The Baobab Throne

d had c

more than dust and scent - it carried voices. Soft, ancient, barely audibl

People greeted her, but she heard them only faintly. Her mind was full

ions returned. And

nder... the land r

oo real. One night, she walked through a burning city. Another, she stood at

owever, somethi

n in a voice that

e waits at the e

-

Aft

ced it tight, checked the flintstone and herbs

ay would come,"

had hoped it would not. I had hoped the past would

I re

sed. "Not as the

ia reached into her robe and pulled

d. "She wore it around her wrist on the

st. The cloth was frayed, but the color still held

hat waits for m

aced a hand over her heart. "Y

-

rrior

when she heard it - the unmistakable scrape of metal

ure was crouched on the path ahead, attempting -

leaned against a nearby rock. The sword, however, was buri

g to kill the tr

d, a long scar trailing from his left eyebrow to the curve of his c

grumbled. "But perhaps I deserve it for thinki

h a grunt. "This one's bette

ened. "What ki

ys glance. "The kind

i fr

hed. "You f

dded.

he said. "J

d gave a slight nod. "Name's Kio. I

"What? That's w

ok like someone ready to climb that beast.

one who asks permission to fo

erious face cracked i

for a village gi

itated. "

houghtful. "Old K

no

de. "Then the wind

-

ath F

y camped beneat

ack to a rock, staring into the small fire. Crick

in of Fire?" sh

rring. I've felt it for weeks - dreams, sign

one?" sh

d at her.

o the fire. "I'm l

quietly. "A

closely. "You ta

"In the king's arm

ch k

n said: "The l

stunned. "Then... y

e, he nodded slowly. "I served under King

ed between th

ight him?" Imani

d softly. "And I

r voice trembled when she spok

sometimes, fate sends a second storm