Azutan

Eighteen months ago, at the beginning of a cold, harsh winter, Princess Azutan was sent to the rest of the Seven Kingdoms to negotiate allies for her own. She left with Lieutenant General Sin and the best soldiers of her own division. Now, eighteen months after her leave, General Azutan crossed the border with ten captured brigades, waves of stolen artillery, and six war prisoners, one from each of the crippled kingdoms.

Azutan was proud.

Lieutenant General Sin, however, was not. Even now, as they were marching towards the capital city, he rode up to her on his stallion in hopes of changing her mind.

“Good morning, Sin,” she said pleasantly, sensing his approach.

“There is no need for pleasantries, Princess.” She could feel his patience thinning. She and the Lieutenant had a long history. He, two decades her elder, was her adviser and mentor. And she was his friend.

“This is the last time I’m going to warn you,” he continued. “The king will not be happy to hear of your conquests when he had asked for alliances.”

“He’ll understand,” Azutan said breezily. “Our kingdom is strong. Dominance over the others is something we should embrace.”

Sin tried a different approach. “If you are seeking your father’s approval, then be forewarned that you will not receive it.”

Azutan stopped her horse. She turned her head slowly to look at Sin.

“Tell me, Lieutenant.” Her voice was steel. “Are you the heir to the throne?”

“No, Princess.” He knew her well enough to not be bothered by her scathing temper.

“You’re right,” she agreed. “So do shut up before your future ruler is forced to help you.”

“The reason you became the heir in the first place,” Sin continued, raising his voice to fit one final word in, “is because your father has not yet seen your tendency towards violence over peace, like he has with your brother.”

“My father has no such reasoning,” Azutan retorted furiously. Because his choice was a mistake.

They rode on in silence.

Upon reaching the capital city, Azutan knew something was wrong. Word had reached the citizens of the conquered kingdoms. They stepped off the streets, forming a clear path to the palace. Their faces puckered at the sight of the soldiers and war machines, and their eyes narrowed with worry as they shot fleeting glances at the princess.

Azutan’s skin crawled. Doubt, she had been taught, was an enemy. It was a sign of weakness, and she had learned from a young age that she of all people was not expected to be found in possession of it. And yet a part of her thought back to her tireless conversations with Sin. Perhaps he was right.

An hour later, they reached the palace gates. Azutan flung open the door with familiarity and strode through the elaborate entrance hall and into the throne room. She dropped to one knee.

“Azutan.” Her father’s voice, after months of being apart from it, was music to her ears. “Welcome home. You may rise.”

She stood.

The king and his daughter had many similar features. Peering into her father’s face, Azutan saw her own clenched jaw, high cheekbones, and familiar scowl.

“Tell me, my daughter,” his voice boomed. “Do you plan on overthrowing me?”

She didn’t quite understand the question. “I beg your pardon?”

He waved his hand in her direction. “You have brought back thousands of soldiers and hundreds of high-technology weapons when I had asked for six emissaries. What do you intend to do?”

Her face burned with shock. She had not anticipated this.

“Perhaps,” he continued, “you were under the illusion that forming alliances with the other kingdoms was a waste of time when you could just control them.”

An illusion. She was sure her yellow eyes glowed with loathing.

She forced herself to stay calm. “Father, may you reconsider. Our kingdom holds great power now. With proper preparation, we could unite the Seven Kingdoms.”

“You misunderstand, Azutan. A ruler’s job is not to conquer the world. It is to rule the people. I’m sure you’ve noticed this already. No one is happy with the war prizes you brought back. They fear the all-out war that will be caused by your offenses.

“And the unification of the Seven Kingdoms is not a foreign concept to us. It has been attempted numerous times over the centuries. When has it succeeded without causing an aftermath of immediate bloodshed? Do you think you will be the first, my daughter?”

She narrowed her eyes, her patience nearly at its limit.

“I will give you a chance, Azutan, and an order. Return to the other six kingdoms and fix the mess you have made. Remember that Ares and we, the Areans, are not invincible. We cannot expect to remain independent on this continent as we have done so these past few centuries. Some day we will fall because we have no one else to turn to. You must find people we can turn to. Prove that I am right in believing in you.” He fixed her with an imperative stare. “It took you less than two years to sweep through six powerful kingdoms. I trust that you can restore their peace in a much shorter time.”

It was impossible, and they both knew it.

With that, Azutan stormed out of the throne room, her combat boots clicking furiously on the black tiles.

She found Sin in his study. He looked up as she approached. He smiled slightly upon seeing the expression on her face. He knew what had happened. That angered her further.

“Was I correct, Princess?” he tilted his head.

“I’m not here for your ‘I told you so,’” she snapped.

“Then what are you here for?”

“Release the war prisoners,” she ordered grudgingly. “We need to give them proper carriages and supplies. Prepare the captured brigades and weapons. We leave in a week.”

Azutan didn’t have to look up at his face to know that he was smiling. “Wise choice, Princess.”