Capítulo 3: Twisted Fate

<p>Sequence 1<br/><br/>Moise is training outside the city with her mother, several targets of strawmen have been placed in front of her to shoot with her bow and arrow as Lazina, along with four children lie on the grass with Kosey beside them to watch. <br/><br/>Queen Menefer tells her daughter "Breathe my child, release the energy and let it drive your arrow".<br/><br/>Moise breathes, shoots and releases her arrow while driving lighting through it to increase the speed, but it loses momentum lands awkwardly on the floor. <br/><br/>The children clap and cheer her on, "Come on cousin you can do it!". <br/><br/>Moise tries again and again but gets the same result so she shoots a blast of lightning at the target out of frustration, turning it to dust and setting the grass below on fire. <br/><br/>She moans, "What do I need to shoot arrows like this for? My spark is sufficient for the task!". <br/><br/>Menefer picks up Moise's spear and tells her "The lion does not defeat the snake with strength, to survive it must be clever and avoid it's tricks, remember this my child". She throws the spear lightly into the air and shoots a magnificent bolt which propels it straight into the target. <br/><br/>The kids cheer in excitement, "Yaaay do it again!". <br/><br/>The Queen laughs as Moise stands silently, disappointed in herself. She tells the children, "Unfortunately we are done with the lesson for now, and your cousin better the pick up her spear before we leave her behind". <br/><br/>Moise dashes to the target and snatches her weapon back instantly, disappointed, she hands it to Lazina and sheepishly walks behind her mother as three of the children ride Kosey's back.<br/><br/>Pika, one of her cousins, grabs her leg and demands to be carried, Moise agrees and Pika encourages her, "Don't be sad, you'll get it eventually, I can teach you if you want". <br/><br/>Moise smiles and says, "I'm sure there are many things you can teach me little one". <br/><br/>Pika playfully tugs on Moise's hair and asks "When are you going to get a brother? It must be lonely being the only child". <br/><br/>Moise laughs telling her, "When the great Lord blesses my mother again, but since he has not done so in fifty seasons maybe it is a sign that I am enough". <br/><br/>Pika pouts, unimpressed at her words. <br/><br/>After a few minutes of walking they enter the city but do not get far before Beleka and two other guards rush meet them saying, "My Queen, come with us quickly, we have an important matter to discuss". <br/><br/>Moise lets Pika down and attempts to follow but is turned away by the Queen who tells her, "Moise, take the children home". <br/><br/>Rather than listen, Moise moans, "But mother how will I learn to lead if I am constantly kept in the dark?". <br/><br/>Upon hearing this, Menefer stops dead in her tracks, walks back and glares at her daughter, saying, "In time you will lead but now you must obey, take... them... home... now!". <br/><br/>Moise bows her head and begrudgingly says, "Yes mother" before grabbing her spear from Lazina and herding the children along to the castle grounds as Kosey runs off to the Royal garden. <br/><br/>After getting them to their rooms she walks back to her chambers but is surprised to find no guards near her door, she sees her door is open and barges in to meet someone covered in brown rags sitting on the edge of her window. <br/><br/>She throws her spear at the person screaming "STOP" but a blinding flash of purple lightning causes her to miss and lodge the spear inside the wall. She jumps out of the window and climbs down to the empty street looking for the intruder. <br/><br/>She runs from street to street until an old man in rags leaps out from a corner behind her with a dagger, ready to stab Moise. Before he can strike Zaka pounces from an adjacent building and kicks him against the outer wall. <br/><br/>He recovers and scales the wall as the two girls shoot two bolts of lightning which miss their target. <br/><br/>Moise thanks Zaka and they both run up the wall after him. Zaka diverges from behind Moise and tells her "Go after him Mistress I shall block his path by another way". Moise nods in agreement and chases after the old man, he is surprisingly agile and evades her skillfully throughout the city. <br/><br/>She follows the man to Temple of Maahes and finds several dead guards lying on the floor. Enraged, she grabs one of their spears and charges into the temple, following him down into the sanctuary of the tomb. <br/><br/>Upon sighting him opening the sarcophagus of Maahes she asks him with tears of rage in her eyes, "Before you die tell me why you did all this".<br/><br/>He responds, "To set my people free" and throws a dagger in her direction, she dodges, running up the walls to impale him from above but hesitates when she hears a mortifying scream. She turns to see Zaka bleeding on the floor. This moment of hesitation allows the old man to release a crude smoke bomb from his cloak and escape. <br/><br/>Moise rushes to Zaka's side to comfort her, she vigorously convulses and foams from her mouth. Moise takes her hand and cries "Just hold on, you are a strong lioness...Please don't die". <br/><br/>Dozens of guards run into the temple, shocked at what they see. They pull Moise off Zaka and put her in chains as she protests "Wait, what are you doing!? Leave me and help her... please!". <br/><br/>Beleka steps forward and says "Moise, you are under arrest for defiling the temple". <br/><br/>Moise screams with a furious rage "Have you all gone mad!? I was trying to save