The day became warm in the afternoon.
I walked at a steady pace beside Ti-Ar. He could not show me any favour except that they did not bind my hands. He said that there would be no use for such binds as I knew what would happen to my family if I tried to flee.
My mind wandered to Grandmother and Mother. They would be grieving my loss, cursing the Others. I just hoped that they didn't do anything foolish.
When the sky darkened with shades of purples and pinks we finally stopped. We'd reached a small structure not unlike my old home. A fire burned bright outside and the sound of male laughter rang through the air.
"Put her inside," Someone barked, "Make sure she's bound."
Ti-Ar took me by the arm and shoved me roughly into the small structure. It had a damp smell, a smell of tears and unwashed clothes.
"I wouldn't bind you," Ti-Ar whispered, "But you cannot do anything that will alert the other Licnine warriors."
I nodded quickly.
"May the skies bless you, Little Lit," He said.
"Wait," It came out so tiny I didn't know if he would hear.
He turned his head.
"Please," I whispered, "Check on Grandmother and Mother, they will be full of sorrow."
He nodded a tiny nod. Then he was gone.
I turned around to take in my new home. Unlike my real one this one was barren. No heat, no blankets. Just four little hammocks.
I went to lie down when I heard a tiny noise.
Across from me, there was someone inside a hammock. They wiggled furiously.
"Let me help you," My voice came barely above a whisper. I paced to the hammock and looked inside.
A girl lay with her hands and feet bound up. She had wide, scared eyes and when she saw me she let out a shriek.
"I'm not going to hurt you," I raised both hands, "But let me help you sit up."
She stopped her struggle and just stared up at me.
I pulled her up into a semi-sitting position and she took several big breaths of air.
"Thank- Thank you," She whispered, "Who are you?"
"My name is Lit-An," I felt an old stir of motherly affection, I reached out and smoothed the hair back off her forehead.
"I'm Ny-An," She shivered, tears glistening in her frightened eyes, "Why aren't you tied up too?"
"I don't know," I lied, I didn't think knowing about my uncle would help anything.
"Why did they take you?" She asked.
"I went instead of my mother," I answered, "I made an offering."
"They took me because I stole food," She looked down at her hands, "I knew it was wrong but we were so hungry and they had taken everything we grew. My little sister Nix-An was starving."
I clenched my fists in sudden anger. My hand tingled with something unfamiliar. I pushed it all down before I could do anything I'd regret.
"I'm going to take care of you," I said, I took her hands and rubbed them, "I'll find a way to make them let you go."
"Can't you just untie me?" She whined.
I shook my head slowly, "There are too many of them to fight off and some of them don't want to be doing this."
"You're so brave," She looked up at me, "Will you really make them let me go."
"I promise," I squeezed her hand. "They should take better care of your family."
"You're not like anyone I know," Ny replied.
I smiled slightly, and that's when the box appeared beside me.
Ny took in a huge breath but I quieted her.
"It's a gift from the goddess," She breathed.
I took the delicate box in my hands and slid off the lid. Inside was a message:
Lit-An, never forget your brave heart.
"She sends them each year," I rubbed my head with my hand, "Which means I'm a year old now."
I tucked the note into my pocket and pulled out of the box a tiny dagger which I slipped into my dress and something stranger, a red flower.
"The red magic," Ny gasped, "That's a red rose."
"What's so special about it?" I asked.
Ny started to whisper, "The Others have a thing for red, red clothes, red jewels, and red flowers. They grow only red roses in their gardens or so I've heard."
"Who told you all this?" I asked.
"The traveling merchants," She answered, "They used to come by to sell stuff to our family. One day they were talking about having been at the palace."
"The Palace?" I raised my eyebrows.
"Where the king of the Others lives," Ny looked like she wanted to laugh at my expression, "Apparently he has fields of red roses. The legend has it that he waits for a new bride by planting all those roses."
I smoothed the girl's hair with my hand, "It's a good story."
"It's true," She protested, "They had a rose just like yours."
I let out a big yawn, carefully I got into the hammock with her. She curled up against me the best she could. I put my arms around her, holding her to my chest.
Our hearts beating was the only thing I heard now. I knew I had to save her.
Faintly I thought about the rose in my pocket. What did it mean?
Was I supposed to go be the wife of a king, was that the message? I stifled a laugh imagining being Queen of the Others. No, it had to mean something else, surely.
I breathed in the spicy scent of Ny-An's hair and thought sadly of the sister she'd left behind. Then I thought about Kit and Kin, they would be in the dark not knowing Grandmother had fallen ill.
Would they move on? Or would they keep waiting?
I fell into an uneasy sleep.