Everywhere was loud, sounds of people shouting in horror and yelling the names of their loved ones rent the air.
Women were being beaten and men were being maimed. children were swiped left and right.
The sky was red.
A young girl ran through the chaos evading the grip of countless scary, evil-looking men with bruises all over her body. She knew not where she was running to, only what she was running from.
She stumbled and rolled into a muddy pit.
A woman screamed her name, alerting her of the incoming captor.
The woman screamed in blood-drying horror "Run, RUN!!!"
Qaya gasped and jolted from her bed. It was a dream. She wiped the tears from her face and stood up.
She'd been having these dreams ever since the attack at Canary's nest but this one was particularly violent and felt real. She broke down in tears, she felt so sorrowful, the pain from being torn away felt new and recent.
Maybe it was the new environment, because she was now in the vile place known as the King's palace, but she was shaken mentally and psychologically.
All she wanted to do was heed the voice of the woman and run.
***
It was already morning, Awin sat at the dinning table and uninterestingly watched as the servants set the table.
"Where's Qaya?"
"The lady is in her room"
"Has she had breakfast?"
"Not yet, she refused to heed any of us"
"Such insolence, why would an intending queen listen to servants?" Awin spat
"I deeply apologize" the servant hurriedly bowed in fear of what the king might do to her.
"Tell her that I request her presence at breakfast and the king of Easteford will not eat until he sets his eyes on his queen"
The servants passed this message to Qaya and that did the trick, she appeared looking tired and worn. She curtsied and sat at the table.
"You came" Awin smiled and took a bite of sweet wheat cake
"You must have been starving" she said not even trying to conceal the mockery and disdain
"What?" He raised his eyebrows in confusion and amusement at her harsh statement
"I heard that the king will refuse to eat till he sees his queen, as far as I'm concerned, we are yet to be married, you have no queen. But you must have been so hungry that reason eluded you and caused you to discard your threat"
Awin chuckled and dropped his spoon "you're so cute, it's baffling. An engagement with the king will always result to marriage and can only be stopped by death. But I imagine you're desperately trying to find something to grasp unto, a false sense of hope, that you'll escape"
"It's pathetic but also cute, so I'll allow it"
Qaya's countenance grew sour and she got ready to leave the table "I have no appetite, I'd like to leave"
"I didn't call you to eat. This is the only time I'll have today to talk to you. I wanted to talk."
"My mistake"
"It's nothing, I've reigned as a queenless king for a long time, so I'm afraid the subjects won't be patient for a wedding ceremony, you'll have to resume your duties as soon as possible."
Qaya sighed and settled again into her seat. She massaged her temples and reached for a glass of water.
"I understand, but Awin, while I don't know what possessed you to propose marriage to me, I want you to understand that I'm trying my best. So, doing things like this; inviting me for breakfast and things like these...is pushing too far."
"You seem to have adjusted to your role as queen, telling the king what and what not to do."
she shrugged and motioned for a servant to meet her and quietly spoke to the lady, she turned and looked at Awin "I reckon you're done with your meal?"
She asked pointedly nodding to his abandoned plate. He chuckled and stood up
"Your audacity is alluring"
The servants waiting on them began to wish for death with what they had witnessed. The queen had spoken to the king dismissively in the presence of his subjects, so they feared that they would be cruelly punished for witnessing the King's humiliation but he only malevolently chuckled and left for his office.
Qaya quietly ate, she had asked for spicy pig intestine to be roasted for her, it was something she suddenly started craving, she didn't know why, it was something that she hoped will make her feel better.
Alone on the dinning table, with servants and guards waiting on her she solemnly ate her meal.
It was to everyone's horror when they heard first heard sniffing, then sobbing and then the sad sounds of their future queen bawling.
The servants out of respect turned aside, knowing that this is what she wanted, to mourn.
Her tongue was on fire, her temperature had increased and her mind was numb, she wanted to believe it was the spicy meal. It was much more comforting to believe that.
When she was done with her meal, she went to visit the office she would soon be working in. The queen was normally in charge of intra-kingdom matters like business affairs; when people wanted to complain or make pleas concerning business and social issues the queen was the person to tend to them.
While the king was in charge of governance, military and executive duties, the queen would normally concern herself with citizen well being.
She sat down and sipped on the tea that was left for her. She was still flushed from her meal and was tired, so she rested her head on the table.
Just when she was about to drift to sleep, she heard a knock on the door.
"Come in" she sat up.
The person entered, it was Zachary.
"What does your king want now?" She breathed in exasperation.
He was quiet and just approached her.
"What's the matter?" She asked, now alarmed by his actions
He handed her a bottle and looked away as if he was scared to meet her eyes "it's lemon yogurt, I saw you during breakfast, it helps with the pain from the spice and I assumed you'd want something sour because of your mood"
Qaya raised her eyebrows in amazement.
