When silence becomes silent, it speaks silently but loudly. Ukra kingdom was not only dark but also silent. No eyes could see a human being at that hour. One could only see rays of candle light through windows at different homes especially the royal castle set on top of a mountain while other mini houses surrounded it, extended to a far distance.
The quietness across the kingdom was something Julius could not write home about. He stood at a window, staring at the whole kingdom that seemed deserted and occupied by ghosts because the silence could bring a fallen pin to the ears. He also admired the royal castle, hoping that one day he would step into it because ordinary people like him do not have the temerity to step foot on the golden floor of the royal castle thoughtless of standing with the king or the princess one on one.
He wore a brown wool shirt and a black trouser. He had the face of a 19 year old which he was. He wasn't totally fair but had a total dark curly hair. Just as he spaced through the window, a male voice startled him from behind.
"You have been at the window all night." the voice had said.
Julius turned with heavy exhalation. He looked at his master Bruce who had also been as quiet as the kingdom itself. Yet, he never left the window. "Father, the kingdom has been this quiet since sunset. Why?" he asked him.
Being the physician of the kingdom, Brunce silently ignored his question for the moment as he arranged some chemical apparatus on a large table found in the room. At the four walls of the chamber were candles burning and illuminating the room.
"Father?" Julius called his attention once again.
"All men's miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone." Bruce's voice circulated the chamber.
"I do not understand." Julius stepped away from the window.
"Tomorrow is the sixteenth birthday of king Corbett only daughter, our princess. Also, it is the beginning of tragedy in Ukra because according to tradition, at the sixteenth birthday of a princess whose father has no heir to the throne, the kingdom starts from that day to suffer from plagues until the arrival of Kadura who will marry the princess and assumes the future king of the kingdom."
"I see" Julius turned back to the window. "People are terrified. That's while they are all silent even the king."
"The king's silence is not as a result of terror but as a result of meditation. Monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind. Silence is the sleep that nourishes wisdom. Inner silence is the mother of all talents." Bruce clarified.
Julius looked at him. "The king is stimulating a creative mind? For what?" he asked again.
Bruce smiled. He walked to a wooden chair, sat down on it and tapped another chair opposite him, gesturing at Julius to come sit on it too. The boy did as he gestured. Then the man began. "You do not know the gravity of what is to come from tomorrow, my child. It's like a puzzle that only the creative mind can solve. The king has to relate a live tragedy (the plague) to a mere idiom. That's the only way he can stop each plague on each day until Kadura arrives."
"Idiom?" Julius repeated. "What's an idiom?" he asked.
"It's regarded as the language of the wise. Is an expression or phrase whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, Idioms mean something different than the individual words." He paused to see Julius wallowing in confusion, so he continued. "People often confuse idioms with proverbs. However, these are two different things. Proverbs are well-known for stating a piece of advice or general fact. For example, 'a picture is worth a thousand words' is a proverb – a general truth. Let us consider the idiom 'bite off more than you can chew '. What you meant is that you are trying to do something that is too hard for you."
Julius stood up, thinking critically. "So the king has to figure a suitable idiom that is related to a live event. How will he be able to do that?"
"And he must do it in the secred lion's den. If he comes out alive. You know that he successfully stated the right idiom. According to history, only but a few Kings made it alive from the lion's den till before the arrival of Kadura." Bruce sadly bent his head down and raised it up again. "At these times, the kingdom becomes vulnerable to external forces. Our enemies wage war against us."
Julius swallowed hard. "What if Kadura doesn't come and where is he by the way?"
"I haven't witnessed the coming of Kadura before. We have only read on our history records how this tradition takes effect. It is believed that Kadura comes from a mystical world, a world unknown. You cannot underestimate the power of culture and tradition, Julius." Bruce stood up. He began to walk towards his room while Julius returned to the window. Just at his door, he looked back at him. He could see fear and worries on his face through the candles flame. "Go to bed, Julius." he finally clutched the door of his room.
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Lady Adriana's room was not only glowing in golds of furniture, it had a large bed situated at the center with red curtains round it. It had the description of a royal sanctum because Adriana was the only daughter king Corbett had. She was very young, beautiful like the morning sun. She also stood at the window in a white gown while Albat, her maid, arranged the bed for her after which she laid face up on it. Albat gently covered her with a blanket.
