Wolves of War

Awakening Lost Memories

Asai greeted everyone in the room, including Sanna, and one by one everyone began to realize that Asai had some memory loss…a lot of memory loss. The King looked over at me in pity. Sanna hung onto Asai, taking advantage of this. This two-faced, unloyal wolf- dog is going to get what's coming to her. How could she sit next to Asai knowing that she was about to kill this man to further her own agenda? That didn’t matter. Asai remembers her so he allowed her to be near him, to hug him, to kiss him. I wrung my hands together wanting to leave the room. My presence was no longer needed and my goal of seeing Asai through this event had been accomplished.

“Let’s go” I whispered to Thea and Galga.

I was about to sneak out but Keylyn stopped me. He rose and eye-brow questioningly “Where are you going?”

“He doesn’t know me. I’m just intruding now” I said.

“You sacrificed…”

I held up my hand for him to stop.

“That doesn’t change the fact that he doesn’t know me” I said. “I’m going to wait downstairs, you and Ramune can brief him about what’s been happening.”

I felt eyes on the back of my neck and turned. Asai watched me curiously. I smiled and nodded my head in respect, then left the room.

“His memory could come back”, Galga said, handing me some tea and fruit.

I nodded my head as I took a sip of my tea. Asai has been asleep for over three weeks. It could be that the memory lost is temporary or the shock of his near death experience caused him to remove all events that led up to it. The memories are there but he is unable to access them and probably will never be able to. Such is trauma of that degree.

A few hours later, Keylyn came down stairs. “Asai has fallen asleep. Sanna is with him, she wouldn’t let Ramune nor I get a word in. We will try to brief him another time.”

I nod my head.

“Here I forgot to give this to you.”

Keylyn handed me a box. I looked up at him confused, then opened it.

“The Sitaar is familiar with the workings of your bow. Their ancestors are the ones who made it after all.”

Inside the box is a three-finger glove and a leather arm guard set. The material is soft, flexible and the details are delicate and intricate. I giggled excited and fitted the three-fingered glove to my left hand and the two-fingered arm guard to my right. They fit perfectly.

“They wove star iron into the seams. It’ll help with control and to preserve your energy.”

I need to make a mental note to thank Jericho.

“Thank you Keylyn. I should probably start getting official lessons on how to properly fire a bow. I only know the basics.”

Keylyn looks at me in shock. “Are you saying… that shot at the fire god was pure luck?”

I chuckled, “No not luck. The bow is special. I knew that once I had a target in mind, it wouldn’t let me miss.”

Keylyn gave me a look of disbelief and concern. “I will schedule your classes with a master right away.”

I chuckled, placing my newest possession safely back into the box.

“The King and Queen are spending the night and will be sleeping in the fifth bedroom.” Keylyn said.

“I assume Sanna will be sleeping with Asai?”

Keylyn nods his head.

I turn to my girls “sleepover in the basement?”

“Sleep over!” They cheered

“Ask Mihira’s hand maids to help prepare dinner and meal prep for the morning”. I told Galga and Thea “I’m going to take a short walk.”

Galga and Thea nodded. They watched me as I left the cottage, their sad gazes finally left my back once I closed the front door between us. I inhaled the fresh air and tried to calm the pain I feel. While I didn’t predict that something like this was going to happen… if I hadn’t allowed myself to get close to Asai, this pain wouldn’t be here. But even as I feel this pain, I don’t feel regret.

Drama done, Serberus has gone back to sunbathing in the field. I smiled at him and continued into the forest.

When the morning came, I followed Galga and Thea upstairs with materials for breakfast. I assume the King and the Queen will get on the road as soon as they are able and probably would appreciate a hot breakfast and a few fresh snacks for the road.

Asai just woke up, not sure if he was able to get out of bed and walk around a little bit. So I’m assuming that he will want breakfast in bed. I’m also assuming everyone will want to eat in his room. I’m not much of a cook. I fell back and did what Galga told me to do, which was cut up a few things and boil water for the tea. She also allowed me to make Mihira an Atman's blood meal for the day. After about two hours of cooking a meal for everyone, the three of us began heading up the stairs to deposit the meals in the rooms. We first stopped at Atman's room and gave him his 24 oz cup of blood meal, then stopped at Mihira’s to give her hers. She took 16oz. The next stop was the King and Queen's room, which was empty. We then headed to Sanna’s room, which was also empty.

