The journey back to Zambura was silent, filled with nothing but the sound of hooves against dry earth. The warriors rode with heavy hearts, their eyes distant, their minds replaying the sight of the burning village. The weight of the dead clung to them like shadows.
Zaria rode at the front, her grip on the reins tight. The Song of the Fallen still echoed in her mind, but now, a new fire burned in her chest. This was no longer just about protecting Zambura. This was war.
Adu rode up beside her, his expression unreadable.
"They will pay," he said quietly.
Zaria's jaw tightened. "Yes. But not yet."
Adu looked at her, surprised. "Not yet?"
Zaria turned her gaze to the distant mountains ahead. "We don't know who the true enemy is. If we strike blindly, we will lose more than a village."
Adu exhaled sharply, but he did not argue.
"Then what is the plan?" he asked after a long pause.
Zaria's eyes darkened. "We return to Zambura and uncover the traitors within."
---
Zambura's Golden Gates
When the warriors arrived at the gates of Zambura, the city was already alive with movement. Merchants called out their wares, children ran through the streets, and nobles dressed in fine silks strolled past guards who stood tall with spears in hand.
But as Zaria and her warriors passed through, the atmosphere shifted. The people could see it—the blood on their armor, the hard expressions on their faces. Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"Something happened…"
"Look at them. They've seen war."
Zaria did not stop. She did not look at the people who whispered. Her focus was ahead—on the palace that loomed over the city, a symbol of power, a place she once called home.
But now, she knew.
The real enemy might be sitting on a throne.
As they reached the palace gates, the royal guards saluted her. But something was different. Their eyes held hesitation. Fear.
The traitors were watching.
She dismounted her horse and turned to Adu and the others. "Rest. But do not lower your guard."
Adu nodded. "And you?"
Zaria's gaze hardened. "I have questions that need answers."
She turned toward the palace doors, knowing that the next battle would not be fought with swords—but with secrets, lies, and betrayals lurking in the shadows.
And this time, she would not be caught unprepared.
---