PART FORTY-NINE:
Let's do this again:
The many bustling staff moved the elegantly draped partitions, away from the queen’s couch. Revealing as they did, her majesty, the king and the older healer.
“Everything is okay and seems to be moving along fine.” Announced the healer confidently. He had come to check on the queen and do some routine prenatal examinations.
“That’s very good news,” declared the king with an effusive nod. “Yes your majesty,” resumed the older man. “I also think, there should not be a problem. For her majesty to attend the Festival/Fair. Just allow for a comfortable couch on the float. Along with adequate staff of course. Maybe some extra workers just in case.” He finished, looking slowly from the queen to the king.
“Very well then,” started the monarch. “Let the chief of royal protocol, know about the couch and extra staff.” He addressed one of his aides, who had stepped forward immediately the healer finished speaking. In anticipation of the instruction he had just received. The servant nodded and bowed out quickly, as the royal returned his attention to the waiting healer.
“Join us for lunch; they should have it set shortly.” The king invited. “Indeed your majesty,” accepted the physician gratefully. “That would be an honor,” he concluded with a slight bow.
“You did not come with your new assistant today, I see.” That came from the queen, who had remained quiet. While two maids fussed with rearranging the couch, that had been adorned with different coverings for the examination.
“No your majesty,” answered the healer hesitantly. “I thought it best to come alone today. It was just a routine check-up.” He explained half truthfully. The other side of his reason, was that he was not sure Miluh would be welcome back to the palace again. The young woman had told him what happened to the scheduled appointment. She had shown up, close to an hour before the time she was given. She never understood what took place after that, she explained. But even worse, was the heavy feeling of guilt and disappointment that troubled her.
To think that such an honor and privileged opportunity had been wasted. The lady was very remorseful indeed and he was equally upset. Had been completely at a loss, of how to console and what to tell her. He was also skeptical and still had some questions, about the message that the housekeeper had relayed to Miluh. He had known the royal family for many years and would consider himself close to them. He was also versed with and had an idea of certain royal protocols. Therefore, what Rifra had told the young woman bothered him. The fact that she could not reschedule the appointment, because the queen’s schedule was full. But that was not his place, nor was it his business to decide.
“You know, I never got to see her again. As she had requested.” The queen continued, breaking into his thoughts. “What happened to her? Is she alright?” Asked the genuinely concerned royal.
“Yes your majesty, she is alright.” The healer began apologetically. “I would really like to take this opportunity, to apologize on her behalf. I believe she had missed the previous appointment, that was made with your assistant. But she was here on time, she assured me. She deeply regrets any inconveniences, that may have caused. And feels responsible, for the seemingly disrespectful and careless attitude. That the whole situation may have conveyed. She is hardly one of an impetuous nature, I might add your majesty.”
He paused, as if needing permission to proceed. With the two royals still watching him, he hurried to conclude.
“I will understand, if you do not want her assisting me with you your majesty. I mean with all that happened, appearing negligent. I definitely would not have hired her and introduced her to your majesty, if I even had any doubts about her integrity, diligence and trustworthiness.” He stopped and waited for the royals to respond, his head slightly bowed. There was a short pause, before the queen spoke.
“That’s alright, have her contact my aide again. Let them make another appointment.” She instructed with a kind smile.
“Or better still,” the king interjected. “Bring her here yourself, the next time you come.” Commanded the monarch.
The devil's durable deal:
“The baby princess Reinah, will be dedicated in a fortnight.” The woman spoke with strain and difficulty. Her tone low and pained. The man she addressed, was sitting in front of her. He was looking intently at a spot on the ground, like he had not heard a word she said. Then after a few dense minutes, he spoke. “Very well then, I will inform the oracle as soon as possible. Then get further instructions for you.” He informed flatly.
“Further instructions?” The woman almost screeched in frustration. “I am finished. We agreed this would be the last report and feedback. I do not intend to harm the princess nor the queen.”
“Hahaha,” the man laughed dryly. “You speak such foolishness in confidence. How impressive I must say. It almost sounds like you believe it.”
Then as the humor instantly disappeared from his face, he resumed his speech. “I know you are very much aware, that this is not about your intentions or feelings.” He taunted the visibly distressed woman. “There is a lot at stake. And the sub-organization, has worked too long and hard to let it all fall apart now.”
The woman narrowed her eyes and shook her head, before replying. “I have kept you informed, about every major activity like you requested.” She submitted, looking directly at him as she spoke. “I have done all that I could and promised that I would. Please let me go now.” She finished her voice pleading. The man chuckled instead this time, with his lips tightly sealed. “I am afraid, that is utterly impossible. For one, you know too much to let you go. And we are still not finished yet. In fact,” he proceeded in a drawl. “We are only just beginning.” He began to laugh again.
Juja sighed deeply and slumped heavily against the wall behind her. It was now starkly clear that things would only get worse. She had spent the most part of her life, paying a debt she was not sure how she incurred. And now she was realizing that she had only just skimmed the surface. In just one day, she had lost everything she ever hoped for. Came back from a routine work errand, to hear that the queen had been irately waiting for her. The royal had then issued a command that she be let go immediately. The monarch had assumed that her tardiness was a reflection of her shoddy work output. The young woman was devastated to say the least.
As if that report was not detrimental enough. The monarch had also asked her fiancé, who had been waiting for her never to return again. He was never heard from or seen again. All attempts on her part to find or contact him proved futile. Her sister had returned back to their own town, without a word to her. And two weeks later, she heard that both parents had been burned to death in a house fire. Shortly after that, her aunt became very sick and has not uttered a word for decades. The old widow now lived with her only daughter, that was born while Juja lived with her. The strain of tragedy had kept them completely estranged and apart.
One of the junior leader’s in the organization at the time, had approached her and offered to help her rehabilitate. With the queen’s orders, he clarified. They would have let her go without any compensation. But he wanted to offer her an opportunity, to get justice and revenge. And then eventually, be able to provide and fend for herself. The plan was to send her to the palace as an organizational representative, contact and consultant. And in return, she would inform them of all that was going on inside the palace walls. He was in essence, sending her to spy on the royals. It was strange to her however, that the palace would receive one whom the sovereign had vanquished earlier. And she voiced her confusion.
The queen had never seen her before, she was told. So her cover was intact. Then she wanted to know, why someone in such a peaceful organization. Would have and execute such an agenda and disposition. His blatant answer was; “War could not sustain itself alone without seeking the elements that peace provided. In other words, it must disintegrate unity, darken hope and spread chaos to thrive. Evil did not have the capacity nor the creativity to be productive. It needed an environment already cultivated by good to act and possibly thrive."
That was over two decades ago. And it still unraveled her. She had unwittingly and unknowingly, walked into a subdivision of trouble and now she was stuck. It cost her parents their life, which it somehow became apparent her sister was responsible for. She had not seen her sibling since. Yet through their mutual friend Ethia, Juja often heard of her younger sister’s wicked dealings. This recent situation had her in an emotional quagmire. Not once, had that queen been unkind to her. So much for being dismissed and banished. She had been privileged and privy, to watch the young princess Phina herself grow to become the queen now.
She was caught in the mess of an impending doom.
“We have a covenant, sealed with your very life.” The leader was still speaking. “And you swore an oath.”
“But it was not to harm the family,” she argued. “I gave you all the information that you required, I want out!”
“Even if you killed yourself,” the man sneered. “Your spirit would still be bound to us and our purpose. There is no way out Juja. You must do as we say.” He eyed her coldly and then stood up. “You have about a fortnight, to deliver all that we require. Or else your life will never be the same and painfully so.” He finished and walked out of the room. Leaving the broken woman staring after him.
.