Chapter 3: Open Affinities

A Clapestrisian court is always a solemn place for ministers who commune to the king. But when Prince Thariem and Darina enter the court, a different, vibrant ambiance comes. It is as if some secret musicians are strumming the banjos and others are fluting a thrilling song. The prince executes his military salutation before the king while Darina is prostrated and bowed as she is wearing her long Median robe. If Darina has to enter the palace while wearing her battle gear, she needs to salute the king militarily.

The king stomped his scepter to call Prince Thariem and Darina to initiate the conversation. Prince Thariem walked forward and bowed his right knee.

“Greetings, my father king. Your servant has come before your throne to reason about the moats,” Prince Thariem started. He made a brief report about the event last night.

The king only kept a straight face, but he is glad deep inside. The time flies so fast. Before his sight, his son is becoming more responsible and active in doing princely duties. The king glanced at Darina, who was nibbling her fingers below her sleeves.

“I have brought Mahagino, sire, not to unveil about his case of desertion but on how he assisted His Majesty, the Prince, to solve the moat conflict,” Darina said as she settled her hands.

“Show your hands, Darina," King Rashal commanded while not missing the actual report. He thought that Darina was nervous or was hiding something. While the king has silent grudges against Mahagino, he was worried that Darina was probably hiding a foreboding situation that might harm her.

Darina slowly opened her hands and revealed a piece of cloth. She beamed a little. “I am keeping up the conversation, your majesty. Since the people have to behave inside the court and use a proper manner of language, I have to look upon my script to remember what I have to say.”

Others restrained themselves from disdain as Darina just showed herself like one unlearned. Are her years of training becoming vain?

"Speak in the best way you can, Darina,” King Rashal said. His favor could no more surprise the others. He has always been gracious to Darina. Perhaps, his much grace causes Darina to get better and not repeat the same mistake.

“That would be all I have to say, father king,” Darina bowed while forgetting to keep a straight face. Her action stirred a generally restrained giggle among the court people. However, Darina intentionally did it. Indeed, she forgot about the proper language to use, but she wanted to know if the people around her observe her ways. As she found out that they keep an eye on every little thing she does, Darina needs to be more careful to keep her goals successful.

“Well done, Darina. Keep Mahagino first in the next court. I will talk to him later,” King Rashal said.

Prince Thariem was silent as he stands up. He knows that Darina deserves praise from his father. However, the prince himself cannot even have an alone conversation with his father. Even the solemn place like the court has become a casual place for Darina to bond with the fatherly monarch.

Queen Mariam, who was sitting right next to the king, only stares at her son. She called the king to talk to her when the palace people, including Darina and Thariem, dismissed themselves from the court.

“I noticed the jealousy of the prince, Your Highness. I am afraid that he will hold grudges against Darina,” Queen Mariam worried. "It would be my death if he will have hatred against Your Highness.”

If there are things common among the Orientals and the Clapestrisian, it is about identifying that cursing against the officials and the monarchs is a deadly crime. Queen Mariam knows that hidden proven grudges will be equivalent to cursing. Queen Mariam meant that if the prince would curse the king, she will carry the burden for the sake of her son.

“I am not provoking Thariem to jealousy, my queen. You know that a fine king should not let himself feed his vanity. I do not want Thariem to grow full of his head,” King Rashal reasoned out. “There are many kingdoms and kings who fell because of their pride. One king thought that he could close all waterways to dry all the seas. The people were indignant against him that they dethroned him.”

“The example was a little unreasonable, King Rashal,” Queen Mariam commented, knowing that the king will listen to her remarks.

“To a man who is walking in pride, he will never see that his decision is unreasonable. Pride blinds the eyes, my queen. I would not Thariem to get blind by his excellence.”

“Your Highness, you see after all that my son is doing great?” Queen Mariam smiled at such thought.

“He is doing better than I did when I was his age,” King Rashal said.

“Do you want the prince to do better by making Darina an example?”

