Chapter 5: Thornblood

The morning passed in a blur.

The moment Jamila mentioned a visit to town, lessons were forgotten entirely, and the palace seemed to shift around them. Maids moved faster, voices grew quieter, everything suddenly purposeful.

They dressed quickly, though not carelessly.

Jamila chose a flowing ivory gown far simpler than what she would normally wear. The gold embroidery along its edges was delicate enough to be overlooked unless the light caught it just right. A muted cloak of soft cream draped over her shoulders, the fabric heavy enough to keep out the autumn chill. Its hood rested low against her back, though it was clear she meant to use it if needed.

Shani watched her. Admired her.

Jamila pulled Shani front and center to admire her in the mirror and for once… she didn’t look away from her reflection.

She stood still as her mother adjusted and readjusted, smoothing fabric, brushing curls aside, stepping back only to step forward again with a soft hum of approval.

Shani was dressed in a soft cream tunic that fell just past her knees, the fabric flowing longer than she was used to. Gold thread lined its edges in fine, careful patterns. Her violet sash was tucked partially beneath her cloak, the color dulled by shadow, as though someone had tried carefully to hide it.

Beneath it, fitted trousers hugged her legs, tucked into worn leather boots that had seen far more running than walking.

Her curls had been tamed into a tight braid.

Well… mostly.

Soft, stubborn spirals still escaped around her face and neck.

The crystal bangle at her wrist caught the light as she shifted. For a moment… she almost liked what she saw.

Her shoulders lifted slightly. Her head tilted as she examined herself more closely.

Realization slowly dawned.

If not for the slight blush of her hair, she looked almost exactly like a younger copy of her mother.

Younger. Shorter. Fake.

Shani pulled her attention away from the mirror and forced herself to think of anything else.

The bracelet sat cold against her skin, the urge to claw it off rising sharply before she forced the feeling back down.

She needed to be perfect.

The carriage waiting for them was as carefully chosen as their clothing. Inside, it was lined with soft cushions and rich fabric, far more extravagant than most would ever see.

Outside, however…

It was plain.

No crest. No bright paint. Nothing to draw the eye.

Shani noticed.

She didn’t fully understand why, but she understood enough.

Today was meant to be quiet.

She didn’t mind. Not as long as she was with her mother.

The ride to town was uneven, the wheels bumping over the worn path as they descended from the palace.

Shani leaned out the window almost immediately.

The wind tugged at her hair, cool against her face as she watched the world stretch wider around them. The palace, once towering and impossible to ignore, slowly shrank behind them. Beside it, the great waterfall thundered endlessly, mist rising in soft clouds that caught the light.

She leaned farther, eyes wide.

Jamila watched her for a moment before shifting closer, pressing her shoulder gently against Shani’s.

“Behind that waterfall,” she whispered, her voice warm with memory, “there’s a cave.”

Shani glanced at her.

“Your father would meet me there,” Jamila continued, a small smile pulling at her lips. “Whenever he was worried… or when he thought I was being reckless.”

Her eyes sparkled faintly, as though she could still see him there… waiting, pacing, scowling.

Shani turned back toward the waterfall.

She wanted to go there. She wanted to stand where her parents had stood. To see what they had seen. To know what they had known.

And somewhere deep down, she wondered if her father would love her even half as much as her mother seemed to love him.

The town came into view sooner than she expected. The carriage slowed to a stop. The footman opened the door carefully, extending his hand. Jamila stepped out first, taking it gracefully. Her cloak shifted softly with the movement. Even dressed plainly, she seemed to catch the light in a way others didn’t.

Shani noticed the glances. The second looks. The quiet curiosity. Her mother must have resembled a Goddess to the people of the town. Jamila turned and offered her daughter a hand. Shani took it immediately, hopping down beside her.

The ground beneath her feet was smooth white cobblestone. At the center of the square stood a wide fountain, water spilling endlessly into its basin with a soft, steady rhythm. The buildings around them were tall and elegant, their white walls almost glowing beneath the pale autumn sun. Some bore flags in colors Shani didn’t recognize.

The people here were… different. Refined. Composed. Their voices low. Their movements measured.

“This is the aristocrats’ quarter,” Jamila said quietly. “Visiting nobles and envoys stay here.”

Shani nodded, though her attention drifted everywhere at once. They walked slowly. Some people bowed. Others simply watched. Most… pretended not to notice at all. Behind them, knights moved like shadows, present but distant enough to be overlooked.

They walked until they reached a giant wall with oval doors. Two guards stood on either side of the massive wooden entrance. Jamila gave a small nod toward the knights. Then she took Shani’s hand carefully in her own.

Together, the guards pulled the doors open.

Beyond it, the cobblestones were worn smooth in places and uneven in others. A massive fire burned at the center of the square, its warmth rolling outward in waves. Shops lined the streets with their doors thrown wide open.

"Fresh bread!"

"Best cuts in the city!"

"Come, come! See for yourself!"

Voices overlapped.

Rose and clashed against one another until they became a symphony of chaos inside Shani's head. The points of her ears twitched as they took in every sound at once.

"This is the town square," Jamila explained. "Anything you need... you'll find it here."

Shani stopped walking.

The chorus in her head sharpened painfully with every new voice she heard. Her breathing sped up as she crouched and covered her ears, desperately trying to block out the noise. Tears pricked at her eyes as everything around her slowly began to blur together.

"Oh, Shani..."

Jamila crouched in front of her, worry and realization etched across her delicate features. Without hesitation, she tore a strip of fabric from the hem of her own dress and quickly rolled it between her fingers.

"I'm sorry... I should have noticed sooner..." Gently, she pulled Shani's hands away and pressed the cloth into her ears.

