Chapter 9: The Gift

Tamina was about to bring a glass of wine to her lips but paused halfway.

She blinked her eyes rapidly before finally being able to process Amber's words. Then slowly putting down the glass of wine…

"What? She muttered, furrowing her brows; her pretty face was distorted.

"You heard me the first time; I won't repeat myself." Amber lashed at her, looking upset.

"Have you forgotten the plan, Tamina? Amber's voice became low. Tamina only gave her a puzzled look.

"Mother, you shouldn't be discussing such a topic here." Tara cautioned her to be completely wary of her surroundings. She looked around and saw that there was no maid or guards with them.

Her mother had been wise enough to send the two maids that were with them away, because she knew that they would need some space.

"I am not so foolish as to discuss this with you if there was anyone present, Tamina. You have begun to lose your trust in me." Amber commented with displeasure laced in her tone.

Tamina saw this and became remorseful.

"That can never happen, Mother. I have not lost my trust in you; I am just being extremely careful. You know what it took me just to get here." She said, taking her mother's hand.

"Do you know how happy I was when the King picked you as his fifth wife? We threw a feast in Nehoviah for three days; before you left, we made a plan, Tamina. Have you forgotten? Amber said, withdrawing her hand from Tamina's grip.

Tamina's eyes became dark; she reclined on the chair and helped herself to a glass of wine. She was suddenly feeling thirsty.

"How can I possibly forget, Mother? It's not like I am not trying; Ragaleon is a difficult man. How can I have a child for him if he won't sleep with me? Tamina gulped down the whole content of the wine.

"But you have to keep trying, Tamina; if the other queens achieve this before you, you will no longer be safe in this palace. Having a child for the king means the child will be the heir, and the gods help us if it's a boy; you will become queen mother." Amber lectured Tamina, who arched her brows and kept pouring herself wine.

"What will you have me do then? Force myself on him? Tara questioned sarcastically.

"That won't be necessary if you know how to use your body. I didn't become the queen of Nehoviah today without trying; I ensnared your father into my waiting arms." Amber liked to be proud when talking; Tamina rolled her eyes…

"You have told me this story so many times, I have begun to see it as my inspiration." Tamina mocked, then tried to pour herself more wine, but Amber stopped her.

"Do you want to get drunk? She questioned disdainfully. Then snatched the glass away from Tamina's grip.

"Allow me to drink away my sorrow, Mother." Tamina begged, trying to reach out for the glass.

"Get a grip on yourself; I have a plan that would leave you sprawling on the floor." Amber became euphoric as she pulled out a wrapped object from her beautiful purse.

Placing it on Tamina's palm, she whispered something into her ear.

"What? Tamina screamed, her heart thumping against her chest, as her forehead creased. Her eyes were wide open as they bulged out.

"Mother, have you finally lost it? She questioned, looking around to check if anyone had seen what her mother gave to her. She was wary of her mother's nonchalant attitude.

"Why are you shivering like a drenched cat? Right before you is the answer to your solution." Amber rolled her eyes while smiling, then sipped from her wine slowly.

"Mother, I can't go through with this; leave me out of your crazy plans," Tamina mused.

"Don't be pathetic, Tamina. I went through a lot just to get that stuff from the best herbalist; you had better make use of it, and then we can celebrate the results." Amber didn't even spare Tamima a glare as she shoved a snack into her mouth.

"Mother, Ragaleon will strangle me with his bare hands if he finds out I did such a thing. I am too young to die yet; I have a long way to go." Tamina kept trying to talk sense into her mother.

"This medicine is very potent, Tamina; just a spoon in Ragaleon's tea, and he will beg you to allow you into his chamber. By the time I come to visit again, you better have my grandchild in that place." Amber said, pointing at Tamina's stomach.

Just then Titran walked in; he had been with Ragaleon for a while at the palace courtyard. They made merry and also struck a valuable deal between their kingdoms. Titran's face was beaming with gladness.

Amber rose to her feet when she saw her husband making his way in her direction; so did Tamina.

"We are taking our leave, Tamina; we shall come and visit another time." Titran said immediately he got to where his wife and daughter stood.

"May the gods grant you safe journey, Father." Tamina then bowed in respect; the latter only tapped her on the shoulder lightly before walking away.