"Was I mistaken? I thought so because you've been crying a lot recently, I thought that's why you asked for something so spicy. I apologize for my mistake, I'll take it back"
"No, I'd love to enjoy some lemon yogurt."
She took the bottle and took a gulp, amd let out a satisfied sigh.
"I thought you came on the King's order but I was mistaken"
He was quiet, he looked at the lady's face. He didn't know what else to say or do, normally he should go and resume his normal duties but after seeing what she'd been going through he couldn't just leave her alone. But what was he to say?
"Will the king have your head if you sit?" Qaya's question interrupted his nervous thinking and he sat opposite her.
"I apologize for..." he stopped himself, what right did he have to apologize on Awin's behalf to Awin's wife. Qaya noticed his conflicted expression and laughed
"It's okay, I brought this upon myself. It must be tough on you, I see you are loyal to the king but don't agree with his methods. Quite the paradox"
"My loyalty is from a debt I should pay. Still, I am eternally grateful to the king for my own reasons"
"I understand, even Awin has done some good things in his lifetime"
"Do you feel better? Oh....wait, I'm sorry for overstepping"
Qaya laughed again and drank the yogurt again.
"What's this? You must really pity me, Why? Are you normally this apologetic to your master's victims or is it just because I'm your kinsman"
"You were heartbroken"
"What?" She asked taken aback
"After the court investigation disclosure meeting, you looked so sorrowful. I normally try to be insensitive to people King Awin tramples upon because doing otherwise would mean disloyalty but that day you were in sheer pain, almost as if you were wronged. And normally the people the king tramples upon are nobles, that have also done horrible things, so I try not to care but you..."
He paused as he saw Qaya crying, he couldn't go on and just let her cry. She bowed her head and continued crying. For so long she'd been trying to put Qaya Wright behind her but she'd been living such a conflicted life with the constant dreams from her days in slavery. It was at this moment, with Zachary's help that she realized something; she was Qaya Wright and Qaya Heris; it was absurd but it was her absurd reality, that she couldn't run from.
"Zachary, I'm grateful for your kind words and gestures. It's because of this that I've come to a crucial realization and I will never forget what you've done for me"
She got up and left hurriedly.
"Where are you going?" Zachary asked
"I want to reconcile with an old friend"
****
Outside the palace walls was festive and bustling. It helped to boost Qaya's mood. Awin had been adamant to let her leave and in a male disguise too but she told him she was preparing for her duties and kept throwing cruel retorts at him. He had to let her go but she was also certain that he sent someone to trail her, but she was content with being let out to travel freely.
She strolled in the busy marketplace, she could feel her mood getting better. She came outside for many reasons; she came for her mental well-being because if she continued to stay in that sad and sickening place she would go mad, also this whole time she'd put the life she lived as Qaya Wright behind her but what if something happens and she has to put aside this life too and live as another Qaya or a totally different person. She wanted to know the reason for her existence, why she started having these dreams or rather, this memory recollections and why she couldn't remember them in the first place.
And the first thing she had to do was be at peace with herself as both Qaya Heris and Qaya Wright.
She found herself standing in front of a food stall and ordered a kebab.
"What's a noble like you doing here?" A gruff man in the next stall asked, even with the distance between them Qaya could tell the man was drunk, he reeked of alcohol.
"Young man, don't try and pretend. It's so obvious, look at him" he said to another man sitting by him "the lad's skin is so smooth and pure-looking, you could even entice me..."
"Watch your tongue. You said it yourself that I'm a noble and I'm at a station where I can have your head for misspeaking" Qaya managed to say in her most threatening male voice, which was somewhat convincing.
The man laughed heartily and ignored his companions chiding. "If I you kill me for admiring your beauty and yearning for a taste then I will die an happy man"
"Then die" a mysterious voice responded and a figure appeared behind the drunk and slammed the man into unconsciousness.
"Don't fret, I just quickened his sobriety, he'll be in his senses when he wakes"
"But... he's bleeding" the drunk's companion wined.
"I imagine that's what happens if your head is violently smacked against an oak table" the man retorted
He walked up to Qaya and held her "let's go"
"What?" Qaya asked but was cut short when she found herself walking through the busy marketplace once again and into an isolated alley.
What was happening? Why did this man drag her here? Would he do something horrible? Was he the person Awin sent to watch over her? This was what she was thinking as she looked around her, frightened for her life.
"Let go of me" she shouted and he obliged, immediately releasing his grip
"Were you uncomfortable? You should have said so?"
"What?" Qaya was now more confused "just who are you?"
"You don't know me..." the man paused and scratched his head "I'm your savior"
She rolled her eyes at his words and turned to leave.
"I believe you need my help"
"Mr. Man will you shut up and let me work in peace"
"Ah" he sighed as he brushed through his hair with his fingers. "I really didn't imagine you treating me like this after saving you twice"
"What?" Qaya was now taken aback, she squinted hard and looked at the man before her,his hood had come down but his face was still masked, why would anyone walk like this in broad daylight and not be mistaken for someone who has dubious intentions. Now that she thought about it he did sound familiar.