As predicted, everyone was in Asai’s room. I stood back as Galga whirled around with the help of Thea, placing the spread of delicious food on the table for everyone to enjoy.

“Where is the Duchess?” The King asked.

“She has elected to have her breakfast in the kitchen”, Galga says “She wanted to give you all some space.”

“How thoughtful of her. It would be awkward, all things considering.” Sanna squeaked. The tone of her voice was a dismissal to Galga.

“Galga, please tell the Duchess to come here and have breakfast with us. It won’t do her nor my son any good if she stays away.” The King said “She has shown loyalty and dedication to my son that could rival many seasoned soldiers in my army. Tell her come. She will not be punished for yesterday's events.”

“As you wish, alpha”, Galga said, then backed out of the room.

“Let’s get you dressed” She whispered to me. “Can’t reintroduce you to the prince in rags now, can we?”

I rolled my eyes at Galga. About 15 minutes later, I entered the room wearing a summer green halter A-line dress. My chest is covered, hiding the tattoo where Lumina sealed her power within me. The empire waist is a see-through lace that allows a sneak peak at what may be underneath. The skirt of the dress is long at the back but mid thigh length at the front. Galga lotioned my skin with Asai’s favorite scent in hopes of triggering some memories of us. I looked down at my toes. It's a good thing I painted them last night. Gold delicate chain bracelets decorated my wrists and upper arms. Galga did my hair in a waterfall of curls that framed that framed my face.

“Welcome Duchess”. The King beamed “We ate already, I hope that was okay.”

“It’s okay”. I responded “I ate earlier”

The King helped me into a chair in front of Asai. Keylyn stepped forward and announced my name to Asai and all my titles. Asai looked at me impressed and nodded his head at me in respect.

“We were just telling Asai about the battles that the two of you have won together.”

“Why haven’t we signed the contract?” Asai asked me.

I looked at him confused. “What contract?”

“For you to be my official consort?” He answered.

“I for one am happy that you didn’t”, Minthe spoke up “Despite her contribution to the empire, she is a gift from the gods. Once her purpose is fulfilled, she will have to leave this world.”

Minthe smirked at me. It was a struggle to keep a straight face but I succeeded. Now that Rahjah is dead, the Queen has every intention of continuing with her plans to see that her son sits on the throne.

“I don’t have a habit of returning valuable gifts given to me” Asai commented, looking at me, then at the Queen.

Even though he has lost his memory, he can still smell the bull crap coming out of the Queen's mouth. The Prince returned his attention to me, his gaze sharper, clearer. His eyes looked at me and into me. I should have broken eye contact but I couldn’t. I wanted to look at him, look into him, see how much he had changed. Asai and I must have stared at each other for barely a second. I can see the emotion in his eyes. He may have forgotten my face, our experiences, but his heart remembers. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, but for right now, it has given me relief.

Asai shot a sideways glance at his father and then at everyone in the room. They, to my embarrassment, saw it and felt it. Sanna glared daggers at me and held onto Asai tighter. I understand that this is an opportunity to insert herself, but I am still selfish, still greedy. I have no intention of letting Asai go until my time in this world is up. I only have until next spring to be close to him. She has a lifetime.

“Get out” Asai ordered

The King chuckled, he took his Queen's hand and dismissed himself. “I’m heading back to the capitol. I expect you and your brother to be there by the end of the month. The tunes are quite handy.”

Slowly, everyone began to leave the room behind the king and queen until only Keylyn Ramune and Sanna remained.

Asai shot a sideways glance at Sanna. “Go to your rooms until I’ve summoned you.”

“But…” Sanna began to protest, but one look from Asai silenced her.

She got up and stomped out the room.

“Now you three start from the beginning and tell me the whole truth.”Asai ordered.