Prophesy The Sixth: A War, Ye A War.
Of course, you do know who this news is bad for; none other than the queen's most trusted servant, Chita.
Chita is the leak, the spy placed by Shiar in this palace. That Knight Robi was changing the course of his investigation was no surprise, in fact, he had expected this to happen a long time ago.
Although this came as no surprise to him he had not quite figured out what he would do if things came to this. He knew without a doubt that if he reported this to the queen, he will not see the next second. If he kept this to himself however and the queen should find out he will be punished in the worst way possible. If he decided to come clean and confess to Knight Robi he knew his days were numbered.
Unfortunately, this was not a situation he could waste time pondering on. Besides, he was sure the queen had other spies in the palace asides from him, he had witnessed several of the queen's spies found out and killed by Knight Robi some even without the king's knowledge. Either way, he had no chance of survival.
Knight Robi was right, he was certain his nervousness will make him commit a mistake, one that will cost him his head.
" Inform the coach to get my horse ready. " Knight Robi looks Chita in the eye.
" Yes, sir Robi. " Chita bows to him.
Of course, Chita was a staged servant in the king's employ. He had two other personalities besides this but we shall get to know the two later on.
" Why not spend the night here? We have many rooms you know. " The king says as Chita leaves their presence.
" You know me, my escapades will not allow me. " Knight Robi chuckles.
" You should get married and... "
" Please, your majesty do not parent me, my father gives me the same monologue every time we see. "
" You dare to cut your king? " The king jokes and they both laugh.
" Greet the old man for me. " The king says.
" I will, he nags about how you have no time to visit him. "
" I have told him several times to rejoin the council. I will gladly exclude you from the council if he would grace us with his wisdom. "
" I will be more than happy to leave the council, it will afford me more time to have fun. "
" Your horse is ready sir. " Chita returns.
" I will see you in the next meeting then. " The king tells his friend.
" Let's pray professor Abu allows me to see it. " Knight Robi jokes.
" Cut the old man some slack. He's cynical but he can be trusted. " At this they both laugh.
" Goodnight. Do greet the Queen for me. "
" I will. "
....
It was midnight when Rilikia had finished her assigned work for the day. She was very tired but decided to do a little tour, maybe she will be able to find something she would be able to use to find a way out of this mess.
She had a little lamp in which to get about during the night for the corridors were usually pitch dark.
She decided to follow a stairway she had noticed earlier during the day and as she continued she realised it was a stairway that had not been used in a very long time because it was very dusty and there were too many cobwebs it was impossible to go any further at some point.
Rilikia was sure there was something up there so she retraced her steps, went to her room to look for scissors and when she found one she sneaked out of her room ( one she shares with an older woman ) but waiting for her outside was the queen.
Shiar had been feeling uneasy especially since she had sent the letter to her rival. She could not place her mind on what should be troubling her or why, not even her magic could reveal what was about to happen to her. She just had this unsettling feeling and decided it must have something to do with Rilikia.
" Where are you going to? " The queen asks the frightened girl.
On seeing the queen, Rilikia immediately hides the scissors in the gathers of her skirt.
" My Queen, I am headed to the kitchen. " Rilikia replies with her head bowed and her heart racing fast. What if the queen had caught on to what she was doing?
" A late-night snack? " The queen asks in the eeriest tone possible.
" Yes, my Queen. I am hungry. " Just then her stomach supports her claim by making a low growl.
" Let's have tea then. "
" My Queen? " The queen never eats with anyone except of course her raven.
" We shall have tea. Serve the tea in my throne room. " Rilikia is baffled by this request. Perhaps the queen is looking for an occasion to punish her?
When the queen is out of sight, she returns the scissors to her room and heads to the kitchen to make tea for the queen, something she has never done before. Only the head maid is responsible for making meals for the queen.
" My Queen, your tea. " Rilikia says as she approaches the queen to serve her.
" Where is your tea? " The queen asks.
" I am not worthy to have tea with her highness. " Rilikia replies.
" Well said. This is not a request, it is a command. "
Rilikia hurried to make tea for herself and brought it into the throne room.
" Sit. " Shiar orders her.
" How is the new head maid? "
" She is competent, my Queen. " Rilikia was starting to wonder what this late-night discussion was really about.
" I see. Getting close to her would do you no good. You saw what happened to Toshi, tomorrow is not guaranteed. "
" Yes, my Queen. "
" In Toshi's last days, I am sure she gave you some advice. What kind of advice was it? " The queen attempts a sweet smile, one Rilikia cannot see because her head is bowed down.
" To be hardworking and honest. " Rilikia lies without skipping a beat, there was absolutely no way she could tell Shiar Toshi had given her a cheat to leave the palace.
" You can look up. " Shiar tells her.
" I am not worthy to... "
" It is an order. "
" So? Was that the only thing she asked of you? " The queen is studying her face, trying to pick out the lie.
" Yes. " Rilikia does not hesitate to answer.
" And you are been honest right now? " The queen asks.
" Yes, my Queen. " Rilikia looks straight into her eyes without any hint of fear.
" I see. Has the work been too much? " The queen looks back into her eyes.
" No, my Queen. " This is the first time Rilikia has looked at the queen's face and she sees perhaps the most beautiful woman she has come across. The queen is indeed a beautiful woman, that we cannot deny but her inside is absolutely rotten.
" Is there anything you think should be changed? Perhaps the living arrangements? Some of the rules? "
" No, my Queen. "
" I see. You can tell me anything you know. I won't hurt you. " The queen attempts a smile and having seen Toshi smile before Rilikia could tell it was a fake one.
" I have no complaints, my Queen. " She replies.
" What time did you finish your work yesterday? " The queen asks.
" Around midnight. "
" What time do you get up every day? " The queen asks.
" Shortly before dawn. "
" That gives you hardly enough time to rest. " The queen comments and Rilikia can not help but wonder what the queen is brewing asking these questions.
" I want us to have tea like this in the evening. I will inform the head maid about this new arrangement so you can finish up shortly after dusk.
" Yes, my Queen. "
" You need not worry. I am aware I am taking your time. You can sleep until well after dawn today. "
" I am grateful for your kindness, my Queen. "
" You may leave. " The queen orders her out of sight.
Rilikia begins to wonder if maybe the queen had gotten a whiff of what she was doing and so will like to keep her in sight just to make sure. But there were lots of slaves in her palace, why would she be interested in what she was doing? Or was she keeping her distracted in order to hurt Leo? At the thought that this might be the case, she ran to her room to find Leo waiting for her.
It was almost dawn by the time she returned to her room and the servants were already stirring so there was no way she could continue her search.
....
" My Queen, there is a letter for you from the kingdom of Tyalia, the Northern province. "
" Really? " The Queen hides the excitement in her voice, after all these years of waiting for the royals to respond to her threat, finally...
" Read it "
" My Queen, Aloud? "
" Should I repeat myself? "
" Hmm mm. " The messenger clears his throat and proceeds to open the letter.
" My Queen, it is with great regrets that I tell you this. I have been... "