We left early to avoid the commotion and attention from the people. The last time I had been out in the kingdom had been long ago so many people wouldn't even recognize my face and I would look like a rich merchants daughter or wife. But I am too young to look like a wife, we both wore cloaks, blue in color the color of the kingdom. We had few guards too.
******
"Welcome your majesty, princess Rosalina" the priests bowed and few scattered off to a hall which was filled with many more. My curiosity got the better of me and I asked what was happening since I could clearly see even Chance was interested.
"The Queen of Orelia is here for some final preparations for her inauguration as queen" the host priest said welcoming us to the crowded hall. We stood back and I could see the long red hair of the queen, she must have been very wise smart, intelligent and old enough to be given the throne already. Orelia was ruled by queens all through, they said that they preferred to have women for leaders.
She was dressed royally and I was pretty sure there was real gold on that gown somewhere. She stood and turned to walk out and I gasped out. Trying to cover my shocked face with my fan but the surprise was all over my features, even Chance was still as a rock.
She was obviously younger than I was, she wore a polite strained smile as she met eyes with mine.
That small girl was queen of Orelia!? Wasn't she too young and wouldn't she render Orelia vulnerable? I don't know much about royal politics but I know that a weak leader a weak kingdom too.
She nodded at me in greeting and I returned the greeting with a smile and nod. Her eyes slid to Chance who had narrowed his eyes at her, they locked their gazes for some seconds and I could see her cheeks turn a shade of pink.
She looked away and walked out.
"What was that about Chance?" I asked turning to look at the man who still looked at the disappearing heads of priest's and the queen.
"I have no idea either" he whispered and heaved out a sigh.
"So princess what do you want to do first, rest or?" the priest brought the attention back to him.
"No I want to see the knives now, I'll rest later" I said dismissing the princess from my mind and the priest led us out of the room to another side of the Oregon. Many ornaments were stored here, if ever there was an attack the kingdom would lose a lot of precious items. The high priest came our way and smiled immediately he saw us. "Welcome back your majesty" he beamed.
"Thankyou high priest" I offered a small bow holding my palms together in front of my chest. He was older than both of us and deserved all the respect in the world.
"Let me take it from here Mortis" he said and the other priest hurried away, maybe he was scared of us or me.
"I've been informed that you want to see the Asher Knives, they have been here since you last took them princess although many people having been coming around claiming to give it them but we couldn't since only the royal family are allowed to take it" Chance had stopped walking and was looking at me as I was listening to the priest saying things I'd never heard before.
When I looked back at Chance he pointed to look at the priests hands which were shaking.
"What do you mean since the last time I was here, I've not come here for years now" I hurried to walk side by side with him and he offered a forced smile.
"You humour me princess, there are the knives as you wished to see" he moved away and let us see them still in the case my father had locked them into. His hands were still shaking at his sides and he hadn't denied what he had claimed. Chance was looking at him as if trying to figure out a math problem.
"Priest can you explain what you mean by 'the last time she took them'" he asked.
"The princess was here three weeks ago and asked for the knives and we gave them to her since, you were very angry then three days later the king was murdered" ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข'๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐กโ๐๐.
That was the implications he didn't add.
But the problem was, I had not even stepped out of the castle for the longest time, I had never even touched the knives in the first place and the one in front of them still had the carving of a flame. My head started to throb.
"When were they returned if she took them?" Chance asked again while his eyes were trained on me asking silent questions which I had no answers to.
"A messenger returned them days later" the priest was looking at my ringed finger.
"Can you show us to our chambers please" the priest nodded as he led us to the rooms. Chance settled in my room and looked at me and I looked back unable to say anything.
His version of the story was all too perfect.