Indus stood in her room, long hair pulled back and her finest set of riding armor on. She grabbed the blue bow, her oldest possession, and flung it across her shoulder along with the quiver that held all its arrows.
"I can do this." she said out loud to herself, sure this time she would make her parents proud. It wasn't everyday one got to be part of the royal prince's guard. With a deep breath she plunged out of her room and into the main room where her parents stood in wait.
Her mother was the first to notice, having been waiting for her to get ready. She gave a short gasp before carrying on as though she hadn't.
"Darling you look lovely." was the best she could come up with to hide her dissatisfaction in watching her leave.
"mom, I'm not supposed to look lovely, i'm battle ready, i'm fierce...I'm going to meet the royal family." Indus replied hoping to arise any last shimmers of happiness from her mother. But there was nothing, just the same sad face she'd had for more than thirty years now.
"i'll do great." She said hugging her mom before racing off to find her dad.
He was in the front shop, finishing the morning stocking. He gave her a look of admiration at least, his one good eye glinting with tears.
"Indus, you aren't going to use that bow," He said, as though she had any other. But his smile gave it away, and she easily guessed that he had gotten her a new one.
"Papa you didn't." she smiled, grateful of the gift. He leaned under the counter and retrieved a long package, tied with string. With a sullen face he handed it to her,
"be safe my star." he said lovingly. Underneath the paper was a beautifully crafted
bow, silver and smoothed. Several charms told of the weapons magical touch, though it's weight already told as much. Indus switched the new bow for her own, handing the blue one to her father.
"I'll make you proud." she said at last, giving him one last hug before leaving to her bird outside.
Aquila lay flat to the ground, her black eyes fixed on her rider. Indus mounted and up they flew, taking the wind up to the palace entrance. There she left Aquila. The bird would stay there unless called.
Indus was led through the palace by two honor guards, not the kind she wanted to one day become. Though she yearned to take in the palaces hard floor and incredible features the walk to the meeting room was a rather short one, none the less business was more important, the losses were justified. Inside the room were three men, one old, one younger, and one who held a hammer. The old and young one were royalty, the king and prince themselves. It was truly wonderful to be so near someone who had helped the tribe so much.
"Sirs" she offered, completely lost for words, but not wanting to seem foolish.