Fierce Betrothed

The Market Day  Year of the LiliesTorrid SeasonThe HutKintil   •Isla• TODAY DAY is a market day which means that most of the adults will be going to the market to buy and sell some much needed goods. I sleep in a little and wait just long enough for my parents to leave for the market. I pull my fur blanket tighter over me and wait to hear my parents' departing footsteps. The Torrid Season is characterized by freezing cold nights and scorching hot days. Mavli lays snoring softly beside me, I sit up and watch he

 The Storm Year of the LiliesTorrid SeasonThe RiverKintil   •Isla• MAVLI RUNS TOWARDS ME, her feet slapping loudly on the hardened earth. She is smiling and yelling my name. "Isla! Isla!" She runs into the river with full speed splashing water on me and drenching her dress. "What is it?!" I ask terrified," what happened? Where's Cirok?" I glance behind us but there's no sign of the tall male. Panting, Mavli kneels in the river to catch her breath. I quickly rinse the last of lather off my

 Year of the LiliesTorrid SeasonThe OrchardAltsas Kyan I HAVE JUST RETURNED from my hike and I am yet to greet my parents after three weeks of being apart. I am reluctant to face my parents especially my father, I'll do whatever I can to evade his concerns on marriage.  The old man keeps smothering me each time he sees me and that is part of the reason I go on frequent hikes. The other reason I evade the Kingdom and my identity as Prince is to find myself and remind myself that there's more to life than delicious food and impressive clothing and a beautiful throne.  Exhausted and parched, I trot to the palace orchard and sit under the nearest tree. I free myself from the weight of my sword and daggers tha

The Scars    Year of the LiliesTorrid SeasonUnknown RoadUnknown Place Mavli MY EYES OPEN SLOWLY and I immediately wish it hadn't. I want to sleep this nightmare away. I wish I'll woke up in the hut beside my sister like I did yesterday. Yesterday feels like another lifetime. It's funny how I took the simple bliss of being at home, of being with my mother and father and sister for granted. I'd give anything to be with them right now. I wish I can turn back the hands of time. The huge cart moves beneath me almost fluidly, its rhythm is almost comforting. I can hear the cantering hooves of the horses that pull me further away from the only life I've ever known. 

The Sale Year of the LiliesTorrid SeasonMarketAltsas Mavli WHEN THE HEAT does not relent and the heavy stench in the air becomes unbearable, I feel bile rising up my throat. The churning of my stomach becomes excruciating. Can I hold on a little more? I lean exhausted in my cage, I'm so dehydrated and my tongue is dry and my teeth are gritty. When will we arrive our destination?  As if on cue, stone towers appear at the horizon and I feel very uneasy. I suddenly wish we do not reach there so soon. From the shadow our cart casts on the ground, I can tell it's late in the afternoon. I let my weak eyes roll until they land on the limp figure in th