PART FORTY-FOUR:
Regrets and reservation replacement:
“So where will you go?” The concerned young lady asked her unhappy looking friend. “You never really did plan this trip, did you? Is there nothing else, I can say or do. That might make you change your mind and stay back? I know your mother must be so distraught.” The speaker stopped to catch her breath, for a few moments. She could go on and on. As she always tended to ramble on, whenever she was nervous or uncertain. And right now, her best friends decision to leave their birth province. Was nearly breaking her heart. An emotion that was causing her to unconsciously twist her hands in anticipation. Yet expecting with every fiber in her, for a favorable response.
“Distraught? Hahaha, that is quite laughable.” The other young lady stated contemptuously. An attitude that used to be foreign to her personality. But was now a familiar fixture in her character. The past couple of weeks, had either turned her into a bitter person. Or simply unearthed a buried and unsavory part of her nature.
“I guess not quite distraught enough,” she continued. Her voice still significantly laced with sarcasm. “My mother could not be that bothered, because she and my father never say or do anything to stop her. My sister just goes from one shocking rebellious scheme, to another. And that without any restraint, I must add. Not from herself and definitely not from my parents.”
“Hmmm….” Was all her friend could manage, as she shook her head in empathy.
“So do you have a place to stay, when you get to the other province?” The worried friend continued, after a considerable pause.
“Yes I do.” Replied Juja, finally managing a half-smile. For the first time, since they had started their conversation.
“It is actually the place that my younger sister had originally planned to go herself. Ironically, this was originally her trip reservation. Now she gets to stay with her ‘new find.’ While I have to move away with my loss.” She finished flatly. Her friend nodded with understanding, before proceeding to ask further. Nursing a tinge of hope, as she did. “Will you be coming back, anytime soon?”
“What for?” Snapped Juja almost immediately and defiantly. “I don’t really need or want to be around my folks at this time. And besides….” She lowered her voice at the last sentence. “This bad kingdom, is all but disintegrated anyhow.” She looked around them. To make sure once again, that there was no one else lurking around. Then she continued speaking.
“They are all just hanging on, to a severed blood connection. The good kingdom will probably thrive just a little bit longer, before falling apart also. At least, that is likely. With the way this disgruntled and worse half, keeps attacking and invading them.” She paused long enough, to gauge her friend’s comprehension and reaction.
Everything she was spilling in her speech, was highly incriminating. And since the division of the kingdom and province. It was sometimes hard to differentiate or distinguish alliances. Which was absolutely necessary, to avoid the aggressive viciousness of the bad kingdom. She was hardly disappointed. When that one nodded her effuse agreement and even began to contribute.
“Quite true. To think also, that the now ruling and reigning kingdom. Had been born out of a merchant warrior’s conquest. Only about two generations ago. A rising monarchy, that has now become all that this present one could never be. A divided kingdom cannot stand after all.” She deeply sighed her disappointment.
Juja responded with a nod also. Glad that her friend was anything but oblivious to the political and current affairs of their land. “It is only a matter of time now, before the squabble between the daughters, mothers and mistresses. Causes the whole structure to implode and be leveled to the ground.”
“Only a matter of time indeed….” Repeated her friend, somewhat absentmindedly. She seemed to be concentrating, on folding a piece of clothing. “Thankfully, I would be out of here when it eventually does self-destruct.” She concluded, looking up and at her friend.
“I am so happy for you.” Exclaimed her friend in a near screeching voice and sound. While she simultaneously stretched out her hands forward, for a hug.
“Promise me, that you will come to visit. I will surely send for you, as soon as I am settled and able.” Juja submitted, regretting the toil the separation would have on both of them. She felt her friend’s nod on her shoulders, as they embraced. That one had quickly buried her face there. And the warm tears, soaking through Juja's dress. Would serve as the clear and affirmative answer, that she had wished for.
A telling view from the back window:
The guard saw Rifra heading to the palace’s general waiting area, with a victorious bounce in his steps. He never really cared for the housekeeper. Not even the whole time he assisted the now dead Methus. It was a good thing, as far as he was concerned. That their paths, never really had to cross in their jobs. But in the few times that it did, he felt pressed to keep an eye on the other servant. Now it appeared, that after such a long time. Rifra had really triggered the security guard’s watchful instinct. First, he acted laxly; at the information that the queen had a guest waiting. Then the guard became even more suspicious, when he walked by during his rounds. Only to see that her majesty’s guest, was still at the main palace reception area. At about the time, when she should have been moved to the queen’s private waiting area.
