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Chapter 2
Many months of mourning the twain heirs had passed, and the King of Francmort ordered Knights to spy on their neighboring Kingdom; Baliamort. They found out the evil they had done and tearfully swore before their god stone, that if ever they were to revenge, and if ever, fate brought twins of royal blood to Baliamort, their revenge was going to be more than a cup full.
Ever since the twain killings, these two Kingdoms had become sworn enemies and were constantly at logger heads. The Kingdom of Francmort planned daily, with aptness, strategy, and chutzpah. All these were done in silence so as to foreshadow history but Baliamort knew it not.
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Centuries had passed and after the reign of King Laha Callous, there emerged a new King named, Obed Callous of Francmort. This King had great alliance with many Kingdoms as he was a man bestowed with wisdom from the gods. All over the vast lands and great seas, there was no man like Obed. His reign was believed to be a new dawn for his people, a time to rewrite a new script and a time to crest his name in the rocks. He had assumed the throne at twenty-six and of course, he also had the violent trait of his fathers but the difference between his era and theirs was that, he was an open minded man. He was known to not engage in battle if he didn't see the need to. Because of his wisdom, many Kings sought his mind on many matters.
King Obed owed his good reign to his wife, Queen Ashra.
Ashra was the only daughter of Dezeus, a well- sought after priest in the Amigo Temple. The Amigo temple was a place known for the unravelling of criminal acts perpetrated in the Kingdom. Dezeus wasn't into main stream sorcery, but he was a means through which the gods brought sanity to their land. For instance, if a thief was caught stealing and he escaped or denied it, if caught, he would be taken to the temple and the Priest, would make some pretty decent sacrifices or conjuring, and in the end, the truth will be brought to light. Ashra on the other hand was her father's delight and when it was time for the King Obed to take a bride, a banquet was made open to all the virgins in the land. Fathers and Uncles alike were ordered to give out their daughters, cousins and nieces for the bridal selection. Ashra was amongst the maidens that were summoned to the King's presence and she won the King's heart with her beauty, wisdom and outstanding poetic prowess. Ashra came prepared as she came in with a note for the King.
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A poem written by Ashra to Obed before her emergence as Queen of Francmort;
I am but a young maiden devoid of royal experience,
Bring me your pain or love, that's why I am here.
My skin is ivory and my virgin lips; thin.
It's also why I am here.
I could keep a thousand secrets.
I could moan a thousand notes.
I could keep you warm when my skin rubs against yours,
I could also make you forget the burdens of our kingdom just with the penetrating gaze of my amber eyes.
I am one skilled with my pen and hands.
I could sing you a poem after the strikes of war,
And I could make my hands roam carelessly up until the unpinning of your royal breastplate,
To solely lose ourselves to the throes of passion.
I could legislate and consult spirits for thy sake!
I am here to teach you that I am only truly naked whenever my mind is.
And to enter into these bonds with you, is to be truly free.
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After the King had read the poem she had written, he knew that his whole being wanted her. A few days later, he made his intents known to her by conveying his heart through a poem also.
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A poem written by the King Obed Callous to his intended Queen -Ashra;
I'm no soothsayer,
Only a dandy archeologist drowned in the sea of love.
I'm one hoping to obtain the privilege of tilling,
The soil of your heart,
To find those hidden gems.
And to excavate with deliberateness, the sheath of warmth, behind the sleeves of your smile.
I'm no soothsayer,
Only a dandy archeologist drowned in the sea of love.
The trace of my trance, comes from a pedigree of thoughts.
It makes a mockery of my royal self.
The unwinding of my soul towards you,
Is reflexive as well as deliberate.
I'm no soothsayer,
Only a dandy archeologist drowned in the sea of love.
Your eyes remind me of Durban chandeliers,
Which sparkles with each blink.
Your skin reminds me of the silvery glow of the royal pool.
Like ivory it sparkles.
Like sun turning its back against us humans; it shines bright.
I'm no soothsayer.
Only a dandy archeologist drowned in the sea of love,
And lost in love with your soul.
I want to share the burden of love and Francmort only with you.
Oh! How in love I think I am with your charm,
Verily! Even the details of your body!
I'm no soothsayer,
For I know not what your answer might really be.
For to wait for an answer is like eating a meal of uncertainty.
For indeed damsels are full of mysteries….
I'm no soothsayer,
Only a patient archeologist waiting for a serenading answer from his beloved.
Say yes! And I must squeal in glee,
Say yes and make me the happiest man alive.
For I'm no soothsayer,
Only a dandy archeologist lost in the sea of love,
Whilst waiting for an answer from you; my dearest Ashra..
For Ashra and Obed, they knew that what they felt for each other in such a short while, was beyond themselves. They believed that the gods had their hands in it. Well, with such a ravishing poem written by Ashra, even the gods would have been given something to consider.
After she had read his own piece, she blushed really hard that the sun could question her glow. She instantly consented to his request officially. Obed immediately swept her off her feet (literally speaking), making her live in the reality of the poem she had just written. Ashra curled up with each touch he impressed on her body. She heaved a deep sigh as his lips elevated northwards to the sides of her neck. She was a virgin, ill experienced and overwhelmed with the spiking spasms she felt racing up and down her spine and waist, so much so that she could barely reciprocate his touch. She consoled herself with the fact that she had forever to learn about his body and so did he.
Moments after deep love making, a bigger banquet was thrown in Ashra's honor where she was crowned Queen of Francmort. Everyone in the palace sent her presents as she had won their hearts also. Ashra captured Obed's heart not merely because she was beautiful, indeed she was, but also because she exuded such great confidence, one befitting for a Queen.
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The Queen was fair to look upon, but more importantly, her lips lacked no timely and edifying words to the people she led. Her fragrance spoke of royalty and she walked as though she had swings in her waist but amidst these great qualities, the Queen had a weakness for looking into the future, even before the future arrived. She always wanted to know what the future held and what role she had to play in averting evil, or propelling good to come to her home.
Only after a few years of her husband's reign, she had gone to consult with a seer. She was told that in his reign, there will be too many wars and betrayal but that she ought to always seek the future ahead of time, so as to be able to alter evil from coming to her home before it occurred. Once, she had warned her husband against horse riding because she had felt a morbid shadow hovering around her home. Being the king, he decided to pay deaf ears to her, and it was only a few hours later that the guards rushed the King on a horse into the infirmary. He had sprained his ankle because, he almost fell off a cliff while horse riding through a narrow path. Ever since the incidence, King Obed began paying her more attention than he ordinarily wouldn't.
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It was about that hour when men slept like their strength had been sapped by women or intoxicating wine. The palace guards were fast asleep and the palace curtains seemed to dance to an inaudible music. Queen Ashra was thrown into a short sleep and there in, she saw a clash of swords rising to form the shape of a pyramid. She saw men and women alike, falling by the sword. And in the end, she saw the face of two identical young women who called out to her for help. Immediately she heard their words, she awoke from her sleep.
"What could this mean", Ashra interrogated herself while wiping a streak of sweat from between her eye brows. It was obvious that the Queen was deeply troubled by the vision she had seen.
"Shall I see the Seer; Mawrer tomorrow"? She asked herself. After a few seconds, Ashra convinced herself that it was perhaps only just a dream to be ignored.