King Renali Names his Daughter

Outside beyond Kezana House, at the foot of Goshalion Mountain, on a winding path most revered, a war raged. Thunder struck the top of the mountain again. Kezana House was built into the mountain and only shook at the disturbance. Most of the house’s walls were carved from the mountain itself, so no one flinched.

It was however disturbing to note that no rain fell even as thunder struck the mountain multiple times. The thunder came as a sign of disturbance in the eternal realm’s balance.

Goshalion was facing a crisis.

Jesah of the Bura clan was showing his greed.

Renali, Asha’s husband and the king of the realm led an army of twenty thousand warriors to fight back Jesah’s assault on their home. The terrible battle raged across the Airi lands and soon shifted to no less than two miles away from the mountain entrance into Kezana House.

The Bura using swords forged and modified in their industrial factories were doing their best to wipe out the Airi Clan’s forces. The fine steel mined from the Bura lands and forged with water flooding from the Airi Clan’s mountain sank into the Airi warriors fighting alongside King Renali.

Daggers forged from the ore mined in the Goshalion Mountain defended, cutting down Bura soldiers, but there were too many. The Airi warriors dwindled at an alarming rate, even as they faced Jesah’s hundred thousand forces with bravery. Renali felt despair rise as he watched his brothers-in-arms fall in battle.

“Your Majesty, we must retreat now. Queen Asha is waiting for you. She says you must go–“

“But–“

Renali fought off a pair of soldiers doing their best to attack him. He pushed them away and two of his soldiers took over.

“Queen Asha said to tell you that Jesah will take the mountain,” Zila said, gripping Renali’s left arm as she urged him away. “You’re not to forget the plan. Our queen insists that we must secure the clan’s future. We live to fight another day. Go, Your Majesty, we’ll hold them off until we cannot. That is our promise to the clan.”

Renali hesitated, unwilling to leave his forces in the middle of a fierce battle. He clutched his daggers tight.

“Your Majesty, protect Queen Asha, and our clan’s heir!” The commander of the Airi forces shouted when he saw Zila. The commander fought his way to Renali’s side. He gripped Renali’s right arm and pushed him toward Kezana House’s gates.

Renali let out a frustrated cry and broke into a hard run. His black leather boots pounded the rock tiles he had helped lay down three seasons ago. He ran into the ancient house built into the mountain and came to a stop when he found Asha standing in the great room holding a small bundle in her arms.

Asha’s soft dark brown skin looked warm in the overhead lights. Her long hair fell down her back in tight fluffy curls. A gold leaf crown held it back from her face. She looked so beautiful, Renali could not help smiling at the sight of her.

“Come, Renali,” Asha said, her smile inviting. “Meet your daughter. You have protected her arrival this night.”

Renali sheathed his daggers and crossed the room to where Asha stood. He took the small bundle into his arms, and his heart skipped when he looked at a small face. Delicate skin so soft and light, her fingers curled into tight fists, pursed lips, and the tiniest button nose he had ever seen.

“She’s beautiful,” Renali said, leaning in to press a kiss on his daughter’s forehead.

“She’s wrinkly,” Asha teased. “For now, anyway. I suspect she will have carried your looks more than mine. We’ll have to see when she’s grown some more.”

Renali held his daughter, marveling at how light she felt in his arms.

“I waited for you,” Asha said, after a few minutes. “She should have her father’s love, his hug before we part.”

“Asha–“

“Jesah is out for blood,’ Asha said, looking beyond Renali to the open door of their house. “He will not leave us any breathing room. We cannot win this night but maybe she will. Remember, we must protect the realm as best as we can. It is our duty, Renali.”

“What about the fountain and the waters?” Renali asked.

“They will hold until we can perform a pure ceremony. I don’t know how long that will be. I hope the clans will rally to her if she returns as we planned. The waters can hold until she’s twenty. Any longer and the realm will turn into a desert.”

“As we have planned then,” Renali said, holding the baby for a minute more.

He closed his eyes when the door opened behind him and Zila came running in, her expression frantic.

“Your Majesties, Jesah is at our gates,” Zila said. “We’ll fight to give you time, but it will be close.”

