In the morning, Alqa left her yurt early to go talk to Rynyna. She approached Rynyna’s yurt. “Rynyna, are you awake?”

“Yes, come in,”

“So there are a couple Rovoaida who want to meet you,” Alqa said as she sat down across from Rynyna.

“Why?”

“One of them knows someone named Rynyna,”

“There are other people named Rynyna in the entire Galos Rovoai Vasiilok. But I don’t have anything better to do,” Rynyna said. Alqa helped her up and led her to where Deagoros and Pylaigon were waiting.

“This is Rynyna,” Alqa said.

“Hello Rynyna, I am Deagoros and this is Pylaigon,” Deagoros said.

“Hello,” Rynyna said. Pyaigon whispered to Deagoros.

“Rynyna, Pylaigon wants to know where you are from,” Deagoros said.

“I am from Marais originally, but now I live here,” Rynyna said. Pylaigon whispered something else to Deagoros.

“How did you come to be here?”

“I was captured when I was fifteen, and brought here. Kara released me and I am now his wife, we have two surviving sons,” Rynyna said. Pylaigon whispered to Deagoros again.

“Did you know a woman named Skyla tou Marais,” Deagoros asked.

“Daughter of Iakhos?” Rynyna asked. Deagoros translated to Pylaigon, who whispered in his ear.

“Yes,” Deagoros said.

“Of course I knew Skyla! Is she here?” Rynyna asked, she looked like she was glowing with excitement and all her energy and youth returned. Deagoros translated to Pylaigon

“No, she died a few years back. She thought you died so long ago,” Deagoros translated as Pylaigon spoke.

“Oh,” Rynyna said, she seemed to sink back down.

“Who was Skyla?” Alqa asked.

“Skyla was my best friend before I was captured,” Rynyna said. She turned to Deagoros. “Ask Pylaigon how he knew Skyla,”

Deagoros turned and translated to Pylaigon, he responded and Deagoros translated. “She was my mother,”

“Your mother!? It’s wonderful to meet you!” Rynyna exclaimed, she started to perk up again.

“I feel like maybe I don’t belong in this conversation,” Alqa said. She left to go and live out her day.

It was late in the day when food was made. Alqa brought a platter of beets and dried meat to Deagoros. “You mentioned your homeland being unsafe?” Alqa asked.

“Yes. The war took it,” Deagoros said, he took the food and began to eat.

“The war?”

“Yes, the war. When the Vasiliia died the governmental bodies were thrown into chaos, Karniiot officials withdrew but no replacements came, ambitious aristocrats seized control. In Marais the Temple of Gnosii took control of the city, but Harpalion tou Marais brought an army from the Eastern Forts and was declared Vasiliia of Marais after the Temple began forcing Maraisii to man the walls against their fellows. In Lapa some Temple Soldiers took over the village and looted it when Harpalion’s army approached. We had a small camp and met with Maraisii but after that we left for Arytoustan,” Deagoros said. “War is just rich men fighting over power. And sometimes, a poor man with skill can even become a rich man and join the fight,” Alqa thought for a moment. If I can gain power, I can protect my children.

“Thank you, I must go now,”

“You’re welcome. Thank you for the food and have a good night Alka,” Deagoros said. Alqa quickly returned to Qotoiyan, he was eating outside his yurt.

“Qotoiyan. I have an idea,” She said, her voice quivered with excitement.

“What is it Alqa?” Qotoioyan asked.

“The Rovoaida are fighting a war. If we go there as mercenaries, we can gain power to protect Turqa, Abagai, Sere. Even Asu and any other children we have!” Alqa exclaimed.

“Alqa. You and I both know that you wouldn’t leave them here,” Qotoiyan said.

“So? It isn’t like they would be fighting,” Alqa said.

“You fought so hard for a home and you just want to abandon it?” Qotoiyan said, he put down his platter and stood up, walking a little closer to her.

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“I fought for a family. This is continuing that fight, Qotoiyan,” Alqa said, would he really reject her?

“Alright. I can see that you are determined to do this Alqa. If you do this. I am coming with you,” Qotoiyan said.

“I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Alqa said, smiling. She leaned in and kissed his cheek.

“But, I want to talk to Narantui, and you should talk to Dagan,” Qotoiyan said.

“Why can’t you talk to Dagan? He likes you more,” Alqa said.

“You’re his sister. I’m just his sister’s mate. You will always be more important to him than I will. No matter how he feels about you,” Qotoiyan said. He returned to his food and sat down. He began eating again and Alqa went to go find Dagan. It wasn’t long before she found him, he was sharpening his hooked spear.

“Dagan-” Alqa began.

“What do you want?” he asked, interrupting her.

“I was trying to tell you,” Alqa said, she tried to speak softly with him and not get upset.

“I was trying to tell you,” he said mockingly.

“Qotoiyan and I are going to travel west to serve as mercenaries,”

“Alright,” Dagan said and he turned his head away from her, making it clear that he was no longer listening. Alqa left Dagan and returned to her yurt, Abagai and Sere were inside, running around in circles.

