PART FIFTY-NINE:
Studied expertise, versus simple explanation:
The scholar of dynasty, browsed through his leaflets of reports. Then he began to arrange them orderly, on a table provided for that purpose. He had sorted through the information, the night before and everything was as it should be. As he carefully and meticulously prepared his findings, he was certain that the monarch would see the progress that he had made so far. Making a verbal presentation and giving a feedback before the king, was not the time to scramble for the matching page. The palace had gone ahead, to provide him with royal pamphlets. Recording sheets bearing the sovereign’s insignia. For the ultimate submission of proof and facts.
The table on which he worked at the moment, was placed in front of a makeshift throne. It had been set up, for the King’s follow-up meeting with him. His current reveal, were not yet conclusive or concluded. But at least he had now, something of which they did not know or suspect previously. So far, he was in the conference room alone. So he recited sentences and repeated words in practice. Though he had most of what he wanted to convey, written down. He still had to be seamless, with his points and explanation. He definitely could not afford, to fumble with his words nor mumble random thoughts.
The research and investigation, had quickly taken on a life of it's own. It progressed rapidly, almost as soon as he had begun working. He was an expert on royal history, archives and matters. The various dynasty and kingdoms, their people, heritage, legacy and protocols. Some of the knowledge was well known, documented and transferred over the years. Other data, had to be dug out with diligence and perhaps some patience and perseverance. Sometimes, the effort would yield next to nothing. With this particular issue and project, he had met a lot of formidable roadblocks.
How did one investigate and report on a kingdom, that had been annihilated overnight. At least that was how it seemed, that their plight had been. First it was ruthlessly and foolishly divided into two phenomenal products, that were a contrasting. An epitome of night and day, good and bad. As night sought dubiously and constantly, to overwhelm and swallow the day. It was possible that everything would eventually cave in. In one fell swoop, everyone and everything was gone. Unheard from and untraceable. Or were they?
The king’s aide walked into the royal meeting room, to announce the royal’s entrance. He indicated for everyone to stand on their feet and bow their heads. There were now three other men, whom entered the room while the expert was rehearsing. He had never seen them before. The were probably advisers to the king, on special matters and situations he assumed. Also they might be additional experts, who were in a position to approve and agree or vice versa. With his work and results, or dispute and challenge it. The head magistrate was also in attendance, along with two familiar aides of the monarch.
When the king was led to and settled in the elaborate, yet makeshift seat throne by two guards and an aide. He signaled for all behind him, to sit down. Then he slowly turned, towards the eagerly waiting expert. “So what have you got for us today?” Started the sovereign, without any preamble. Every other pleasantries, deliberation and or protocol, that led to the moment. Was to have been handled, by the king’s aide. The royal had only to get straight, to the point he wanted.
“Your majesty, I have gotten quite a substantial amount of information and findings.”
He said, stepping towards the table that was in front of and about two feet away from the king.
“But the findings are yet to be definitive and or conclusive.” The king was still looking on with open interest, which fueled the archival authority’s courage. “First and foremost, what was not common knowledge or widely distributed. Was that queen Phinah had an infant girl. Who may have died or not, during the final massacre of that kingdom.” The monarch nodded, another encouragement for the speaking professional to keep going. “Also two other common and/or confused knowledge of discussion. Was that the queen’s husband, died of a heart attack in a faraway quest. After the news of the invasion and subsequent murder, of the queen got to him. While the second knowledge, contends that he was killed when he got back during the bloody ingress.”
The expert stopped abruptly, when he saw the king drawing circles in the air above with his index finger. A possible indication, to return to the previous point. “Back again to the infant,” started the now engrossed royal. “How did you hear or find out about her?” “Certainly your majesty.” The man bowed his head, in acknowledgement of the question. Before continuing with his response. “After numerous inquiries, that led to almost nowhere. As a result of curious cases of amnesia, fear and unspoken embargo, that gripped the people. A random sighting and statement in the market place, gave me a little more than I bargained for.” He paused and waited for any more questions, instruction, comments and inputs the king might have again.
When he got none, he continued. “I was wondering about a small brass statue of a snake, hanging in an antique store I visited. The owner of the store, went ahead to explain that it represented healing and freedom. It once belonged to a queen. She was said to have secret and special powers. She had once held on to a snake, as a child and nothing happened to her. Through the course of this magnificent royal’s life, there were grateful reports. From lives touched and positively affected by her.” He stopped as usual and waited for any input from the royal. When there was none, he proceeded with his narration. “Unfortunately, the store owner relayed. This beloved queen died young and tragically. When I asked for the name of the queen, he replied queen Phinah of course."
The man walked over to the table and picked up one of the sheets on it, before proceeding with his narration. "I knew about queen Phina and her kingdom, from common knowledge and my studies. But I had never heard this back story of her youth and the existence of a child, dead or alive. So I went ahead to ask further, if he knew anything else about this queen. He did not, but he knew someone else, who knew a lot more than he did.” There was a shuffling and movement in the room, which caused the expert to pause his speech. It turned out, it was the king’s aide, who had stepped forward to open a script that the king had reached for.
“Go ahead,” commanded the king. Even as he scanned something his aide, had placed in his hand. “Yes your majesty,” replied the speaker as he continued. “ I asked the owner, why this other person he had referred to. Would have any more knowledge about the queen than he did. His exact and confident response, was that the woman’s husband was a palace guard at the time of the invasion. The guard himself was killed also. A tragedy she would find out later, much later. Even too late, because she was pregnant and due with their only child at the time. In her desperate search for an answer, she was delivered of the a child she would never see again. She had been unconscious, when her time came”
For want of one, many were lost:
“…. Sir we are snake experts. That is what we do for a living.” He paused and looked at his friend, before continuing. “So when we heard there was a snake infestation, we decided to offer our services to the kingdom. Just show us where it is and we will remove it immediately.” The head guard crossed one arm across his chest and then held his chin with the other hand, as if in deep pondering. “You say, that you heard of an infestation. But here you speak of removing just one snake. If there are many, why do you seek just one?” There was suddenly a very heavy air of silence, as the man who had just spoken glanced sideways at his friend.
A very worried expression, quickly spreading across his face. Fearing the onset of panic, while he watched his comrade. Then just as quickly, he looked back at the guard. His composure seemingly intact, once again. “As an expert on snakes,” he started with feigned confidence. “The sighting of one snake, can mean there are more snakes where that one came from.” He supplied, looking around his feet. His comrade also began to look around him, turning around dramatically as he did. And then one of them, seeing some movement behind the large long curtains. Asked; “What’s behind the drapes?”
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