Agememnom wondered why she stole his attention. Even without fully seeing her face. He liked her. He concluded that her skill or talent revelation would determine what he does to her.
The king stood and clapped to get the attention of the people invited.
"Everyone is gathered here to celebrate my son's coming of age. So let the exhibition of talents begin". He said and sat.
Major-general of war daughters came and showed forth their talent. They played a flute. So did other major-general's daughters.
Major general of the sea being Johnbones saved his daughters performances for the last. Agememnom eyes were fixed on Elixia. He really wanted to see her face. Elixia feeling uncomfortable looked in his way and saw him staring. She shot him a glare but he didn't flinch, rather he smirked.
This caused Elixia to look at her at her trembling fingers. He was just too much. She wasn't trembling out of fear rather out of anger.
"It's okay to have a crush on him. He is handsome". Johnbones whispered into her ear. She looked up at him with disgust but he couldn't see her face so he taught she was shocked he had caught her.
"No that isn't what it is. It's just that....". He cut her off. "It's just that you can't help but stare at him". Her eyes widened at his words.
"Elixia no one can hold their feelings. So don't try to hold yours". He added.
Her father was really going insane to think she him. She wasn't! She just wanted to win the first battle. Which was staring, but he somehow got her heart to skip a beat. And she couldn't do anything other than to look away.
"Let me clear your doubts. He is handsome. So get him". Her father continued whispering. "And what makes you think I can get him?". She looked into his eyes. "Is there anything you've ever aimed on getting that you didn't get?". He held her face closely. Elixia shook his head at his reply.
From a distance Agememnom watched. And wondered what the lady and her father spoke about. He really wished the piece of cloth could get off her face.
Laughter continued in the hall and Agememnom wasn't interested in what was going on. All he was interested in was the lady whose face was covered half way.
"Agememnom, hey. Hey". Run Ni Tama called Agememnom noticing that his attention wasn't in this scence before them.
"Hey, everyone is trying to impress you and all you can do is to stare at". Run Ni Tama stoped his sentence as he tried searching for what he stared at without breaking his gaze.
Finally, he caught sight of who he stared at. The girl with a piece of clothing on half her face. She also didn't let go of her gaze as she focused on him.
"Is this war between the two of you?". He whispered into Agememnom's ear. "More like it". Agememnom answered without breaking his gaze.
"You've got to stop and look at the other ladies as they tried to please you. It's actually fun". Run Ni Tama shouted into his ear and he closed his eyes as a reaction.
Then Run Ni Tama realised what he had done as he Agememnom clenched his jaw with his eyes closed.
Agememnom opened his eyes and saw the girl has diverted hee attention to the ladies that presented.
She laughed in relief as she watched them, but deep down she was happy that she won the staring competition. "Hey, hey". Vistuler tapped Elixia. "Yeah". "He keeps staring at you". She pointed.
"Let him continue, after all, it's his eyes". Elixia said and glanced at him then looked away.
Now the last entertainment was the daughters of Johnbones. They cheered as Vistuler walked out graciously. She pulled her step mother with her.
"Your majesty, I'm a perfectionist when it comes to make up. So mention anyone you want me to do". She said as she sat her step mother.
"I would like a gothic appearance". The queen said. "At your service your majesty". She courtesied and proceeded.
Run Ni Tama stared as she concentrated on what she did.
"Vistuler you're so dead". Her step mother warned. "You need to keep your face straight so I don't make a mistake". She said.
When she was done with her face she covered her face with a cloth. And placed her attention on her hair .
"All done your majesty". She said and opened her face.
"What in the world?". The queen said surprised to see this and so was the crowd.
"How old are you my child?". The queen asked. "I'm of the age of fourteen". She said as she courtesied.
"You are perfect". The queen praised. "Weldone my child". The king said and she courtesied. "Thank you". "You may have your seat". "Yes my queen". She said as she courtesied one more time and looked up to wink at Run Ni Tama.
The queen smiled at this and she turned to see Run Ni Tama smiling.
Then Johnbones walked out to say.
"My king my queen. This daughter of mine won't be able to show off her skill and talent her". "And why is that". The king asked. "Because she is different from other ladies. The battle auditorium would be better". He concluded.
"What?". The crowd murmured. And the king lifted an eyebrow of his. The queen, Run Ni Tama and Agememnom appeared surprised.
"But she could show some of it here. Elixia. Come out". He called her out. Agememnom looked and he wasn't surprised as the girl who covered half her face was Elixia.
