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Chapter 11 - The Red Rose

The minute they saw the rose everyone seemed to freeze. The only people who moved were the children, I watched them out of the corner of my eye. They sprinted away.

"Its- Its," One of the men stammered, "Where did you find that?"

I didn't reply, I didn't know what to say.

Ti-Ar gave me a strange look as the shock wore off, "She did not have it at the camp of Qui-An."

"You know what this means..." Someone said trailing off.

Ti-Ar looked me in the eye, "It means we aren't taking her to our Master."

"This rose," I held it delicately, "Belongs to the king?"

"She must have stolen it!" Someone cried out, "The King would never give it to such riftraft."

"Skies befall us, it is a sign," Ti-Ar spoke evenly, "The King has asked all of his colonies to report any person who finds this rose."

"Is the legend true?" I asked, I gathered my courage, "Uncle I want to speak with you alone."

"Very well," He said softly.

He took me by the elbow and lightly led me away.

"The rose, it appeared as my first-year gift," I said quickly, "I didn't steal it."

"I know," He said softly, "But this means I won't be able to protect you any longer. The King intends to marry whoever this rose finds."

"I don't want to be a bride," I said. 

In the back of my mind, the gears were turning. If I were the Kings bride I outranked all of them. I could free Ny-An and get my mother exonerated. I could save Kin and Kit.

"Uncle," I said with as much confidence as I could gather, "I will do this, but you must let me take Ny-An with me. Tell the Master that Ti-An only hid me because of my fate and she is not guilty." I took in a huge breath, "And I need a favour."

He took this all in, "I can ensure that Ny-An goes with you, you'll need an attendant on this journey. I can appeal to your mother's innocence with this discovery of the rose, but I cannot promise I can fix the conviction against her. What is the favour?"

I paused, I wasn't sure I should trust him, "There is another attendant I want to be with me, her name is Kit-Quaza."

"Quaza?" Ti-Ar's eyes widened, "I cannot do that. I can only pretend you never told me this."

"I made a promise," I said, "To help her. She is my best friend."

"I will do what I can, I will visit Qui-An," He turned his head slightly, "We have company."

I looked behind him to see another man who I reconized somehow.

"Ler-Ar," Ti-Ar said curtly, "This is a private conversation."

"I only wanted to see the bride-to-be, younger brother," He smirked.

"You're one of Grandmother's seven sons," I exclaimed, "You need to help them."

He laughed bitterly, "I don't owe them anything, I obey the Master."

"Lit-An possesses the king's rose," Ti-Ar had tensed up, somehow he seemed to grow taller and fiercer. 

"Shame," Ler-Ar said, "She's a pretty thing. I was hoping..." He trailed off, but I knew the look.

"I am your family," I snapped at him in sudden rage.

"Calm yourself," Ti-Ar soothed.

"How dare you," I yelled.

Ler-Ar took a step closer, "She's good and feisty, isn't she?"

"That is enough," Ti-Ar growled at him, "You are speaking ill of the king's bride. Do you not think he would have you punished for such poor manners."

Ler-Ar stopped his commentary and slinked off.

"I apologize," Ti-Ar had a distant look in his eyes, "He is jealous, he has lost his family just as I have."

"It is wrong," I said with conviction, "You should not have to live like this."

"We know nothing else," Ti-Ar sighed, "The older ones speak of a time when they were free but those are memories and we never truly can live in them."

"I have heard," I lowered my voice, "That the people of Los-Ar's tribe are free."

Ti-Ar got a disgusted look, "I have heard they are uncivilized barbarians."

A commotion had started in the town.

"One more thing," I grasped Ti-Ar's arm, "Please make sure Ny-An's family receives rations."

"You ask for a lot, but little for yourself," Ti-Ar bowed his head. He took me by the arm and led me back to the main group.

"Is it true," Someone called out, "That the rose has made it's choice?"

"She's Licnine," Someone else gasped.

"The rose chose a Licnine girl," Someone else shouted.

I looked around at the villager's hopeful faces and then looked up to see that the light had a slight red glow to it.

"The Others," Now the voices dimmed. People ran back to their dwellings.

I watched as the red light washed over everything, the rose seemed to glow in it. I felt the red rays touch my skin, warmer than the normal sun.

"It is the Red Sun, the source of the Other's magic," Ti-Ar muttered. 

The world seemed to go quiet, no forest sounds, no more footsteps. Everyone had paused to watch the Red Sun.

"The Others are calling for you," Ti-Ar said in my ear, "They know the rose has reappeared."

I shivered even though sweat beaded on my forehead, "It's so eery."

"We have a lot to do, and not much time to do it," Ti-Ar said, "We don't have the right clothes and we will need to find a carriage to carry you to the palace."

"I'm scared," I admitted.

Ti-Ar looked at me for a long moment, he touched my back. "I know, but it is your fate. Do the Licnine proud Little Lit."