"Rivan?"
He nodded and put his hood back on.
"What's with the attire?"
"I can't say, just know I came here for personal business, I was about to leave for someplace else when I saw you"
"So you want to help me?"
"I think I can help"
"I don't know, I want to investigate something about Qaya Wright but ..."
"I'll help regardless"
"Okay, so won't you take off this...uhm, I don't know, mask?"
"And let the king know that Rivan Ceria was seen in the same market as you? Besides I just can't"
"Anyway I figured, you came looking for information, good thing I brought you here"
Qaya looked at him flabbergasted and uninterested, what was this man talking about what was so good about this dejected area.
He smiled and walked over to a brick wall and like it was an everyday action, he pushed on a brick, a pair of eys looked through the empty space, that the brick once filled.
"Who goes there?" The man behind the brick wall asked
"Business and drinks" Rivan answered to the confusion of Qaya. The man was quiet for a while and then a door in the wall opened.
"Welcome"
***
The room was dimly lit and people were silently conversing over alcohol. This place was very obviously a shady place.
Qaya nudged Rivan "you don't come of as someone who'd dabble in illegal things, much so have the audacity to bring me here.
He shrugged "I thought you needed information promptly, I must have been mistaken"
"Young man, I'll have you know that we are no illegal organization" this was the man that was to attend to them and he had a office, so Qaya assumed he was high ranking.
"Really?"
"Yes, our work is so noble and extensive that it couldn't contain the laws and constitution of the land"
"I see, so what do you do?"
"A lot but they include trafficking your goods and consignment to help you evade tax and tarrif, selling your money in other countries and we basically do anything for you that you don't want the government to be aware of. We have an extensive network of staff and partners, any transaction that you don't want to show in the records, we're the right guys"
"So why did you bring me here?" She asked Rivan
"I imagine you-know-who worked hard to not let anyone find about Ms. Wright, so he'll definitely know if someone is investigating, they can do that without tipping any of his alarms"
"Oh, I hadn't thought of that. But I'm genuinely curious to know why you patronized them"
"We aren't that close" he turned away.
"Anyway, I need to know how quick you can get this information" Qaya asked
"Well, it depends, somethings we can give you immediately as you're seated, others, we give after a while. It all depends on the nature of the information you're seeking. Let me hear you first, then I'll decide"
"Do you have an idea of any slave markets around, tell me about all of them"
"There's only one slave market, though it has two ports that the people were trafficked from, but in the past seven years, the ports have been out of operation because the new governments ruling the territory of the ports frowned against slavery."
"These ports, where are they?"
"The slaves come from the port in the northern continent country, Kusuk and reach the port in Easteford but some slaves were Eastefordians that were sold by enemies or loved ones that were starving and needed food."
"The slave market where is it?"
"All the slaves all stayed in one village, a wasteland in the backyard of Easteford, Zajey"
Qaya was quiet, that name made her heart skip.
"What I really want you to investigate is this; the king on one occasion emancipated a slave from that market, I need to know everything about her till the very moment that you set your eyes; from her birth to date"
"that will prove difficult, an emancipated slave that's either in Easteford or Kusuk or someplace else, and slaves don't have much records of life, even if it is practiced, it is still a crime that earns capital punishment"
"It's still practiced?" Qaya asked in dismay
The man let out a bitter chuckle "the ports are not operational but some people still sell and treat their fellow human beings like beasts of burden, sadly"
Suddenly Qaya felt a painful headache, it felt like a thin, long and sharp needle stabbed her head.
"I don't feel good" she muttered and looked at the man "I understand that the job will be difficult, so I'll reward you heavily"
'okay, your fees are 300,000 Ests"
"I understand, I'll give you in our next meeting, you have my word"
"It's okay, I know. We are never owed" he answered, baring his teeth in a malevolent grin.
"We'll sell your properties until we get your money" he said in a singsongy manner, a contrast with his earlier menacing countenance.
"Who'll let you do that?" Qaya was getting offended by his audacity.
This time it was Rivan who answered the question "one of the documents you signed was a loan agreement, they can always present that as justification"
"What?" She gasped in shock and slapped his arm "why didn't you tell me?"
"Sorry for assuming that you had good eyesight to see and read the document"
Qaya smirked at the Rivan's sarcastic remark
"This son of a-"
****
"Remember to keep me posted" Qaya said to Rivan as she got into the carriage that will take her home, he nodded and waved as the carriage disappeared into the distance.
He sighed and looked forlorn, he started for his way out of the market. All day there was a face he wanted to see, but the fact that he knew the feeling wasn't mutual stung.
But that's the thing about love, it causes you to act against reason, it makes you tolerate humiliation.
With a sad but expectant heart, he made his way to give sucur to his wounded 'friend' despite his own weeping heart.