I knocked on queen Baria's door, waiting for an answer. I looked around the halls, staring at the statues. Their stony gaze was on me, watching, as if they were alive. I looked away fast. No matter where I went in this castle, it felt like I was constantly under watch.

It took a moment before someone came to the door. Baria stood under the threshold, wearing a white short dress with ruffles at the bottom. Her cleavage was bared in the v-cut of the fabric on the top. I tried not to stare, but since she was taller than I was, I stood at her chest. Her eyes were icy and her face was tightened with annoyance.

She rolled her eyes and sighed. "Come in," she ordered, her voice full of strength. She walked into the room, holding her arms to her chest. "It's about time you made it," she snapped, walking over to her wardrobe. She didn't bother to look at me again.

"Why am I here?"

She looked at me, her hands on the latches. "So we can get to know each other, intruder," she said, flinging open the doors. I watched as she filed through the colorful and unexpectable amount of clothes. I thought about how Qia told me the other day she owned one dress and it infuriated me to see Baria with this many. I wondered how many the villagers had in their possession.

"That's not the reason why."

"I like to keep my enemies close," she said. "And you, my dear, are my greatest enemy right now."

I blinked, unsure of how to respond.

Baria shifted, bothered by my stare. "Come help me pick a gown." There was ice in her voice.

I stepped forward, standing on the other side of the wardrobe. She stared at me as I looked inside.

"Well?"

I picked up a silver gown with plates of armor on the shoulders. It ran long, falling to the ground like a silk waterfall.

"Interesting," she whispered. "Very interesting indeed."

She picked a white gown with fur attached to the neck instead of my choice. The gown flared to the sides instead of falling majesty. It was almost stiff.

I raised my brow in confusion as she left the dress I picked on the hanger. I wasn't sure why she asked to begin with when she did not value my opinion.

Baria entered the room with the bath, leaving me in the main room. I remembered my reflection in the mirror. The white hair and blue eyes. Staring at the stranger I was. I shook my head, trying not to think about it.

Baria appeared moments later dressed. "I wanted to take you into the village today," she declared. "I am curious how the people of Udan will react to seeing another Kaijan."

I remembered what Hona said. There was at one time another Kaijan entered Udan. One he cared about. He told the story, but I wondered why Baria would do it. She seemed to be a decent queen despite the horrors I saw when entering the kingdom. Monarchs held secrets like no others. I desired to know the ones Baria buried.

I needed to keep myself close and afar at all times, otherwise, Baria may just sink her dagger into me.

We walked down the stone pathway. The one where I and the man Tiroa killed spilled blood. Ihe red was now gone, leaving gray. We walked through the village, passing by the children I saw playing when I first was brought to Udan. My heart was wrenched. Seeing them the way they were was heartbreaking all over again.

Their faces tweaked when they saw Baria. They stopped playing and laughing, stepping out of her way as we walked. I felt their eyes on me as we passed. Baria never paid them any mind, her head was held high. I looked back. There was fear on their dirty faces.

"They are wary of you," Baria said. "They know the truth of Kaijans."

I didn't think I was the cause of their behavior yet, I humored Baria.

"The truth?"

"They are mischievous people who have once betrayed us," she explained. "Since then, Kaijans and Udanians have been at each other's throats." Hona had mentioned it in the tower but I wasn't certain if I could trust anything Baria said.

A man with greased black-oiled hair appeared at one of the door frames. He stared at us, gesturing for the children to come inside. His eyes stared into mine before he broke the gaze and entered his home once more. I tried to turn back but my eyes were stuck on the house. It was small, hardly room for two people, yet I watched four children enter.

Baria's voice caused me to turn back. "Today we are visiting one of my advisors."

We continued walking, gaining stares from passing villagers. They whispered, most likely about me, drawing their gaze to the ground when I stared back. We strolled until we came to the one building that wasn't as torn down as the rest. It was built high with a trek of stairs to lead to it. The outside was black like coal with new windows shining. I clenched my fists, trying not to think of the previous home, but it was stuck on my mind at this moment. Baria opened the black door, slamming it on me. I opened it, stepping into the house, ignoring the frustration festering inside of me.

The smell of old papers and books flooded through my nose, though I didn't see a book in sight. The inside of the home was luxurious but not as marvelous compared to the castle. A red chaise sat to the back of one wall with a table in front of it and to the right was a counter with odd objects behind it. I noticed an arrayment of flowers settled to the back on a table; tinted in blue with pear shaped petals.

"Hello?" a strong male voice called out from beyond the room. The sound of sizzling along with the scent of cooked meat greeted us as we walked further in.

"It's me, Arawn," Baria answered.

A man with lantern-colored eyes—as bright as a flame—appeared, wiping his hand on a rag. His black hair hung into his face, arranged in a mess like a bird nest on his head. He was smaller than Hona was, puny in size compared to Jonga. His skin was almost tawny like Qia's. His attire was similar to Hona's. He wore a black blouse and brown leather trousers. On his feet were black boots.

"Oh, Baria," he started. "I was just making some breakfast. If you'd give me—"

She interrupted him before she could finish. "It won't take long."

He nodded, narrowing his brows. "Who is that?" he probed, glaring in my direction.

