By now, Salīa could only but drudge through the gates, her eyes as heavy as her heart.
While she was proud of having fulfilled most of what she set out to complete today, it had worn out every bit of spirit within her.
"How do you feel?" asked magi-mi Chamba.
"Honestly, I couldn't tell you. There's so much swirling in my head. I honestly just want to do something to forget everything. Just for a moment."
He nodded.
Maybe that sounds selfish to say. How dare I, as the leader of a land, wish to forget all that's happening? But how can I not?
If I even start to think, my mind first comes to my family, and soon I'm nothing but a puddle of tears. And when I think of my people, I feel like nothing but sand sinking into water.
"Rest can be healing for such things. Do not cage yourself to your mind, especially when the bars that form that cage are forged by your own shame and blame."
"Thank you. But are you sure you don't need anything?"
"You're quite kind. But I, too, think some rest will serve well."
"Very well," Salīa bowed. "Have a blessed night."
"To you, too," nodded magi-mi Chamba as he followed a zazi to his quarters.
She was about to do the same until a zazi announced, "There are guests requesting to see you. Should I turn them away?"
Guests?
"May we enter?"
The voices were silken, and by now she knew them well. The twins stood there with proud smiles.
So, they came here after all.
She nodded for the zazi to let them pass.
They followed her a fair distance away as they glided through the gilded, covered corridors that stretched alongside the palace gardens.
Attendants peeked at the twins, blushing and curious.
"I'm quite exhausted. So, whatever you're so certain I'd want to know better be just that."
They said, "Of course," and followed her to a small lounging room which overlooked the luminescent reflecting pool holding the moon's glow.
The attendants had lanterns lit and were quick to serve cacao and cake and leave upon request, but not without gazing at the twins a few times.
Salīa had the curtains half-open, just in case.
While she sat on a lounging couch, the twins paced around as if prowling, then sat before her, their eyes resting on hers.
Her heart skipped ahead of her.
If we were in the dark, I'd truly think they were leopards on the hunt, for that which would shine most would be their spotted robes and charcoal-lined golden green eyes.
"So," she said more hoarsely than expected. "What is it you wish to tell me?"
They remained quiet, their expressions unmoved.
Did I place myself in a trap?
She stood and tried to firm her tone as she said, "If nothing, then I think you should—"
"We know what you are," said Letu.
"And who you are," said Lefu.
Do they mean…
"I suppose we're not the only ones who know. But the difference between most of those is that they merely suspect."
"Yet you left us with no doubt when you exposed yourself to us all those years ago. You show us one of the gifts even masters of magic cannot easily mimic."
"A gift of The Protector," they said.
Salīa could only sit down, keeping her gaze averted. She had forgotten the memory save for the kisses on her cheeks.
Yet it was at that moment she had gotten a glimpse of their memories.
It was simply just of them lazing about in trees amongst the mountains, overlooking the land and laughing with another while debating who would be the leader of Shaka.
She thought it was a curse, more than a gift. She had no control over it, and it only happened in random but rare moments.
Touch always triggered it, and the memories that came out rushed through her as if she were the person whose memories she'd been watching.
Even more so, the memory carrier could see exactly what was being revealed to her. And most would look at her as if she'd done something wicked to them.
"I understand that there's been a lot of talk of this so-called Protector's return," Salīa said. "But since this figure was a passing story of hundreds of years ago, don't you think your thirst for fantasy is corrupting your reality?"
"Our thirst for fantasy?"
Their eyes flicked as they inched closer.
"Our fantasies and reality are forever entwined," Lefu said.
"We see no need to have one without the other."
"We're certain you have your reason for hiding in the shadows."
"But leopards see just as well as tigers in the dark."
In unison, they said, "You are The Protector."
She stiffened.
Each part of her wanted to deny it. As she had always done ever since she first suspected it might be true. The reason was simple.
What this land expects from me as its leader can feel heavy. Yet it's nothing but a stone compared to the boulder of expectations this realm would want from me as its protector.
It's not that I wouldn't bear it, it's just that I can't. As a pebble myself, I'd be lucky to even hold that stone up on my best day.
"Are you finding ways to escape?" asked Letu as he sat on the couch beside her.
"Why would I need to escape my own home? It's you who should find ways to excuse yourself."
"But why would we?" said Lefu, who sat on the other side. "We have no desire to leave you."
This has become burdensome.
"I'm too tired for all this. If you do not go, then…"
She paused as she felt the warmth of them from afar.
"We'll go and will not bother you further, but first, we'd like to honor our promise."
"You do not need to confirm or deny yourself with us, but we'd at least like to pass on some memories with you which you may find of great service."
The thought did intrigue her. She only ever allowed them in the palace because she knew that while they were sly, they did seem to be sincere.
"Very well. Then speak on with it."
"It's too much to just speak on, we'd like to give it to you," they said.
"Give it? If you mean, like before, it just happens. I don't know how to control it."
"We do."
The hairs on her skin pricked up. She felt something was stirring within their words that undid her.
At her command for explanation, they leaned over and whispered, their breath scented with nectar and their scent like warm wood.
She pulled back instantly as she heard what they proposed.
"It's not different from when we were children," said Lefu.
"I'd say it's quite different."
To which Letu asked coyly, "So would you not like to?"
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