Her eyes were filled with sadness as she looked at her grandson. “You, Dancer of the Warring Blood Clan of Hauk, have more than earned the honor of wielding this great sword. I’ve wanted to bestow her on you since the day your paran died. It was wrong of me to withhold her from you because of the animosity I bear the Terisools. But I couldn’t stomach the thought of placing this in the hands of that bitch who killed my firstborn grandson. Nor allowing any child she brewed in her venomous womb to touch it.” She turned back to Sumi. “Forgive me, princess, that’s not part of the ceremony.”

Sumi smiled at her. “By all means, think nothing of it. Dariana has no friend in me.”

Her white eyes shined like a child’s. She lifted the sword and held it with two hands, by the blade. “For the first Dancer War Hauk it was forged by the first Great Chief and founder of the Most Sovereign Blood Clan of eton Anatole. Since the moment the Great Chief’s blood and that of the War Hauk mixed upon this blade, it has been foretold that so long as a War Hauk has possession of our Warsword, Andaria will know no defeat. We will stand strong against all invaders. It is my deepest and most sacred honor that I now move her forward and place her in the hands of the next generation that will feed her well. Into your honorable hands, Sumi of the Most Sovereign Blood Clan of eton Anatole, I place the greatest heritage of the Warring Blood Clan of Hauk. I know that you, Dancer, and all the beautiful children you will have to carry our legacy on, will bring nothing but glory and honor to this noble weapon. May you feed her well and defend our nation as all the great War Hauks before you.” She kissed the winged hilt before she carefully placed the sword in Sumi’s hands.

Sumi bowed low. “Thank you, Ger —”

“Yaya,” she said, breaking in.

She smiled. “Yaya. I will watch over and protect this great Warsword with every ounce of courage I possess.”

His grandmother placed her hands over Sumi’s. “I know you will, child. I am proud to welcome you into our family and pray that I live long enough to see your firstborn.” She released her hands and looked over to Dancer. “Now, you may finally touch your paran’s sword and return it to its nest. I promise there will be no spanking henceforth when you pull it down.”

He kissed her cheek. “Kimi asyado, Yaya.”

She patted his shoulder. “You were always my favorite.”

“That’s what I keep telling him. But he never believes it.”

Laughing, Sumi turned toward Fain at the same time Fadima hissed and exposed her fangs.

She started to rise, but their grandmother grabbed her and held her fast.