“Darina deserves the praises. I did not expect that Darina can do so well that others can not help themselves but see that she is exemplary. Darina receives recognition because of what she does. Prince Thariem deserves, in his own special time, that kind of recognition that would pay off his bitter years. I will not slack off concerning the award for Prince Thariem."

Queen Mariam followed the gaze of her king. There, at the far wall of the courts they saw, the armories of great antiquity standing against the draped cold sides of the hall.

“Let the hunting games happen to honor the prince,” King Rashal declared.

“As you pleased, my lord,” Queen Mariam said and hasted her chief court lady to call the ministers about the event.

The news of the hunting games arrived immediately to Darina, who was wiping her black armor. The daughter of the chief minister, named Farrah, reported it to her. Farrah is sitting upon the oak stool purchased from the Orientals while fanning herself. Her two attendants are standing behind her.

“The game is to honor the prince. Can you find a chance even in the hunting games?” Farrah asked out of concern.

Farrah and Darina have always been good friends. In their teen years, they were trained many things about the kingdom, the foreign lands, laws, wars, and the court. Farrah sees that Darina is a bright child. However, she is worried about the unsecured future awaiting Darina. 

Their bond only became firmer when they lost their way in the forest. Darina and Farrah encountered the chieftain of an unknown clan. This chieftain hated Darina so much. He kept on cursing and suspecting that Darina will bring great havoc. He warned that someday, he would make sure Darina will be banished away from the kingdom. 

Darina chooses to stay to prove her innocence and intention to give honor and glory to Clapestris. She will always prove that she will not cause trouble and that she is a loyal servant and a member of the Lunekleare clan. Hence, Farrah has always been by her side assisting, encouraging, and advising her.

“I believe that The Majesties will invite me to the game,” Darina responded as she sits on another oak stool.

“You do not have to worry. I will make sure to join as well and urge my father to let all nobles in the palace of our age join the game too,” Farrah said, in the confidence of the authority her father has. “I will join because that would be the last game of my youth.” Farrah went to Darina and whispered, “But not my last to help you.”

“Do not forget me when you start a new life, Farrah,” Darina said and smiled at her friend. For Darina, Farrah is like her twin sister. She is always bubbly and full of joy. If other people think that Darina is the best woman that embodies a submissive attitude, gentleness, and frankness, they had not met Farrah yet. Darina learned so much from Farrah in forming friendships and dealing with other people in a large gathering. If Darina and Farrah have to sit together, one would say that Darina is the silent and meek one.

“I will always help you as long as I stay in the capital, Darina. Even if I have to transfer to other places, I will make sure to send you help,” Farrah assured her sincerely.

“You will not stay in the capital?" Darina was astonished and slightly bothered.

“If the bridegroom will choose that our house will be at Gilan, I have no choice but to transfer to Gilan. But I believe that my father will choose a Clapestrisian man to make sure that his daughter is just near to him." Farrah said it without worries. She was only giggling with a fancy that her bridegroom will have strong, bold, and handsome features.

“Will the father king choose a man for me, too?” Darina wondered.

“Do not mention anything like that to His Majesty yet, Darina,” Farrah warned. “I observe that his majesty always sees you as a warrior, a person more active on the duties of the kingdom. That is why these things are not coming to his senses yet. I am telling you, do not mention a word, or else, you would wake up the next day and will be marrying someone.”

“I thought you like to get married?” Darina wondered again. “Why are you warning me not to engage about it yet?”

“I can be wherever I want and wherever they want because I have my father. Also, Clapestris is my home where laws are for good, and nothing must not get left violated. My future is secure. In your case, I am afraid that I always have to remind you to remember your fight Darina," Farrah explained.

“Hearing that from you, are you not afraid that you will marry someone you barely know?" Darina takes another lesson from Farrah but chooses not to expound the profound lessons over and proceed with little things.

“Darina, do not worry about me. I can handle present conflicts. But I warn you, do not let any conflicts even enter your life. When you sense that it is before your door, do not let it enter. Remember my words and how I care about you," Farrah nagged.

“I will," just like how Darina always does it since the first time she met Farrah. She gets to learn new things, both cruel and true, things including the dangerous tradition and the troubles to remain in Clapestris.