A profound longing for home settled like a laden weight in the pit of Ona's empty stomach. She could almost see the warm, welcoming halls of the palace, smell the comforting aroma of spices wafting from the kitchens. Her mind conjured visions of her parents' worried, drawn faces as the news of her kidnapping reached them. Were they frantically scouring the kingdom, or had they already resigned themselves to mourning her loss?
The thought caused a fresh pang in her chest. Then her thoughts turned to Didé. Had he received word yet of the bandits' treacherous attack? Or was he still awaiting her arrivals, blissfully unaware of the horrors she'd endured?
As if mocking her misery, the lingering taste of the gritty hardtack and gamey dried meat triggered a memory of the savory aroma of Tij's roasted rabbit from earlier that day. She could vividly recall the anticipatory way her empty belly had clenched at the tantalizing scent. But the fleeting temptation was swiftly drowned in a fresh surge of hatred for her captors.
Forcing the warmth of rage to fill her up and consume the hollowness inside, Ona lay back on the unforgiving planks of the wagon. She squeezed her eyes shut, beckoning the oblivion of sleep to provide a temporary reprieve from this nightmarish reality. She would not allow them to break her spirits, this was her solemn vow. With steely resolution comprising her last fading thoughts, blessed unconsciousness finally claimed her.
The arduous ascent began at first light, the caravan inching its way up the precipitous mountain trails. The winding path grew steeper with every punishing mile, forcing them to go laboriously slowly as they gained dizzying elevation.
Ona had to squint against the sun's brilliant glare once they crested above the clouds. Though the pale orb burned ever brighter overhead, the thin mountain air carried a crisp chill that caused her to shiver beneath her tattered shawl. Tij appeared periodically, his expression inscrutable as their eyes briefly met before he wordlessly turned his beast to rejoin the vanguard.
A boisterous guffaw rang out as Tij reined in his beast alongside the rest of the bandit company at the vanguard. The hearty laughter belonged to Yulu, an elderly yet muscularly built man who had removed his mask, revealing a craggy, weathered face.
"By the look on your face, one would think the princess back there has already enraptured your heart, my friend!" Yulu jeered, slapping Tij hard on the back. "You could not peel your lovesick gaze from her even if a fetching young maiden performed an enticing dance before your eyes!"
The other bandits joined in with raucous chuckles and snide remarks at Tij's expense. A flush crept up the back of his neck as he shot Yulu a withering glare.
"Stow your nonsense, old man," Tij growled. "I was merely ensuring our valuable cargo didn't try anything foolish on the journey."
Yulu threw back his head with another bark of laughter that contained more phlegm than mirth. "Oh aye, you were simply coveting your hostage gold, were you?" He wiggled his bushy grey eyebrows salaciously. "Well let me divest you of any daydreams, my licentious lad! A flower as delicate and pristine as that could never appreciate the rasping thorns of your affections!"
The crude insinuation set off another wave of guffaws from the rest of the bandits. Tij's heated cheeks almost burned as bright as the fire birthmark over his left eye.
"You're a craven fool who's been gargling too much of Giga's potato liquor," Tij bit out through gritted teeth. "I'll have you know I haven't bestowed a single lurid thought upon the girl, much less any immoral—"
"No? No tender longings?" Yulu clucked his tongue, fixing Tij with a knowing look. "Well then perhaps you'd permit me to sample her—"
Whatever vulgar rest of that sentence was cut off as Tij's fist abruptly crashed into the older man's jaw with an audible crunch. Yulu toppled backward off his panther into the dirt, wheezing in shock.
Chest heaving, Tij glowered down at him with blazing eyes. "Another filthy word about her, and I'll separate you from your manly ancillaries."
The implied threat hung in the sudden silence. Then, massaging his bruised jaw, Yulu chortled.
"Easy, boy. I'm merely having a jest at your expense." His grin stretched wide, revealing a gap where several teeth used to be. "But perhaps you protested a bit too much, hmm?"
Grinding his teeth, Tij swung back atop his beast without responding, his jaw remnants tightly clenched as he motioned the navigator to keep leading the company.
Yulu grunted as he hefted himself back into the saddle, massaging his whiskered chin. His eyes were drawn upwards by a circling shadow - a lone kite riding the thermals high above their caravan. He tracked its spiral path for a moment before it banked and flew westward, disappearing from view.
"You think that was just a kite?" Tij rode up alongside him, squinting against the sun's glare. "Or were we being watched?"
Yulu snorted. "We're always being watched, chiefson. The entire world has its eyes on the Sons of Inuri."
Tij frowned. "That's what worries me. These legends draw plenty of admirers, sure. But they also make us a mark for those who would do us harm."
"Then let them try," Yulu said with a wolfish grin. "We'll add a few exploits of our own to the tale before journey's end."
Tij gave a reluctant chuckle at that. "If we don't get ourselves killed mewling for glory first..."
The padded footfalls of the giant panthers echoed through the mountain path as the bandits rode ever closer to home. The ancient gates of Kebo loomed ahead, monumental sentinels carved from the very living rock of the mountain itself to guard the heart of their realm - an impregnable barrier that had never been breached by even the most determined foes.
Immense statues of stern-faced warriors flanked the entrance, each figure holding aloft a mighty hammer as if poised to strike down any who dared threaten their mountain home. The colossal sculptures stood resolute watch, seeming to stare down at the returning convoy with blank, inscrutable eyes. A broad set of carved steps led up to the gate's threshold between the looming statues.
As they neared, joyous shouts rang out from the village children who had raced ahead to greet them. Tij's heart swelled with pride seeing their beaming faces and unbound enthusiasm welcoming the return of their protectors. The little ones scampered alongside the panthers, reaching up to run their hands along the powerful flanks of the great beasts.
Even Ona, the outsider captive bound in the creaking wooden wagon, gaped in awe at the colossal set of gates. Each titanic portal stood taller than the greatest trees, carved whole from a seamless spur of stone jutting from the mountain's foot. Their intimidating surfaces were intricately decorated with heroic scenes from Kebo's saga etched deep into the unyielding rock.
As the convoy approached the portal's echoing entrance tunnel delved into the mountain's very core, warriors atop the high crenelated ramparts caught sight of their chiefson's return. A deep, reverberating horn blast echoed from the gatehouse towers in ceremonial salute, echoing across the crags and peaks.
Tij straightened in his saddle, shoulders thrown back with hard-earned pride. After countless battles and a hard-won victory, he was finally leading his battered company home to the sheltered heart of Kebo.