7. Useful
Traveling to the mainland had her very nervous. Possibly because her twins were still home at Helike. She couldn’t believe that it had been two years since she welcomed her children into the world. They had come as the son rose. A girl and boy. She named them after their father’s ancestors. The girl was called Leilani and the boy, Mako. The farther Katsumi got from Helike the worse she felt but she couldn’t ignore a summon from the Amazonian Queen.
Katsumi left her twins under the best care. Myrina was going to have Demetria care for the children but Titus insisted that he would do it. That brought Katsumi relief. It’s not that she didn’t trust Demetria but she had known Titus longer and she was a little bias towards him. So far Mako adored him. While she did worry and miss her children she did have some peace knowing that they were in good hands.
Katsumi traveled for days to get to the secluded Queen’s Palace. The new queen had moved the palace when she took over. Queen Hyacinth was like her mother. Strict and unforgiving. She move the palace deep into the wilds. Anyone who had to visit the palace they had to walk through the dangerous wilds. There were a few buildings scattered around but you were very likely to get mauled by wild animals.
When Katsumi saw the palace she was in awe. It was a small but beautiful villa. Yellow and blue flowers were growing throughout the grounds. Fruit was sprouting from trees that lead to a smaller home in the back. 
Katsumi was about to walk up the stairs when she was greeted by a yowl. A fluffy white cat with golden orange eyes was glaring at her. Almost warning her to not take another step. Footsteps came rushing at the cat’s yowling. A dark haired woman dressed in armor stopped under the arch. The two woman looked at each other for a moment before a second woman appearing made Katsumi tare her gaze away.
“My Queen” the new comer called. Glaring at Katsumi before looking worriedly over at the armored woman. Hearing the word queen, Katsumi dropped to her knees.
“Greetings Queen Hyacinth” Katsumi didn’t dare to look up at queen. It was disrespectful to not bow or kneel to the queen. She also shouldn’t looked the queen in her eyes. It could mean a challenge and would most likely cause her early demise. The queen was known to sentence people to the pit or arena for lesser slights.
“Rise” the queen directed at her. Katsumi stood up and dusted the dirt from her knees.
“Katsumi daughter of Rei from the island of Helike, correct?”
“Yes, my lady” Katsumi replied. The queen turned and walked away, gesturing for Katsumi to follow her. She rushed after the queen, staying slightly behind her. The other woman, a queen’s guard no doubt, followed close behind.
“So tell me Katsumi, why should I allow you into my household” the queen was going to get right to the point. Unlike other tribal rulers, most of the time Katsumi noticed they would give a show of force to prove they were not to be messed with before finding out what a new comer wanted.
“Well my lady, I do not feel that I can properly serve tribe Isla” Katsumi had a whole speech about how she could help the queen and that she didn’t feel that she would be helping anyone if she was stuck in Helike.
“If you can’t serve your small tribe how can you be of use to me”
“Tribe Isla is filled with hard workers. They do not need me and while I would love to help other tribes I feel as if I could be of better use to you. My mother was a shaman. I do not have her powers but I have her notes on proper plant care and some of her plants from forests where the Witch in the wilds live” Katsumi did her best to try to show off for the queen. The person who was working on the gardens did not do a good a job. The trees were wilting and the fruits looked shriveled and disgusting.
They walked in silence around the compound for a while. The queen stopped back at the archway where they entered. Katsumi went to leave the compound but the queen stopped her.
“You will sail home, collect notes and plants. Bring nothing else. I will send Melody to stay at your tribe in your place.” the queen instructed.
“What of my children?” Katsumi asked. She did not want to leave them, she couldn’t.
“What of them?” the queen asked. “They are on Helike with their tribe and that is where they will stay”
Katsumi wanted to argue. They were toddlers they needed their mother. She had planned to bring them along and have them grow and explore a new home. A safe home.
“You may leave now” the queen continued. Katsumi muttered a thank you before bowing and following the Queen’s guard to the docks.
“If you care about your children you will leave them there” the queen’s guard finally spoke. “If you want to survive and see them grow up, you will do what Queen Hyacinth says without question”
Isla Amazon Challenge 