I wasn't sure if I had slept or not, or even if my eyes had shut last night. I arose groggily and dressed, wearing one of Baria's gowns. I wore a winter white long dress that fell to the floor like a web and draped from my shoulders.

The sleeves were long, lace crossing from the forearm to my wrists. A knock sounded at the door. I opened it, staring out into the hall. Qia stood there with a smile on her face. She still wore the black servant dress. It pulled on my heart strings that she was.

"Come with me," she said in a whisper. "I have to show you something."

We transpired down the stairs and outside. Beyond the castle doors was something I did not expect. Behind the rising sun was a crowd that stood in curiosity. They murmured as I walked out, wearing the crown that once belonged to the queen. I wasn't sure how they were going to react to the news or what they would do to me. After all, I was the enemy.

Qia stationed herself to the left. She bowed, letting her ebony braids fall in front of her. I promised her freedom and brought it. I stepped down from the stairs and faced Udan, staring into the flummoxed and concerned faces of broken and dirty people.

Today would change. A new dawn would rise like the sun beyond the trees.

They would be given freedom and given what they needed to survive. I looked behind me. The front of the castle was still decorated and the blue flowers for the ceremony were still in place. They were wilted more than fresh, dropping to one side.

I wasn't sure what to expect until an uproar broke out. People waved their fists into the air, clambering to get to the front. The soldiers from the wall were standing in front of them, making sure they would not burst through. I wondered if they knew already. I would imagine since Hona holds a high position here that he told them. He stood beside Qia, staring out into the crowd blankly.

"Where is our protector!" someone hollered from within the crowd.

"Why is the intruder wearing the crown?"

"And her attire..."

They didn't know the truth. They were blind to Baria's tyranny. Under her rule for so long, they had forgotten what a queen was.

I cleared my throat. "People of Udan!" I roared, silencing the crowd. They watched me, gazes intent. "Have no fear and listen."

I was unsure how long the silence would last for.

"I have freed you from the tyrant known as Baria." The crowd still did not say anything so I continued. "No longer will you go unfed or your children. No longer will you suffer."

"Suffer?" Arawn said from the front. I saw him through the spacing between a soldier and another Udanian. His expression was the same as before; filled with hate. "We were guarded!"

"Where is Baria?" someone exhorted. "Where is our queen?"

"In the ground," I spat, not caring if my words were crass. "I have slain her and stole her title."

The crowd crashed into each other, screaming things at me. The soldiers pushed against them holding them back. Their bodies shook, scrambling to get to me. They outreached their hands like Baria did when I stabbed her. A lump grew in my throat as they continued to scream. It appeared the soldiers were on my side after all.

"You are not a queen!"

"No Kaijan will rule as queen!"

"Silence!" Hona shouted.

"This cannot be accepted!" a woman shirked.

For a moment, I thought I was wrong.

"Udanians, silence your tongues and listen!" Hona shrieked once more. I turned my attention to him. Hona walked forward, holding a spear in his hand like the soldiers were.

They did as he said and stopped their screaming.

"We have learned to hate people we do not know and we have chosen to not understand them," he began. "We were made aware Kaijans were our enemies but does anyone know why? We know Baria was betrayed but the entire story is unknown."

There was no response.

"I thought so."

"Baria has ruled for thousands of years. She created Udan," someone protested.

"And she destroyed it from the inside. She killed her own people by being gluttonous," Hona explained. "She was blinded by the title of divine. Our people have faced many deaths for her selfishness. Men and women alike, some children were affected."

He turned to me, holding out his hand. "Our new queen, Mara, has acted to save us from the pain she inflicted. She stood with us even though we called her our enemy. She was tortured, beaten, and made a servant, yet she cared for us when we did not for her."

"This isn't true!"

"A hoax!"

"Divine law makes the slayer the ruler," he explained. "We never thought we would have to put the rule into effect until today. I have already spoken to Captain Rooke and his guard and he knows the law too. Since Mara is the slayer of Baria, the title of queen is hers."

"Is she really dead?" someone asked.

"The crown on my head proves it," I began. "I have taken her life to spare yours."

The crowd fell mute.

"So we have a new queen..."

"A just one."

"A Kaijan."

Qia stood in front of Hona, and pressed her hand to her chest. "All hail Queen Mara of Udan! The bringer of a new dawn!" The sun peeked over the pines making the statement true. A beam of light shined on my person. The warmth touched my flesh and made me alive.

