That Evening.
~Kie Azholophased~
"Hey Handsome."
Shamaica teased him from the hanging cage next to his.
The both of them had been brought to the palace straight and King Wealene had had the best of Kie... having him flogged severally by the captain of his guards, Jaith.
And twas evening already, the time for judgement to be passed on the both of them. And all the people were gathered in the square, the gaurds stationed, the princess at the upper porch staring at Kie who was held up in a drooping cage.
Everyone was awaiting the arrival of King Wealene, who would pass the judgement.
The wooden cage in which the two of them were locked had iron doors. Kie's hands were tied as well as his legs. He could hardly move in peace in the tiny cage, tossed by the crashing wind, let alone break himself free.
And of all the pains and rage he was plying through, Shamaica had just gone out of the mark and line to tease him. The hell!
"You want to die, huh?"
He barked at her but she made a joke of it. Sniggering.
"You know too well, mortal that if I dim fit to leave here now, I would."
He pushed a frustrated sigh, looking away from her cage which was directly swinging slightly opposite his. He was somehow looking for his mother but all he saw were deranged group of folks who had been blinded by the undying thirst of blood as fashioned by their obnoxious ruler.
Many of the people, especially men, loathed King Wealene greatly but none of them had been able to make a move against him. And that was why Kie had isolated himself from all the cowards.
Even though he knew of some group of rebels who had raised a mob against the king. And on the day they had planned to attack the palace, they had all gotten to the Palace gate chanting and raving. But it'd turned out that the leader of the rebel was an infiltrator, King Wealene's spy amongst the group. A spy sent out to shun all tongues risen against the [Magnanimous Era] of his, according to his acclaimed facts. They were all burnt.
The thought of it was sickening. He tossed the thought aside. He remembered how he had called few men after the first tragic incident to form another group which would have no leader. But all of them feared.
He got weary of the thoughts.
"Why did you do that for? Why did you let us be caught by those--"
He held up the remaining words as he looked closely at the empty cage swinging rapidly before him.
"Where did she go just now?"
He quizzed, trying to stand up, but the cage wasn't so big. It allowed only one thing at a time.
He searched in vain and couldn't find her. And then suddenly, the chatters and noise of the populace died out as the king stepped out to the elevated porch; an elongated portion of the top palace floor.
"That dog."
He cussed. Since he couldn't stand, he knelt as he looked in the direction of the crazy King; the cage was like a dog's, with tiny intervals between the row of logs held together with nail.
King Wealene was dressed in his usual, Chinese King's robe. A sick ass who tossed aside his own culture and embraced all Cultures; a puppet of shame.
He'd said, he dressed like a Chinese Emperor, rule like a Roman Emperor, and act like an Egyptian Pharaoh.
"Greetings to you, lovable citizens of Agranah. What quirky and impromptu occasion brings us here!"
He started as a deafening silence paced the space,
"We've once gathered here because of this unbridled tongue and inconsequential youth who has no regards, neither for the gods for their king. Like me!"
No one dared make an exceptive reaction. He continued,
"Since we had once gathered here to have him beheaded, and he did escape by some act of sorcery. But now that we have him again, with that same sorcerer I believe. His punishment no longer carry the same weight. He shall no longer be beheaded. He shall be burnt at that stake."
He pointed at the stake in front of the square, behind Kie.
"Himself and the sorcerer!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he signalled Jaith who hurried with few of his men to Kie's cage and the other cage.
They grabbed Kie as soon as he was let out but they were stunned at Shamaica's empty cage.
"His Greatness, the sorceress is gone!!!"
Jaith called with a loud voice at the King. The crowd gasped but the king cackled.
"Be at ease, lovable citizens of Agranah. This is some other trick of the sorceress."
As the noise waned out, he continued,
"At first I was surprised when I heard that she was caught. Knowing what she was capable of. But now, her intent had been made known."
He paused and continued,
"She wants to cause a distraction for you all. And by that, her little pet shall be spared again. How diplomatic you would say."
