The citadel of Aleuta

She sat in a small garden filled with the scent of flowers. On her lap was an ancient book filled with words about the deeds of the Four Creators, yet she seemed to be lost in her own thoughts.

"Ashaya," he called her name. Startled, she looked up and her face lit up. She placed the book on the bench and ran up to him.

"Stenen! You have returned. I have heard of that," she cried falling into his arms. "She had not right to send you away."

"It is all over now, Ashaya," he told her kissing her hands. "I am here now."

"Let me look at you," she said taking a step back. He found himself straightening up even more, eager for her approval. "You are the Captain of the Guards. Let them dare challenge you again."

"Leivrat thought me a lot..."

"What about your brothers?"

"They are back as well. I wanted to see you alone first."

"Of course," she nodded. "Aleuta is nothing without you. I pleaded with the Queen, you must know that."

"I know, you did. The Queen wants me back in Alueta. Vala..."

"Yes, Vala keeps the Queen awake at night," said Ashaya and uneasiness overcame her.

"What of my sistesr, Ashaya?"

"You have entrusted them to me. You sister Daisa is a kind-hearted child. She found her place among the priestesses and she is happy with her lot. But Daisa is for the dead and Vala is for the living. I tried to teach her, but Vala is young and dreams of crowns."

Stenen moved away and looked at the city that stretched out before them.

"Sietenock has Vala now. Since she is matched to their son, she lives at their house. The Creators willed that Vala and Sietenock's son belong together, even I cannot part them."

"I will pay a visit to Sietenok and bring Vala home."

"That you can. She is not married yet."

"The Queen warned me that harm may come to Vala if she continues to dance to Sietenock's tune. She would not hesitate to throw them all into the dungeon if they become a bigger threat to Jule."

"Sietenock hates our family. Only Jule stands now between him and the throne. It will be hard on you, Stenen. The Queen wants to use you against your own sister."

"I know. She wants to watch me and Sietenock get at each other's throats. She will enjoy that."

"You will outsmart her," said the High Priestess.

"With your help, I might," he replied giving her a slight hug. "The Hybenlook's girl. What do you know about her death?"

"I was there when it happened. The Queen threw a lavish celebration that day. Everyone who matters in Aleuta was there. The girl, her brother and Jule were outside in the garden maze. It was already getting dark. The music was loud. Then a boy run into the hall and cried for help. Everyone ran out and we found Jule and the girl's brother with her dying body. It was a stab wound into the back, but the weapon was nowhere to be seen. Her body dissolved before our own eyes before I even had time to say a prayer."

"The Queen made much noise and the guards were sent to all corners of Aleuta to search for the culprit, but it could have been anyone. The young ones like sneaking out there into the maze, when the darkness falls. Anyone even suspected of having been in the garden and not the ballroom, were questioned."

"Anyone accused of the crime?"

"No, nobody. Everyone had someone to vouch for them. Surely coin played a role in it, and before long everyone claimed to have been accompanied by at least three others. That's when Jule snapped and wanted everyone either dead or thrown into the dungeons. The boy became utterly dreadful since the girl died."

"I didn't know..." replied Stenen.

"It is good you are back," said the High Priestess patting his arm. "Those fifty lashes served him right. You ought to teach him. If not you, nobody will. He will thank you one day," she said looking into the distance. "I put all our fate into the boy's hands when I accepted him as the heir. May the Creators forgive me."

"It was their will."

"Was it?" she said more to herself and averted the gaze.

"The Queen wants me to find out who killed her."

"Too many whisper falsehoods into the Queen's ears. Prophesies. Ha!" Her mouth drew into a line. "Now she even allowed a Leivratan girl to live among us."

"What girl?"

"The Minister Phorsis brought a girl from Leivrat. He convinced the Queen to allow her to live in the Hybenlook's house to protect the younger daughter her first Soul Tying. The Queen would believe anything if there is even a slight chance for her son to get matched."

"There must be other ways to protect the younger Hybenlook's girl."

"The Council would not allow the guards to be used for that. Besides, the Queen cannot trust the guards as many are sons of families that could benefit from the next Queen being Vala."

"Still, the Council can be made to agree if Minister Phorsis wills it so and guards can be chosen from families loyal to the Royal Family"

"Minister Phorsis has something up his sleeve. He wants the girl in Aleuta. How he benefits from it, I do not know. And as for the guards, man can be bought. You have been away for too long. Do not underestimate Sietenock's power. Besides, Vala is also of the royal blood. For many families loyal to The Royal Family, it makes no difference whether Vala sits on the throne or Jule's wife."

"What makes the Queen think that the Leivratan girl cannot be bought?"

"The Minister has a way of making anyone do as do as he says."

"There is one thing I learnt in the last three years – Leivratans hate us. Letting the girl live among us is like letting a snake guard the eagle's offspring. She cannot be trusted."

"You can join me tomorrow and tell that to Minister Phorsis himself."

"Tomorrow?"

"They want to send the girl to Hybenlook's house with my blessings. The Queen ordered it herself. I could have refused, but I wanted to see that girl with my own eyes. As the Captain of the Guards you ought to be there at the Hybenlook's house when we arrive."

"I will."

They stood in silence for a while.

"I have missed you, Ashaya," he told her before parting and kissed her on the cheek.

"I have missed you more, my dear boy."

The High Priestess watched Stenen walk away and felt much pride. In his uniform, he looked like the man she always knew him to be. And she feared for him. Sietenock was dangerous and he did not have any use for Vala's elder brothers. They were safer in Leivrat then they were in Alueta. The High Priestess sat on the bench again. She looked peaceful on the outside, yet her mind was working fast, considering all the options and going through all possible threats that the future might bring. If she wanted to save Stenen, she had to be several steps ahead of the Queen, Sienetock and especially Minister Phorsis. Deciding at last, she rose to her feet and hurried out of the garden.

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It has been a rather long brake since my last update. Hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about Aleuta and its "politics".

If you like the chapter, please consider voting. It is the little star below. Thank you very much!!! Always much appreciated :)