“We must go now Rhiannon,” Shankee called out again from the open door. Rhiannon gave Kyia a quick hug and then turned and walked from the chamber. Slowly she walked down the long, marble hallway that led to the inside courtyard, and then out of the palace where her warriors waited for a glimpse of their new empress, en’ Fiann.
Please help me; mother Rhiannon begged as she walked out onto the steps of the Grand Palace. At that very moment, all fell silent. Thousands of faces turned to look at the woman who stood before them. Her stomach tightened as doubts flooded through her like a swollen springtime stream. She searched for Shih ‘Ni and found him standing next to the lodge that she would soon be entering. He watched her, but his face was expressionless and almost hard. Finally, though,