She had a black complexion, short black hair and slim-fit. She clutched her two hands below her thigh, staring at her princess who looked so unease on the bed
"Albat?" Adriana called from the bed.
"Yes, my lady" Albat answered. "You need to sleep, my lady. It gonna be a long day tomorrow."
"How can i sleep when my sixteenth birthday will be a nightmare. I feel like I've doomed the kingdom. If I was a male child I wouldn't lay on my bed, getting worried about my sixteenth birthday."
Albat sat down on the edge of the bed like a mother about to sing her child to sleep. Adriana saw a hopefully smile on her face. Both were of the same age but different class; Albat was only but a worthless maid in the eyes of the king. Regardless, the worthless maid and Adriana lived like trusted friends.
"Do not blame yourself, my lady." She began, holding her hand "You didn't from the womb choose who you wanted to be. None of this is your fault. You should look forward to the arrival of Kadura, a perfect man who will love you and make you the queen of this kingdom."
"Kadura is only but a tale. It hasn't happened in my generation. Only on our history book i read how he came during the days of our forefathers." Adriana objected.
"Tradition is tradition. It hasn't changed. Instead of you getting worried, just pray Kadura comes on time." She drew the blanket closer to her neck. "Sleep well, my lady." She watched her princess close her eyes in sleep. She stood up, carried a plate of food the princess untouched and blew off the candle lights.
On the other hand, Julius whose eyes had been fixed on the castle saw the flame of the candle go off. As he never departed from the window, he heard his name at the base of the window. Quickly, he narrowed his vision down to see Maximus, his friend, waving at him. "What are you..." he whispered and carefully left the room not to wake Bruce. He finally met his friend who folded his arms, staring into the sky like one with a heavy heart. "Maximus!" he called him but the boy paid him a deaf ear. "You are the only being outside in this kingdom. What's the problem?"
Maximus kept staring into the sky without uttering a word as Julius observed him. He suddenly shook his head pitifully.
"Yes, I Know." Julius brought down his voice, hoping that he knew the cause of his friend's stare. "Tomorrow is lady Adriana's sixteenth birthday and..."
"Who cares!" Maximus interrupted and brought down his head, looking at his friend. "I do not care about the princess or anything that comes tomorrow. I can't sleep, Julius!" he grabbed the boy's shirt and shook him vegorously. "My mind is set to my muse, my angel, my sugarplum, my blondie, my dove, my bubble butt, my buttercup, my Mon cheri, my...."
"Wait, wait, wait." Julius interrupted him. "This is about Avera, isn't it?" he asked.
Maximus stretched his hands up like a Reverend father about to bless a sacrament. "Oh, my very Avera, if only mouth can tell my love for you, I'll call you my lovera." He set his hands forward and firmly stretched his legs too like a kungfu monk under training."I'll fight for you.." he flung one of his legs dramatically.
Julius shook his head. "Maximus stop. Did you call me out here to show me your fighting skills for love?"
"No!" he turned to him, rushed to a corner and came back with rose flower which he stretched to him. Julius was yet to understand why his friend was standing before him with a flower. Therefore he gazed into his eyes for him to substantiate the weird inclination, but Maximus remain mute, also returning the gaze.
"Max, what are you doing?" Julius asked him.
"I want to give Avera the flower." he replied.
"Well, I'm not Alvera."
"I know, you silly. For now you have to pretend to be her and watch my skills if it's perfect."
"Max, for all the problems in this kingdom, yours is how to offer a flower to a....."
"Ssshhh.." Maximus placed a finger across his lips. "Say no more, Avera, my love. I imagined your beauty, crossed the seven rivers of Ukra kingdom to get you a flower as beautiful as you." he gently, at a close range, held the flower forward, waiting for Julius to play his part. Already, Julius had been smiling at his attitude. The smile got broader when he took the flower from him. Just then, he sighted Albat, briskly passing from afar. She covered her body from head to toe with a fabric like a virgin Mary. Quickly, Julius ran after her with the flower.
