PART TWENTY-EIGHT cont’d:
An un-total recall:
“I know Kedem was drafted to go to the palace. Can we try and see if it is possible to visit him. It has been a while and I really miss my brother.” Ashea’s face was pleading, as she implored her mother. She was clutching her favorite and most prized possession. A large, colorful and festive dress that once belonged to her mother. And before that her grand-mother and great grand-mother subsequently. The three generations of women so far, had worn the dress on their wedding days. And Ashea was looking forward to her turn, in the not so far future. It was an event that almost took place, before the young man in question was whisked off to war. She was still waiting. And she would keep the dress in the best condition possible, until that day arrived. Or the postponement was lifted. Whichever came first.
She plucked one more piece of lint from the ruffled section of the dress and then lifted her head to watch her mother. Wondering as she did, if the older woman had even heard her proposal.
“Mother?” The young woman inquired further. Her mother lifted the head she had just lowered moments earlier, to reveal a tear stained face and visibly mounting sorrow. She stammered something, but no words came out. Her lips merely quivered, as tears rolled down her cheek and bounced of her jaw. Since all her attention was on her mother at the moment. And she grappled to make sense of what had upset the older woman deeply. Ashea had forgotten that her younger sister was also in the room. Only when she heard the girl sobbing loudly, did she turn. Just in time, to see her retreating figure running out of the room.
Ashea looked from the swinging door through which her distraught sister had hurriedly exited, back to her crying mother. The older woman had managed to compose herself, in other to speak to her daughter.
“Ermm…,” she started with obvious difficulty. “You do remember that Kedem is dead right?” The woman managed to ask. Suddenly feeling emotionally spent and drained herself. “What?! Kedem is dead?" Ashea’s eyes widened in shock. “Whatever are you talking about mother?” She jumped up from the chair on which she had been sitting. Dropping in the process, the now forgotten dress to the ground.
“Kedem is dead,” reiterated her mother. “And you.... We were all there at the funeral.” She hated that this very devastating episode in her life was being revisited and replayed, howbeit innocently. Yet it still felt like plucking the scab from an old wound.
“I was?.... We were where?” Ashea stuttered. “My brother.... my little brother is dead?” She wailed to no one in particular. “But why? When? How? Who did it mother? Did they kill him over there? He was so young and innocent. Who could….”
“Ashea calm down,” cautioned her mother gently. “Kedem took his own life. He killed himself.” The older woman shrugged in sad resignation. Fixing her gaze on her shocked and crying daughter, she continued.
“You mean you don’t remember any of these incidents? It’s all very crazy and absurd.” Her mother was as disconcerted with the situation, as she was disturbed. Ever since they brought Ashea back with them, as per her request. She had been anything but her usual self. Completely oblivious of anything that had transpired, before she left to work at the palace.
“No mother,” started Ashea in between sobs. “I do not remember anything. At least not these horrifying developments. I simply remember Kedem being taken to the palace. I remember Hanad going off to war. And I know I am supposed to be waiting for him now.” She paused, briefly glancing at the dress that now lay discarded on the floor. Before continuing with her speech. “Then the next thing I know, I wake up in a strange place. Surrounded by my mother and sister. Hanad’s mother and a very strange, scary man. As if that was not weird enough, you go ahead and tell me that I just had a baby. A baby which no one saw by the way. And no one has plans of seeing. Tell me mother, which one of these scenarios is crazier.” Her mother started to cry softly again. This was tearing at her heart all over. It now lent itself, as a different kind of sorrow. One that produced more curveballs, than it did actual pain.
“One more thing mother.” Ashea felt that above all else. She should refresh her memory or the lack thereof with this needed information. At least, that was what she remembered and where she appeared to be stuck. “Did Hanad die in the war? Please tell me truth. I need to know, because then I won’t be saddled with the responsibility of this dress.”
Of doubts, debris and decisions:
“Who could have knocked this cabinet over? Have the kids been playing around here lately?” Bronid asked his wife, while inspecting the sawdust layered on the floor next to the wooden cabinet. He did not think it was likely though, since his boys knew not to tamper with or touch the treasure case.
“Not at all. Why do you ask?” His wife stretched her neck from behind him. Peering over his head, to see what he was doing or looking at on the floor.
“Well it looks like it was forced open with a blunt object. Hence the debris on the floor and the scratch marks on the door of the cabinet.” He explained indicating the area of damage by running his finger across it. Pulling some splinters as he did from the jagged and dented wood.
“Is anything missing from it?” His wife was both surprised and worried at the same time. The children never played with anything they understood to be off limits. let alone pry it open with another object. And she herself would not know how to break open anything that thick and heavy, even if her life depended on it.
“Strangely enough,” the healer continued with his observation. “The very precious gem is still in the same spot where I put it. It also looks intact and in shape. So if someone went through all this trouble, to come in and break open this cabinet. Then why did they not take its only and available occupant?”
“Hmmm…. Strange indeed if you ask me,” was all his wife could manage. Bronid lifted the precious gem and examined it. It shone as strongly in the infiltrating sunlight, like it always did. He also noticed a slight almost invisible marking that had been on it, since the day he got it. As per the jewelers advice, he had planned to take it to the Festival/Fair. In hopes of finding potential and able buyers. But first and foremost, he would have to make sure that everything was what and how it should be. There was a simple and homemade solution to verify its authenticity. The jeweler and gem expert had taught him that. When he had taken his treasure to be validated and estimated. He would check it one more time, before heading to the Fair.
“Can I have an empty bowl please?” Bronid turned to ask his wife.
Where there is a ‘will’, there is a way:
“Indeed my dear, it is a sovereign seal.” Stated the queen to her husband. Before turning to hand the small parched and sealed sheet to Amil her son. The prince was standing right next to her couch. “Do you think we should open it? To see what or who it is really about. I mean we already read the larger sheet, which was merely folded and placed inside the satchel.” She continued inquiring of the king who was sitting in front of her. “Especially since there is really no clear indication as to what to do with it.” She was feeling very concerned. Debeh’s desire to have the package/satchel kept for her, was for safety and precaution purposes the royal assumed. No one expected that the personal maid would be killed. Thus leaving no instructions as to what should be done in her absence. She felt a responsibility to have the maid’s wishes realized. It was the least she could do for her.
“No, not yet.” Declared the king. “We will only resign to that option, after we have exhausted all other necessary and preliminary means.”
“Take a look father,” said the prince. He had been examining the sealed sheet his mother handed to him. “There is a very small inscription here at bottom right of the smaller and sealed sheet.” His voice had risen in excitement. “Oh, that’s interesting.” Responded the king, as he turned to look at what his son was showing him. The prince had walked over to where his father was sitting. “Funny I never even noticed it. Must have been distracted by the royal seal. Or better still, it might just be the onset of middle-age.” The sovereign joked light-heartedly.
“Go ahead and read what it says son,” he finished as he and the queen turned their attention to the young lad.
“It just says; ‘For my daughter’.” He read, shrugging his shoulder in finality.
“This keeps getting interesting, every time we touch it,” interjected the queen in amazement. “The royal seal and now the mention of a child. An heir maybe?” She raised her brows and smiled.
“Did Debeh have a child?” This came from the king who looked perturbed.
“No. I mean not that I know of. But I believe no. She never mentioned anything like that.”
“Then we must find her family, or any relative whatsoever. Anyone at all, who can help us to unfold this mystery.” The king declared, looking from his wife to his son. “I think so too.” Agreed the queen with certainty.
.