Lord Zhai would probably have no choice but to execute us. He has never gone against his rules.
"You're free to go." He said to the ones who just reported the case to him.
"Thank you very much My Lord." The greeted and left the palace feeling like a big burden has been lifted off their shoulders.
"Get me the girl. The younger one, Karen." Lord Zhai ordered his guard after the reporters left.
"Yes, my Lord." He responded and came back shortly with me trailing behind.
"Leave us." Lord Zhai said and he bowed and left.
"Sit, Princess." Lord Zhai said.
His face showed no emotions and I kept wondering why he summoned me alone. Was he about to discuss the terms of our alliance? Or had he changed his mind about fighting by my side. I kept mute, observing him and waiting for him to speak up, and finally, he did.
"Read this." He said and handed me the letter from King Stefan.
I read it and my heart sank, I looked at Lord Zhai with a lot of conflicting emotions in my face.
"I have two options. To kill you or hand you over to Stefan." He said.
"Why would you kill me? Don't we have an understanding?" I asked him in confusion.
"You and your... Friends? That's what they are. You and your friends killed our sacred bird. The untouchable and the wage for this sin is death." He said.
Hearing him call our supposed offence sin reminded me of the notice on the gates of Troy. WELCOME TO TROY WHERE NO SIN IS FORGIVEN or something like that, and my heart skipped. I wanted to retort that we killed no bird but then I remembered the bird Dolores killed the night before we were brought to the palace. The incidence:
Dolores quickly walked into the room with a dead bird in her hand.
"We don't have to worry about hunger tomorrow." She said.
"You really did go hunting at night?" I said to her.
"And you really are up. Come on, you should rest. The one true future Queen of Devon can't show up before lord Zhai looking like a scumbag. Trust me he won't be impressed." She said. "I'll set up fire outside and roast this bird. Don't worry, you can have some in the morning." She added and left without noticing her pendant and dagger in Tyril's hand.
I quickly drifted back to reality. I didn't even know what to respond to Lord Zhai.
"I don't see any difference between sending us to King Stefan and killing us." I said.
"King." He scoffed. "He's no King to me."Lord Zhai said then sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose and continued. "I don't take instructions from people beneath me. Even if I was going to hand you over to Stefan before he requested it, I won't anymore." He said.
"I'm sorry my Lord, we had no idea the bird was sacred. We were very hungry and wanted something to eat." I apologized.
"In the middle of the night? The birds are only seen then." Lord Zhai said. "And like I said before Princess Naya, no sin is ever forgiven inTroy." He added.
"So What now, are you going to punish us? Execute us?" I asked, surprisingly confidently.
Lord Zhai scanned me for a few seconds before he responded. "No. I have maximum respect for royalties especially those at a higher rank than I am and more still ones that are considered visitors in my kingdom. I don't want to be the first to start a war." He said.
I didn't expect that response from him. No sin would be forgiven right? Why were we an exception? And did he just say one at a higher rank?
"Higher rank you say?" I asked him.
"Listen Princess Naya, with or without your crown and kingdom, by birth, you are the one true Queen of Tapita, and all other nobles, Kings and Queens included bow to you." He said.
"Tapita?" I asked in confusion.
"The golden empire was originally called Tapita. In the time of our legendary predecessors appointed directly by the lights, our seven kingdoms were one, Tapita, before we were divided. Did you not know this history?" Lord Zhai asked.
"No. I grew up in Damitro and never left it till now. Tell me the history of the golden empire or is it Tapita?" I said.
"Hmph. What has your aunt, Dolores been doing this whole time? Going around Kingdoms forming allies? Without telling you the true history of Tapita?" He asked.
"She has not had the time." I said.
"Why would I tell you the story then?" He asked.
"I don't know. Maybe because I'm of a higher rank?" I responded.
Lord Zhai smiled. Weird. "I love that Princess Naya. I'll tell you."
"Tapita had always been one, one kingdom, one King, but the bigger we grew, the more difficult it was for one King to manage the Kingdom alone. By the the lights we grew outrageously big that we were first divided into two, Devon and Greene, then further into five and finally into Seven. The seven kingdoms made up the golden empire, but the heart of Tapita was and is still Devon. The original ruler of Tapita is the ruler of Devon and so the power remained in Devon. All other kings of the seven kingdoms pledged fealty to the ruler of Devon who is indeed the ruler of Tapita. But Greene having been the second Kingdom to emerge demonstrated that is was unfair for the other kingdoms to bow to Devon. The ruler at that time agreed that a vote will be cast and the winner will be the ruler of Tapita. That was when the lights turned it's back on us. The light was the only way to appoint a leader. When the vote was cast, Devon still emerged as the true ruler of Tapita. Greene became very angry and demanded an autonomy from Tapita. They were denied it and so the rest is an alleged story of how they connived with the priestess of Tapita and cheated her off their deal." Lord Zhai narrated.
"Alleged. You sound like you do not believe the stories." I said.
"I don't. There is more to that story than what we've heard."
"What do you think really happened?" I asked.
Lord Zhai chuckled. He didn't want to speak.
"When you finally reclaim your throne, do not go by the title, Queen." He said.
"Why?"
"Queens and Kings are nothing without their subjects." He said.
"Is that why your title is Lord?"
"Princess Naya. You'll leave Troy tomorrow. If I know Stefan too well, he'll stop at nothing to get you."
Is Lord Zhai actually scared of Stefan?...