"Where's he going with my flower?" Maximus whispered and went after him. "Avera stop... what am I saying? I mean, Julius!" he stuttered.
Meanwhile, before Julius could approach Albat, she had entered into a particular chamber; her mother's house. Julius quietly admired her through a window. Albat had been his crush but since she spent most of her time in the royal castle, he had not really found the opportunity to exchange words with her. So he gently dropped the flower at the doorstep and left just to meet Maximus on the way, coming like an angry leopard.
"I said play Avera not to take her flower to another girl, a common maid to the princess! This is outrageous!" Maximus pushed him, wanting to go pick the flower from the doorstep. Julius grabbed him.
"Avera is neither a maid nor the princess. She's just a common lowlife Ukran." he fired back as Maximus struggled in his arms.
"My sweet Lord!" Maximus exclaimed. "How dare you talk about my muse like that!" both kept arguing.
Meanwhile, inside the house, Albat uncovered herself, lit more candles and called, "Mother!" she placed the food she carried on a table. "Lady Adriana is unease due to the believed tragedy to starts tomorrow. So she left her food untouched. Come so you can eat something, mother." she added as she was putting on another candle. Just then, she heard Julius and Maximus' arguing voices from outside. She walked to the door and opened it.
At the sight of the young girl, the boys stopped arguing instantly and stood still like statues, staring at her. Of course Albat recognized them. Therefore she said, "What are both of you doing there?"
"We came to hunt." Julius found his voice.
"Yes, hunting rose flowe....." Maximus wanted to say but Julius covered his mouth with his palm.
"What he tried to say was road rats. We're hunting road rats." Julius smiled and began to drag Maximus out from the place. Albat watched them until they went out of sight. She smiled. Just before closing the door, she saw the flower. She picked it up, smelt it and broadly smiled again.
"Who were those?" her mother's voice startled her.
She quickly turned and hid the flower behind her. "Those were... unmm.. road rats, mother." she swallowed hard after answering as an afterthought. "You can eat your food, let me get back to my quarters at the royal castle." she backwardly made use of the exit to close the door with a hand while the other hand with the flower remained behind her.
"Albat?" the mother called her. "It's a nice flower." she glanced at her from the table where she had started eating the bread.
Albat felt embarrassed. She didn't know whether to close the door or to leave it open. Neither did she know whether to go to the castle or not. She was just speechless and static until the mother said, "You can close the door and go back to your quarters. Good night."
"Good night." She closed the door and exhaled heavily.
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The night grew weary when it was fast approaching midnight. The quietness increased and Bruce kept snoring in his room. Though it was dark but all of a sudden, the room illuminated by a ray of white light. He opened his eyes to see a strange man standing beside his bed through whom the light originated from. Bruce sat up.
"Who are you?" he asked the strange man.
"I came to announce to you the arrival of Kadura." The man replied.
Just then, Bruce began to hear joyful shout from outside. He left the man in his room to the living room where he looked through the window to see people happily chanting around a boy on a horse with his face and body covered with armor. His sword glitters like gold and his posture could tell his outstanding fighting skills. "That's Kadura?" Bruce asked.
"Yes, he has come as tradition demands" the strange man's voice came behind him.
Bruce didn't turn. His eyes were fixed on the perfect man from a mystical world who suddenly removed his Cassis crista, a heavy bronze helmet. His face and identity raised an eyebrow among the citizens of Ukra especially Bruce. Therefore he asked without looking back, "Julius is Kadura? How can Julius be kadura?" he finally turned but never saw or heard the strange man again. All of a sudden, Bruce found himself on his bed sleeping and opening his eyes for the second time to see the room dark. The strange man was not there anymore neither did he hear a joyful shout. He stood up, put on a candle and sat at the edge of his bed. "Was that a dream or a vision?" he thought critically because it was so real. Nevertheless, he left the room to the living room where he looked through the same window to see nothing but a void and quiet kingdom. He walked to Julius' door, opened it and found the boy sleeping peacefully.