She walked elegantly with an oppressive aura. Then stood before her father like a warrior.
"What should be done if our kingdom has four thousand skilled men for war and our opposing kingdom has fourty thousand men with neighbouring countries having the tendency of supporting her?". "We have to convince the neighboring countries to be on our side or better still promise them a collateral we would give after the war is one".
"What should be the last thing to think of when your kingdom is opposed by another". "War". She answered outrightly.
"What do we do when we are in shortage of food in the kingdom?". "We can't just run out of food there must be a reason we are in shortage of food. One it might be that the labour force for farming has dropped. And that may be caused by death or sickness. Two pest might really be the one shortening the ration of food. We must find out first, what the cause of the shortening of food is grown from". The king and queen stared at each other in amusement and back at the young lady that spoke confidently.
Run Ni Tama was amused at her rate of knowledge. And Agememnom was occupied with finding the best way to take his revenge.
"Solution to number one. We all should add to the work force if it is death. And sickness give a temporary assistance and get the farmers treated". "Not everyone can farm". The king said. "So what do we do?". He asked.
"We should get them replacements". Elixia answered confidently. And the king smiled at her. "We should provide the farmers with pest control if the problem turns out to be pest invasion". She said.
"According to courtesy what is expected of a lady who is of age in a relationship. And really wants a great outcome from her relationship?". Johnbones threw another question to her.
"She should be the last to say I LOVE YOU". She replied shortly. The crowd murmured in disagreement.
Then the queen stood and supported what she said. "Yes she's totally correct. If you do not want to become a toy in the hands of men. You should be the last to say I LOVE YOU". Then she sat back.
Agememnom looked at his mother in surprise.
"I request your permission to use the battle auditorium". Johnbones courtesied as he asked. "Permission granted. The guards would lead everyone there". Anawmim said and got up from the chair.
Everyone had settled down in the battle auditorium. In the middle were seen Johnbones and his daughter. He went behind her and removed the cloth from the lower part of her face. Agememnom was happy as he thought her face would be totally reviewed, but the man did otherwise. He covered her eyes.
"No one other than we her family has seen her face so any soldier that can remove this cloth from her face without the person getting hurt will reveal her face to everyone if he wishes to".
"Are you sure her face won't make us regret out effort?". The king asked and Vistuler stood from where she sat. "My sister is really beautiful. You won't want to look at her once or twice. Yeah". She shouted and then sat.
Some of the king's men were given the task. Then the battle began. Agememnom focused on her pink lips. Which she first drew into a thin line and then a smirk climbed it.
A man moved closer to her quietly then was about to remove the cloth from her face when she held his hand.
"It isn't going to be that easy". Then she broke his fingers. "A man out". They came and rushed him out. The other ran and she bent to stab his feet with.
"Out".
She kept on giving them minor but a major injury.
********
"Father let me also participate". Agememnom said to his father. "She would give you scars you won't forget". His father replied. "Why don't we see first?". He said and walked to the hall where the warrior changed and got a light cloth to change into.
"My prince you should go with shield if you want to go wearing that". A wounded warrior said but Agememnom didn't listen.
Then he ran into the battle floor and she threw her pocket knife at him but he was quick to dodge his feet. Then he picked it and placed it in his pocket
He walked close to her. She started to throw punches. Her movement was fast but he was quicker. He caught on of her hand and she tried so hard to resist but she became weak suddenly. And her heart raced.
His soon grabbed the other hand and he twisted them behind her back as he was in front of her.
He slowly removed the cloth from her face. And she was the most beautiful lady he had seen in this celebration. She did steal his heart with her look, but something wasn't done.
His revenge.
He stared at her lips and devoured it's innocence. She was wide eyed as she couldn't do anything. And everyone gasped at the scene that happened. Then he withdrew and brought out the knife from his pocket.
"At least I could win you with your eyes closed". He said and gave her cheek a line. Her eyes were filled with blood and her eyes were getting teary due to the pain of him tearing her cheek.
She looked into eyes. Then he turned her to the crowd to show her face.
Johnbones smiled from a distance as someone had finally defeated Elixia, cause she never believed she could be defeated by anyone.
"This is the perfect way to show you her face". Agememnom said. Blood had flowed from her cheek down. "And I will wed her". He said to the crowd and she turned to look at him in shock.
"I'm a minor". She said as she ran to whisper shyly into his ear. "I'm also a minor. Today makes me sixteen". He said
"I refuse to be wedded by him". She shouted to the crowd. And turned to leave