PART THIRTEEN Cont'd
Warning: road blocks and obstructive pillars ahead:
Ethia had not really slept the previous night. Having come into the palace from the coven, later than she expected. She had tossed and turned with an overpopulated mind. She would not exactly term that particular trip a successful one. Infact, it seemed like the visit to wizardry ended up being such a waste of her valuable time. To think that the foolish seer herself got thrown into a qaundary in what she saw was annoying and laughable to say the least. The intended source of help now needed help herself, to interpret the service she rendered. The queen mother shook her head with a deep sigh at the thought of the witch. Maybe her time had come to pack it up. Maybe the gods had withdrawn their recourse already from her. Or could it be she was also part of the traitors? There was so much at stake now and so much more threatening to unravel, that Ethia had everyone but her innocent victims as a villified suspect. The queen mother thought back to what the foolish guardian had told her. How could someone be in the palace this whole time and remain unaccounted for? Even a worse question was; How did a place so tightly managed and monitored by her for all these years, suddenly spin out of her hands and control? It could be the guardian was lying and trying to deceive her. What ever the case, she as the matriarch was determined to get to the bottom of it. And she was equally just as resolved to make the perpetrators sorry they ever heard of her.
She would give her personal investigation one more try, then she would deal with the useless custodial couple/parents. She intended to search out the palace by word of mouth, while probing hidden networks. Yet discreetly protect the motive and intent of every inquiry.
Still unable to go back to sleep as the early morning sun rose with its peeking rays. Ethia decided to take a walk towards the managing section of the servants quarters. Hopeful, that a surprise visit to the housekeeper might yield a more acceptable and palatable dish of information. A much better result so to speak, than if she merely sent for him. As far as she was concerned, when the 'lesser ones' were summoned. They usually had time on their hands to rehearse their answers and hodgepodge of denials. They came ready and prepared with their unending lies and impenetrable defenses. She was tired of the charade and travesty. Now she as the queen mother would do things differently.
Stepping out into the cool breezy morning and onto the vast expanse of well tendered lawn. A manicured chasm that seperated the workers from their superiors and royals. Ethia strolled calmly and leisurely as it appeared on the outside. But inside the facade of calm purpose, was buried a furious and broiling rage. She barely acknowledged, nor did she respond to the respectful greetings delivered her way as she walked on. Walking over to Methus' chambers was now proving to be an irksome circus, thought the angry and irritated woman. These palace residents, workers and passerbys, were better of pretending they did not see her. But then again she thought characteristically to herself. How could they not see her? She was the queen mother....
Now, making a short-cut turn through the palatial spread of flower beds in the large front garden. She fought the urge to trample the beautiful variety and stretch of horticulture. Her temptation invoked by the fact that the queen herself had commissioned and selected the display. However instead, she made her turn avoiding and staying clear of the budding beds and picturesque pathway. As soon as she got back on the final walkway, she looked over and saw the royal senior guard hurrying by on the parallel walkway. He was going the opposite way it seemed in a rush. Headed towards the main palace building, accompanied by two people as the queen mother noticed. Looking intently and closely to see who the other two were, she recognized the second surbodinate guard by his uniform and palace seal. But the woman scurrying behind them she had never seen before. Also the strange woman's clothes immediately identified her as not only an outsider, but as a peasant one too.
Ethia thought to ignore them, since the senior palace guard was with them and this stranger was probably a new hired servant. What she definitely did not need at the moment was more attention seeking werp. It was slowing down her morning and her mission. But why were they headed to the main building, where the king's throne was with a shabby looking peasant? The queen mother also felt that something about the strange woman made her stomach queasy with worry. How ironic that on her quest to regain the kingdom from hidden and assimilated traitors, along comes an even loose and royally escorted one. She should have roamed the territory more often in the past, thought Ethia to herself. Interesting all that she may have found out. Then would have saved herself from stealthy operations.
The strange woman looked pleased and excited too. Obviously impressed by her escorts, which were both conveniently placed on both sides of her ragged self Ethia grimaced disparagingly. It was not enough that she had invaded forbidden grounds. Even the watchmen who should know better were helping out with their protective services. Her plight indeed had gone from bad to worse, fumed the queen mother. Taking some steps back to an angle behind her and standing at a point on which she was sure to be noticed. Ethia lifted her hand up and began shouting. Right at the top of her voice, she commanded the senior guard to come over to where she stood.
Three is company and four is a crowd:
The two aides rushed to both sides of the special chair that was a small replica of the throne's design. The king had just dismissed the session/meeting he held with the ruling body that consisted of magistrates, counsellors and heads of various functioning sectors in the kingdom. As the body closer to the throne, the magistrates were the last to leave the chambers. The gathering had ended earlier than usual and had been conducted quicker than any of them remotely expected. The king's explaination (though he owed none any, nor needed permission as the sovereign and highest authority) was that he had a visitor from faraway and long ago. Most laughed at the cryptic humor, but maintained their vow and duty to ascertain who and what came around the throne.
