The Towering Hall is the designated place for announcement in the palace. Since it is night, the bell would be hit seven times.
Eunuch Kaxh excitedly exited the palace of consort Nayuel and hurried to the towering hall, his body drooping as he moves. His feet were wobbling trying to contain the weight of this eunuch.
Finally he reached the towering hall. He used his cloth to wipe off the sweat that has crowded his eyes.
He stood there for few seconds to catch his breath.
He looked at the stairs to the great bell situated high in the tower, he sighed.
Finally, he mustered the courage and climbed the stairs.
Either because of the dark or nervousness, he missed a step and fell with his butts on the floor.
Standing up, he wiped the dirt off his clothes and smiled wryly. Holding the iron wheel, he hit the bell seven times.
The sound roared throughout Exkaby. The nobles smiled on their beds, the commoners felt a slight sense of belonging once it will favour them.
The emperor and the empress alike. They couldn't wait till morning to hear the good news.
Xair Lobaen laid on her bed thinking all through the night. The darkness has started making way for the light of the dawn. The neighing of horses in the stables could be heard faintly.
She looked at her pale face in the mirror.
"What is wrong with me?" she asked.
She was among the people woken up by the seven bell ring yesterday night.
For some people it is good news, while for others it put their minds on pressure due to competition.
Every consort that steps foot in the palace will compete to be the mother of the crown prince.
She sat up on her bed, walked some distance outside her hall. She halted on seeing the towering hall. She reminisced the sound she heard in the night.
The palace maids giggling passed her without seeing her. They were more interested in what the news was all about. A streak of tear appeared on her eyes.
She clearly knows that to secure her position in the palace she has to have a prince.
The young eunuchs watch with jealousy as eunuch Kaxh gracefully climbed the stairs of the towering hall to announce the good news.
"By the will of the providence of the great dao, he had granted grace to her highness, consort Zamir Nayuel. She is with child for his Majesty the crown prince."
The emperor laughed with joy. The empress was very happy, but when she considered Naia her heart became a bit cold.
Further down the gray street, many officials have gathered to congratulate the prime minister.
The prime minister Nastax Nayuel waved at all the officials and welcomes them into his house.
Nastax Nayuel is still in his prime being few years younger than the emperor.
But the task of being the head of bureaucracy had weighed heavily on him, making him appear older than his age.
He sat down on a chair, stroking his beard while receiving the congratulatory messages.
His wife stood behind him, smiling as well.
Even though she is not Zamir's direct mother, she assumed the role of a proper wife when the head wife died about six years ago.
She has no child of her own yet. Zamir being the only daughter and the youngest child of the prime minister was her favorite.
Under the giant tree situated at the back of the prime minister's manor, two young men stood there drinking and chatting, they are Zamir's older brothers: Laket and Lamir.
Further east outside the capital Exkaby, the twelve envoys lay on the ground still savouring the early morning sun.
The forest has become a bit busier. The insects were chirping happily while the birds sang on their highest pitch.
Jaroy lay there thinking back on what transpired earlier with Aolig. He knows deep down that he likes her third cousin. But will he really make it back alive?
He remembered when she used to play with him everyday in the manor, he smiled. He knows that Aolig is too carefree. In fact the meaning of Aolig is "freedom."
He looked at his comrades, some still fast asleep he sighed. After this journey his Majesty has promised them a position at the security house, by then his status will be good enough to propose marriage to Aolig.
Cvaty stood up and stretched himself. He looked at his comrades half naked bodies and laughed.
"Brothers wake up!"
They all stood adjusted themselves and grabbed the twigs available in the thatched house to brush their teeth.
By then they found out that Jaroy was not there. They didn't fret, apart from few warriors and dao ancestor sages not many people can beat Jaroy.
Later, in few minutes time he returned with an antelope like magical beast. They all shouted in merriment. Dertry immediately made the fire for roasting the game.
Jestov and Valix stood up and walked farther down the forest away from the group. They are best in scouting tracks. They observed multiple tracks in the forest floor.
They shuddered, who would have made all this track in the forest.
"Cvaty," they called "get the map," they continued.
The three of them traced the track and discovered that it went the same direction as the map indicated.
They were surprised.
Jaroy chuckled as he watch Dertry and Crery dissect the antelope. Dertry sprinkled it with salt, grinning as he does it.
Jestov, Valix and Cvaty returned with a gloomy face. They sat beside the fire staring into the distance and contemplating on what they just discovered.
"What is going on?" Karnez asked after observing their grim faces.
They disclosed their findings to the group.
"It could be an old track that resurfaced due to the rain yesterday," said Xarl.
The other eleven envoys gave him a not-quite-there look.
That was because Haghi forest is a forest specifically reserved for the royalty or special people from the court.
From the news they have acquired so far, the court have not sent anybody out for official assignment for the past three moons.
But the marks left by the carriage shows that the arks are not more than three weeks ago. Jaroy yawned and walked away from them clasping his hands behind his back.
"We already have the information we need, there is no need to continue here."
"But.." he waved dismissively to stop Xarl's complaints.
"His Majesty gave us an assignment, that bears the fate of all human clan and the myriad races and our survival is paramount. We must fulfill what we were assigned to do."