this place, I was attacked!". <br/><br/>She continues screaming curses upon them as they drag her out of the temple to face trial. <br/><br/>Sequence 2<br/><br/>Moise is thrown with her chains into a small cell made of quartz rock and the bars are shut behind her. <br/><br/>She rattles the bars with her chains demanding to be let out "I order you to release me from this prison at once! My father will make sure you are all executed when he hears about this!". <br/><br/>She is greeted with silence. <br/><br/>Frustrated, she sits on the floor and prays, "Great Maahes, is this a test? Please show me a sign". <br/><br/>Soon after she hears a recognisable shout from the corridor, "Get out of my way!". <br/><br/>The Queen angrily storms through the guards to meet Moise in her cell, her makeup is smudged and her eyes are red from crying. She looks pitifully at her daughter and asks "What happened?". <br/><br/>Moise explains, "They said I was defiling the temple, I was defending it". <br/><br/>Menefer says, "They told me you killed several guards and attempted to loot the temple". <br/><br/>Moise frantically explains, "That's not true mother you know it's not! Why isn't Father here? He will surely punish this offence!". <br/><br/>The Queen pauses for a moment and tells her "Your father is ill". <br/><br/>Tears stream down Moise's face as she her voice cracks "No, it can't be". <br/><br/>The Queen continues "After we left the city at noonday he went to sleep and has not woken up, the priests and healers are trying everything they can, the council of elders are ruling in his stead". <br/><br/>Moise asks "What will happen to us?". <br/><br/>Menefer kneels and reaches through the bars to hold her daughter's hand telling her "I am hearing that the elders want to try you swiftly to appease the people. You have to be strong Moise, for the sake of our house".<br/><br/>She stands up and leaves her with these words "I will be praying for you, please my child, be strong". <br/><br/>The guards escort the Queen outside as Moise weeps silently on the floor. <br/><br/>Sequence 3<br/><br/>Morning comes and Moise is woken up by a rat nibbling on her foot, she jumps back, scaring it away. <br/><br/>She notices a piece of paper tied to it's leg and quickly grabs the rat for a closer look.<br/><br/>The letter reads;<br/><br/>Moise, I hope this letter finds you. I write with tears in my eyes and hope for the mercy of the great Lord upon you. Should the Elders give a harsh punishment, please, run away from this place to the western forest. I will give my life for yours because I know you were created for great things. Please, survive and save us. <br/><br/>Neke".<br/><br/>Moise wipes her tears and hides the note in her clothes. She lets the rat go and thinks "How pathetic, even a rat can leave this place but I of royal blood can not. Whatever happens, I will surely live". <br/><br/>She rattles the bars of her prison with her chains and begs the guards "Please may I have some water?". They ignore her and she simply sits down awaiting her trial. <br/><br/>After several hours, her prison is opened and she is dragged out, escorted by a dozen guards to the courts to face trial. <br/><br/>She is pushed to the floor at centre of the room as the packed room stares murmuring. Her mother watches from the side of the platform where the elders, Ozimeh, Mekere, Ezek, Azura and Amedi are seated. <br/><br/>Mekere tells her "Stand up and represent the house you belong to with dignity!". <br/><br/>She slowly picks herself up as they start the court formalities. <br/><br/>Mekere starts the court formalities "May the accused state her name". <br/><br/>Moise mumbles to herself which annoys Ezek and he shouts "Speak now or you will be found in contempt!". <br/><br/>Moise raises her head defiantly and shouts "My name is Moise, Daughter of The great King Menes and Queen Menefer, holder of the gift of Maahes and guardian of the threshold! Why have you disgraced the name of my house by treating me like a common criminal!?". <br/><br/>The room falls silent as the elders read her charges, "You are accused of trespassing, murdering seven temple guards and worst of all defiling the sacred sarcophagus of our Lord Maahes, how do you answer these charges?". <br/><br/>Moise tells the court, "They are all false and I am a victim of either a great conspiracy or an elaborate joke. I was defending both my chambers and the sanctuary from an intruder after the palace guards abandoned their posts. I had to do my duty as guardian to my people and fought this intruder, unfortunately, he escaped". <br/><br/>Ozimeh asks, "Do you have any witnesses to these events here". <br/><br/>Moise tells them "Zaka, one of my sisters of the hunt was there with me, she protected me as we fought together against this unknown threat". <br/><br/>Ezek, laughs slightly and tells her, "Unfortunately we can not take the testimony of a dying girl, is there any other person who witnessed the event?". <br/><br/>Moise growls at him, restraining herself from cursing him in front of everyone. <br/><br/>Azura cuts in to break the tense situation "If she has no witness to fight for her, let the one who brought the charges step forward". <br/><br/>There's a murmur in the crowd as a young woman, wearing a temple guard uniform walks onto the podium beside the elder's platform. <br/><br/>Ozimeh asks her "What is your name". <br/><br/>She says "My name is Parmo, daughter of Zephina". <br/><br/>Amedi asks "What is your account of the events at the temple?". <br/><br/>Parmo tells the court "We were on watch at the temple, just