Prophesy The Fourth: A blood Of Hers Shall The Anus Never See.
Unfortunately, this is not the case and it is not because she does not want to leave but she simply has not had the time to even look for a way of escape. Ever since Toshi's death, Shiar has ensured through the new head maid that Rilikia is never short of work to do such that she is the last to go to bed and the first to rise.
Today is no different and as Rilikia is cleaning the Queen's library she notices Leo is no longer by her side.
" Leo? " She calls out softly, the last time Leo disappeared from her side it had ended with Toshi's execution.
" Leo? " Leo responds with a low growl which Rilikia follows, it leads her to a room behind one of the library's shelves. She sees a door that is left ajar and the first thing that strikes her are the cobwebs; they are so thick she has to use her hands to make way for her to enter the room. The room is dimly lit and very dusty but it is not the dirtiness of the room that makes her hair stand on end, it is the skeletons that are hung on the walls.
Some of them have been there for a very long time and have collected so much dust you can not even see the bone itself but some are still very fresh with some flesh on them. It even appears that some of them are in the process of getting skinned.
Rilikia searches the unskinned bodies in hope that Toshi's body will be among them. After carefully examining the bodies she finds Toshi's body which appears to be under the skinning process because the flesh on her body is gone but the flesh on her face is still there although almost rotten away. This sight causes tears to fall from her eyes and it makes her renew her vow to leave the palace no matter what.
She looks around the room once more just in case there is a door leading somewhere else or any clue but she finds nothing besides the smell of the room is already suffocating her, so she leaves.
Luckily, there is no Shiar anyway. She goes back to cleaning like nothing happened.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the palace, Shiar is having a meeting with some spies she sent to the Northern province.
" My Queen they have intensified their efforts to find their lost baby. " Chita is reporting to the queen, if the queen trusts anyone you can say Chita is her most trusted spy.
" You say the same thing every time. Have you no new thing to tell me? " The queen is bored with this report.
" My Queen they are saying it will be time soon. " Chita gets scared every time he reports to the Queen because anytime could be the last, many messengers have ended up dead after their report.
" Time for? " The Queen asks with little interest.
" My Queen they are saying the time for the battle is drawing closer, there is a lot of tension in their court. Right now, they are placing priority on finding their baby because they believe this baby is going to save them. " Shiar gives a high-pitched laugh after this statement, their baby is cleaning somewhere in her palace but they do not know this.
" Tell me Chita, do you think now is the best time? Should I send them a little something to keep them on their toes? " Thankfully, no one dares look the queen in the face if not they will not be able to tell if her smile is meant to look cruel.
" My Queen we rely on your infinite wisdom. " Chita is getting pretty tired from bowing so low, he is hoping the queen will dismiss him soon.
" Secretary Jo? Can I have a scroll and pen? I would like to pen a beautiful letter to my royal neighbours. " At this request, a short man with thick grey hair and round glasses appears in front of the queen with her request. For a few minutes, the queen scribbles something on the scroll.
" Terja do have this delivered, will you? "
" You may all leave. " Shiar commands her subjects. She decides she needs to check on Rilikia, it has been a while since she had set her eyes on the little girl. The last time had been at Toshi's death and it had gladdened her to see Rilikia broken. She had ensured the girl was too busy to scheme anything but it was always best to check herself.
Rilikia is still shaken from what she has just seen and she decides it is best to conclude her work in the library and leave immediately. Who knows what the consequence will be if Shiar herself found her here? Just as she opens the door to leave the library however she comes face to face with Shiar.
" My Queen. " Rilikia bows deep as she sights her worst nemesis.
" What are you doing here? " The queen is not shocked to see Rilikia here after all this is not marked as a forbidden room.
" I was cleaning, my Queen. " Rilikia tries very hard to make sure the queen can not smell the fear or disgust in her voice.
" I see! Where is that dog of yours? " It is very rare for her not to have Leo by her side.
" Leo? " Rilikia tries not to act affected by this question, her heart is beating fast and she is scared that Leo is still in the room of skeletons. Certainly, Leo will be added to the Queen's collection.
" Where is that dog? " It is now the queen's time to be concerned. Normally, no animal or human can see or sense that there is something ominous hidden in this room. If that dog had discovered it...
" Leo? " Just then they hear Leo bark behind the queen. Rilikia breathes a sigh of relief and so does the queen.
" Make sure you keep him very close to you. There is only so much I can tolerate. " The queen warns Rilikia.
" Yes, my Queen. " Rilikia responds.
" You are not done here. That shelf has not been dusted. " The queen points to the shelf behind the secret door.
" My Queen? " Rilikia's heart skips a beat. Perhaps the queen knows she's been there and is only luring her...
" What are you waiting for? Hurry up! I didn't make you a slave to do nothing. " The queen is enjoying bossing the supposed saviour of this world.
Rilikia does not argue she goes to dust it under the scrutinizing gaze of Shiar. She proceeds to dust behind the shelf and she notices that the door is no longer there. She is surprised and even fakes a fall to be sure there is no opening there; there isn't at all, all that is there is a thick wall.
" My Queen, I shall take my leave now. " Rilikia says bowing her head.
When Rilikia leaves the room, Shiar takes a deep breath and enters the secret room in the library.
" Toshi, guess who was here just now? " The queen says addressing Toshi's corpse.
" Your saviour. "
When Rilikia leaves the sight of the queen she runs like she is been pursued. She remembered what Toshi told her about a way of escape if only she could find it.
" Rilikia? " Tabi, the new head maid sees her running.
" Where are you going? Have you finished cleaning the library? " The head maid asks the flustered girl.
" Yes, Tabi. " Rilikia responds running past her, she does not bother to wait knowing fully well she will be given another endless task.
" Rilikia! " But she does not respond and Tabi's prayer is that the queen does not find out about her lack of control over the little girl.
Far far away in another kingdom which happens to be the Northern province, The king and his closest advisors are discussing national matters when a messenger runs into the room.
" How rude! " Professor Abu exclaims as the messenger bursts into the room abruptly.
" Kyle? " The king looks at the messenger and sees the urgency in his breathing. What could be the problem? The country already had enough on its plate.
" My Lord again I apologize. It is the queen, she has sent another message. " The messenger seems out of breath.
" I see. " The king tries to make light of the matter.
" Where did you find this one? And why is it always you discovering these letters? " Prof Abu looks at the messenger with suspicion.
" Professor? " Kyle is not shocked by the professor's action. The short round man with his round glasses always perched on his nose always suspects everybody around him.
" That's okay. Let me have the letter. " The king tries to stop any potential quarrel.
" My Lord, it is not enough. We need to know where he found this one and why is he the only one to discover these letters?" Professor Abu insists.