Qia fell into a bow, her braids grazing the dirt, and the crowd did the same, falling to their knees. All but one hooded in black.

I knew that there would be protestors, ones not willing to stand with me and continued, hoping to sway the protestor.

"You have all suffered so much from what I have seen. When I was first brought to Udan, I saw your children and your homes. I spoke with your queen and learned her ways." My voice fell than rose, stronger than before. "There were many issues brought with the tyrant Baria, and now they will vanish."

"How can we be sure?" someone questioned.

"You'll have to have faith," I whispered.

The protestor removed the black hood of his cloak, showing his dark face. His black eyes were ruthless against the morning light. In his hand was a spear, tightened to his palm. He charged toward me, releasing the cry of a warrior.

My heart stopped and my body froze. I thought of the pain and suffering he inflicted whilst I was in Udan. My eyes traveled to the spear, the very one that touched my head in the river. All thoughts ceased as I stared into his eyes.

"With the blood of the Guardian in my veins, you will die, Kaijan!" Jonga cried.

Baffled voices lifted from the crowd as he pushed through them as if he was parting water. Hona leapt, standing in a protective guard in front of me, wielding his spear. I remembered how many times Jonga hurt me. Seeing him now, planning to finish the job did not surprise me. Yet, my body shook, knowing its attacker, and feared pain was to come yet again.

"Stop this, Jonga!" Hona roared.

He ignored him, sporting a smile. "Your precious traitor cannot protect you, Kaijan," he spat, moving to the front of the crowd. "With Baria's death, and the Guardian's, Udan is unprotected! The Rabaka will come. They will rise together and slaughter those who stand in the way." He turned to the crowd, raising his spear high. "Anyone who stands with this woman who claims to be a queen is an enemy!"

He turned back to me. I remembered what Rooke had said to Baria, that their protector was missing and now, Jonga was stating it was dead. I wasn't sure what to say or do. As a queen, I was powerless, deafened by his words.

"Leave now," Hona hissed.

Jonga chuckled. "You are not threatening, Hona. Like a mouse to a horse."

I found my words. The itch from before hung behind my veins, begging to get out. "I will spill more blood if you do not leave this land!" I shouted from behind. "I will do the same to you as I did to your precious queen. The real traitor is you, Jonga."

"I will cleanse this land of your blood," he promised. "And filth."

From knowing the cruelty of Jonga, I knew he was not spouting empty threats.

"Leave!"

He parted through the crowd, taking one last look at me. "You may have the divine law on your side," he hissed. "But you will never be a queen."

The soldiers stationed in front of the wall of people kept an eye on him, watching. Hona met eyes with Rooke. His grip was tight on the spear. Rooke raised the portcullis, casting Jonga into the woods. There was a pained look on his face as if he knew Jonga as more than a warrior.

My stomach tied as I thought of his threat. Udan was in danger.

He turned back, standing under the raised gate. "You will rue the day you killed Baria," he whispered.

The blur of his figure vanished and we were safe for another moment. I waited for the portcullis to close before speaking once more.

I turned back to the Udanians that had watched my first display of power. Fear was on their faces. I cursed under my breath. Hona heard it, turned to me and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Are you all right?"

The Rabaka. The threat he made. My throat tightened. I didn't know the dangers he promised.

"What is the Rabaka?" I beseeched. "Tell me, now."

"We can speak about it later," he whispered, his gaze shifting from me to the Udanians. "For now, your people need your consolation."

I nodded, taking in a deep breath, then composed myself. The threat was just made. I had to think of the present instead of what was to come.

"People of Udan," I started. "Do not let fear consume you. Know I will be here to guide and protect you."

A rough voice lifted from the crowd. "What are we going to do?" he paused, and I could tell the next words were hard for him to say. "My queen."

"I want to be certain of our actions," I began. "I do not want to make reckless mistakes that influence your lives. I will give word tomorrow." I continued before they lost faith in me already, "for now, the soldiers will patrol the kingdom and its walls. You will be safe tonight and tomorrow."

"How will that save us?" a man asked.

"The Rabaka is dangerous!" someone called out. "We cannot stand against them! We are hopeless."

"Death is coming, marching to take us."

The last words echoing through the kingdom stirred fear, not only within me, but the Udanians. Qia looked over at me and I tried to control the panic I felt.

There was a shake in my hands but I controlled my voice and remembered what was of importance. "It's to ease your minds," I answered, trying not to let their crying pleas sway me. "We can gather in the castle for a night of celebration," I breathed. "Of freedom and change."