PART TWO: Cont'd
Fly on the wall:
The eerieness of the seance was so sinister that the walls in the tomb-like crypt reverberated with hair-raising echoes. The six usual figures could be seen with their heads bent, as they chanted and circled in synchronized rhythm. There was a felt presence so heinous, it was without fail diabolical. As the presence permeated the room, it took complete control of it. Whirling with an atmospheric invasion that was just as unsettling as it was oppressive. The fly-lord was with them.
Although Xitus the head Monitor lived off spine-tingling episodes, he was feeling very rattled at the moment. Their master the fly-lord did not need permission to invade their psyche, nor did he inform ahead of his visits. They served him and they knew what was expected of them. If they failed in their assignments or mission, they were severly punished and/or eventually destroyed. If they prevailed, then they were promised but for a moment a reward of wealth, unrestricted-power and fame forever. Though no one had seen, heard or knew of any that was actually thriving under the fly's benevolence. The evidence of the blissfull and un-interrupted existence that the fly-lord promised, was yet to be seen. But he had their damned souls now and relished all its uncanny fruits. They had to be iniquitous to survive and reprobate to thrive.
".... My lord, I am not sure how the slave girl got before the king. It was probably a trivial coincidence, we will rectify that breach right away." Xitus offered a ready explanation at what he knew would be an inevitable on- slaught.
"Trivial?! You fool! Never consider any action or traitor trivial in this war. The Enemy can use a pebble to sing or make a tree dance. Everything and everyone should be suspect, until we find the source of the fissure. Until then you must not allow anymore vagabonds to bleed into my place of interest!"
The dank air in the room fizzled out with his exit as the Monitors quickly got down to business.
A tale of two situations:
The boy squirmed uncomfortably under Methus' intense and scrutinizing glare. And in that instant regretted the whole undertaking. He did not know what made him do it, or how he did it. The disgustingly obvious reality was that he did it and would have to live with the guilt and probably the circumstances of what he did. They were supposed to look out for one another and here he was having betrayed a fellow oppressed child. Initially, he had tried to play with the girl but she had kept to herself and barely said much. Only for him to watch in horror that fateful day when the prince called for her, and off she went. Suddenly alive and primed for action, she scampered willingly to his side. He the observer, had held on to his hope. Maybe that day would be the last of the prince' intrusion. Unfortunately, much to his chagrin, it appeared the girl that was of interest to him, would become a permanent fixture by the prince' side.
When the Queen's maid came to pick the girl up, he knew it would be the last time he would be in close proximity with her. So he devised a plan to garner him an elevation also. An upgrade of sorts as it were. Unfortunately, at this moment judging from the head butler's fierce gaze. It appeared his deadly and devious snitch might instead be a hasty trip to the ever-ready gallows. It was not exactly that he lied. He was certain about what he saw while they were by the river that fateful day. The girl came out of nowhere and joined them. It was difficult to make out her face, as it appeared there was hair all over it. But he knew for sure he had never seen her in their quarters. Even more strange, was the fact that there was also a bed ready for her when they got back to their living space. He suddenly felt very sick. He was only fifteen, but it felt like the weight of the world was already taking its toll on his young shoulders.
He startled, as Methus' angry voice jostled him back to a dreaded but present reality.
"So you mean you had never seen her in the slave children's quarters before that day at the river?" Inquired Methus voraciously. "No master I had never seen her...." replied the boy miserably.
Home again:
"Oh!.... Isn't she such a beauty," squealed the queen in un-contained delight. "How in the world did anyone manage to hide such loveliness for so long?" She asked no one in particular, while clasping the girls face between her palms and squeezing. The queens obvious pleasure was only matched by her son prince Amil's. The prince sat next to his father beaming with joy, while the King struggled to leave all that unfolded, at his wife's jubilant pace. it was her party, somewhat. There was not much for him to say anyhow, since his wife's joy was also his joy. He had not seen her this elated in a very long time and his son was besides himself with excitement too. Such happiness this girl had brought his family indeed. It was a feat whose proportion was worthy of kingdom rewards And then also he had to be calm since there was that situation of a very strained and sore throat....
"What my dear, are you called?" The queen was asking the big brown eyes starring at her. "Areinah." Replied the girl shyly as she quickly averted her eyes to the ground. "Very well Areinah, you are welcome to my heart and home. Today you become my daughter. A princess indeed." The queen finished with a rarely seen assertiveness. "Debeh." The queen called to her personal maid. "I want you to also oversee the up-keep of my our new daughter and princess. You will now be moved to a different section of the palace, closer to my quarters to live with her." "Yes my queen," replied Debeh astonished at the speedy turn of events. And the fact that ground may have been twirling as the queen spoke. A both dizzying and relieving effect washed through her veins. But she remained composed as tears streamed down her face.
"Well then," declared the king as he prepared to rise and his son clapped gleefully besides him. "Now that the palace has a princess, it is a necessary protocol to introduce her to the land. This new development, definitely calls for a celebration wouldn't you agree my love?" He asked as he looked at his wife. No answer was needed of course. The great pleasure written on her face, was all he needed to see. "Well done son," he said patingt the prince' shoulder. "I am indeed proud of you." He finished with a smile as he left the room his personal guard in tow.
As Debeh led the new princess away, she looked up and asked her. "Does this mean we won't have anymore problems?" Debeh paused for a few minutes before answering. Then she looked the little girl in the eye and said: "No, it just means we will have a different kind of problem now."
.