Chapter 1: Chapter 1
The Kingdom stood majestic on the hill; an emblem of the Wartaban's reign.
From the distance, the bell donged indicating that the official hour for the day was over. People from the upper town were already in their chambers preparing for bed; people in the lower town packing their goods to their homes making sure to enter the gates before it was locked.
Sharma stood at the east tower, both hands on the stones that created an edge, eyes fixated like that of the eagles and her watch, like that of the owls at night. She captured every movement of night guards, knights, maids and others alike, waiting...waiting for something. Anything. This was her ritual almost every night, but for the past months, she had been consistent with it.
Even though her focus was on the ground below her, she could hear the footsteps behind her—her hearing as alert as her eyes at night.
"My Lady," the familiar voice said, "The King requests for your presence."
She turned to him, a hand on the head of her sword. She looked at the man standing before her, he had grey hair. And although he was almost seventy, he still had the figure of a forty years old man. He had served the king for many years being his most trusted ally...and friend.
She nodded once and walked ahead of him towards the direction of the West wing. He followed behind.
THE king's chamber was guarded with four foot soldiers who acknowledged her as she passed with a stand still and two knights who stood at the door to the chamber.
"My lady"
"My lady" Both Knights said Simultaneously.
She patted both their chests: a habit she had acquired through her years of training. She pushed the door open and walked in, Sir Weyback following behind.
Inside, she saw the palace physician, Hadu just rounding up, picking up his bag and handing it to his assistant, Rod.
"You are as healthy as a fish My Lord."
The King laughed, coughing in the process. He was sitting up in his bed. "I know you don't mean that Hadu."
"Well, you just need to keep on taking the syrup I gave to you and you will be alright."
The king nodded. "Thank you Hadu".
He bowed and turned to walk out. "Princess Sharma". He greeted
"My Lady". His assistant Rod acknowledged.
"Thank you Hadu." She smiled at him. He smiled back.
"I will be returning to my quaters." Hadu said and bowed one more time before heading out, Rod following behind.
"Father." Sharma walked towards her father's bed.
"Leave us Weyback." The king ordered.
He bowed and walked out also, indicating to the knights to shut the doors.
King Andor, her father was not much of an old man. But the poison he was shot at in battle had made him sick and frail looking. He had won the battle, but it was no news that the King would not see the next season. However, they were always hoping for a miracle.
"My daughter," he sat at the edge of his bed. Sharma took a stool and sat opposite him. He looked at her from head to toe, observing her every features. "The look you're giving me reminds me a lot of your mother."
Sharma smiled. "You never admitted to me looking a lot like her."
"That's because your spirit exudes me. It clouds the physical features so much that no one sees the appearance, but the attributes. They said I made a warrior out of you."
She nodded.
He became serious, his pale face going whiter. He placed his hands on both her shoulders. Although they looked fragile, the grip was valiant. He said in a whisper, "Listen to what I want to tell you Sharma."
"I'm listening father"
He moved closer to her. "Your brother is alive. Don't act surprised. Contain your emotions." He commanded.
Sharma coordinated herself, threw out all emotions that were beginning to boil. She replied in a whisper, "He's alive? Where is he?"
"In Meridon."
"Everybody thought he was dead. I thought he was dead. We held a burial for him."
"That was what we wanted them to believe."
She knew who "them" were. She didn't need to ask. But she asked who "we" were. "Who are We?"
"Weyback and me."
It made sense. She thought. If there was one person who would have known, it would be the King's right hand man.
"You see," her father continued, "they tried to kill your brother when he was 20, knowing that he would start his quests to become the crowned prince, after which he would acclaim the throne. They feared for the day your brother would become a full grown man; they sent assassins to kill him. Unbeknownst to them, the person on that journey was Knight Rudar. we couldn't let them succeed."
"Rudar took the place of your brother on dead toll, while your brother fled to Meridon that same night." He removed his hands from her shoulders and placed them on his laps. They were still talking in whispers. "I am not telling this story just for your awareness, I am telling this because I want to change history."
Sharma didn't know what he meant.
He stood up , his hands wrapped behind his back as he walked to his window and looked down to the lights in the town. "Come to me Sharma."
She stood up and went to stand beside her father.
"Isn't the Kingdom beautiful?"
She looked at the night lights within and far beyond, "It has always been."
He forced a frail smile, inhaled and squeezed his eyes shut for a while before reopening them. He exhaled. "I cannot watch this kingdom fall into the hands of my enemies. The enemies within and the enemies outside. I can't watch this kingdom fall into the hands of my greedy uncles."
She turned to him, "But they can't claim the throne as long as you have an heir. And Ashanda is still alive!"
"Lower your voice Sharma!" He ordered in a whisper.
She glanced around like there was someone in the room. "Sorry father."
"Ashanda cannot take over the throne yet. "
"But–"
"I would be dead before he gets here." He turned to face her. He observed her again, "You may be young, and a woman but you have great sense of judgement. You have worked with me, fought battles with me, ruled to an extent with me; you know me too well Sharma."
"Father..."
"From this moment on, I want you to mature. You will have a responsibility to shoulder and a great one at that." He walked back into the chambers, leaving Sharma at the window.
Though she had questions to ask –which she already knew the answers to, she decided not to as she could read her father really well. She now had a clear vision of what he meant by saying he would change history.
The King was a man of few words, always have been; he always preferred to take actions than announce his plans. That's how he had survived on the throne...till now.
Sharma walked to where her father stood waiting on her to come to him. He was now holding the Ring of Kings in one hand.
"Weyback!" He called within the chambers.
The door to the chamber opened and closed. Weyback came into the quater, his hands covered in his robes.
"Do you have it?" The king asked him.
Weyback opened his arm and showed the Seal of Marbel to the king. "Yes, my Lord"
Sharma saw the Regent commander, her fellow warrior Verlock and the kingmaker walk into the chambers. She began to block them with her hands spread wide. "You were not called."
"It's fine Sharma." The King said, indicating to them to come forward. He turned to Weyback and said, "Good."
The king walked to his table and sat in his seat, he took out a papyrus paper and laid it flat on the table. The Lord Regent handed him the inkstone.
"No Verlock. Give me the dagger. I prefer to write this in my blood."
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