Chapter 115: Death Warrant
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Elsewhere the Queen stood alone beside a window of her high castle, gazing toward the desert location. Where stars still flickered faint red, ghost of battle. She reviewed fresh parchments: casualty numbers long as river, lists of missing. Under "Scout-Leader Kai" a red glyph, "This Worker ant is Dead."
Her veil hid expression, but slowly exhaled clouded glass. "A pity," she whispered. "Mia speaks highly of him."
Yet strategy allowed no indulgence. She signed orders, passed a scroll to the steward, "Redeploy Vanguard to the border. Announce the day of mourning for all who died. Add that worked ant name Kai on dead. It will give Mia some relief. She got over attached to him."
Far below, in an empty courtyard, crystal chimes rang in restless wind an echo for souls still wandering dune shadow.
Mia startled awake to cold grey. Her armor lay discarded by the side. Her cheeks were stained by tears. She rose from her bed, touched the mirror. Her eyes were swollen, face of loss. She washed her tears in lavender water, braided hair, and donned a training tunic. If she lay abed, sorrow would drown her; better to drill until muscles forgot grief.
Courtyard stones still damp from night dew. She unleashed a flurry of sword forms called Crescent-Arc, Tide-Breaker, Tear of Dawn. Each cut sharper, faster, until blade edges hissed white. Sweat poured. With every swing she pictured Kai’s goofy grin face and pain became fuel, forging steel inside ribs.
When sun breached towers she halted, chest heaving. She bowed to the east, whispering, "Kai, you must live. Come back to me so that I can scold you." Then she replaced her blade, shoulders squared, and went to greet the day.
None saw tiny droplets of tears fall to flagstones which sparkled amber in dawn.