章 15: Chapter 13: The poisoned Chalice IV
Sharma looked around the hall then at the servant. "Pour the wine." She commanded. "I will drink first."
The royal servant collected the bottle from her and poured the wine into the chalice, bowing slightly in the presence of the royals.
Sharma raised the cup up, "To the stand of Rabadon now and with years to come!"
"Ayyyye!" The people responded, hailing her in the process.
She gulped down the wine in one take and dropped it on the table with force. "Your turn."
Ratarod stood up and collected the chalice, signaling the servant to pour another—he did. He raised the cup to the air, "To the reign of Queen Sharma and to the stand of Metabul Aridal!"
"Ayyye!!"
He gulped down the wine and handed the chalice to the servant who took it away. He walked to where Sharma stood, they gripped their hands in a handshake. The truce was mutual and the signing will take place the next day.
....
....
Amon walked the walkway that led to the physician's chamber. The door was still opened. He saw Rod grinding something in the mortar.
As he walked in, Rod looked at him from the corner of his eye. "You are late."
"Yes." Amon acknowledged as he dropped the basket he carried on the floor. He sat down and removed his shoe. "I bumped into an old friend."
Rod nodded. "You have a lot of friends."
"I grew up not too far from Aridal. I suppose most of the people I know are in the lower town than the upper town."
"Except..." Rod looked at him. "...Hadu."
"Hadu was always known to do great things."
"I suppose."
Amon started removing his stocking. "Where is he?"
"Huh?" Rod faced him.
"Where is he? Hadubal?"
"Oh! He is also a guest at the royal court."
"The royal court?" He asked, expressing surprise. "Did something happen?"
Rod laughed softly. "No. He is a court physician so he is always present in court matters. Nothing has to happen first."
Amon removed his other stocking and stood up, surveying where to put them.
"You can place them in the basket over there." Rod pointed to an empty basket by the door.
"Thanks." He picked up his shoes and walked towards the door. He dropped them in.
"If you want to wash, there is a bowl at the other back door with water and soap. If you need it warm, I could heat some water for you. I am afraid Hadu didn't give me permission to take you to his house."
"Naaah! It's fine. Hadu could be pretty reclusive at times. Especially to me."
Rod smiled.
"Thank you—Rod."
"No problem."
"But isn't it late to go for court matters?"
"Court matters have no time limit. An audience could be assembled late in the night if a matter cannot wait till the next morning."
"Seems today is the case."
Rod chuckled. "Today is a feast for the arrival of King Ratarod of Rabadon."
"The king of Rabadon?"
Rod nodded. "There will be a truce signing tomorrow."
"Ahhh..." Amon nodded. "But why aren't you there? Aren't you Hadu's assistant?"
Rod looked at the mortar in his hand. "I have things to do. Important things."
Amon walked closer to him. "Like... grinding rosemary?"
"Grinding rosemary is important."
"It must be. Hm-hm."
Rod didn't say anything but continued pounding.
"Grinding rosemary is more important than attending a feast for kings?"
Rod sighed. "What I am doing is also important. Do you still want hot water? I can go heat it for you."
"No, it's fine. There's nothing wrong in taking a cold bath for a day of work."
"You'll freeze to death." Rod said and dropped the pestle by the mortar. "Let me go get a kettle. You are still recovering."
He picked up the basket by the door. "I will take this to the upper room." And with that, he walked out of the chamber.
Amon watched him as he left. "You are so kind, Rod."
..........
*THE ROYAL BALLROOM*
.
"I must say Sharma, the people took your ascension quite lightly." Ratarod's face was close to hers as they watched the merry of the people at the tables. He was chewing on his grape quite slowly and purposefully, the other hand clapsing his goblet.
Sharma felt suffocated with his face so close to hers. Was he trying to enter her skin? "Don't you think 'ascension' is a bit of a far-fetch?"
"Oh...but it is true. If you want to know what the people truly think, you will need to dress up as a commoner, move with the crowd and listen—really listen to their conversations. That is how you will know."
"I am afraid even if I dress as a commoner, even a little child born yesterday will be able to recognize me. My face is all over the kingdom."
Ratarod grunted and swallowed his grape. Picking up another one, he said, "During the days of the white Lords, women were seen as just tools to get something from a fellow man, kingdom or kindred. They were bargains and goods not too good for anything except reproduction and chores. Though the times have changed and will continue, you being the first woman to ascend the throne of the Era will raise enemies. They will consider you weak and unworthy."
Sharma drank from her cup. Ratarod was cutting to the point effectively and was aiming at something. She didn't know what. "Then you needed to see the day I was crowned; the people sang my praises and hailed my crown. "Long live the Queen!" they screamed with vociferation. Now, you might think it was unclear but what could not be hidden was the joy emblazoned on their beautiful faces and the dance of excitement they performed. I may be a woman, but I am a ruler loved by her people too. Male and female alike."
Ratarod smiled and threw the grape in his mouth. "I am not against your rulership my lady, I am only opening your eyes to the true reality that comes with power." He adjusted himself in his seat to lean in even closer to Sharma. "Do you know something about power?" It was a rhetorical question. "Power is a constant that has been and wilk be. But do you know what it is that is not—the hands of those who yield it. So you see... power is a constant that would be seen, or has been seen throughout ages past and will continue to exist even when we die. But the person who holds power today may not hold it tomorrow. That is why people fight to keep it. People shed blood to yield it. That is why people crave war to acquire more power. The more lands they attain to their names and kingdoms, the greater the power. The greater the riches."
"What is it you want to say Ratarod?" Sharma asked looking at him straight in his eyes. "Are you saying I am not powerful enough?"
Ratarod withdrew his face a bit. "You are powerful Queen Sharma. The whole of Aridal is a force to reckon with. The truce we will be signing tomorrow is another form of acquired power that will help in troubled times and will make both our kingdoms even greater forces in times of war."
"So what is it you want to say?"
"A queen," He spoke, looking her in the eyes. "must have power by her side as must a King. That is why we do not marry for convenience nor love, but out of duty. A duty to ourselves and to our Kingdom."
"So, you are asking me to marry?"
He grinned. "You, my lady just started to understand me."
"You could have hit the nail on the head."
"Eeeei! What fun will that be? I traveled all the way here not have brief talks and conversations."
Sharma looked at the people in her courtroom as they were all laughing among themselves, clear happiness on their faces. Ratarod was right, she had long reached the age of marriage. A truce only stands to bring peace between two kingdoms but a marriage to another kingdom is a consummated predisposed ally—one that she will need in the coming times.
"Do you have anybody in mind? Perhaps, a lover." Ratarod asked, drinking his wine.
Sharma smirked. "I wish. I don't think it's that easy. Nobody has brought the issue of my marriage forward."
"If it isn't easy then you must be searching for someone to love instead of a kingdom to join together."
Sharma grunted within. He must be right. She was searching for someone she would feel something for and not regret it. If she were to marry out of duty, she's afraid she would bear no child as she wasn't inclined to allow just anyone have access to her body. What a tragedy it would be for that male consort.
Ratarod looked at her, studying her facial changes. "May I suggest something?"
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