The monarch therefore quietly chose and requested that the first magistrate and first counsellor be there with him, as he met with the visitor. As the king's aides held and gently pulled back both sides of the chair, the king stood to his feet. But not before Dezen the sixth magistrate rushed towards him as if in a panic.
"Your majesty," began the magistrate in between short breaths. "A visitor from faraway and long ago?"
"Yes Dezen, it appears she has some information that concerns me personally. And she has waited for days to deliver it." Was the king's simple reply.
"Maybe we should check her and her story out before she holds court with you your majesty."
The king nodded with a slight smile and waited a few seconds as if pondering either what the magistrate had just said or the answer he planned to give.
"It would not hurt to hear her out Dezen," began the monarch. "And if there is a need to check out her and her story, then we will proceed with that line of action also."
"Your majesty, this sounds to me like a very bogus story. I mean we are in the middle of a murder investigation, that came very close to the throne. I do not advice you meeting with a strange woman from an even stranger land." Dezen finished, still out of breath and a picture of worry and concern.
"A murder investigation?" Interjected the first magistrate with not a little hint of sarcasm. He had been standing behind the king and was reading the briefings from the just completed session. "My, my, that is the first time I have heard you use that term 'murder' nor admit that it is operative in this pending case." He had lowered the parchment papers he had been scanning and now faced the sixth magistrate fully. "You know Dezen, I am glad to hear you say that the murder was close to the throne. That way you will no longer be a subtle hinderance to the necessary probes."
"Have you lost your stupid mind?!" Shouted Dezen almost immediately. Then realizing the king was still in the room, lowered his voice considerably before continuing towards his fellow magistrate. "I am not quite sure why you thought all that gibberish was necessary, on the topic of the king receiving a strange visitor." Stated the sixth magistrate coldly as anger visibly flashed across his face.
There was complete silence in the room apart from the readying and shuffling movement of the king being led towards the exit by his two personal guards. As they got to the door, the monarch now closely and tightly flanked. Dezen rushed forward still, to make his case and suggestion heard yet again.
"Your majesty," he began almost desperately. "I advice you have at least one magistrate with you during this meeting with the stranger. I do not feel quite right with the whole mysterious episode."
The king began to answer immediately without turning, as there was barely room around his body to as much as twitch his eye lids. For due to the developing tension in the room, his guards and aides had sealed him off from any possible contact.
"I understand your point Dezen," stated the royal. "It is indeed valid and makes perfect sense". To this statement, the sixth magistrate began to nod vigorously as he looked around with a smug expression.
"So based on that factor, I had asked the first magistrate and counsellor right after this meeting. To sit in on the next one with the visitor." For the second time in less than five minutes, the room went deadly silent. All eyes were averted to the floor, except the king's that had now managed to turn to look at Dezen behind. That one had abruptly stopped dead in his tracks, simultaneously swallowing any other additional thoughts he may have had. He looked very pained, as if he had been hit in the gut.
"I understand your majesty," was all he managed. As the entourage quietly and quickly exited the chambers.
Thresholds, territories and threats:
Reinah arranged the plants. Branch to leaves and branch to leaves, just as the market woman had instructed. The woman herself washed the leaves still on their branches at the shallow portion of the stream and then handed them to the girl who arranged them. They continued in this relay rhytmn fashion silently for almost an hour, before they were interrupted by unannounced visitors. Four girls who were apparently a few years older than the princess had waded towards them from the other shallow portion of the stream. It seemed they too were either washing or just congregating by the refreshing cool stream. The girls chatted and giggled loudly, as they approached the busy duo.
When they got closer, they greeted the market woman by her title and name. Turning and recognizing each one of them, the woman also responded to their greetings. Then referring to each by their names, she asked after their parents. They in turn, responded successively to her. All these they did, while eyeing Reinah curiously and suspiciously. "Who is she?" Eventually asked the shortest one in the group. She seemed to be the leader of the group, as she was the loudest and most aggressive. "We have never seen her around here before," she continued as they all eyed Reinah. Studiously taking in her appearance. "Where did she come from?" Continued the inquirer without a break in her speech nor visual examination .Feeling confident, that what the new girl had on was not better than hers. She paused and finally waited for a reply.
"Oh my dears," exclaimed the woman jovially as she looked around at all the girls. "So sorry for that oversight. I do apologize." She said still smiling. The shorter girl glowered at the newcomer as the market woman spoke. She could not quite put her finger on it. But something about the new girl made her feel very uncomfortable. Ignoring her unsettling stomach, she tuned back in to listen to the woman's introduction.
"Please meet my new friend and helper, Reinah."