“Dangerous?” Ishakan replied, smirking. He could kill a few thieves, did she think her husband was so weak?

Lesha, who had been dozing in Ishakan’s arms, suddenly raised his head. His hair was sticking up wildly.

“Dad?” He said, still half-asleep as he looked at his father. “Dad!”

He struck his father on the chest with his small hand.

“I had a dream. About that present. The red one, for Mom.”

Ishakan always became serious at any mention of Redblood Fruit. He still hadn’t been able to find it.

Lesha pointed.

“There.”

Both Ishakan and Leah looked in that direction. Toward the caravan.

Ishakan immediately slid off his camel and handed Lesha to Leah. He smiled as his hand went to the curved sword on his hip.

“Be right back.”

* * *

Bachmann, the leader of the caravan, was an ambitious man.

As a young man, he had already achieved great success in business, with a gift for sniffing out where the profit was. This time, his nose had led him to Kurkan. It was the most dangerous kingdom on the continent, but very attractive, despite the many wars waged to free Kurkan slaves.

They had won all the wars they fought.

Having inherited the blood of beasts, it was natural that ordinary humans couldn’t defeat the Kurkan. After their marriage alliance with Estia, they had only increased their influence.

Power was a magnet. There were many that wanted to pursue partnerships with Kurkan now, and just as many who still despised them, clinging to a past where they could call them barbarians.

The one thing Kurkan was not, was ignored.

Nor was Leah De Estia.

Her fame on the continent was great. Heaven had bestowed great beauty upon her, and the most powerful men in the world fought for her favor. Though the King of Kurkan had become her husband, there were many that still coveted her. The King of Balkat’s severed head was a grisly example.

But though many praised her beauty, they also secretly mocked her, believing she had only become Queen because of it.

Bachmann thought otherwise. She could not have maintained such a tenuous position with a pretty face. Estia had risen to greater glory with her reign, and she had skillfully used the Kurkan to strengthen both her country and their own.

That was proof of her political skills, in his mind, but Bachmann had also been curious about her beauty. He wanted to see her face for himself.

After today, however, he no longer cared, for he had surely seen the most beautiful woman in the world.

Approaching the oasis, he had seen a woman with a small child. Anyone would have chosen to linger there, and the woman was enjoying a little quiet time under a palm tree, with a strange aura about her.

Like a desert mirage, he had felt a strange compulsion to approach her.

Then the sandstorm had ripped the veil from her face, and he was shaken to his heart. He had never in his life seen such a beautiful woman. Not even the Queen of Estia herself could surpass her.

It took a moment for him to come to his senses, and then he began to speak, seizing the opportunity to build a relationship with the woman.