The Hidden Queen - Goshalion, The Eternal Realm

King Renali Names his Daughter (iv)

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."