"Diana! miss Diana is in trouble!"
Sarah and Lemuel were walking back to the house from visiting an old woman she saw in her dreams. Following the instructions she saw in her dreams definitely led them to an old house.
"Are you the girl named Sarah?" An old woman suddenly came out.
"Ehm. How did you know my name?"
"I know you were coming. We have met before, don't you agree?"
"I don't think so. I never saw you before." she replied but seeing through the old woman's eyes, she realized what she really means. "Except in my dreams."
The old woman smiled and invited the two young people inside.
"I knew you'll be coming. Our dreams were connected last night."
"I didn't know such a thing exists." She glanced at the man beside her who seemed the least surprised.
"Please sit down." the old woman motioned them.
"But why did you call me?"
"I'm not sure why your grandmother didn't tell you about your special gift but she suddenly visited me the other night."
"My grandmother came here?!"
"Not literally. In dreams. She wants me to tell you something since she couldn't reach you for the time being."
"What do you mean?" Now Sarah is confused.
The old woman placed a tea in front of them before sitting down. then she looked at the girl's eyes meaningfully.
"You are a seer just like her. have you never thought about why you can see certain things that others can't? spiritual things to be exact?"
"I… I was wondering as well, but I thought it was a normal thing." She replied. Now that she realized about it, she's been having constant dreams, some are positive but some are nightmares. She had considered it as a norm but she can't explain the time she knew about some things. like a premonition to be exact.
"Your special just like your grandmother. Milcah is the old herald that people had been talking about."
"You mean the famous prophet that everyone had been seeking?"
"Yes. she must have felt about your prowess before you even turned 18 but she can't reach you yet since yours is still developing."
"I'm not following…"
"You'll be seeing things in the coming days, some in dreams, some in visions and some may just cross your mind but be brave and courageous, cause your journey is just starting. You may somehow interpret what's happening in the heavens. But whatever spiritual power you may be having, remember, that's a gift passed down to you from your ancestors."
Sarah is not responding at what she just heard. She was seemingly in deep thought.
"Does that mean that grandma was taken to the palace because of the rumors? Does that mean she will die?"
"Do you think she was lying about the crown prince?"
"How can she be so sure? and if it was true, then why aren't they releasing her?"
"Sweetheart, there are a lot of things you don't know yet. But if you accept your calling wholeheartedly, the heavens might show you the ultimate reason as to why."
They had a few conversations more about her grandmother and the so called gift that their family line possesses but everything is still a mist for the young lady.
They were on their way back to the inn when Sarah suddenly halted and was sweating profusely and had been uttering some words that Lemuel couldn't understand.
"Diana! miss Diana is in trouble!" she yelped before she lost her consciousness.
"So she's a true seer then!" Asher yelped when he heard Lemuel's story. "Omo! That's why she could predict the rain! Dang it, I suddenly felt excited at the thought of having a prophet with us." Asher couldn't believe his ears.
Liam was standing near the window, his eyes were on the sky and is seemingly thinking about something but the two can't figure it out.
"What else did you hear about the chief?" Liam asked Asher who stormed inside the room panicking earlier.
"I heard they were met by the bearded raiders while they were on their way back to the city."
"What time is it?"
"Just an hour ago."
"Lemuel, what time did you say she collapsed?"
"Probably an hour ago… why'd you ask?
"Wait, are you possibly thinking that the chief and Diana were together?" Asher held his breath. "But how did they know each other?"
"It's just a theory but if Sarah possesses such power then she might help us figure it out." Liam walked near the sleeping lady.
*****************
The old herald Milcah, although placed at her old room was still a captive after all. She doesn't have the freedom to roam around the palace or on the mainland since the king ordered some men to watch over her 24/7.
Despites the fact that she's been imprisoned inside the palace for how many days now, the king have not visited her yet. Only the queen kept going to her room for the same reason—to asked about the crown prince.
She's been a constant visitor almost every day.
"Milcah, please… I am begging you. Just tell me the truth about the crown prince. All I want to know is if he is really alive and if he is then how is he? How did he live his life for the past years." the queen finally teared up.
"Queen Hillary, please go back to your chambers now and don't come here again. my answer yesterday will be the same answer I will say today and tomorrow and the next coming days."
"Do you still hate us that much because of what had happened in the past? The king didn't mean everything to happen. It's beyond his grasp."
"He should have saved them!" now the old herald was aggravated. "They are right in the center of his palms… he should have saved them!"
"But it will cost you your life!"
"My Queen, you are a mother also. So you should have known the risks that I am willing to undergo just to save my children."
"But Milcah…" she couldn't reason anymore. indeed, a mother's love is so great that she can even give her life for her children. "I-I'm sorry… I really do."
"Don't you think it's too late for that?" the old woman scoffed in contempt. "Please leave now and never come to see me again. you'll get the same answer over and over again."
She didn't hear the queen replied but she didn't hear the sound of a closing door as well, so she turned around and was surprised to see the queen kneeling before her.
"I beg you. I'm begging you not as a queen but as a mother." She sobs. Milcah can feel the pain and sincerity in her voice. but she hates them so much. She hates everyone in the palace!
"You still don't trust me, do you?" she snorted.
"No, I do… I trust you Mil---"
"If you do then you should have not come to confirm about the rumors you heard about the crown prince. If you are confident in me then you should have known that I will never spill any lies. You should have come to visit me as an old friend at least. Maybe, just maybe, I could forget the old pains and reconsider your emotion. But you didn't. You didn't trust me and you consider me as an enemy too."
The queen froze at that very moment. She didn't realize she was being mean to the old woman for the past few days. Why didn't she thought about that? guess her greatest desire is to have a glimpse of hope that her son is alive.
She was stupefied. She couldn't say a thing so she slowly stood up and weakly treks her way to the door.
"Not soon after, he will pave his way inside the palace. But no one, not even the king or you will recognize him. He'll go against his brothers and the king will hate him and he might even kill his own son. You will know it's him if you will see this signs. The son against the father and the father against the son. It's unfortunate but I can't do anything to change what has already been carved by the heavens."
It was the last words the queen heard before she totally left the room.
"The crown prince…. Is alive?!" her heart suddenly leaped in joy but her countenance fell when the herald's last words ringed in her ears. The son against the father and the father against the son. Does that mean that only one will survive? No!