I I

                                    

                                          



THE FIRST thing the Sun Clan noticed was the sun. Which, of course, a clan that paid worship to that very star would take notice of it. 
When they stepped into Anlithamy, the sun warmed their faces as they tilted them up, letting it wash over their cold skin. They basked for a moment in the world they had been banished from. The world they were meant to roam, to conquer, to thrive in.
    Around them, the sounds of chirping birds filled the air. It was balmy, like the sweetness of late  summer, and already they felt energy seep into their bones. 
    For one brilliant moment, the world around them stood still.
    For one brilliant moment, they allowed themselves to remember the lives they lost centuries ago. The lives they had tried to rebuild. 
    Sir Paulisn felt his mouth dry up at the sight around him. I'm home, he thought to himself, the words sinking into him like an anchor. Being the clan leader of a banished clan had never been his plan, nor his goal in life. When he had come into the role all those centuries ago, he had thought it would be a simple job. A leadership opportunity that he would soon pass on to someone else.
    That had been before the War. Before his clan was banished.
    Now, it was the only life he knew. Taking care of his people, helping them survive day by day, cultivating a land of their own in a world that they didn't belong in. He knew how weak his people were. He knew how much they had suffered. And all he wanted for them was a place to call home. A place they could rebuild.
    Relief took place in his chest alongside anger. His people would get their revenge. One way or another, they would rise up from the ashes and set fire to those who had locked them away. He was sure of it.
    Bazile was steps ahead of them. He walked with purpose; a man on a mission. Paulisn didn't quite care about Bazile becoming king. His alliance with the Snow Clan leader had served its purpose: getting his people back home.
    Paulisn watched though as Bazile stormed up to what appeared to be a team of fae on the backs of wyvern. But there, in the front, was the little golden Princess he had let escape. He felt conflict in his chest; he had believed in the prophecy, had believed in the choice, but had been hurt by the end results. He had been so sure she would pick them, and being blinded by her choice was like a closed fist holding onto anger.
    Seeing her there relit the flame.
    Beside him stood her human aunt. Paulisn looked over and watched her expression as she took in a world that she didn't belong to. Her mouth was open in wonder and shock. It didn't seem possible to her that this world could even exist.
    "Welcome to Anlithamy," Paulisn said as a welcome for her. 
    "She truly is a monster," the human woman murmured. 
    Paulisn turned towards her with a smile. "Let's go see what she's been up to all these months, shall we?" Then, he lifted his head and scanned the crowd. His eyes found who he was looking for in the crowd, and he motioned for the boy to come forward.
    Kyle sauntered to the front with a grin. 
    "Remember what we've talked about. Are you ready?"
    Kyle nodded at Paulisn's words. "I'm very ready to make her pay for what she's done to us. Foolish, foolish girl. If only she knew." Kyle's grin was dark and eerie for a sun fae. 
    Paulisn, Kyle, and the human aunt strode towards Andorra with purpose. The closer they got, the more Paulisn felt the magnitude of her power. He had felt it back in the human realm when she had been trapped in their home, but this was tenfold. He could taste it in the air; the essence of a true Queen. He held his tongue, but it was quite obvious that Bazile would never carry the same rich power that Andorra owned.