PART ONE Cont'd:
All that glitters...:
The king's personal guard expertly maneuvered shielding the king's head from lifting the rafters off the roof of the hut, while shifting the bamboo valance so they could both crawl into the hut itself. As they emerged at the other side of the carved-out hole that served as an entry way, the damp and odious smell of mildew and stale food wafted freely through the murky room. Straightening himself from an entrance inspired arch, the king sneezed so voilently that he jerked his head back hitting his personal guard in the nose. That was how the little middle-aged woman met them when she herself finally crawled into the waiting room. A troubled, visibly shaken and irritated king flanked by a muscular young man clutching his bleeding nose. An hour long session later, the king felt no more relieved than when he first came to the highly recommended witch. She had no more of a disclosure than his personal sage had accentuated. However, she was the only one who did validate his concern about the closeness of the impending threat. Her ritual and seemingly ceremonial pantomime conjured up a breach in the kingdom, but fell short of showing how, what and where. The king waved his staff at the stuttering and embarrased woman. She was dismissed. It appeared no one could lift him from this torment of being invaded. Someone was plotting to usurp his authority. And all these ineffectual magicians could provide, was blatant confusion. "How is it that you detect a possible threat, but cannot identify the said threat to save your life?" Asked a dispirited and puzzled king as he rose to depart. "Your majesty, the threat comes as a glimmer of light piercing the darkness that is your kingdom. But the glimmer is blinding. It cannot be deciphered. It slowly moves close to you, but it cannot be tracked or traced." finished the trembling witch in an obeisant posture.
When wishes are horses:
Debeh watched intently and closely, as the riding instructor adjusted prince Amil's wooden saddle on his personal horse. The horse was a gift his father the king had given him when he had turned ten years old. Amil loved horses. Ever since he could talk, he would ask whomever had him at any given time to take him to the palace stables. Even though he was a good and promising rider, he always had to have an instructor when he rode in the palace grounds. As Debeh looked on, she could see peripherally that the foreign kids were playing across the field. Their enchanted and exhilarating screams warmed her heart. They were relegated to the other side of the field. They could never venture to the section reserved for the king and his family. But it made no difference to the joyous and innocent kids anyway. The grass was just as green where they were, and the open blue sky served all that were underneath it.
On many occasions, Amil has looked out the palace gates as the kids played. The longing and admiration for that kind of freedom weighed temporary on his young and impressionable mind. But he had since learned that he could not be a part of them. Instead he was being groomed to rule over them and expect their devoted service.
When Debeh saw that the prince and his instructor were engrossed in their exercise and lessons, she decided to go back into the palace. She would send the prince's personal servant out to him and then proceed to check on the queen. After she instructed Amil's servant to go and wait on him by the stables, she proceeded to the queens private quarters. No sooner had she made the final turn into the private section reserved for her majesty, than Amil's servant came running back after her. He was heavily flustered and out of breath, as he struggled to mouth the appropriate words. "Amil is gone! He is no where to be found..." Debeh's heart sank instantly. And just as quickly started to beat in panic. She pushed past the quivering servant as she raced back to the stables. Sure enough the horse and its rider were gone and so was the instructor! Debeh thought she was either dead or about lose her very last breath. The servant who had fled behind her in just as much hysteria now looked at her expectantly, surely she must have an instant solution in place. Wondering why she stood muttering to herself, he stared waiting for further instructions as her lips moved urgently without uttering a sound.
Suddenly, Debeh heard what sounded like a giggle. Swerving automatically to the direction of the welcoming sound almost knocked her off her feet. Fortunately, that was a fall she was willing to take for the sight that lay before her eyes. Amil the prince was uncharacteristically sitting on the grass and talking animatedly to someone. As Debeh stepped closer, her already tired heart would once again skip a beat. Howbeit a happy one. Prince Amil was handing a fist full of grass to a girl sitting on the ground next to him. Prince Amil was enthralled by the girl....
The prince and the pauper:
The queen mother Ethia fumed at the message she had just gotten. Her son the king would not be able to see her again today. He had come back from a very harrowing and disappointing trip and would be shut in for the rest of the day. His recent attitudes and decisions were becoming risible thought Ethia in disgust. It was definitely something that called for an intervention. But how would he get even that without a face time with her? She wondered if it was that 'happy go lucky' wife of his instigating this new trend of diversion from royal concerns.
She dismissed the message bearer with not as much as a wave as she sauntered out to the courtyard adjoining her living quarters. There was no amount of disapointment that a whiff of fresh air could not quelch, howbeit for a moment. She needed to talk to her son before it was too late....
And it seemed the reasons for that 'talk' were growing by the seconds. Was that her grandson the prince sitting on bare grass, giggling with what looked like a slave girl while another slave woman looked on in admiration? Wonders had not ceased indeed, since her husband the late king had died. If only he could see their son throwing caution to the wind and probably eventually throwing away his throne. She had to move if he would not.
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