A knock came on Micah's chamber in the middle of the night. Micah turned in her bed. "My lady, Lady Berth is here to see you." A guard announced, and Micah rubbed her eyes tiredly. "Berth? Let her in! She screamed the last sentence loud enough for the guard to hear. She had barely said those words when Berth barged into the room. Tears trailing down her cheeks. Micah was stunned…. "You have to stop him, Micah. I… can't do it. I can't spend my life with a man I know nothing about." Berth's face was innocent, her tears genuine. Micah could only watch as her sister sat beside her and cried her eyes out. "He wants to give me away to the duke." Berth sniffed as she laid her head on Micah's lap. "And…?" Came Micah's voice. "That's already horrible enough; what else do you want me to say?" Berth sounded frustrated. Micah was quiet for some seconds. "Why do you have a problem getting married to the duke? He is rich, wealthy… "He is not the king! He doesn
Micah gazed at Amilek, her brown eyes dilating….. "Tell me, Amilek…" she started off calmly. "Who do you think holds the deepest secret within the castle walls? Micah's voice was very low; only Amilek could hear what she was saying. "Why ask me a question that I can't answer? The little boy said, his gaze fixed on the fighters in the pit. "You know the answer…" It slipped out of Micah's mouth. Amilek retreated his gaze and shifted it to Micah. "My mother won't be happy that I am conversing with a potential rival. What do I get in return for the information I am about to pass out? Micah gazed at Amilek, a bit taken aback by his words. A little boy this sagacious at his age? "You speak like the royalty you are; what do you want in return?" Micah questioned calmly. Amilek was quiet for a while; he was thinking. "Your chamber has a secret pathway leading to a bottom alley; you will give me permission to come to your chamber and take that route. I have to
"Where is your mother? The man asked Amilek. The boy looked excited. "Father? Father! Where have you been? He cried, running to where the man was; he hugged him but almost tripped and fell because he hugged thin air. "Father, are you a ghost? Amilek quivered. "How is it that you can see me? The man asked and then started floating away; his legs were not visible, only a long gown that covered him from head to toe. "Wait! Don't leave me here! I want to come with you! The boy screamed. A knock came on the door in Racheal's chamber…. "My lady, Prince Amilek doesn't seem well." Came the voice from behind the door. Racheal was already on her bed pulling the bed sheet over her body, but immediately after she heard what the guard said, she swung one of her legs over the bed, followed by the other. She wore a robe on the plain white gown she was wearing and stepped out, her pace fast as she quickly made her way to Amilek's chamber. "What is wrong? She asked the guard as
"The queen that cares? Jazell shot her dark eyebrows up, her crystal blue eyes filled with dread. "Yes, my lady, Queen Micah had visited the temple; she earned the favor of the people." Jazell scoffed…. "Micah…" Jazell called out the name in a whisper, and it tingled on her tongue. "I was right after all, Ramah and Berth; none of them could enter the Harem. But a girl who put little or no effort found her way into the harem." Jazell said, fondling the silver bracelet on her hand. She was dressed in a violet gown with a silver necklace on her neck and coral pearl earrings dangling at both sides of her ears. There was a golden cup in her hand, filled to the brim with red wine. She was seated at the terrace apartments in her chamber, beside the railings. From up there she could see Racheal practicing her sword fight with the commander of the guards. Jazell sipped from the wine in the golden cup, her blue hawk eyes resting on Rachel for a while before she finally
Josiah, he was called the man of whispers for nothing. Secrets, deep secrets that should remain in the dark—he was capable of digging them up. He had a smallish structure, with short black hair and a broken-shaped nose. His dark eyes were always quick to detect fault in people. He always wore a long gown, belted at the waist. With long sleeves completely covering up his hands. He knew how to peer into the deepest part of people, as if he were able to read theirs. Then there was Drigo; he was a Black man. It was said he escaped a war from his country and fled to Westeros in a fleeting ship of his own enemies. Drigo had bald hair, beady eyeballs, and faintly pink lips. He was a tall, lean man, but in that brain of his was the map of the whole world. Knowledge that shouldn't be underestimated, so fluent in grammar. His only weapon was the use of words to hurt his enemies. That was how Harris, Ragaleon's father, took a liking to him when they met, in a festive season, at t
"Take me to the temple, Tamar." It was a sudden request Micah made after lying in bed doing nothing. She was dressed in a red gown, her sun-kissed skin glowing. Her black curly hair was packed in a bun. But all that beauty was hidden under a white cloak with a hoodie that concealed her face. "Your Grace, you will need some guards to escort you; shall I send for them? Tamar asked as she dropped the folded clothes on a cushion in the chamber. "Arranged a royal carriage, with some baskets of fruits and the leftovers from the kitchen. Quick now, hurry! Micah said as she took off her earrings. She was going to the temple to mourn her fate, the destiny the gods have chosen for her. Two knights and a royal carriage were arranged for Micah; she also insisted that Tamar, her handmaid, should escort her. It was a bumpy ride; the carriage shook as it trotted along the stony path leading to the holy temple. "Sinners! Sinners! The voice of the high priest was heard from a distan