Three hours since the sun had risen. Ania was already wailing her eyes out as she held a letter close to her chest. Holding it, embracing it, as if it had a bit of a spirit or soul in it.
She had woken from her bed, clearly running to Moti's chambers, only to find out he was truly gone. Maids were already cleaning his room, putting most things away, as if it would take at most a month for him to return. "Where is Moti?" Azania questioned a maid who had been putting away the book Moti had been reading since he returned.
"Off to Blue Valley," she bowed as she responded, fearing it was not her business for her to know of such news.
Azania checked the letter on her hands again, wondering if he really had been gone to die.
In the letter, Moti had been explaining how they might never meet again since he was sent off to his death. "I don't wish to make you sad, or cause you worry, but for this one; I'm afraid I might not come back. Be a good girl and serve your people well. You are our only hope," As the big brother he was, he had written those words before shoving them under Ania's pillow whilst she was asleep.
He felt guilty to leave without saying goodbye, however, he didn't think he would be able to stand seeing her cry, or query as to when he would come back. Because he himself, didn't know.
It was only one on the morning when the ceremony to pass on the seal to the crowned prince took place. The first chicken cry had been heard indicating it was already time for him and his elite crew to set off.
The much respect and worship he was given was almost terrifying, it seemed, they held him too highly as if he was already the Master or as if he was already dead.
Why would his father and mother already give him a slight bow as if he was a rank higher than theirs? Why would the royal council suddenly kneel for him like that?
Did they really have that much hope in him? Taking a slight exchange of eye contact with Eshe, Moti had seen she had noticed the difference with the air the royal family pulled that morning.
"Return with victory," the King had yelled out, giving him his outmost blessings. Somehow, deep in his heart, a sense of doubt was replaced from Moti's heart and he found himself feeling a glimpse of hope.
Maybe they did think of him highly and put their lives in his hands.
However, as he looked at his mother's eyes, he could see the stern look she gave him. What did it mean? Was she not afraid he might die? Did she not even try to fight the King from making him do such a mission? Moti could have wondered and thought
And as he took a shortcut with his soldiers to the Blue Valley, cutting through the forest of The Hails. Seeming to be catching up with the Wolf tribe faster than they thought, he felt afraid of what he would face.
The Wolf tribe wouldn't really know any shortcuts, or ways to get to the Blue Valley faster because they rarely ever got to the other side. They didn't know the place like the Crystal's knew it.
In which it would explain as to why Moti and Eshe took time to gallop in drinks before actually taking on the mission.
Three hours later Moti along with Eshe and their soldiers had been deep within the Hails forest. They knew how dangerous it was for them to take the route, however, with the situation they had. They obviously had to take a risk.
"Stay under my tail, and close to me, do not speak, do not look around, up ahead is the only place you should be looking at, if you hear any screams, or as if someone is calling you. Do not pay attention to it," Moti advised them just miles away before they could get into the forest.
"If you do not listen to me, you will die even before we get to the Crowned Prince of Gamba." He told them truthfully, slightly threatening them, hoping they listen.
Deep into the centre of the Forest. Eshe had started to mumble incoherent words as if it seemed she was having a hushed conversation with someone.
Moti had also been hearing horrific voices of his little sister calling out to him, "I cannot believe you would leave without a goodbye," the voice would say. "Moti have roasted chicken," the voice started getting louder and closer to him.
"Moti why won't you look at your little sister?" the voice had questioned, as if Ania was riding along with him at his right.
"Look at me, look at me," the whispers were most deceiving and frightening, Moti was already starting to fall into it. When he suddenly heard Eshe's horse galloping further away from his. Her horse was straying from the path and going deeper into the forest.
Without second thought, he jumped from his horse to Eshe's horse to control it. He could already see a light, an opening, he could already sense that they were close to getting out. But Eshe was fighting him, saying that her brother was calling to him. However, Eshe's brother had long been dead. Ten years had already passed. Maybe, that was something that truly bothered Eshe, maybe the death of her brother was a wound that she herself had accepted that it would never heal.
Moti had leaned to Eshe's ear feeling guilty to have nearly lost her, "listen to my voice Eshe. It is I who's real. Pretend it's only us in this world," he begged holding her closer whilst he prepared to have his horse run faster.
"My hands are staying against your ribcage, holding against you tightly," he had whispered as he tightened his grasp on her figure. "This is me, this is me," he had begged her to stay with him. "Last night, we had wine at the top of the roof of the red gaze Resturant. and you promised to always be by my side." he told her honestly, the memories of yesterday taking over his mind. "Your brother is already dead, and I'm here," he had sadly told her, silently wishing she could somehow already move on from his death. It pained him to know she was always in this kind of pain.
Five minutes later, he was greeted by the hot air of the summer, the sun sending deep rays along his skin. He somehow wished he could get back to his forest.
After getting further away from the forest, He had turned back to find that most of his comrades had made it. "Where is-" his query was disrupted by the sound of nearing horses.
He alerted his army to block the road so the Gambian soldiers would not have the room to pass.
Still holding Eshe tightly, he was delighted to find his horse safely running on its own from the direction of the forest. He called for it, as it ran to him, and he jumped to it calmly, safely getting on his sit.
But Eshe, who had been resting so delightfully at Moti's arms suddenly wished they would stay that way. He could still hear his gentle voice against her ear as he told her to only focus on him.
Was it only her who suddenly felt hot remembering the events of the forest? "Moti," Eshe had called out. "You still have to take accountability for your actions," she mocked him, as her horse ran to his direction to catch up with him so she could stay by his side.
"You should have told me to let you get eaten by the Spirits of the Hails," he raised his eyebrow wondering if he had went too far with his "saving". Obviously, some of the things he did there, was all he ever wanted to do, he had realised.
"Your highness, we await your orders," a general at the back had yelled getting anxious to have the enemy getting too near, and the Prince not taking any actions to make a move for a kill.
Moti was brought back to his senses and suddenly felt anxious to meet his foe. Ten seconds later, they were merely a distant away when the group infront of him suddenly opened a gap as if someone would walk past them.
They stood in cue, opening a uniform passage for their Crowned Prince, because when they travelled, they always had him at the middle incase of an ambush.
Lwazi, bored out of his mighty mind, had had his horse walk slowly to meet his foe. Hoping to make an impression and scare his enemy off at the least.
Yet, when he came face to face to his mirror, same air, same features, they looked like twins. Moti finding this was shocked out of his mind. And his memories took him back to the time he was getting the respect and worship. What were they truly sending him to commit? And suddenly, the dots were begging to be connected.
Lwazi had gotten off his horse, amusement lacing his face as he neared to Moti.
Moti had done the same, his body getting pulled nearer to his foe. Wishing to get a closer look at him. Only two feet away, from each other, the soldiers had prepared to take off their swords, as Lwazi's soldiers prepared to fight with their exes.
Moti had signalled his soldiers to put their swords away, because they were bound to lose this fight if they would fight with such confusion clouding their minds.
And Lwazi? he also signalled his soldiers to put their exes away. Maybe, only because he did not wish for his amusement to end just yet.
"Moti, have you not been taught any morals by your Queen? Do you not know how to greet at the presence of an older brother?" Lwazi yelled, enough for the Arnol soldiers to hear. Enough for Moti to hear, and even enough for him to see just how her own mother was obviously sending him to his death.