Chapter 1
Flies circled Gamaal body, buzzing their wings. The sun was high as they continued riding the horse on the dessert land. A thin layer of sweat gathered on her forehead and trickled down.
Amasir watched the flies on her mother's chest silently. The wound on her chest was infected. A small frown formed on her face, knowing the fate of her mother. She did not see pain in her mother's face.
Gamaal held the reigns loosely in her hand. Ontop the wound on her chest, was freshly squeezed leaves that Amasir had placed on the wound. They still had a day journey before they would arrive at the camp. She hadn't eaten anything for days and it was only water that kept her sustained.
Though her face was not written in pain, Amasir knew her mother wanted all this to end. She wanted the war to end and have Amasir as the crown Queen. But Rughald would never bow to her as King.
As weak as he was, his mother and the army around him was his only strength. Ravar was no god and hence he has lesser magic. His only saving grace was that of their father who was the most powerful god in the Country.
After what happened at the grand castle between her mother and Ravar, the Country descend into chaos. It was a fight for the throne, and that fight lasted more than Forty years. Until her mother got shot by a poisonous arrow that is slowly killing her. Amasir knew that if they don't arrive at the camp on time to receive treatment, her mother could die from the infection.
Gamaal's eyes was closed, and her head was hanging low as the horse continued to carry her down the narrow path.
Amasir pressed her heels and rode closer to her mother's horse.
"Mama," she said softly. "Mir Khagan."
Gamaal did not seem to hear. Her white garment was drenched with blood and there was a foul smell in the air.
Amasir called again and when her mother didn't respond, she gasped and quickly reached for her.
"Mama," she said reaching over. "No.... No.... Mama!"
Gamaal cried out from her sleep as Amasir held her arm tight. Her breath came in harsh and heavy. She slowly peeled her eyes opened and looked at Amasir with warmth.
"Amas," she said.
Amasir brushed her fingers over her mother's skin, feeling her skin burn. Some of her mother's soldiers had been following behind them.
"I'm fine... I'm fine," Gamaal said and Amasir slowly let go. But as soon as her hand went away, Gamaal came crashing to the ground from her horse in a loud thud.
"Mother!" Amasir cried as she jumped down from her horse and knelt beside her.
Blood rushed from the corner of her mother's mouth.
"Amas," Gamaal groaned in her arms. "You must continue this journey to the camp."
"No," Amasir shook her head.
"They will come for you and look you too."
The soldiers rushed forward.
"She doesn't look well. Do you think the Khagan will survive this?"
Amasir narrowed her eyes at him.
"You must not say that," she frowned. "We will arrive at the camp soon."
"She is tired," another soldier said.
"Then we must rest here and continue the journey later."
"We can't camp here," another soldier said. "Our enemies might reach to us soon and they'll kill us."
"We will camp here," Amasir repeated.
"It is not for you to decide what should happen especially when we are to protect you."
"Mikhaz, tell them that their princess commanded this. They do not want to bring out the wrath in me."
At her words, the soldiers retreated. They had almost forgotten that she was also a god and could take them down with her magic.
One of the slaves set up a small tent for them at the road side that they could spend the night.
As Amasir stood at the corner watching the slaves attend to her mother's wound, she overhead their whispers.
"She won't survive," one of the maid whispered.
Amasir frowned deeply. They must have forgotten she was a god and could hear whispers.
Amasir stared at them that they could feel her eyes and when they turned, their face turned red in embarrassment.
"The Khagan cannot die. She is the most powerful Queen and god. She will survive this infection and claim the throne.*
The slaves quickly bowed their heads.
"But she was shot with a deadly arrow known to kill a god within days," one of the slaves said with lowered head.
"Leave now!" she shouted and the slaves scrambled.
Her mother cannot die. But her thoughts deep down was haunting. She knew what would happen if her mother died. She would be forced to swear to Rugald and he will then he crowned as King.
After the soldiers finished setting up the tent, Gamaal was laid inside to rest. Amasir carried a jar of water to a corner and she splashed some over her face, washing away dirts. She returned to the tent to find Mikhaz kneeling next to her mother. She watched him in silence as he pried the herbs from atop the wound. A foul smell filled the tent as Amasir stared at the deep large wound on her mother's chest.
"Let me help her," Mikhaz said. "Let me take away this pain troubling her."
"No.... No please you would not do such," Amasir wailed.
Gamaal groaned and more blood rushed from the corner of her mouth.
"She is as good as dead. Even if she was able to survive this, she wouldn't be as strong to overcome the war," Mikhaz said. "You are our only hope for this war. Save yourself and run back to the camp with a soldier. I will stay here waiting for the Khagan's recovery."
"Go? I cannot leave her."
"You need to leave. Here is not safe."
"I don't understand why you want me to flee. I am a primordial god. I can protect myself from anyone."
"Your mother was as powerful as you and she was unable to save herself from this," Mikhaz said taking a step closer. "Hear me out Amasir. Even your soldiers are not to be trusted. Once news reached Ravar of your mother's fate she would think this is the end of her and crown her son as the new Khag."
Amasir did not want to go back to the tent, leaving her mother behind. Yet she knew that Mikhaz speak of the truth. Gamaal had been more than a mother and she had protected her multiple times.
"I will not leave her," she said with a small frown. "Let the worse happen."