The Expedition, Chapter 16

Amelia stood in the gallery watching as her father spoke with the men from the Death Cult. They wore black robes with hoods that covered their heads and faces. In front of her father was a tall, lean, muscular man with short white hair facing him.

She watched the man's hands for a long moment when she realized he was holding a dagger.

"Do you see?" the head priestess asked.

Amelia turned to her in confusion.

The head priestess smiled sadly. "He will attack us first. He will use the men from the Death Cult while his army attacks the temple. Then, he will loot our home and burn it."

Amelia looked back at the scene below her and felt a pit in her stomach grow deeper. She felt the anger growing inside her, but she couldn't stop it.

The head priestess put her hand on Amelia's shoulder and sighed. "It is time to go. The attack will begin soon."

"I want to lead it," Amelia said. "I am done with being weak."

Amelia turned, walked past Sapphire, the dragon, and strode the halls until she found the tapestry of Goddess Kayala. She reached out and touched it.

It was soft.

She closed her eyes and concentrated, feeling the magic flowing through the walls around her. She felt like she could feel the entire world, and she wished she could touch every person and make sure they knew it was time to stop fighting each other. That the old ways needed to end so that new ways could begin.

She sighed.

"It's time."

The head priestess emerged from a side passage with several other priestesses following her. They watched her silently.

Amelia began removing her clothes, down to her undergarments and kneeled.

She lowered her head in prayer. "I pray for forgiveness to my goddess Kayala for not bringing peace between us and our enemies. I pray for forgiveness for being ignorant of my father's wickedness. I pray for forgiveness of my weakness."

She stood up, removed her last pieces of clothing, and removed her braids. Her long brown hair fell past her waist.

She lowered her head. "I stand before you as I was born, Goddess. Please remake me as one of your people, or if you see fit, sacrifice me so this battle can be won."

She stood and felt a surge of magic flow through the temple as the goddess accepted her gift. Every muscle in her body felt infused by magic. Her hands felt like weapons. Her gaze felt like it could kill a man at a distance. Her hands felt ready and capable of killing.

She felt as if she could walk upon the wind.

She looked up at the head priestess with a new look in her eyes. "The Goddess has chosen me."

"We know," the head priestess said with a nod.

"Then, we will not die today," Amelia said with a smile. "My father is evil. I wish he were dead, but I know what needs to be done. Get me the clothing of your warrior tribe. And a spear, like my love, Fayla."

"Your father's army will see you as a traitor," the head priestess warned.

"Then they will die," Amelia said, feeling more powerful than ever.

The head priestess nodded. "Come, then. We must hurry to get you dressed for battle."

They walked through the temple as a group, making their way toward the lower part of the temple, where the warriors lived.

It took only moments for Amelia to be dressed. She wore leather armor and carried a spear, and her hair had been braided to hang over her shoulder.

She turned to the head priestess, "How do I look?"

"Powerful," the head priestess said with a nod.

Amelia smiled. "Then, let us go. We must hurry if we are to reach them in time. Do not attack unless you see me return."

They made their way to the front gates, where Sapphire stood waiting. Amelia strode to the dragon and jumped onto her back with one leap. She patted her blue scales. "Dragon! Take me to my tribe."

"You have been working out," Sapphire growled with a smile.

"If I wish your sarcasm, I shall ask for it," Amelia said, adjusting her spear in her grip.

Sapphire growled a laugh. "I miss the old Amelia."

Amelia stroked her scales. "Her father killed her innocence. She is no more."

Sapphire nodded and spread her wings, taking to the sky and heading for the desert.

It didn't take them long to find the tribe's camp. The warriors had stopped gathering for the attack. They sat quietly in small groups talking in low voices to one another. No one noticed them except Hadaj, Chief of the Mal'a'kai tribe.

Amelia spotted him standing near one of the campfires. The tribe prepared their weapons as the dragon circled overhead. Amelia held her spear high as they circled for a landing, facing the tribe's fierce warrior women. They stood together in warrior clothes, all looking at the dragon as it circled over them.

The dragon swooped low, and Amelia jumped off its back to land on the hard ground with a thud. She felt she could fall from a three-story building and still land safely; it was as if the air itself were something she could dance upon. She heard the tribe cheer once they recognized her.

Hadaj stepped forward with his shield, wearing full armor and a helmet covering his head. He bowed to her. "Child. Why have you come here? Is everything all right?"

"No," she said, and everyone fell silent. "It's not. My father plans to destroy the temple and everyone in it to claim it for himself. He has allied himself with the Death Cult. For that, he must die."

The warriors gasped and began speaking among themselves in shock. Hadaj lowered his head in defeat. "Then, it is war."

"Yes," she said with a nod. "I have been chosen by the Goddess herself to defend the temple."

The warriors' heads turned back and forth as they looked at her and one another.

"The Goddess has spoken to you?" Hadaj asked, eyes wide.

"Yes," Amelia said. "We must defend the temple. The attack is coming. And I have been blessed by her with a dragon, who is loved by all the people."

Sapphire groaned and rolled her eyes.

Fayla walked up to her and hugged her, kissing her deeply. "I knew you would come back. I knew you would return and defend us in battle!"

Amelia kissed her back. "I must lead the attack, or all is lost. The temple is ready, but you must help us, Fayla, for the Goddess's magic has blessed me."

Fayla smiled and nodded. "You lead the attack; I shall follow behind and watch your back. We'll end this war before it begins."

Amelia looked around at the tribe and felt tears building in her eyes. "I am so sorry for leaving you all. And sorry for bringing evil men to your land."

"Don't apologize," Fayla said, taking Amelia's hand. "It's all right. We understand. The Goddess intended for you to find your true path."

Amelia nodded. "And it's time for us all to choose our paths. We must decide how we shall fight and whether we will follow the Goddess's path or the ways of the Death Cult."

The warriors looked at each other and then back at Amelia.

Hadaj nodded. "You must defend the temple. We shall follow your lead."

The tribe roared in approval.

Amelia looked at Sapphire. "Come. It's time to attack. Fayla, come with me."