"Try this, my dawn." Jamila said.

The world softened. Not silent, but quieter. Manageable. Shani blinked, her breathing slowly easing.

She nodded.

"Better..." Shani mumbled. Jamila let out a quiet breath of relief before brushing a stray curl from Shani's face.

"Your father also wasn't fond of loud places..." she said with a sad smile. Then she took Shani's hand carefully in her own.

"Stay close." Jamila said as she once more took Shani's hand with a warm squeeze.

As they moved deeper into town, the world shifted again. The clothing changed first. Fine fabrics gave way to worn ones; patched, mended, reused. Buildings rose taller and narrower, stacked tightly together as though they had only been built because there was nowhere else to go.

Wells appeared every few houses, surrounded by women talking and laughing as they worked. Children ran through the streets, their laughter loud and unrestrained, dirt streaked across their skin. Despite the chill… it felt warm. Alive.

“And this,” Jamila said softly, glancing around with thoughtful eyes, “is the living district.”

Shani looked around in awe.

“The houses are so big…”

“Yes.” Jamila smiled. “They hold many families. Look at the roofs.”

Shani followed her gaze.

Thin streams of smoke rose in clusters.

“At least four families per building.”

Shani nodded slowly.

“And look ahead,” Jamila encouraged gently. At the edge of the district, a river cut through the land, a bridge stretching across it. Beyond that… The wall, and behind it… The forest. Closer now. Much larger than it had seemed from the palace. Being this close to it made something stir deep within Shani’s chest.

She wanted to get closer.

“Did you hear? The princess is a half-bastard—”

Jamila’s attention snapped toward the voice. The words landed sharp and ugly. Her expression darkened… but only for a moment.

Shani hadn’t heard.

The cloth still rested in her ears, her attention fixed entirely on the swaying forest ahead.

Jamila turned back toward her daughter, warmth returning instantly to her face.

“My love… why don’t you sit for a moment?” she asked gently, gesturing toward a nearby bench. “Mama has a small errand.”

“I can’t come?” Shani asked quietly, anxiety immediately tightening in her chest at the thought of being alone.

“Not this time… but don’t worry, your knight will stay nearby.” Her smile remained soft as she stroked the young girl’s ear. Shani swallowed hard but nodded. Jamila left a moment later blending into the crowds and out of view.

Shani slowly made her way toward the bench and sat down, counting the seconds until her mother returned. After twenty seconds, her attention drifted back toward the lively town. Children around her age ran and laughed without a care in the world. Something twisted painfully in her chest at the sight of such freedom.

She sighed and leaned back against the bench, staring up toward the sky. The clouds were darker than they had been yesterday. And they moved so quickly. A storm is coming. The thought came quietly.

“Pretty.”

Shani blinked and turned toward the voice.

Three girls only a few years older than her stood nearby.

One had honey-blonde hair and freckles. Another was taller and broader, though she had a very pretty face marked by a beauty mark near her lip. The last had a thin scar running along her jaw and a lankier frame.

They were staring at her wrist.

“The bracelet,” the freckled girl clarified.

Shani smiled shyly.

“Thank you… it was a gift from my dad.”

The words twisted painfully in her stomach.

If he looked like her… why would he want her to look like this?

Suddenly the bracelet felt less like a gift and more like a curse.

The girls exchanged glances.

Then the freckled one smiled.

Shani smiled back.

And suddenly… they moved.

The girl with the scar lunged first.

The others grabbed Shani, pinning her roughly against the bench while the lankier girl reached for the bracelet.

Shani reacted on instinct.

Her foot slammed into the girl’s stomach.

The kick was harder than any of them expected.

The girl flew backward like she weighed nothing, collapsing into the dirt as coughs and gags ripped violently from her throat.

Then silence fell.

Shani froze.

Slowly, realization crept over her.

Her body felt different.

Then she saw it.

The bracelet.

Clutched tightly in the girl’s hand.

Her breath stopped.

The world shifted.

The other girls stumbled backward, eyes wide with horror.

“It’s a Thornblood…” the freckled girl whispered, her gaze darting from Shani’s exposed ears to the bracelet.

“Run! Before she hurts us!” the broader girl shouted before turning to flee.

The blonde followed immediately.

They stopped only long enough to drag their friend with them.

Screaming.

The sound spread through the square like a virus.

People turned.

Eyes landed on Shani.

Faces twisted quickly into something ugly.

Disgust. Hatred. Curiosity.

Shani scrambled forward and snatched the bracelet with trembling hands.

She forced it back onto her wrist.

The illusion snapped back into place.

But it was too late.

The crowd had seen.

Seen her.

Tears spilled down her cheeks as panic overtook her.

Where were the knights? Why hadn’t they—

“Mama!”

The cry tore from her throat before she could stop it.

Her voice cracked painfully.

Tears spilled freely now, her body trembling beneath the weight of their stares. She squeezed her eyes shut, desperately trying to block them out.

Then arms wrapped around her.

Gentle. Familiar.

Shani clung to her immediately as Jamila pulled her close, lifting her into her embrace while the girl’s sobs continued.

Something inside the young empress shattered at the sight.

“Your Majesty!”

Shani’s knight finally appeared.

Jamila looked toward him.

Her lavender eyes had darkened.

Cold. Furious.

Late.

He was too late.

Whispers rustled through the crowd behind her like a rising wave.

She turned her attention back toward the people, her expression hardening further.

The square slowly quieted as more and more eyes recognized those lavender eyes.

The knight’s punishment could wait.

Her daughter could not.

And when they returned to the palace…

The knight who failed her would face her wrath.