“Good ! Shall we go to your stepfather, Princess?” He jerked her chains and half dragged her out of the room and into the throne room. Flossina’s mother had only let her watch court proceedings a handful of times and her mother had always been kind and generous to her people, making sure her diplomacy and fair justice reigned supreme. Now, she was inside the throne room and it looked drastically different than she recalled. The banners were no longer brightly coloured they were all dark purples, grays and blacks. The room was filled with unfamiliar faces. Courtesans walked around freely. She was shocked. She couldn’t see her stepfather. She saw the looks of the men.  When they saw the General enter the sea of people parted and he pushed her in front of him. She refused to ho

“Please, Your Grace, I ask for your forgiveness.” She said it loud enough for everyone at court to hear. She could feel the General’s gaze on her back.“Why did you escape if you had nothing to hide?” He shot back loudly.There was a small uproar in the room. Her stepfather held up his hand and the crowd ceased. She hated lying, hated not being able to tell the truth, or to expose both of these men for the evil men they were. She stood there under the scrutiny of the the people of Zuff. She took a deep breath and recited what the General had told her. “I was taken, Your Majesty. By a man. He…” She paused. Thoughts of Marlon caressing her cold cheek when she was unconscious came to her. She didn't think she coul

Out of the corner of her eye she saw a flashing light. It startled her and she stopped crying and looked in the direction of it. It was Khepri. Flossina was so happy to her. Khepri was still as she remembered, beautiful. She was wearing a gold ostrich feather floor length gown with matching gold feather bracelets. Gold cuffs with scarabs carved into them were adorned on her wrists and upper arms. She was still beautifully bald and her eyes were outlined in the dark black eyeliner and cobalt blue eyeshadow. Her sun kissed caramel skin seemed to be glowing in the gloomy castle. Flossina hadn't seen any sign of Khepri since she had had her assistance leaving Marlon's home, which succinctly got her captured and rescued. Khepri walked over to her, kneeled down in front of her and held her face in her hands. She wore a sympathetic look on her face. 

Marlon stood on the desert sand dune surveying the desolate land. It was low mountains and golden sand as far as the eye could see. The hot breeze blew, but he did not feel it touch his bare arms. He looked down and noticed he still held the book inside of his left hand. He wore brown leather boots with a matching  brown leather kilt. A leather face mask hung loosely around his neck. There had been no time to gather his wits. He had passed the first trial and was immediately sent here. Where was here? He wondered what he would have to do to pass this one. He steadied his footing and walked down the dune. The sun seemed to become hotter with each step he descended.  He wanted to think that it was odd, but seeing as he had awoke in the afterlife for royalty, the temperature changing in conjunction to his movements didn’t seem so far fetched. He

he flapped his wings harder so he could go faster. It had worked and within minutes he landed on her shoulder. She smiled at him and it seemed brighter than the sun.“Ah, I see you have overcome the desert of sorrow.” She stroked his feathered breast. He thought it would feel awkward but it didn’t. It felt comforting. “You have a strong spirit, Marlon.”He flew off of the perch that was her shoulder and stood in front of her. When his feet touched the ground he was transformed back into his full human form once more. He was happy for that. Being in hybrid bird form had felt strange, but freeing. He touched his bare chest and saw that he was back to adorning the outfit he had started this journey on. The book was tucked between his gold belt and the white linen kilt he wore. &ldquo