No one recognized her at first.
At her father’s compound, Matilda was outside cooking. She froze when she saw the five royal chariots.
Then Sarah stepped down.
Matilda stared in confusion.
Both girls stood still, searching each other’s faces.
Then Sarah spoke.
“Matilda.”
Matilda’s eyes widened.
“Sarah?”
Sarah nodded.
That was all it took.
Matilda dropped everything and ran into her arms, crying, “My sister is back!”
Inside the hut, Agnes heard the noise and rushed outside happily.
“Is it Isidora?” she shouted. “My daughter—”
But when she saw Sarah standing there like a queen, her joy died instantly.
Her knees weakened.
Just then Jon came back from the farm.
He saw the chariots.
Then he saw Sarah.
“Sarah!” he cried, rushing toward her with open arms.
But Sarah stepped back.
The compound went silent.
“You betrayed me, Father,” she said, her voice trembling but strong. “You watched them treat me like a slave. You never defended me. But I was your daughter.”
Jon’s face crumpled.
“Please forgive me,” he whispered. “I was weak.”
Agnes dropped to her knees and began crying.
“I am sorry, Sarah!”
Sarah’s eyes burned.
“Sorry for what?”
She raised her voice so the gathering villagers could hear.
“Did you tell them what you did? Did you tell them how you and Isidora deceived me on my wedding day? How you led me into the forest? How you pushed me into a river filled with crocodiles?”
Gasps broke from the crowd.
Jon staggered backward.