Initially, he had wanted to inform his other colleague. The queen’s head security guard, on duty at her majesty’s quarters. Then he contemplated going over to the queen’s aide, to inform her instead. But after thinking through the possible backlash that would ensue. Due to him having to leave his post, to do a job delegated to another. He held his peace, at least temporarily.
However, something about this particular guest endeared her to him. It could have been her calm demeanor and mannerism. The kind smile, she so easily flashed in greeting. Or just maybe, it was the fact that she reminded him of his favorite mentor. Another palace employee at the time also. A person who helped him and his family at a pivotal time of struggle and need.
He never got the chance, to thank that beautiful soul. Before she unfortunately became the victim of a barbaric and brutal murder. He had just arrived, at the back window of the palace’s main reception room. He had been walking with a purpose as he reminisced. He chose this window, because it overlooked the main and large garden. And it was also unlikely, that he would be detected while eavesdropping. Better still, he would be able to see the faces of the room’s occupants.
“I am sorry to inform you ma’am. But your appointment with her majesty the queen, has been cancelled.” A very smug Rifra stated triumphantly, howbeit subtly.
“Oh….” Started a very surprised and confused Miluh. “I never…. I mean, I’m sorry to hear that.” She finished softly. When the housekeeper made no move, to offer any explanations. She ventured to inquire further.
“Is it possible then, to re-schedule for another day?”
“I do not believe so,” stated the man firmly. Suddenly distracted by a speck of dust on a nearby stool. “Her majesty’s appointment book is quite full.” He finished, still fiddling with the stool.
The young woman blanched at the information for a second. Wondering, how the housekeeper, knew what was the queen’s agenda and what her appointment book looked like.
Not one to fuss, or disrupt any form of order. Miluh got up, thanked him and headed for the door. The sooner she saw her way out, the better she decided. The guard watching from outside the window, was more taken by the young woman’s resemblance to Debeh. Than he was at Rifra’s proud comportment and blatant lie. Yet he recovered quickly enough, to head towards the main gate also. He wanted to be there, when the disappointed guest approached.
Do you see what I don't see?:
Heinus swiped vigorously, across the great mirror’s surface. And waited, for the cornucopia of bustling images to collate. He never really heard the soft whirring sound that emanated from the screen. As pictures and scenes, collided with one another. Surging through a cryptic pipeline of information from the dark underworld. The specific clips he sought, suddenly emerged with a forceful and blurry zoom. Finally settling into clear and timely sequences. Events that converged and linked, somewhat consecutively.
The invisible sensors ascribed to the girl, by the ‘fly-lord’ himself. Was reporting a location to the sinister vault, from somewhere in the woods. Their base antennas, had her in the same location for a while. Yet now that the head monitor was scanning the feedback. It appeared that she might have already left that particular spot. Or vacated the whole place entirely. There was just no evidence of the rascal. Heinus shook his head in annoyance. He would obviously have to go through the whole process of trying to connect their pit receptor, to her sensors again.
Why the little horror would move around constantly, had become a perpetual vexation to him. It had taken all the trickery they could muster, to lay those invisible sensors in the first place. But now that they had it where they wanted. Getting the most use out of the apparatus, was proving to be a greater challenge than they had envisaged. This incessant moving form, was fast becoming the outrage of them all within these incinerating walls. He looked back at the mirror again. It was visibly processing a scene. Arranging a current and possibly recent input. He waited to see what was coming through. This was certainly a response, to his desperate search for the girl earlier.
A scene spurn out in front of the monitor’s watchful eyes. It swirled for a short while, before settling into a picture. Something that Heinus, could make some sense of. It showed three kids in a semi-circle. A boy, a girl and a second boy sitting on the ground. They were talking to each other, it seemed initially. But a closer look, showed the monitor. That they were not looking at themselves. But rather, they were looking at a small bonfire in front of them. It burned strangely, emitting a certain glow. Hardly spitting or spurting any sparks or flames.
Yet the three kids, were evidently content to watch it burn. Moving their lips occasionally, as they looked on. What did they possibly need a burning heap for, at this time of their day? The head monitor grimaced. These foolish humans and their equally witless off-springs. Never ceased to confirm their gullibility and stupidity to him and the likes of him.
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