Amber hugged Tamina and whispered into her ear…

"Don't be afraid to take the risk, Tamina; the reward is greater." She said that and then disengaged from the hug. She planted a kiss on Tamina's forehead, then quickly fell behind her husband, who was already leaving.

From her window, Tamina watched as her parents rode away in their royal carriage. The sigil of the royal flag of Nehoviah was a house standing on its hindlimb with its foreleg in the air.

"What do you have there?" Jazell was suddenly behind Tamina.

Tamina was stunned. "What are you doing here? She asked, tightening her grip on the wrapped object in her hand.

"Just passing through." Jazell eyed the object in Tamina's grip.

"Get out! She commanded, and Jazell's face became contorted by her vile behavior; this was a slap to her face, the apex of disrespect.

Jazell turned her direction to the door, arching her brows. She shot Tamina daggers with her eyes, then languidly took her leave.

Tamina placed her hand on her chest as she panted heavily, "That was close." She muttered under her breath. She scanned the object in her hand, and her eyes twinkled.

Suddenly she clenched her fist and made her way out of the chamber. Just in front of her chamber were two royal guards.

"I swear the next time you let a queen into my chamber without my permission, I will have both your heads hanged on a spike." Her voice was filled with anger.

The two royal guards were amused but quickly went on their knees.

"We apologize, my lady." They quickly said, Tamina simply flung her red hair backward and eyed them disdainfully.

"Apology my foot!

.....

"Leave! Jazell said immediately she stormed into her room. Immediately all the maids in her room began to file out.

"Stay, Linn." Her voice was etched as she commanded her personal maid to stay behind.

Immediately the other maids were gone, and Linn inched forward.

"Do you know why Ragaleon gifted that bracelet to Racheal? Jazell asked, pouring herself a glass of juice.

"No, my lady." Linn answered, her gaze fixed on the ground.

"The household of Nehoviah paid a visit today; do you know why? Jazell questioned.

"I think it is because they wanted to see their daughter, my lady…." Before Linn could finish speaking, Jazell threw the juice in the glass at her face.

"You think? You think! You don't know!

"I am sorry, my lady." Linn was now shaking; she didn't dare try to wipe the juice away from her face.

"Of what use are you to me if you can't give me information about what is happening around this palace? Jazell was seething with rage.

"Punish me, my lady; I am incompetent." Linn was now on her knees.

Jazell's gaze was distant, and she fondled her fingers…

"Pour me a glass of wine." She commanded, and Linn quickly rose to her feet and poured her a glass of wine from a jug on a lamp stand beside the bed.

Linn handed the glass of wine to Jazell; she drank the whole content with one gulp and placed the cup on the table.

"Pour me another glass," she said without sparing Linn a glass.

Linn did as she said; she poured her another glass of wine, then handed it over to her mistress.

But this time Jazell didn't drink it; she clenched the glass with gritted teeth and then yanked the glass of wine away in a fit of rage.

Linn flinched in fear, her face as pale as a dead corpse.

"Why does everyone in the palace keep testing my patience? Jazell muttered under her breath.

"Leave! Jazell said, and Linn quickly bowed and was about to take her leave.

"Tell the guards no one is allowed into my chamber; I want to be alone." Jazell said when Linn was halfway across the room.

"My lady, shall I send someone to clean your room?" Linn quivered as she gazed at the mess Jazell made.

"Nobody enters this room, do you hear me?! Jazell looked deranged.

Linn nodded in obligation and finally took her leave.

When Linn stepped out of Jazell's chamber, she turned to the guards and delivered the message, then took her leave.

She had been trying to hold her tears; she trembled as she made her way to the kitchen. She feared for her life; she feared for her mistress's life.

Jazell made her way to a table in her chamber. She took hold of the Indian hemp and sat on her bed as she smoked.

The smoke was swirling up in the atmosphere, and her blue eyes were dreadful as she continued to move her body back and forth as if trying to get rid of an unshakable feeling. She was deep in thought.

Her mind wandered to when Tamina turned her out of her chamber harshly. Then her mind wandered to when Racheal was blushing in the dining room at the bracelet Ragaleon gave to her.

Jazell inhaled the Indian hemp and then puffed out the smoke.

"When I am done with all of you, you won't be able to recognize yourselves!