Hope Sundered

Losigalender froze. He knew that voice. He’d heard it for nineteen years. “Keila?” He squinted in a vain attempt to see past the mask of filth. Denial screamed at him—this couldn't be his daughter standing before him now. It just wasn’t possible, and yet he heard himself ask, “Maker’s sweet mercy, is that you?”

“Father!” Keila shrieked and ran forward. She jumped into his arms and wrapped herself around him, almost taking him off his feet. His laughs of utter surprise mingled with sobs of relief as he held her tight, refusing to let her go ever again.

Everyone else present was confused but decided to remain silent for several respectful moments. Endari and Hoit let go of their sword hilts. By this time the other Nokri woman had approached the reunited couple.

“Hello, my love,” Ginica said, her quiet voice trembling with the tenuous restrain of excitement.

Losigalender pulled his face out of Keila’s muddy neck and looked down. Sensing the importance of this reunion, Keila released her father and stepped aside, unable to contain her joy as a wide grin engulfed her features.

Losigalender said nothing as he stared at the Nokri queen and smiled like one basking in a beautiful sunrise following a long dark night. “I never gave up hope,” he whispered.

“I missed you so much,” she whispered back as she melted into his arms. Losigalender closed his eyes and held his beloved wife.

“Come forward and meet my father,” Keila bade Sekka, beckoning him to come closer.

“You speak Nokri now?” Losigalender exclaimed, turning to look at his daughter.

Ginica laughed and patted him on the chest. “She learned quickly, much like you did.”

It was Keila’s turn to be surprised. “You speak it too?”

“Not as well,” he confessed in a choppy attempt at the nomadic language. “I’ve been…quiet…many years.”

“It sounds like music to me,” Ginica purred, maintaining the foreign dialogue.

Bel’ami cleared his throat with exaggeration, drawing everyone’s attention. “With all due respect Losi, would you mind explaining…well, any of this?”

“Yes, of course Sire; my apologies. This is my daughter Keila, whom I believed dead after the battle of Chastin. And this is her mother, my wife Ginica, Queen of the Nokri. I have no idea how they ended up together, other than to say it could only be a miracle.”

“An absolute pleasure to meet you both,” Bel’ami replied, “and I must echo Losi: what happened here today was nothing short of miraculous.”

Ginica beamed with pride as she glanced at Keila. “You may thank my daughter for that, Sire. She was most compelling in her case to defend her homeland.”

“You raised this army?” Losigalender balked, astonished once again by his not-so-little girl. It occurred to him then how intimidating she looked in Nokri battle leather with her hair braided. “I’m ashamed of myself for ever doubting you.”

“Don’t be.” She reached up and wiped away the mud from his cheek with a tender stroke. “I was just as certain you’d died on that beach.” Her eyes grew wide and she gasped. “Wait, did Lark survive as well? Is he here?”

Losigalender nodded. His smile was bittersweet. “He did, and he is. In fact, he played a crucial role in our victory today by putting an arrow in their leader’s neck.”

“That was—?” she shook her head and chuckled. “Ha! Of course it was.”

Losigalender hesitated, wondering if he should tell his daughter about her fiancé’s new relationship. Not wanting to ruin the moment, he turned to Sekka and extended his hand. “We haven’t been introduced yet,” he said in the Nokri tongue.

Ginica swallowed hard and looked at Keila, who offered her mother a reassuring smile. “This is Sekka,” Keila said in the common tongue. “He leads our warriors and is also one of Mother’s bodyguards.”

Losigalender noticed something familiar and his gaze lingered, but only for a heartbeat before completing the handshake.

Sekka’s smile was sincere. “I am honored to meet the father of my queen,” he said in halting common.

“I see you’re carrying Zordecai’s blade,” Losi replied, pointing at the enormous weapon. “I can’t thank you enough for slaying that vile creature.”

Sekka shook his head. “I did not. He was Keila’s kill.”

All eyes turned to the young woman once again, expressions ranging from surprise to admiration. Losigalender shook his head. “Truly I’m a fool for ever forgetting you are Ginica’s daughter!”

Embarrassed, she said, “I had a lot of help. It took Sekka and one of our finest warriors to bring him down.” She motioned to Forizu, who offered a curt bow.

“You forgot to mention my axe,” Sollin said as he and his entourage arrived. “Nice to see you again, Princess.”

“Is that you, Soll?” Losigalender balked. “And Cren too?”

“It’s been too long, Losi,” Crenshaw replied, stepping forward to shake his old friend’s hand.

“Maker’s mercy, Losigalender! Do you know everyone in Aveliria?” Bel’ami asked, bewildered.

“Greetings your, um, lordshipness. I’m Sollin, Captain of the Nuth militia, and these are my colleagues.” Iraden, Crenshaw, and the others each introduced themselves in turn.

“It seems the Diorians felt they couldn't profit from helping us,” Endari said, not bothering to hide his disappointment. They may have been rivals at the tournaments, but he always believed Jaxin was a man of principle beneath all that bravado.

“I don’t believe they ever received the call,” Crenshaw said.

“The courier made it to Tessel,” Riak confirmed. “He delivered the message to me personally. He said he was bound for Dioria next, before heading east to Manik’s Vale and then Winterdale.”

“He may have encountered trouble after Tessel,” Losigalender surmised. “Highwaymen are not uncommon in those parts.”

“Perhaps he reached Dioria, but never made it out,” Keila suggested. “Could the Azrahterans have besieged it like they did Wyndham?”

Endari gasped. “The gatehouse! Those men were in the city before the attack. If the Azrahterans did the same thing in Dioria, they may have taken control weeks ago.”

“It makes sense if they timed both attacks to coincide so one province couldn’t seek help from the other,” Losigalender reasoned. “Isolate and conquer.” It sickened him to concede how precise the enemy had been. Much would need to change to prevent this nightmare from recurring.

“If the Azrahterans control Dioria, it would explain why they fled north,” Keila said. “They knew they had a safe place to regroup.”

“The man who seized Hessa said they’d be waiting for me there,” Bel’ami said, his voice tight.

“Now that sounds like a trap,” Sollin said.

“He’s right,” Losigalender said. “They failed to take Wyndham twice. Abducting Lady Hessa could be a ruse to lure us away from here. With all due respect Sire, we can’t afford to lose this city.”

Bel'ami returned Losigalender's gaze. “Trap or not, I’m getting my wife back. No matter what.”

“You’re not going without me,” Endari said, his tone leaving no room for debate. Losigalender looked to Ginica for ideas.

“The Nokri will stay here and protect Wyndham, should the Azrahterans return,” Ginica declared. “Lord Bel’ami, you need not worry about this city in your absence.”

Bel’ami nodded and smiled. “Again, you have my gratitude.”

Ginica returned the gesture. “In light of the tragic history between our people, it’s the least we can do.”

“Very well, then. It appears we still have a lot of work to do if we’re to rid our realm of these invaders,” Bel’ami announced to the group. “Tonight, we honor our new friends and saviors. Tomorrow, we bury the dead and mourn for them. Then I ride for Dioria with whoever is willing to join me.”

Sollin slapped his palm against the head of his axe. “Count us in!”

“Seagate is defenseless now,” Iraden said with growing concern. “We emptied the city of every fighting man to come here. We need to leave immediately.”

“Send a scout first,” Losigalender suggested, “and have your men march to Riverton. If Seagate is safe, you can continue north with us. If not, you’re already halfway home.”

With reluctance Iraden conceded, despite the worry painting his expression.

Losigalender sighed as he looked around at those assembled before him. “We’ve all come a long way, but we’re not finished just yet.”