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The morning sun had risen, People went about their daily activities though carefully and fearfully because none could comprehend when and where the first plague will strike. Knight of Ukra paraded around the kingdom by the King's order to make sure no plague or intruder takes them unaware. At a water-Well was Julius, drawing water from the well. Once again he lust after Albat who was on her way to the same well with a bucket she held closely to her armpit. She was a black beauty to behold. Getting to the Well, she glanced at Julius without saying a thing and lowered her pulley to draw her own water.
"Good morning, Julius." she greeted after another glance at him.
"Good morning, humm.. Albat." he began to smile sheepishly and foolishly. Well, the young girl never said anything to him again as she concentrated on the water she came to draw.
Being with the opposite gender was something new to Julius, so he really didn't know what to say again or do, but he wanted more of her voice and attention. He swallowed hard and lowered his own pulley too. The silence between them enabled the hearing of droplet of water into the well and rusty sound of their pulleys. Julius couldn't get his eyes off her while Albat also occasionally glanced at him. At his last draw, he said, "Hi.."
Albat looked at him. "I thought we've greeted, Julius" she smiled.
"Oh, yeah. Sorry." Julius began to scratch the back of his head while Albat kept smiling, drawing more water from the well. "I'm surprise you know my name." he added lively.
"You're the son of Bruce, the physician."
"Oh, yeah, you know me." Silence creeped in again. "About last night. Hum.. I'm sorry for the way my friend...."
"I understand, Julius." Albat filled her bucket and gave him her full attention after the interruption.
"Really? Well, do you like it, I mean the flower?" Julius asked.
The young girl began to smile attractively. She placed the bucket of water on her head to go without a reply. Instead of Julius to be disappointed, the girl's smile rather made him feel like she had given him her whole heart and love. Therefore he saw the disappointment as a blessing.
"Albat!" he called her. The girl turned with the bucket on her head. "I'll be at the river today before nightfall. Maybe I'll know you like the flower if you show up. Like... Humm... I'll be glad to see you there."
The girl kept smiling as she hurried to the royal castle.
Meanwhile, lady Adriana had gone to her maid's chamber when she didn't see her. The young beautiful girl opened her door. The first thing that caught her eyes was the flower which hung on the wall of the chamber. She smiled when she saw it, surging forward to it as well. She gently felt the rough texture of the flower in her hands. Just then, Albat walked in. She was shocked to see the princess in her chamber, so she became unease, standing at the door.
"My lady?" she bowed her head.
Adriana turned from the flower. She wore an expensive white tunic made of silk. Also a woolen mantle, known as palla, over a stola, a simple, long-sleeved, voluminous garment that hung to midstep. On her wrists were jewelries. While on her head rested her crown as the princess of Ukra kingdom. She looked stunning! "Where have you been, Albat?" she asked.
"To get water for your morning bath, my lady" she replied. Silence creeped inbetween them. Adriana stepped away from the wall towards the window where she saw people working, selling and buying. She also saw a few knights riding horses out of the kingdom through a large metal gate.
"I made the water hot, my princess. You should go take it before it gets cold." Albat broke the silence.
Adriana averted from the window towards the door where her maid remained unease. "It's a nice flower, Albat. He is a lucky man." she walked to the center of the chamber. "Who is he?" she asked.
Albat smiled, feeling so shy. "It's no one my princess." she bent her head.
Adriana smiled too. "There's nothing to be shy about. Talk to me."
"I do not know him, my princess. I just found the flower at my doorstep last night."
"Here in royal castle?"
"No, my lady!" she shook her head fastly. "At our own house." she added.
Adriana smiled again. "Albat, I know you don't want to tell me who he is." She took a step forward. "You know him and you love him otherwise you wouldn't keep it." She took another step closer to her as tension gradually began to rise in the chamber. "You don't know how lucky you are, Albat."
"How, my lady?" she found her voice.
"You're lucky to love whosoever you want to love unlike me."
"No, my princess. You're the luckiest woman for you'll get to marry a perfect man."
"Really? So you don't consider whether I'll love him or not. Kadura will just come and claim me as if it's his right and I have no choice of who I want to spend the rest of my life with. It's so awkward." she looked away from her.
"It's tradition my princess. That's why he's a perfect man. Every woman wants a perfect man."
