A Song of Night and Wind

Part 1

Sand as far as the eye could see. Miniature houses, not much bigger than a nail, were placed close to the towering palace. A market, busy even for a Saturday afternoon, sprawled across many streets. People, about the size of mosquitos, buzzed around with little urgency. They didn't know that there was a danger hovering above them, much like the cloudless sapphire blue sky.

I turned my attention away from the window at the top of the high tower. It was an excellent place to sit and just think. Unfortunately, I could not just think today. There was still the threat as large as the horizon that was about to engulf us all, and it required more endless meetings than actually fighting.

The ministers and advisors sat at a long table, each shouting louder than the next. I had to fight the urge to bring my hands to my ears. They all knew that I was the only one who stood any chance against what was coming, and yet no one thought that including me in the discussions was necessary. I couldn't believe that I had to beg to be here, and only with Innan's input had I been permitted to attend. My eyes had almost rolled out of my head when my own mother had told her that she lacked the permission and authority to come to a meeting where a bunch of old people would decide my fate. Permission and authority were the two things I had. How could I lack them?

I was tempted to let my gaze wander towards the city, my city again, since I obviously wasn't important enough to be allowed to speak, but the stern look of my mother kept my eyes in the right place. Granted, I had wished to join the meeting, but I hadn't imagined that a meeting this important could be so dull. It was only the view from the window, the disapproval of my parents and the company of Innan that kept me from leaving right away, just ignoring every royal protocol that I had ever learned.

With a violent head movement, I gave my cousin an unspoken command. Innan then, as if reading my thoughts, stood from the seat he had across from me. It did not make him taller by much, but the noise of the wooden chair legs against the marron tiles was enough to draw attention towards him. I wanted to let out an exasperated huff. I had tried to stand and speak, but everyone had just spoken over me. But a boy, who wasn't even high in line for the throne, they had suddenly summoned the ability to shut up.

"This is enough. We must let the princess speak," Innan said. His voice was just starting to become deeper as he grew older, but he was always the one higher voice that could be picked out from a crowd of people.

I stood with grace that could only belong to a girl who had practiced that particular action over and over again. The way my sunset skirts fell into place as I ran my hands across them would have made Mistress Cairo especially pleased. My dark eyes travelled over the impatient ministers and advisors, giving them all a strong stare, along with an elegant smile, hiding my feelings of frustration. I was not to be disrespected, and especially not here.

"I believe that we have gathered here today to discuss the troubles that will befall us if we do nothing about it." This was met with a sound of uproar, agreeing to my statement. Of course they were - it was a simple fact. I quietened them with a wave of my sleeved hand, my stomach twigging unpleasantly at being interrupted. "Gentleman, as it is not just my fate, but the fate of my country that we are deciding on, let us quickly gather ideas. The faster we decide on a course of action, the faster we can act upon it. So, shall we?"

The first person to raise a hand was Minister Cairo, a man of many years, displayed through his grey hair and the wrinkles on his face, making his mahogany skin appear loose around his skull. I had always preferred him to other advisors, with his smoothing voice and many stories. "I suggest that we do not send you out to retrieve the stone. Rather, we choose a squad of highly trained soldiers to gather the weapon."