Madam ,the priestess is here the maid informed .Allow her in ,she said touching her grown belly . Come in ,the door opened revealing a woman in her late 40s ,she was dressed in a blue garment with a red scarf tied around her head , pleased to meet you madam Evergreen ,the priestess said raising her hands together to greet her while receiving no response . I'm sure you are aware of the reason you are being summoned . Yes madam she replied ,bring it out the madam ordered her maid who understood immediately ,not long, a sack of coin was placed on the table ,all this for me she said as she took the money smiling . Placing a hand on the swollen tummy of the madam she begins chanting incantation while rubbing on the rosary in her hand as her eyeball kept rolling while she shakes . Ahhh"she gasped, returning from her spirit state . It a girl she announced receiving a glare from the madam .. she has prom….shut up your mouth the madam cut her off as she tried revealing the child's fortune . what do you mean a girl?,how dare you bring a con to me she said facing the maid . Madam I wouldn't dare to ,the maid pleaded going on her knees,Get out she said to both the maid and the priestess . Looking at her belly she felt her blood boiled while the little thing in her made a move , the baby was eight month old ,almost due for birth. The palace *.
stop running my prince ,the old maid begged as she runs after the prince who kept running nonstop . What is the matter? the queen who came in sight accompanied by her courtmaids asked.
The young prince wouldn't stop running ,the old maid said bowing her head ,is that true ? She asked looking at her son who kept his hands at his back hiding something.
What do you have in your hands ?She asked playfully , come on show me ,she tried persuading her son .
It a secret mother he said ,unyielding to her request .I promise I wouldn't tell anyone she said raising her hand at the side of her right cheek while bending to his level .
Looking around he looked at the courtmaids who seem to understood what he meant as they all turned their back to the mother and son .
Bringing out his hand slowly ,he opened his palm revealing a bracelet that was neatly made with wooden beads ,each bead was painted with different colour bringing out his uniqueness.
For whom? The queen asked knowing fully well it wasn't made for her .I made it for father, I don't think he will like it the five years old said feeling disappointed .
Wow , it looks so beautiful and attractive the queen said trying to cheer him up .mother I know you are just saying this to make me feel happy , father has greater taste for things ,he added .
No son , am sure he would very much like it as I did , she said to her son.
Palace Hall *
Your majesty , forty villagers have died between last month and this month over the problem of food shortage as a result of the drought ,the minister who was incharge of welfare gave his report.
Didn't we managed to control the food scarcity ?the kings asked . What happened to the palliatives that was said to be distributed to the villagers,If I could remember more than 1000..infact excess was sent out to the people , so what are you trying to imply ?the king thundered scaring the officials without receiving a response .
I know this is all of you plotting something ,are you trying to get me dethroned ? The king added.
We dare not, they all said bowing their head .The villagers are more than the resources available the left minister responded.
Are you trying to say my kingdom is on shortage ? We fed over 2000 people from other kingdom when they were faced by famine the king says tightening his grip on the innocent chair.
You all never seems to hide your greed , from today henceforth, if no changes are made , your revenue will be giving to the villagers ,he said as he dismissed the officials who grumbled to each other.
How dare he threaten us ?one of the ministers with a fat belly said to the other three in front of him when they were out of the palace hall.
Are we to blame for the villagers misfortune? another said angrily as they kept discussing making their way out of the palace.
Several weeks passed by still the officials did not deem it fit to change their corruptive act a villager commented.it's been months ,but still we are not seeing any changes ,are we to suffer? Another commented angrily, drawing more attention towards him as the villagers began crowding the little space in front of his shop.
Yes you are so right,a robust man with a white hair attested to what the latter said .is only right we set thing right he said again.
How are we going to do that ?a young woman amidst the crowd asked .I say we protest ,a scholar who has been observing the crowd said out of nowhere ,obviously the officials are not helping at all , we need to show them we are not going stay with our hands fold .
The drought hasn't been helping likewise the officials also but it isn't right we protest an older woman in the crowd commented.
Tell me how many people we've lost on this so called drought ,death tolls keep rising but you all are just sitting around doing nothing, the scholar replied back with an hint of coldness in his voice .
He is right, the robust man confirmed .is true we all are not portraying our right as citizens ,we let the officials step on us, because of what? "Because we fear their wrath".
But I will suggest we make it a peaceful protest not a violent one ,moreover the king himself has been working hard all along …is just too bad the officials are trying to taint his regime .
"I agree with him" each crowd begin agreeing with what the robust man said as they plan how to go on their peaceful protest.
What report do you get today from the villagers ? King collins asked his personal guard who has been serving him for a very long time .
The villagers are planning to protest he said as he gave the details about what had happened in the market . There was a man dressed in a noble robe , he seems to be from a noble family as he could be differentiated differently from peasants .
He seems to want the villagers to take on a violent protest , perhaps he could be sent by one of the corrupt officials ,Marcus elaborated more about the man to the king.
It seems the officials are really plotting something big against me ,check out for more and keep me updated Marcus ,the king said to him.moreover their plan won't last long because very soon it will be rainy ,they won't have any excuse anymore he said while standing .
"Happy birthday my king" ,the king mother Caroline greeted her son while patting his back .father happy birthday the eldest prince Lucas greeted his father while giving him a gift rapped in a box.
The third prince Edgar also gave his father a gift ,Edgar was the son of the king first concubine laura keen .his mother Laura keen was the second wife of king collins, she had only two children for the king which is Edgar and his younger sister Elsa.
Happy birthday king , the queen wish her husband and also gave him a gift she had prepared for a long time . Thanks my queen he said half smiling .
Zaron come over ,the queen beamed her son to step forward he was the second prince and the last child between the king and queen .
"Father happy birthday" he said bringing his gift forward as he gave it to the king who begin unwrapping the gift bundled with different colour paper as he kept on opening till he started getting tired .
After finally opening the gift what the king saw amused him and everybody in the room as they all let out a laughter .
You are so silly ,Lucas said teasing his little brother while he looks at his mother.
Suddenly someone cried filled the room ,it was concubine Agnes the king last wife who he had just recently married from the Damasc kingdom in the south province .
Get her a seat ,the king mother shouted to the court ladies in the room who rushed to get her a chair .
Are you okay? the king asked with concern .I am …fine is just the baby ,she responded feeling pathetic as she received a look from the other king wives .
The baby is almost due ,the queen mother said looking at her belly ,you should be careful she added as they all continued enjoying the party.