"This is my newest servant, Mara," Baria looped a hair behind her ear. "We believe she is a Kaijan."

He scoffed. "Kaijan," he spat. "Another one on this land is bad luck and we already have the worst luck there is."

Baria ignored his comment. "I wanted to speak with you about our resources," she started. "It seems the iron is running low?"

He sighed, nodding. He set the rag down on the glass counter. "Afraid so. I tried to send a letter to my source but he never answered."

She grimaced, her body tightening. I thought she was going to rip his throat out. "I fear something has happened then," she said. "Perhaps the Silian soldiers found him."

He nodded, letting his head hang low in order to avert her cold gaze.

"I will send some scouts," she declared. "Hopefully he is well."

"Thank you, my queen ." There was relief in his voice.

She nodded. From her body language, she was done with the conversation. She was backing away as he began to speak again.

"I-I would check with Bent to see how much iron we have left," he said. "I believe his shop is open now."

She nodded again, turning to the door. "Thank you," she said, leaving.

I hesitated, staring at Arawn. His eyes were haunting. "What are you waiting for, girl? Go!"

I rushed through the door, chest pounding. As I fled, I almost ran into Baria. She laughed, amused by it. I recalled their conversation and spoke while we walked.

"Why does Udan need iron?"

She raised a brow. "Asking questions like that isn't going to prove your innocence, Kaijan girl."

"I would just like to know."

I wasn't going to leave the subject alone until given an answer.

She raised a brow. "We don't need the iron," she began. "We sell it."

"Sell it?"

"To the Keeps of Law," she explained. "Up in the north. I can't care for a kingdom without coin."

"Do your people know this?"

"No," she answered. "And they never will."

My blood boiled. "What are you selling it for?"

"My own luxuries," she said. "Food, furs. Everything a queen deserves."

I thought I had misunderstood Baria but the more I spoke with her, the more I realized I was the one who misunderstood.

"How could you?" I spat as we walked past the line of houses. "Your people look starved and their homes are falling apart. You could have used that coin to get them more food or build better houses!"

She shrugged. "They should be smarter then," she said. "Know that there's more to life than living under someone else. That's why I left home when I was a young girl."

"They call you queen and look up to you!"

"Enough, girl," she hissed as she stopped, her brows narrowed and eyes deadly. "Bitch all you want later, but for now, I must attend to business."

My face grew hot. "I will tell them," I declared. "I will."

She turned to me and released a mocking and spiteful laugh. "And they would believe a Kaijan? Someone who has been our enemy for generations? I believe not."

"I would find a way to make them believe me."

She smirked. "You would be wasting your breath. Any word that you speak will fall into the dirt and be smothered. Remember who you are, girl. A servant to me."

I wasn't my own person anymore. Qia had told me that Baria had branded her. I only wondered how long it would be until I was.

"You monster," I hissed.

"Now enter the shop," she ordered, pushing me forward. "If you do not, that does not matter to me. I could have you dead in seconds. I have spared your life for the sake of Hona."

She looked down, opened the door and entered the shop. I followed, not daring to let this go. I needed answers and the one person who had them all was Baria.

A tall, burly man stood at the corner with a tumbling beard to his chest. "Queen Baria!" he greeted, his brow twisting in confusion. "And..."

"Her name is of no concern to you," Baria declared. "I have come to know how much iron we have left."

He nodded. "Let me check the storage room."

When Bent left, I stared around the shop noticing the surplus of weapons. Swords, knives, and spears were on the walls, hanging proud.

Bent returned moments later. "About two bars," he said, clearing his throat.

Baria's face shifted, reddening. "Two? Only two?" she exhorted, her voice chilling as it rose in contempt.

"Aye," he answered, taking a step back. His shoulders slumped and he no longer wore the confidence he was before.

"I am going to ring that man's neck," she hissed, turning away.

"Queen Baria, wait," Bent called out.

"Do not speak, Bent," she hissed, her back facing him.

He fumbled underneath the counter, pulling a box. "I-I wanted to give you my wedding present," he said. "For when you marry Hona. I-I know you are to marry in time, but I was so excited to give it to you myself."

She turned back. "Not now!" she roared, exiting the shop, stomping her feet as the door swung behind her.

Bent's head fell forward, his dirty fingers grazing the box. He released a sigh and set it on the counter. I stepped forward.

"My name is Mara," I said to him as he looked at me. "T-thank you for checking for her."

He nodded, smiling a wide tooth grin. "I hope the queen is all right."

"She will be fine."

I opened the door and walked out. "You are acting spoiled!" I roared, my attention diverting.

Baria was speaking to someone. My breath caught as the black dreadlocks came into vision. Coal black eyes stared at me. Our gaze met and I remembered each wound he inflicted onto me.

"Kaijan," he growled.

"What is it, Jonga?" Baria asked. "I do not have all day."

He returned his attention to Baria. "Rooke is looking for you," he declared, never taking his eyes off of me. "On the wall."

She nodded. The anger she displayed earlier extinguished like a flame. "I will see him immediately."

He stepped past her, toward me. He leaned in, whispering in my ear, "If I hear you call her a name again, I'll carve out your tongue." Jonga walked away, leaving me with a threat. My hands shook and my scalp burned. I didn't doubt he would do it.