"Only the gods are perfect, Albat." She angrily passed her, clutched the doorknob to leave but Albat called her on her way.
"My princess, the perfect gods made Kadura a perfect man." she rendered her speechless. Both stared for some moments before she finally left.
Fear has always been a very important whistleblower. Our emotion and our history can provoke fear that may arrest us at any time or at any place. Above and beyond, fear might be contagious and its scent, sometimes sensual, sometimes mystical or animal, can exude the musty and arcane smell of destiny. This was the state of king Corbett and the elders of the kingdom. They were ten men seated round a table with the king at the extreme. He has a straight nose, medium sized lips and ears, and round, largish medium eyes with curly hair. He was a brave man, but can be strict on his decisions. Soliloquy arose among them after discovering that the day was about to end without any plague as tradition demands.
"I do not think this part of tradition is still effective!" The king began while others became quiet. His voice alone can tell the power and authority he possessed. "I say this because we have not seen any form of plague and also it has been long this tradition was practiced."
"My king" one of the men began. "It's wise to thread with caution. Let's first invite the physician. Maybe he has discovered a certain flue that will ravage the kingdom in no time."
"No," another objected. "We need a first hand information. I mean the king should consult the great lion. He must know something about the deliance of this plague."
Swiftly, the king stood up. "Our enemies are already planning war against us. We need to know what and who we are dealing with. I shall consult the great lion." He walked out from the table followed by the men. Through a stair, all descended to a dark basement of the royal castle where the Lion's den was located. The elders stopped at the first entrance because only the king is allowed to enter into den of the lion. It was dark and creepy. King Corbett, feeling the heaviness of his sword on his waist, he grabbed a stick of light which flame illuminated his path. Getting to the Lion's den, he saw the animal in a cage, fierce and dangerous. It was not just an animal. It was a talking deity. Seeing the king, he roared.
"Well, well, well, who do we have here? Corbett himself! This must be interesting after many years." The lion said with deep, groaning voice.
"Accord me with some respect. I'm king Corbett not just Corbett." the king waved the stick of light across his face.
"Hohohohoho.." the loin laughed. "I'm the opposite of a dog, but I'm not a god. I move my tail when I'm mad and growl when I'm pleased. I am the killer of trees, but people need me. I can be blown away by a breeze and I have been here since ancient Greece." he said.
"I know you're a cat and a paper according to your riddles. But this is no time for riddles. Tell me why the plague is being delayed." the king boldly demanded.
"There is an ancient invention still used in some parts of the world today that allows people to see through walls."
"Enough of the riddles!"
"You always run faster than your shadow, Corbett! Why the plague has been delayed is because Kadura is already in Ukra kingdom."
"What?!" the king put the stick on another hand.
"Not that the plague won't come, it will! Just that it will be delayed due to Kadura's presence in Ukra. Patience, Corbett, patience!!!" the lion turned his back on him.
"Who is he? Is he someone I know?"
"If I have it, I don't share it. If I share it, I don't have it." the lion sat down and began to scratch his ear.
"Oh, is a secret, isn't it."
"A secret I do not know. Go home Corbett and let culture take its course. I'll be looking forward to devour you when you fail to relate a plague to an idiom, the language of the wise. Farewell!"
The king exhaled and angrily left the den. He met his elders outside and said. "Kadura is already in Ukra, but the lion wouldn't tell me who. Tell the bell keeper to ring the bell. I need everybody at the Coliseum now!" he matched bravely to his throne.
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However, before the night totally fell, Julius waited patiently for Albat at the river which flows along a single path. At the two sides of the river were tall trees with shrubs at the base. There was a log of wood close to the river where Julius sat down. He kept throwing gravels on the water. Just then, he heard a footsteps from behind then turned to see no one. Weird!
"Who's that?" his voice echoed at the bank of the river.
"Me!" Maximus came out from his hiding place. Julius was very disappointed to see him there because he could just ruin his moment with Albat.
"What are you doing here, Max?!"
The young boy walked closer to him and stopped. "What are you doing here, Julius?" he returned the question. "Okay, in this situation where two friends meet and start asking each other what they are doing here, they actually have a hidden agenda about what they are doing here." he added.