He stepped forward, as though he was going to jump off the rails bordering the elevated porch.
"But shall we give to her what she wants?!"
"Never! Burn him!"
A man from the midst of the people called. And at that, others started chanting,
"Burn him!"
And at that, Kie was led towards the stake.
But suddenly, fire came out of nowhere and the stake where Kie was headed to was set ablaze. And in the twitch of an eye, a young Sorcerer, the same the Princess had visited, showed up tied to the stake, burning.
The Princess gasped at the sight and the people moved back. Even the king and his guards were moved.
The burning sorcerer started screaming on top of his voice, wailing and fighting to get off the position as though he'd been tied there.
But as the king considered closely, he discovered that neither the cloth, hair, nor skin of the sorcerer was stung by the flames. He was stirred at that to words,
"Sorcery. Lovable citizens, this is sorcery."
The people began to close in the pace, being themselves, as the king continued,
"What's this charade, Sorcerer? Who are you and what brings you here?"
"Wealene!"
The sorcerer started, in a rather thick and thunderous tone. Such voice which calls his age, stature and proportion into question.
"This shall not be me but you on the stake... your wail increasing and pain growing continuously. Set ablaze on the stake of the gods if you stand in the way of the lovers the gods have chosen for the land. The princess and the condemned."
The young sorcerer paused and threw his gaze at Kie who was wielding a recent ogle,
"Be warned, Wealene. For a sign lies at hand."
The sorcerer disappeared at that. The princess smiled at the view, her bedazzled father was an enough spectacle.
And while they were all still wrapped in the recent deliberation and mood, an unknown mob from the crowd, who had been pretending to be onlookers, advanced towards the guards and attacked them.
A great fight swelled in the square, and Kie found an excuse to escape.
"Catch him, catch him."
Wealene called, but no one was listening. Every guard fighting for his own life.
Same.~Kie~"Where's she?"He stopped walking for a little while, looking around him hurriedly. He knew he didn't have the luxury of that time. He knew the guards were still on him and could catch up with him anytime and any moment."The dungeon."He thought he heard someone say that to him. But it didn't matter. He hurried in the direction of the dungeon. He knew the path by heart even though it was once he had visited it."Mother?"He called as soon as he got to mouth of the pit, staring through the bars of rage beaten by wants, into the cold slightly gloomy pit."Are you there, mother? If you're there let me know please."He went on his knees, throwing his face into the bars to look into the far end of the pit. Then suddenly, he heard a movement in the pit. And soon, the silhouette first, then the frame of his mother came to view."What have they done to you mother. I will have the head of that foolish Wealene.
On a Path. The Next Day.~Malisa and Samantha~"It's rather contemplative how His Greatness looked away from the nuances of that insolent hostler."Samantha took a stray off the topic, taking a slight gaze at the princess who was riding beside her on a horse. They were taking the early morning stroll as usual, and the path to which they were headed led to the final hut at the outskirt of the village, Kie's Hut."What say do we have over the wills of the gods?"Malisa came on, taking a quick glance at her. Then looked to the front,"My father, the king, could seem harsh and tough and ruthless. Which all best suit him. But he does have regards for the gods. And he wouldn't go out of his way to insult or ridicule their words."Samantha was quiet for a while, but responded eventually,"But what would you do with the hostler. He sure is so dumb not to acknowledge the feelings of the only and the most beautiful princess in all the wo
Few moments Later.~Kie and Mara~"Have you come to your senses yet?"Mara called, leaning on the back window of the hut. She was in the hut, but looking through the window at Kie, who was at the back of the hut trimming the hoofs of Talia, his horse.He allowed the distraction and looked up from the last hoof to his mother's face, poking out independently out of the window as though it had no neck supporting it."Depends on your definition of sense mother."He looked back at the hoof too quickly, hitting the handle of the narrow blade which looked like a modern chisel. Only that twas rustier and hardly plain. But it did cut through the hoof, sliding off the hard keratin.After that push, he took a pause and said to his mother again,"If getting married to that wench is what you call sense, I'd rather be senseless."His mother scoffed,"You call the princess of the land a wench? Do you know what would happen if We