Asha turned and led the way deeper into Kezana House. Renali followed her without question.

The main hallway ran deep into the mountain. Asha made only one turn, stopping to unlock a hidden door in the mountain’s wall with the palm of her hand. Renali entered the passageway just as they heard clashing swords and shouts enter the house. In the quiet passage, Asha’s steps were careful, reminding Renali that she had given birth less than an hour ago.

Renali sighed.

“We should name her,” Asha said, as they reached an open cave with a high ceiling and an opening where the oldest fig tree in the realm grew. It grew tall, its trunk growing high above the mountain, the branches spreading wide, up and over the mountain peak in parts, crowning the mountain top.

Climbing down short steps to reach the flat ground filled with fresh green grass, Asha removed her sandals and stepped on the grass with bare feet.

Purple flowers popped out of the grass with every step she took towards the strong thick roots of the tree.

“Have you thought of a name?” Renali asked, following Asha’s steps. He smiled when the fig tree trembled after Asha touched the trunk with her palm.

Asha turned to look at him.

“My dear Renali, I believe her father should give her a good strong name,” Asha said. “Root her down to our lands, so that she knows to return here and know she belongs.”

Renali smiled as he stood next to Asha by the large tree trunk. He studied his daughter for another moment. Her eyes were closed. She looked peaceful in a chaotic moment. Renali fought back the urge to scream at the thought of letting her go, and then Asha placed a steadying hand on his left arm.

Renali glanced at his wife and she nodded.

Her dark brown eyes were filled with determination. So, he absorbed her resolve.

Renali kissed their daughter’s forehead.

“I name you, Asukai Kezana, the first daughter of Renali and Asha, Princess of the Airi. You are the heir to the Azure Fountain. Long may you protect Goshalion, the eternal realm.”

“Asukai,” Asha said with reverence.

She nodded in satisfaction. Then she reached for one of the daggers sheathed on Renali’s belt. She cut her palm and pressed it on the fig tree’s trunk.

“Asha of Airi calls on the Kinga guardians. House Kezana requires your aide. You shall serve for as long as needed.”

The Fig Tree trembled hard and then a bright light blinded them. Opening a short pathway leading to a sunny patch of lush green land beyond the fig tree. Asha dropped her hand away from the tree trunk and they stood waiting for a minute before an older woman came through the passage. Dressed in a long skirt and pink blouse, her hair in braids, she smiled her greeting.

“The Kinga Guardians answer your call, Airi Queen.”

“I beg for sanctuary in your mortal world. My daughter needs protection. She is too young to face the calamity that befalls our clan.”

“Sanctuary is given,” the older woman said, her voice strong and brave. “I, Siti Kinga, will protect the child as long as is needed.”

“Thank you,” Asha said. “Your farm is tied to our fate. So, she must return before her twenty-first birthday. Otherwise, both our realms will face a worse fate. Do you understand what you must do?”

“Yes, the girl must return to this pathway at twenty-one,” Siti said.

“Do not delay it if you hope to have peace,” Asha said, taking their daughter from Renali.

“Yes, Airi Queen.” Siti nodded.

Renali watched Asha kiss their daughter’s forehead, and then hand the baby to Siti.

Renali reached for the round amulet he wore around his neck and stepped closer to Siti. He pressed the amulet into Siti’s hand.

“Thank you. May your lands fill with abundance,” Renali blessed the woman who would raise their daughter.

Asha fought tears as Siti nodded.

“I will protect her,” Siti started to head back into her realm, the pathway closing after her.

“Wait,” Siti called. “What do I call her?”

“Asukai,” Renali and Asha both said.

Asha pressed her hand to her chest as the pathway closed and the fig tree trunk was restored.

Renali held his wife in the following silence. His heart ached as Asha sobbed hard at the loss of their daughter.

“We must go back,” Renali said, turning her around. He led her away from the fig tree.

“We don’t want Jesah to suspect us,” Renali said. “The news of our daughter’s birth is only known to those in the clan. We cannot let him suspect she has gone to the mortal realm. It will be too much trouble for the mortals. This way he will never find her.”

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Prologue (iii) | Table of Contents | Prologue (v)