after the sun had set. I was drawn to a shadow lurking behind a pillar then, before I knew it, I was strangled from behind until I lost consciousness. When I woke up I saw her among the bodies of my dead comrades, she took one of their spears and ran inside screaming, I escaped and alerted the Kings guards". <br/><br/>Ozimeh tells her "May the great Lord Maahes draw them into the glory of his light, you may leave". <br/><br/>Parmo leaves the room and Mekere continues with the trial "With that out of the way I invite a member of the King's Guard as a witness". <br/><br/>Chieel steps forward to the podium and Mekere asks "May the witness state her name" and she answers "I am Chieel, Shield of the King". <br/><br/>Amedi asks "What is the evidence that you have against the accused". <br/><br/>She tells the court "On that day we were alerted by the physician attending to the King that he was poisoned. Immediately we ran to the city gates to arrange a meeting with the Queen, after a while we were alerted to an attack on the temple and ran to defend it. When we reached there we saw the King's daughter leaning over Zaka and arrested her". <br/><br/>Ezek asks her "Did you find any items of interest in the temple?" <br/><br/>Chieel responds "Yes, we found the knife which was used to stab Zaka and saw that it was coated with the same poison which felled our great King. We investigated further and found it belonged to the Kings Daughter" and brings the knife out out for all to see. <br/><br/>Amedi asks Moise "Does this knife belong to you?". <br/><br/>She answers "Yes". <br/><br/>Ozimeh asks Chieel "What else did you find?".<br/><br/>Chieel tells her "We also searched her chambers and found a book of spells and potions hidden under her bed". <br/><br/>A man in the crowd shouts "She poisoned the King!" and the entire court erupts in an uproar. <br/><br/>Ozimeh raises her voice to silence the crowd, shouting " Quiet all of you, the trial is not finished!". <br/><br/>Mekere thanks Chieel and signals for her to leave the court then turns to Moise "Now that the evidence has been presented what do you have to say in defence of yourself". <br/><br/>Moise shouts to the crowd, holding back her tears, "I did not ask to be born a royal, I did not ask for the gift of our great Lord but I carry these burdens for the sake of my people. Though you may have your feelings about me, know that I loved my father more than anything and he would give his life for mine. So I ask, if it pleases the court, that I be allowed to live and fulfill my duty to my people!".<br/><br/>The whole court is stunned and Menefer looks on stoically, worried about her only child. <br/><br/>Mekere breaks the silence saying "It is now time for the elders to decide" and they pass around a piece of parchment, marking it with their own blood until it reaches Mekere who marks and pronounces the judgment, "The council of Elders finds that you, Moise, Daughter of The great King Menes are guilty of all charges and of the additional charge of poisoning your father to usurp the throne. The punishment for your crimes is death!". <br/><br/>The crowd erupts into cheers and howls as Moise is led away from the court. She cries out for her mother who can only stare helplessly "You are making a mistake, I'm innocent! Mother please say something!". <br/><br/>The irate crowd follows Moise outside the court and swarm the guards demanding that she be put to death immediately. In the resulting chaos several clay jars of smoke are thrown causing confusion, a masked Neke grabs Moise and forces her way through the crowd until they slip into an empty building. <br/><br/>Neke pulls down her mask, breaks Moise's chains with her knife and hands her a piece of parchment saying "Live!".<br/><br/>Both girls run out of the building through different ways, with Neke acting as a distraction shouting "They took her this way!". <br/><br/>Moise runs from building to building, trying to avoid detection. She takes a look at the note which says "I have marked a path for you on the map, follow it and find your weapons and some medicine I gathered for you. When you find it run to the forest and do not look back". <br/><br/>She follows the path and finds her items, her spear, several knives, her anklets and gauntlets and a small sac of medicine. <br/><br/>She puts them on and waits for the cover of darkness to make her move. <br/><br/>Sequence 4<br/><br/>Night comes and Moise slips out of her hiding place to make her move. <br/><br/>She skilfully and quietly runs up the city walls, hiding from the warriors manning it. <br/><br/>She slides down and uses the mountain as cover to escape the city. <br/><br/>Once clear, she runs straight towards the western forest. The grasslands starts to give way to scattered trees as she approaches her destination. <br/><br/>Before she can go any further a familiar voice calls out to her "Moise!". <br/><br/>Moise turns to see her mother standing with three others, she begs her saying "Moise please, come back home, your father is awake and wants to see you again".<br/><br/>Moise screams back "That's a lie, you all want me dead!". <br/><br/>Menfer begs on her knees "Why would I lie to you? Please my child, do not cross that boundary, a horrible fate awaits you if you do!". <br/><br/>Confused and afraid Moise says reluctantly "Mother, I...". <br/><br/>Before she can finish talking a streak of blue lightning strikes her from the sky and she vanishes, the Queen screams and wails out for her child as her entourage rushes her away from the forest back to the city. <br/><br/>The End?</p>