PART TWENTY-FOUR:
Where there is smoke....:
Dezen the sixth magistrate, scanned the beaten pathway in front of him. He then looked backwards carefully, from where he had come also. He had to make sure he had not missed them. They should have been right here by now, waiting for him. Not the other way around, he fumed inwardly. He had taken a risk by missing the senate session today. Not certain that Tufad the fourth magistrate, his counterpart would put in the word or excuse he had requested from him. This was an extremely important meeting, considering the pending topics. And moreso than ever, his absence would be starkly obvious.
And that was the very thing he needed to avoid in this covert mission. Raising red flags and suspicions was not an advisable way to go about things. Especially in the early stages of plan recruiment and execution. The less little fires he would have to put out, the better. The more he focused on what needed to be done and when, the easier it would be. Speaking of fires, he wondered what the smoke that rose about a distance away was all about. People were usually not around these parts, especially this early in the day. This was the reason he chose this location for the meeting in the first place.
He turned back to look at the rising smoke, quickly darkening the clear skies. So engrossed was he watching, that he never saw ‘shiny-shoes’. Until she spoke and startled him.
“We are here.” She said, turning to acknowledge and nod at her companion. “Sorry we are a little late. I took the wrong turn mistakenly.”
“Young woman," began Dezen almost immediately. "The route that would lead you here, should have been worked out in another time frame other than mine. I warned you not to keep me waiting.” The magistrate’s voice was stiff and stern as he scolded.
“I said I was sorry,” managed the high priestess. Shrugging her shoulders as she spoke and wearing a slight pout on her face.
“Let’s get straight to business then,” started Dezen brushing off the apology. “Is this the girl you spoke to me about?” He asked as he looked-over the companion with something akin to derision.
“Yes she is.” Was 'shiny-shoes' flat reply. As she too, took the liberty to look him over.
“You have to cut her hair shorter. Why would you leave it this long. Have you forgotten she is supposed to be a maid? Or did you think this was the parade of princesses?” His annoyance and irritation was evident.
The high priestess grunted, but remained silent and averted her eyes. Meanwhile, as the magistrate and sorceress continued with their exchange howbeit slightly heated. The subject of discussion and examination fiddled with her hair. She was suddenly feeling extremely self-conscious and anxious. Once again, she was caught in between a crossfire of big and hard heads. When was it ever going to end? She wished they would hurry the process and get her to where she needed to be. And then she would take it from there. Eventually, getting rid of their counsel and her ties with them. All she needed was her foot in the door and the rest would be history. One written with a royal ink and sealed by the king himself. She forced herself back to the present, to listen to the ongoing and almost predictable banter.
“Am I making myself clear?” The magistrate’s eyes were boring into her. ‘Shiny-shoes’ nodded her answer at the question.
“Cut the hair,” he continued. "Then I will arrange a second meeting. The queen mother will send word…”
“The queen mother?” The high priestess interrupted. Unable to hide her shock and confusion.
“Yes the queen mother. She has to recommend her to the housekeeper to expedite the process. Surely you must know that she is not a part of the regular labor pool. Hence the need for the royal to override the normal process. What seems to be your question exactly? Do I have to go through the dynamics of this plan all over with you again?” Asked Dezen, who thought she was insufferable. An over painted moron, he sighed.
It made no difference to him anyway, what her hang-ups with the plan were. He was not here, to carter to her random whims and fancies. She would do well to save all that for another person and another place. He was here simply to carry out an operation. One that would elevate and enrich all parties involved. An operation that would get him, where he should have been a very long time ago. A position he felt and knew he rightfully deserved. But first, before a takeover occurred. There had to be a breakdown of the original structure. And that was the chapter where they were at now.
‘Shiny-shoes’ felt a slight panic creeping up at the mention of the queen mother. She had not heard from or seen her, since their abandonment. Which was just as well, because that oversight led to who she was today. A force capable to bring even the fool to her knees. But she wanted their reunion to be memorable. At least for the sake of the older woman, she did. It should serve her right to prepare them, bring up their hopes and then litter them without as much as a final word. With no prospect of a hope or future. One of them had made it into the palace with her of course. But all that barely lasted for an hour, before she had to flee in form of a snake.
That was one of their attributes. Procured by a series of séances and transformations that were performed during ritualistic initiations and spiritual rites. It took its toll physically, but the reward made possible such an escape. Encountering a light of that potency and magnitude in the room, like their now estranged counterpart had. Left no room for arguments or research. You simply fled. They knew better. Apparently, after the subtle melee and diffusion of the confusion. Dezen had enquired of the girl’s source from the queen mother and reserved the information for a future date and use. She was shocked but delighted, when his search led him to her. 'Shiny-shoes', the high priestess herself. It led him to her very door, with the very same goals and aim in mind. The gods were indeed aligned for their sakes.
“So what you are saying, is that the queen mother will take us to the housekeeper.” She wanted to know how dense and stupid this plan of his must be.
“What kind of nonsense question or suggestion is that?” Scolded the magistrate. “The queen mother does not have to drag you physically to recommend you. In fact, she does not have to see you at all. All she has to do is send her word of approval on my recommendation. And then your friend is in.”
“Okay then.” Was all the response from ‘shiny-shoes’. Happier with the response, than she was really letting on.
“Look, look! There is fire rising over there. Something appears to be burning.” This alarm came from the priestess’ companion, who had been silent for the most part of the meeting. She did not have to indicate from where her suspicions stemmed. As all three of them turned to the aggressively rising smoke.
The sound of strange music:
The men were burning debris from a cleared out lot. A space of property that had been purchased by a wealthy land owner. They had expertly and systematically contained the fire as they worked. And because of an early start, they were bound to be done by day break. But as they cleared, piled and stoked, exchanging familial and stories of life and its changes in general. They collectively heard what sounded like music. Beautiful and comforting music, which appeared to be rendered chorally by unseen beings. It was enthralling and near hypnotic. Wonder struck and matching on in a straight file, all four men began to follow the origin of the sweetly streamed tunes. Unbeknownst to them, they had walked deep into the woods and far away from the bonfire. When they got to their intended and anticipated destination. It was thoroughly cleaned out, unlike a wooded area. It was entirely shrub free. And right there, in a carefully secluded spot. They saw the most amazing sight they had ever seen before.
‘Shiny-shoes’ and her companion friend scurried forward towards the now familiar exit pathway. The smoke rose unhindered as wild fire spread quickly along the grassy wood. Untamed and hungry flames licked everything in their path rapidly. None of them had seen anything quite like this before around there. Moving along as fast as they could, the two women came to a burning section and stopped. Contemplating how they would take the next step. Dezen who had been following them, yet carefully maintaining a distance for the sake of detection. Stopped also as soon as he saw them halt. He would let them figure out the safest path and then follow suit discreetly.
When the high priestess saw that the spreading inferno was now covering a lot of ground, she panicked. Nudging her companion, she compelled her to take a leap over a blazing spread. As she herself prepared to do the same. The leading lady took the plunge and missed her step. Falling right into a flaming trail. Her clothes instantly caught fire, which just as quickly spread to her hair. ‘Shiny-shoes' screamed and tried to pull her out, but to no avail. As the scorching heat proved very unbearable to hover around. As her friend and counterpart writhed in agony and despair inside engulfing flames. Crying out from amidst a scorching doom. The priestess fell back in terror. Landing heavily as she did on a small rock embedded into the earth. As her eyes slowly closed in pain, she thought only about the safety of the baby in her womb.
Dezen stared stupefied and in horror at what had just happened before his eyes. Dragging frozen legs backwards, he turned the opposite direction and ran.