Just then, Albat arrived and stood at a distance. Julius comported himself with a smile. Maximus traced his eyes to see Albat. "Oooh," he shouted. "She's why you asked what I'm doing here while she's what you're doing here and you're what she's doing here. I guess I have to go because none of you are what I'm doing here." he began to walk away while Julius and Albat kept smiling.
"Hi, Max" Albat greeted.
"Hi, Albat. You both can now find a purpose of what you are doing here while I go there." he passed her.
"Go where?" Albat still needed to hear from him.
"To a place where no one will ask me what I'm doing there." he replied hilariously.
Albat walked to Julius with that smile. "Your friend is ridiculously mannered." she said as both sat on the log of wood, feeding their eyes with the flowing river.
"He's always like that." Julius said. "I thought you won't show up." he added.
"It's because I like the flower. Though my mother caught me, hiding it behind me last night." She giggled.
Julius gasped. "Really? She did?"
"Yes, and it was so embarrassing and funny at the same time trying to hide it from her. I was so confused that I didn't know my right and left anymore." She laughed with Julius who couldn't help it too. They suddenly remained quiet and stared at each other romantically. They were moved by the butterfly in their stomachs. Therefore gradually began to bring their heads for their first kiss. They could even feel and hear their breath when their noses clutched, remaining their lips. Unfortunately, the sound of the bell interrupted the romantic moment. They withdrew their heads instantly.
"Oh, sweet Lord!" Albat rushed up. "This can't be good. It's an emergency bell. I'm sorry, I need to rush back to the castle." She began to run, lifting up her gown with a hand.
Julius stood up. "Albat!" he called her. The girl stopped and turned, breathing hastily. "I love you!" he told her.
Albat smiled and continued running.
The coliseum was a huge stadium that first opened in 80 C.E. Located in the middle of the kingdom. The Coliseum was circular in shape with three levels of arches around the outside. In height, the Coliseum was as tall as a modern 12-story building; it held 50,000 spectators. Like many modern professional sports stadiums, the Coliseum had box seats for the wealthy and powerful men. The upper level was reserved for the commoners. Under the floor of the Coliseum was a labyrinth of rooms, hallways, and cages where weapons were stored and animals and gladiators waited for their turn to perform or fight during fighting tournament. But it wasn't a time for tournament, so everyone who obeyed the bell and gathered at the coliseum wondered the cause for the alarm.
One could see Julius struggling to get a seat in the crowd. Luckily, he sighted Bruce, his father, and sat beside him.
"Where have you been, Julius?" Bruce asked him.
"I've been everywhere, father." he replied.
"I see." Bruce nodded his head.
Just then, the king and elders in council assumed their seats with the princess. Behind her seat was Albat, standing like a maid she was. Julius admired her from his position. The king stood up and began, "We all know what today is!" Hearing his voice, everywhere calmed down. "It's the sixteenth birthday of our princess; a day when our tragedy should start but we're worried that nothing has happened because I was made to believe that Kadura is already in Ukra. That's why the plague is being delayed!"
People began to murmure at the sound of that. Bruce looked at Julius to remember his dream or vision about him being the Kadura. He didn't want to believe it neither did he want to tell anybody about it. But he was certain that Julius wasn't his child and unfortunately the boy had no idea that Bruce wasn't his biological father too.
"Why are you staring at me, father?" Julius caught him.
"Nothing, my child. I'm just surprise how Kadura is already in Ukra on the first day." Bruce averted his eyes.
"He must be hiding somewhere." Julius thought immaturely. Bruce smiled at his statement.
Nevertheless, the king continued as the soliloquy died down. "I demand that the Kadura should report to my palace before night fall tomorrow!" he concluded and left his seat to his chamber where he summoned Nero, the captain of the knights. Only both of them were there. The king walked to a bottle of wine where he poured some in a glass cup and sipped a quantity.
"Nero?" he called the captain.
"My King." Nero replied.
"I called you here because it's important and secretive. "I want you to take your men, find who this Kadura is and kill him." the king ordered.
"Yes, sir." Nero matched forward and was called back by the king who said, "Make no mistake." Nero nodded and left while the king began to think critically with the glass wine in his hand ....