Cordayl follows his mother as she leads them into the village. He is astonished to see the town so full of life, with vegetation and community.
The warriors break off to take Yesseia to the medical ward, but Cordayl's mother tells him to continue with her.
When they reach her home, Cordayl's mother is greeted by the guards who stand by the door. They let them in with a bow. They go to a nice open area with a bench and sit.
Cordayl's mother just stares at him. "So handsome." She remarks, making Cordayl blush.
She grabs Cordayl's hand and holds it tight. Cordayl is still in shock, but shaking out of it, he asks the question that is eating him alive. Before he can, though, his mother tells him to ask his questions.
"How are you here right now?" Cordayl ask. "I returned home, and there was nothing but smoke."
"Your father was a brilliant man. With an intuition that would make the wisest woman jealous. He knew that young king was not to be trusted, and after a long night of lovemaking, he told me that I was to pack up the village and not return till I saw him again." His mother answers.
"I could have done without that love-making detail, but in case you didn't know, Father is dead," Cordayl states.
"My, to deliver such sad news about a husband to his wife with no emotion. My son, what has happened to your heart?" She asks.
"I'm sorry. I've been through a lot since we last saw each other." Cordayl says, sadness in his eyes as he stares at the flowers by his feet.
"I am sorry, my child. With Cordon and you gone, the responsibility fell upon my shoulders to re-establish our village. As you can see, we are joined by outsiders as well. Those under oppression, who we freed upon our search for a new home.
"I should have come looking for you. Looking for Cordon. But I feared the pain of not finding you would leave me broken beyond repair." She tells him. Wiping her eye, she asks, "Can you forgive me for my selfishness, Cordayl?"
Cordayl looks at his mother and hugs her. "You know I can never be mad at you, " he smiles. Another question comes to his mind, "How did you know it was me when I came behind the waterfall?"
"A mother always knows her child." She mentions, pinching his face. "Plus, only the men of our tribe would be able to lift a waterfall so easily. I had finally thought Cordon had found me, but my heart was filled with no less joy seeing you. Goodness, you look just like him in his young age." She says, tears in her eyes again.
Blinking them away, she stands up. "Come on. I'm sure word of your return has made it through the village by now.
Cordayl and his mother walk out of the front doors, and Cordayl is shocked by how many people have come to welcome him to the village. Many familiar faces from his old home hug and welcome his return, while the new ones show him respect for being the prince.
A couple of children run up to him and ask if it's true that he destroyed the Youtound kingdom. Cordayl shamefully admits that it is true, and to his surprise, the kids are happy about the news.
Cordayl's mother is behind him with the explanation. "These children grew up in a province dictated by the Youtound kingdom. Many of their loved ones were worked to death. We happened to free them a couple of years before you made your way through the kingdom, but to many here, you are a hero."
"I'm no hero. Just a guy with anger issues." Cordayl deflects the compliment.
"If that is how you see it, you are justified in your anger. But I know you hold more than pain in your heart." His mother says.
"And how can you tell?" Cordayl questions.
"I saw how ready you were to protect that girl. You were ready to leave every one of my warriors broken if they tried to harm her." His mother teases.
Cordayl blushes and looks away. "She's a good friend. I only stepped up because she was unable to. She can definitely hold her own." Cordayl states.
"Yeah, yeah. Cordon was my friend, too. That's usually how it starts." His mother smiles. "But seeing you respond like that, I know my son hasn't changed for the worse. You've always stuck up for the people you cared about. Remember when you were four, and that soldier was picking on your friend?"
"Yeah. I punched him in the dick. Then he stuck me to a ceiling and let twigs hit me in the face until Father made him release me. Ooh, if I could run into him now." Cordayl punches his palm, remembering the act.
His mother chuckles. "Yes, but you didn't hesitate to protect your friend. What about when our neighbor was being picked on walking home from school? You walked her home the next day and beat up every boy who made a joke. I had to send out so many apology baskets."
"I know. You made me help you. I wasn't even sorry." Cordayl responds.
"And I wasn't mad. I was proud you stuck up for your friend because that's who you are, Cordayl. A protector. Just like your father and his father." His mother reminds him.
"Lately, it feels like the opposite," Cordayl responds sadly. "Seems like I am the catalyst for my friend's pain and suffering. Yesseia is proof. She's hurt because somebody wanted their turn to kill 'The Diablo.' She'd be perfectly fine if I had just taken her home when I had the chance." Cordayl states.
