeling the worn leather* "Today we head west, deeper into the desert. My father said the nomad woman lives near the Whispering Rocks."

Katherine walked cautiously, scanning the horizon for signs of Crow Eye patrols. Freya limped slightly despite the moss poultice, while Sheba trotted ahead, nose twitching at unfamiliar scents carried by the hot wind. Distant vultures circled something unseen.

Suddenly, Sheba froze mid-step, ears flattened against her skull. A low growl rumbled in her throat as she stared at a cluster of twisted sandstone formations ahead—the Whispering Rocks. Katherine felt her pulse quicken; the air seemed charged with static, and faint, discordant whispers echoed between the stones like voices trapped in glass.

Katherine slid off the mare, her boots sinking into sand still cool from the night, and approached the rocks alone, fingers brushing the dagger hidden beneath her tunic.

Sheba's growl deepened, a primal warning vibrating through the dry air as Katherine neared the largest sandstone spire; its surface was etched with symbols older than Crow Eye's reign, glowing faintly amber in the harsh light.

A shadow detached itself from the rock—not a Crow Eye scout, but a woman draped in indigo robes, her face hidden beneath a hood woven from desert thorns. *The air smelled suddenly of sage and ozone.* "You track ghosts, child," her voice rasped like shifting pebbles. "But truth bleeds louder than blood."

*Heart hammering against her ribs, she gripped her dagger tighter.* "Are you the one my father trusted?" *The symbols pulsed brighter as she spoke.* "They called him traitor. Tell me why." *Freya snorted nervously behind her.*

"Child my name is Seraphim and for me to answer your question i would need to know your fathers name."

*Her knuckles whitened around the dagger's hilt.* "His name was Eduard. They dragged him away at dawn shouting 'traitor'—but he served Crow Eye loyally for twenty years! What did he *do*?" *Behind her, Freya stamped a hoof, sending puffs of dust into the air that tasted like iron and dread.*

The hood tilted, revealing eyes like cracked obsidian. "Eduard learned Crow Eye's true name." *She extended a hand crusted with salt crystals.* "Come. Sand vipers nest here at midday." *The symbols flared as she touched Katherine's wrist—cold as winter stone.*

They headed to a cave and cooled down and Seraphim told her tale of Katherines father.

Your father was not a traitor. He was loyal to the true ruler Teaworah King Davos and his Queen Elmira. Long ago just after you were born Crow Eye invaded Teaworah and killed the King and Queen. However they missed the King's daughter who was taken from the city before it fell by a trusted female warrior.

Katherine *Her breath caught in her throat.* "Crow Eye... overthrew the true rulers?" *She traced the cave wall, feeling ancient grooves.* "And my father served them? But why?"

Seraphim*Stirring a small fire, its smoke curling like ghosts.* "To survive. To protect *you*, child. Eduard gathered whispers—troop movements, supply routes—for the resistance." *Her obsidian eyes glinted.* "Crow Eye discovered his double life. That ‘traitor’ brand? It was his pride."

Katherine *She stared at the flames, seeing her father's face.* "But... the princess? You said she escaped." *Her fingers tightened on her tunic's rough fabric.* "Where is she now? Could she... reclaim the throne?"

Seraphim *Chuckled* "You still have not realised have you. You are the princess. The warrior who left you with Eduard and Colette was me. On your back is a royal birth mark hidden with a paste to hide it."

*Fingers instinctively flew to her shoulder blade, feeling the familiar patch of thickened skin beneath thin fabric.* "This? But... I thought it was just a scar from..." *Her voice trailed off as Seraphim dipped a cloth in water and wiped away years of disguise, revealing a shimmering crescent moon.*

*Smoke curled around her weathered face.* "Davos' mark. Hidden since that bloody dawn. You carry Elmira's eyes too—watchful as desert hawks." *She tossed dried lizards into the flames; their sizzle filled the cave's silence.*

Katherine * stumbled backward, palm pressed hard against the birthmark.* "All my life... lies?" *The cave walls seemed to tilt.* "My parents died for me? Crow Eye slaughtered them!" *Her dagger clattered to the stone floor.* "Why didn't you tell Eduard the truth?"

Seraphim *Gathered the blade silently.* "He knew enough to draw Crow Eye's wrath—but not enough to break under ****." *Her fingers brushed Katherine's cheek.* "Your ignorance was armor. Now it ends." *Outside, wind screamed through the rocks like mourning souls.*

Katherine *Sank to her knees, hot tears carving paths through desert dust.* "Armor?" *The word tasted like ash.* "They died screaming while I picked wildflowers!" *Freya nuzzled her hair.* "What good is royal blood if it drowns everyone I love?"

Seraphim *Knelt beside her, pressing the dagger back into her hand.* "Blood isn't a curse—it's a compass." *She pointed to the cave entrance where vultures still circled.* "Those carrion birds feast on Crow Eye's arrogance. Tomorrow, we ride to Saltgrave Canyon. Survivors gather there." *Her salt-crusted fingers traced the crescent moon.* "But first, wash that paste off. Queens don't hide."

Katherine *Splashed water on her shoulder, watching the shimmering mark emerge.* "Queens?" *A bitter laugh escaped.* "I sleep in caves and smell like horse sweat." *Sheba whined, nudging her arm.* "How do I lead people who don't even know my face?" *The dagger felt alien now—too heavy for a princess.*

Seraphim *Crushed desert sage between her palms, releasing sharp clarity into the air.* "Saltgrave's survivors know your bloodline's worth. They’ve waited lifetimes." *She handed Katherine a folded indigo robe.* "Wear this at dawn. Its threads remember Elmira’s stride." *Outside, the vultures scattered as thunder rumbled—unnatural for the dry season.*

Katherine *Ran fingers over the robe's embroidered stars, cool despite the cave’s heat.* "Survivors... like Eduard’s informants?" *She pulled the fabric tight, smelling ozone and old sorrow.* "But Crow Eye controls the wells. How do we cross the Salt Flats without water?" *Freya stamped nervously as lightning split the horizon.*

Seraphim *Unwrapped a goatskin bag, revealing water that glowed faintly blue.* "Storm’s blessing." *She poured a drop onto Katherine’s palm—it fizzed like ice.* "Underground springs boil beneath Saltgrave. Crow Eye fears them." *Thunder shook pebbles from the ceiling.* "Dawn brings sand-sharks. We leave tonight."

Katherine *Gripped the robe tighter as cold water tingled up her arm.* "Sand-sharks?" *Sheba growled at the cave mouth where lightning cast skeletal shadows.* "Father never mentioned those." *Freya snorted, ears flat.* "How many survivors wait in Saltgrave? Enough to... fight?" *Her dagger-hand trembled—not from fear, but fury.*

Seraphim *Scooped glowing water into leather flasks.* "Enough to remember." *Her thorn-hood shifted, revealing salt-cracked lips.* "Three hundred souls who bleed Teaworah's colors in secret. But sand-sharks hunt by vibration—" *A distant rumble shook dust from the ceiling.* "—so ride silent. Or ride dead."

They rested until the sun began to set over the horizon and prepared to leave the cave to travel to Saltgrave. The night air was cooler and Katherine let Seraphim sit on Freya as she walked. Each stride filling her with resolve now she knew some of the truth.