Criss-crossed and crass movements: Ethia's hostess fastened her teary eye, on the queen mother as she spoke. The day had barely begun and she was already exhausted. It felt like this woman, sucked the life out of anyone around her. It was not just her brash words and negative inclination. But the constant selfish mission to cover one leaking or porous scheme, with a whole new one. It was as tiring, as it was draining. When Ethia first brought the baby boy to them, she was not only surprised. She was immensely pleased also.
Having never had her own children, Hanad (as she had named him), brought her husband and herself so much anticipated joy. So much so, that she never really asked Ethia; How she had found their family. One of her reasons, for not delving further into inquiries. Could have also been the fact that everyone knew the queen mother, for her vicious and audacious ways. Why kick the bees hornet, if you could just as easily tiptoe around it.
The first ten years that followed, had the queen mother faithfully and frequently dispatching a healthy allowance to their home. It was her provision, for the child she had brought to them. A child whom she never really disclosed, where he had come from. While the allowance rolled in, the reigning queen at the time. Never asked, about the well being of the child. So it would not have been far-fetched to assume, that Ethia's concern was more about keeping buried secrets, just that way.
However, after sometime the provisions stopped abruptly. There were no explanations, as to why. But Hanad's parents were fine, with that too. He was theirs now and they would take good care of him. They did the best they could to bring him up, with little or no trouble. He was just a regular, calm and mild-mannered young man. It was a torturous ordeal for all concerned, when he was recruited for war. But an even greater jubilation, when he returned alive and subsequently went to work in the royal palace.
"Hanad did go to war your highness." The proud mother replied, with a tentative smile. Not sure if that expression of gladness, would cause Ethia to flare up again. "And he returned with little harm. You don't know how grateful we are, since most of the other....." "And I am really not interested in knowing, if you are grateful or 'grateless'. How you might think or feel, is inconsequential to me whatsoever!" Interrupted Ethia, with her signature snap and a raised voice.
"Surely you know your sentiments could not be the reason, a queen ventures out of the confines of a grand palace to roam the woods."
She was now holding the terrified hostess' eyes, with hers. Though the differences in both stares, were like night and day. "I had asked you a simple question. Of which you are yet to answer." The tartness in Ethia's voice, was more as a result of dread than it was curtness. The dread of what the answers she so bumptiously demanded, might turn out to be.
"Forgive me your highness." Started Ethia's hostess, with head slightly bent and hands clasped in front of her lips. "I did not mean to waste your time with my musings. I was just surprised, that you did not know that Hanad has been at the royal palace."
"Han..... Who?! Who is at what palace? My palace?!" The incredulous look on the queen mother's face, was as sinister as it was unnerving. "Hanad your highness. The boy you brought for us to raise is called Hanad. And he serves and lives in the royal palace."
A tale of two kingdoms (cont'd).
'Who is the darkest of us all': The witch grimaced at the rarely or never seen smile splayed across the high priestess' face. She then chuckled loudly, so the three young women could hear her. "The young woman is in a better and lighter mood I take it. Huh?" "Well not exactly." Replied 'shiny-shoes' rather churlishly. "We still have not gotten to the end of this tale and I still have not found the root of my problems and the impending disaster it seems to be promising." She shrugged her shoulders, looked at the other younger women with her and continued speaking.
"The looming of doom, does not a good mood make at all." This 'shiny shoes' stated, with sarcasm and an obviously fake and plastered smile. At this statement, her two counterparts and escorts began to giggle. After a moment of the pretense of looking at them sternly, the high priestess also joined them in giggling. They were startled and stopped abruptly, when they heard a loud clanging noise. The witch had gotten up from her sitting corner and was pulling out some large steel pots. "Wait, wait, wait....." Called out 'shiny-shoes', now also standing to her feet.
"What are you doing? You are not finished with the story yet." the high priestess almost wailed. "Yes I believe I am not," replied the witch who had now stopped the clanging noise. She had her head slightly turned at an angle, as she spoke to 'shiny-shoes'. "And neither are you finished, with your foolish jesting." "Oh no your high..... your gra...., how do you refer to her again?" Asked one of the escorting young woman, exasperatedly. She was also imploring, as she looked to 'shiny-shoes' and her other partner. "Your witchness or your evilness." Supplied 'shiny-shoes' as the young women burst into fits of laughter.
The first person to hit the floor, was 'shiny-shoes'. As she struggled to get back up, she felt a force attempting to pin her back to the ground. She looked around quickly, to find the other young women seemingly knocked-out cold. They were lying very still, on the floor. The priestess attempted again to get up, but the force pushed her back towards the ground. So she started to wrestle, with the invisible menace. From her peripheral vision, she could see the witch standing and watching. A huge pot still held in her hands.
Muttering angrily under her breath and gritting her teeth, 'shiny shoes' pushed one last time at the imposing force. An action that sent a violent gust of wind across the room, knocking the witch to her knees. 'Shiny-shoes' then picked herself of the floor, straightened her priestly robes and walked over to the corner where the witch knelt.
"Are we on the same page yet?" Asked 'shiny-shoes' with a smirk and a sneer, as she looked down from towering over the older woman. "Do you not fear to take me on?" The younger woman questioned further. Her voice laced with venom and violence.
"Not really, young woman." Answered the witch, her own voice cold and un-intimidated. "You see," she proceeded to explain. "Where you happen to be starting off, is merely a page in my bountiful history. But I must say, you have done quite well for yourself. However, I would advise that you don't bite of more than you can chew." The witches' eyes had turned to slits, as she glared at the high priestess. 'Shiny shoes' laughed loudly and then began to speak. "I must tell you though, if I can bite it. Then I most certainly can....." She was instantly on the floor again. This time with the witch seating on her chest and holding down both her arms with her knees.
"Now let me see.... Where was I with the story again?" The witch was smiling smugly, as 'shiny shoes' struggled underneath her lighter weight. "Oh I see..... So the rebellious brother went ahead to have two wives, a mistress and two daughters. While the aging king and his wife began to raise their other son's heir, who was born shortly after he was killed....." 'Shiny-shoes' grunted. "Did you say something dear?" Asked the witch with obviously feigned concern, while still seated on the high priestess' chest. "Oh, I guess not then," she stated with a shrug. Eager to continue with her story, even though when there was no reply from the subdued woman. Meanwhile, the high priestess writhed desperately, underneath her captor. .