"I understand my son. Our people were forced to fight every day for our lives, And the Melatonin culture turned that need for survival into a love for battle, but I saw how tiresome it could be with your father.
"In the earlier years of our marriage, we would argue because I wanted him to take me with him when he left the village. I wanted to be with him and see the world he got to see as a warrior. He would tell me no a hundred times before I finally got a yes. But after our 4th or 5th adventure, I finally understood why he never wanted to take me.
"We went to eat at this lovely, quiet restaurant that sat halfway up a mountain. After our meal, in the middle of us enjoying a conversation about the ocean, a random man challenged your father to a fight, just out of the blue.
"As polite as the stranger was, he refused to take no for an answer. Cordon was only gone for maybe 2 minutes, but his shirt had been ripped, and he had blood on his knuckles and a look in his eyes that only after a quiet return home did I realize was irritation.
"I had to reflect on our previous dates, and not one time on any of them was Cordon not forced into a fight. On every single date, there was someone to challenge him. As great a warrior as he was, Cordon wasn't nearly as famous as you are, but he radiated strength, and without fail, there was always someone who wanted to prove that they were stronger.
"They failed every time, but once I realized this and saw the weight it put on him, I never asked him to take me out of the village again. Not because I didn't think he could protect me but because I was afraid of what he would do if he felt I needed to be protected. I didn't want to put that stress on him. That was a lot," she laughs.
"But I said all that to say that even though I knew the danger beforehand, I didn't care as long as I got to be with Cordon. And I bet your friend feels the same about you. You just don't realize it yet. You aren't her burden, Cordayl. You're her blessing." His mother says, rubbing his face.
"I see it, and there is no point trying to hide it from you. I do like her, but with the mess I am in, staying away from her might be the best way to protect her." Cordayl remarks.
"Let's go ask her." His mother states.
"What! No! That's a terrible idea. Plus, I'm sure she's still resting." Cordayl deflects.
"Only one way to find out." His mother smiles, grabbing his hand and guiding him out of the crowd.
As they swerve through the crowd and navigate through the village, they eventually find the hospital where Yesseia is. To Cordayl's surprise, Yesseia is up and talking to the nurses.
"Hey Cordayl," Yesseia smiles upon seeing him. Cordayl walks up to her and gently puts his hand on her bandages.
Yesseia takes his hand off of her wounded area and holds it. "I'm still sore, but thank you. Nurses say your makeshift wrap helped slow the bleeding down a lot, " she says.
"I'm glad you are well, young lady." Cordayl's mother cuts in. Cordayl remembers his manners and introduces the queen.
She chuckles at the queen detail. "Nice to meet you. I'm Waminya, Cordayl's mother."
"Cordayl's mother!?" Yesseia says, sitting up as much as she can and straightening her hair. "I wasn't expecting this at all. I'm sorry. I look a mess right now." Yesseia says,
Waminya laughs. "It's okay. Considering the first time I saw you, you look much better." She mentions.
"Thank you. I'm Yesseia. A friend of your son Cordayl."
"Just a friend?" Waminya asks, making both Cordayl and Yesseia blush. Waminya laughs again. "I won't pry. My son has always been a good judge of character, so if he likes you, I accept you." She smiles.
"Well, if you'll excuse me, I have a few matters to attend to. It was nice meeting you, Yesseia. I'll leave Cordayl to keep you company for now. The guard will escort you back to the house when you are ready to rest, Cordayl." Waminya says, rubbing his face before she departs.
"Nice meeting you, too." Yesseia smiles, watching the queen leave. Waminya waves her hand, and the nurses follow, leaving Cordayl and Yesseia alone.
Yesseia punches Cordayl in the arm. "Why didn't you tell me you were bringing your mother!"
"My bad. I beat the messenger pigeon over here." Cordayl retorts. "I see your strength is starting to come back."
"Of course. Your healing factor is only slightly better than mine. I should be out of here by tomorrow." Yesseia states. "Damn, I never thought I'd get to meet your mother. The regality in her aura is amazing. Can't imagine what Cordon was like in person." Yesseia states.
"How do you know him? I never said my father's name to you before." Cordayl replies.
Yesseia blows raspberries. "Every true fighter knew who Cordon was. He was a legendary warrior. Everyone wanted to beat him. Undefeated in almost everything." Yesseia replies.
"Almost everything?" Cordayl ask.
"My father beat him in a foot race." Yesseia mentions with a smile.