Africa. Kingdom of the God-king.~Xerxes II~"Hail the God-king"A dwarf man with bounty beards called in the large hall and everyone present in the hall echoed,"Hail."And as though no words were spoken, the activities in the hall went back to normal.The throne hall of the God-king was very enormous and its height, unprecedented. The palace wall cast in gold were built so loftily that its roof was almost a mirage. And twas built such way because of the elevated throne of the God-king.His throne, which was at the end of the throne hall to the North, was three feet above the floor. He had made such throne for himself to observe the activities of his subjects from the heights. Like God in heaven does!Few metres away from his throne, in the throne hall, before him, there were several sexual activities and local musicians playing lyre and harps like the Israelites would do to appreciate God.His deep immortal eyes straye
Celebration. Wealene's Palace. Agranah~Royalties~"Bathias, the bard."At the call of Jaith, Bathias the bald bard, kinky, stout, white long drooping beards with stray curls, dressed in a while linen garment which covered his waist, but left a strap up his chest to be connected to another at his back. Leaving his chest and back bare. Stepped into the ring of fire which ought to emphasize what dramatic direction his literary presentation would take. He bowed slightly and started his ritual humming before the words would flow.It's the gathering of the Kings. An occasion that takes place three times a year in Agranah. Mostly centering on the kingdoms yet to pay their taxes, new developments they've learnt from other nations outside the walls of Agranah and its sister kingdoms. Like they had once learnt from a kingdom called Frankia and had built a rampart to take the form of such defense system that had kept the remote kingdom standing.But this tim
Same.~Kie and Wealene~"Who, by the gods does this retard think he is to intrude whenever he wants."King Wealene mumbled under his breath as Kie walked to where he was. Kie miraculously went on his knees and bowed with his forehead brushing the floor before Wealene. Twas pretty much hard to tell what that was for. Respect or -- whatever."What is this?"Wealene queried as Kie stood up tall before him."Didn't you say she's not worth your while? That you'd rather get married to a -- Jaith what did the lad say the previous day?"Jaith, who had hurried there, standing behind Kie for any quick ambush if necessary, mumbled incoherently. King Wealene dismissed his poor memory as Kie came on,"I guess I was wrong about her and spoke out of rage. The rage of the clashes we've had before now."Wealene chuckled softly, taking few steps closer to him as the rest of the royalties watched in surprise."Pardon my interruption
Same.~Malisa and Kie~"Of all the days, why today?"Malisa complained, her arms tucked into each other over her fanny. Kie was leaning back on a royal table which was placed in the middle of the princess' chamber. He kept a straight face when he said,"Am I a stain to the royal house? Oops. I forgot, I'm an Ostler who shouldn't be present when other kings are."Malisa shook her head softly, her face wielding an emotional gaze. She swept a sheet of courage and took two steps towards him, standing quite not far from him.She argued, yet delicately,"Of course not. That's not what I mean."She puffed and strayed to an end of the room by the East where there was a big drawer with mirror and traditional makeup kits lined on its deck.She turned to him, her backside pressed against the edge of the deck."I know my father too well. He loves taking an advantage of situations. Especially such situations as this. And you k
Same.~Malisa~"What's happening father?"Malisa strode into her father's chamber, contempt pacing her face as she looked away from her father to weigh Haya in a quick glare.King Wealene lifted his face which was buried between Haya's thigh. His lips were wet, eyes alive as he looked up at his daughter with a gentle smile,"I have seen father speak to their unborn babies through the stomach. But never seen any try it through the pussy. Have you imagined giving pleasure to the mother while talking to the son?"He paused and suddenly tucked in the weird smile eating up his old face, shooting up the grim counterpart. He strayed, softening his tone,"Isn't it good daughter -- how does it feel, the thought of expecting a younger brother?"Malisa shook her head in rage,"I always thought you were smart father, but it's just embarrassing that you could be fooled by a desperate woman who would even lie with a pig to keep her pl