"Yes, My mother . She was a fierce Tigress, wife of death so they say . She bore five lovely children . Four strong, gentle sons and a little girl . She raised us to be fierce and kind . We were a family, though we had no father . Mother was proud, and she raised us to be as well . I was already in training to be princess when I took my first steps . Zither songs by my cradle taught me what was expected of me and my brothers learned at my uncle's side . We were the future of our people . " Kyera began to recall . There was a soft smile on her lips as she did so . They were much simpler times . She missed them quite a bit . Those days at her brother's side, and on their knees as she listened to her mother play the songs she taught little Raina .
"I am going to assume something changed, Kyera . Though I will admit it sounds pretty nice . I never got to know my folks myself . " Lazren replied with a soft sigh . She nodded and folded her arms across her chest, taking a deep breath .
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"My Mother was out hunting one day, she met with a human who use to sell us cloth, things we couldn't just make or find in our section of the forest . They say she came to like being around the humans . She made friends and would disappear fairly often to gather supplies . That's when things fell apart . " There was a sadness to her voice now . "She would disappear more and more often . As time went off us children were left alone more and more often . The boys had to raise me, and teach me the things they barely knew themselves . Then one day… she came home and insisted on playing a game with us . We spent hours playing and then had a fantastic dinner . She put each one of us to bed in our warm little home . When I woke up the next morning I expected to see her making breakfast at the hearth, but I never would see her there again . " Kyera finished her story, still rubbing her arms genly for comfort . Lazren frowned .
"She could have died . " He tried to think about this logically but Kyera laughed .
"We considered that, we also considered she might have been captured by the Slavers and forced to stay away . There was no sign of a struggle and she was so cozy with the humans we weren't sure how that would be possible . Yet, after my brother's lost their lives, there was nothing I could do . I couldn't argue her innocents because honestly, I believe to this day she had intended to leave . When she tucked us in, she was saying goodbye . " Kyera explained shaking her head . There were no tears in her eyes . She had shed all there was to cry for the past, at least that part of it .
"I see… did you ever find out what happened to her?" Lazren asked, there was a ill feeling in his gut as he thought about what she was saying .
"Yes, and so do you . The Empress's familiar is My Mother . " Kyera replied and he froze staring at her in shock . He had never dreamed that tigress who care for the Empress Dowager so well was the same woman who left her children without anyone to protect them .
"I . . wow I didn't see that coming . " He shook his head and then glanced back at her . "No wonder you were so shy of her when you first got here . "
"I still don't like her . I may never trust her again, but I am doing my best to forgive the past . I needed her help when you were injured . She gave me what I needed then . At the same time, she tried to calm me when… I found out . So honestly, I don't know how I feel about her now . I can't let go of my brother's death . I can't forgive her choice . " Kyera fumbled to explain . Her heart was still in too many tatters to try and examine yet another complicated relationship in her life .
"I wish something could go easier on you . It doesn't seem to be the in the cards at the moment, Princess but you have a few good men at your back . " He assured her with a soft smile . "Your brothers must have put in a good word when they passed . I don't see you standing alone . Between Clovis and myself . " He added as they approached the Dancing Wind's palace . A familiar form walking toward them on the other path, leading away from the Treasury . "Speak of the Devil, Little Lady that seems to be your future husband . " He pointed up the road . Kyera smiled seeing him in the sunlight .
He was right . At least two men had her back . It wasn't much, but it was something . There was still one more person she needed before she could take a deep breath . HOwever, the problem was, would he accept her choice?
Chapter end
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