“Hey little ones,” Alqa said, crouching down.

“Iija!” Abagai exclaimed.

“Yes, it’s me. What’s got you two so excited?”

“Turqa said she would teach us to ride later after you were asleep!” Abagai exclaimed. Sere playfully slapped Abagai.

“Turqa said not to tell her!” Sere exclaimed. Abagai made a shocked expression with her face.

“Don’t tell Turqa I said that,” she told Alqa.

“Where is Turqa?” Alqa asked Abagai.

“She’s getting Iya ready!” Abagai exclaimed.

“Thank you. Stay out of trouble girls,” Alqa said. She stood up and went to talk to Turqa. When she got to Turqa, she was just about to put the bit and bridle on Iya. “Turqa, put it down,” Alqa said sternly. Turqa dropped the bit and bridle and spun around. “Hi Iija!”

“Turqa, I know you love riding. But, never go riding without me and definitely never take anybody riding without my permission. Besides, do you want a Gedequu to eat you? Because I don’t,”

“You go riding without your mother’s permission,” Turqa said in a pleading voice.

“I’m an adult. You can when you’re older. For now. Put that stuff away and go to sleep,” Alqa said. Turqa groaned, but obeyed. Alqa followed Turqa back to her yurt and soon all three of the children were settling in to sleep. Alqa sat on her furs watching them, she couldn’t help but wonder if they would hate each other like Dagan hated her. Sure they were close now, but she and Dagan had been close. What had she done to make Dagan hate her? Alqa sat and started to cry, would she really have to leave Dagan behind?

In the morning she resolved to start making preparations to leave. Before she could do anything else, she had to gain Buqutai’s permission, so that would be her first step. After a quick breakfast, she walked to Buqutai’s yurt. “Buqutai, may I come in?”

“Yes, come in Alqa,” Buqutai said. Alqa ducked into the yurt. “What is it?” Buqutai asked.

“I was hoping to talk to you about something important,” Alqa said.

“Well, go ahead. I’m listening,” Buqutai said.

Alqa sighed. “ I want to go and fight as a mercenary in Geyergliqid,” she said.

“What do you want me to do?” Buqutai asked.

“I want leave to go,” Alqa said.

“It’s your choice,” Buqutai said. “Your fate. But if you do go, I think you should take Sere with you. You shouldn’t separate her from her mother,”

“Yesui is her mother,” Alqa said. She looked down, she hated talking about Yesui, it only brought up bad memories of losing yet another family member.

“Yes, Yesui is her mother by birth. But you are her mother just as much as Yesui. You raised her,” Buqutai said. Alqa smiled, and looked back up at him, his black beard was beginning to turn gray, there had been specks slowly appearing, but by now it looked mostly gray.

“But you’re her father, you don’t want her?” Alqa asked, she was bewildered, how could he possibly be giving Sere up so easily?

“Of course I want Sere, but Yesui was meant to die, and you were meant to raise Sere as her mother. Even if you did not carry her,” Buqutai said. Alqa sighed, she and Buqutai shouldn’t be deciding this. It should be Sere’s decision, either to remain with her father or leave with Alqa.

“Shouldn’t Sere make this decision for herself?” Alqa asked.

“Yes she should. But you have my blessing to leave. Who are you taking?” Buqutai said.

“I’m taking Qotoiyan, Turqa, Abagai, Iya, and Eltentseg. I think Narantui will come too with Amaragal, and I asked Dagan but he didn’t give me a clear answer,” Alqa said.

“You should bring Dinget, he bonded with you, it would be cruel to leave him behind,” Buqutai said.

“Alright, then I’ll bring Dinget,” Alqa said. She stood up and bowed to Buqutai before leaving the yurt. Her next step would be to make a stadi, or mana. Rynyna had used the words interchangeably so Alqa wasn’t sure which was the correct term. But they were used similar to the horsehair banners, held in battle to help warriors understand where they were meant to be, they also held the honor of a Syndaga, which Alqa wasn’t too sure what a Syndaga was exactly, but Rynyna had talked about them.

The best weaver was Dokuz, it had been Yesui, but Dokuz would do. She also loved collecting different colors of wool, so Alqa was certain she would have the materials for what she wanted. She walked to Dokuz’s yurt and stopped outside. “Dokuz. May I come in?” Alqa asked.

“Of course Alqa,” Dokuz said. Alqa entered the yurt and sat down.

“I have a request,” She said. Dokuz looked at her quizzically.

“What is it?”

“I need a mana or a stadi. A square of wool fabric on a pole, like a spear,” Alqa said.

“What color do you want?” Dokuz asked.

“Can you do orange with a white eagle in the center?”

“Of course. Why though?”

“I am going to go fight as a mercenary in Geyergliqid,” Alqa said.

“Are you bringing Sugekui?”

“I haven’t spoken to him about it. But if he wants to come, I’m not going to try to stop him. If you’d like to come, you are also welcome to,”

“No thank you. I lived in this Yisra for my entire life and my parents and their parents as well,”

“Alright. I’ll leave you alone now,” Alqa said. She stood up and left the yurt.