Chapter 3.3

"You surely know the relation between your leader's family and mine," he replied. "I don't think Nette made it a big secret."

Even the redhead nodded reluctantly. Both women could have guessed the rest.

"The same golden hair, the same smile. When I look at her, I can't help but think of your leader. Nette was such a sunshine at that age."

The girl peeked cautiously from behind her tall protector's legs. Even Miri's interest in the girl seemed piqued for a moment. She compared the image of her memory with the girl in front of her. A pretty, fairy-like face framed by ringlets, contrasting with the Amazon daughter's naturally falling waves.

"He knows my mom?" slipped out of the little Amazon princess, not even paying attention to the redhead's gaze.

Judge Beldor smiled contentedly and proceeded directly to his next question.

"What is your name, child?"

Melasa tried to hush her up, but the words slipped out of the girl's mouth.

"Nala," she replied, leaving everyone in the carriage, except for the young Ero, in sheer amazement.

Nette's family had a tradition passed down through generations. Every male family member started with an R, every female with an N. It was coincidental with her mother and Miri's best friend back then. Even if she had carried a different name, her husband wouldn't have been deterred from marrying her.

The fact that Nette continued this tradition with her daughter astonished him. Even more so, since the child's name was also her grandmother's.

After their escape, everyone thought Nette must hate her parents. But her choice of name showed that she had forgiven her family. She even missed them.

At the same time, he knew it wasn't a sign of remorse. Nette was the proud queen who would never abandon her people.

A sense of amusement spread across the judge's face. He shouldn't say it, but he felt proud of this once fragile creature who had become a strong warrior.

"You wanted to let us continue on our way. What about your promise?" The brunette's eyes narrowed to slits. Her comrade, on the other hand, had suspected from the beginning that none of it was true.

"I'll keep my promise," he said in a tone he usually used only in his courtroom. "You should take the southern route. It's far from any settlements and leads directly to forests where no sane soldier would follow you. One of the dreaded bandits has his camp there. He lives to plunder the rich; he would never offer a gift to a king. He particularly favors the carriages of my guests as lucrative prey. And even though I'd like to welcome him in my courtroom, you'll be safe there for a while or longer."

His gaze shifted downward to the child.

"I can't let Nala go."

"No!" came simultaneously from the shocked women. The girl meant everything to them. Now the judge wanted to take her away from them.

"Nala belongs with us, and we promised her mother to keep her safe," shouted the brunette. "We are responsible for her protection."

"The child would be safe with me," Judge Beldor tried to persuade both of them.

Nala was undeniably Nette's daughter and thus a member of his former best friend's family, with whom he still maintained regular contact. If he let her go with the women, it might be the end for this child.

Alesa and Melasa were one thing. They never matched Nette's reputation. So their child would be a tempting target for some.

"The village may have fallen, but the hunt continues," he preached, not far from the truth.

After this move, the kings would return to their disputes. Bandits would then be left for the bounty hunters, just like the meager remnants of the Amazon army.

And even for them, a treasure would be tempting, under which the resistance could reignite.

Alive or dead.

"If anyone finds out that Nala is the daughter of your Amazon queen, she won't have a peaceful moment anymore. Under my protection, she would be unreachable. Even Nerre, with her heart blackened by rage, wouldn't dare to attack the child once I've taken her in."

"Melasa," addressed the brunette Amazon her comrade. "I fear he's right. In Ura, it's said his power is so great it rivals that of the king. Nala will be safe there for now!"

Exaggerated claims!

If his power reached that far, many of those brought before him would leave his courtroom with a pardon instead of being led to the gallows by him.

The only thing in his power was to give them a swift execution. Even if he was as despised by the two women as by them.

But she was also right!

Once Nala was in Ura, Nerre could rage and threaten him, place all the warriors at King Teron's disposal in front of his estate, she couldn't harm the child!

The words of the Amazon overshadowed by uncertainty surprised him. He knew no one would just hand over the child to him. Everything became irrelevant as long as she was safe. Nala's well-being mattered, nothing else.

"You're not asking us to trust this man, are you?" the smaller of the Amazons stood before her comrade. "A man who has executed so many innocent souls with his own hands. Many of our sisters have fallen victim to this murderer. And you seriously want to entrust Nala to him?"

Unfortunately, Judge Beldor couldn't refute her words. It was true that many Amazons had found their way into his courtroom. Some soldiers even brought their prisoners to Ylora just for him to execute them.

"I don't like it any more than you do, but we'll have no choice," she said calmly, reaching out in a placating gesture to the redhead's shoulder. "Nette would do the same. I'm sure of it."

"No!" Melasa burst out. With a single shrug, she shook off the grip. Her step back led her right into the arms of one of the soldiers. "You're insane! We can't leave her to him! He'll only bring her to Nette's family. Do you want her to suffer the same fate as her mother? To be raised to be a good girl who willingly enters the bed of a well-to-do man, whether she loves him or just wants to please the family?"