Framing Shards

2. Somethings New

The jasmines tucked into her delicate braid encircled her in every step accompanied by the rhythmic jinglings of her jewelleries immaculately donning her from head to feet. Her subconscious clung to this blend of floral and musical bubble she would thus generate around her. It soothe her through the day which would otherwise drag on in monotonous formalities and long stretched boring talks of the palace ladies.

"Rajkumari, where do we keep the latest commission of cardamom, just arrived today?"

"Keep them in the inspection shelves" she answered with a gracious nod at the daasi timidly looking to the ground, "I will go through them before we give the remainder of the payment and have the supply moved to the inner kitchen storage chambers."

The daasi gave a slight bow before scuttling away. Niriksha hurriedly dispersed the other servants waiting standing nearby patiently waiting for their set of instructions. A content smile spread across her delicate lips half hidden by the elaborate shimmering nosering bouncing against the soft skin as its wearer who well nigh ran through the royal corridors her feet skipping over the patterns on the floor with accustomed ease.

Her eager heart had waited impatiently for the moment she longed for to attain materialisation. She quickened her pace and before long she stood in a large breezy, sun soaked marble balcony, her face flushed from the brief running.

A few strands of hair blew out from the intricate hairdo as expectant hazel eyes gazed at the distant hills that looked so tiny from across the sprawling palace grounds, closed of by the far situated tall bailey, beyond which lied the city which could be seen from the guard towers or some of the upper rooftops.

A flapping sound caused her to turn around swiftly, while she quickly clamped a hand to her mouth to shush her excitement lest the winged messenger leave.

"Ha! You surprised me dear" she mumbled, lovingly caressing the pigeon's head simultaneously untying the tiny roll of paper from its claw, "I thought you were coming from the other direction."

Niriksha's excited fingers had barely poured ample grains into the little feeding bowl before they were unrolling the small parchment, her eyes holding the tulsi leaf she had unwrapped from the rolled up message with a fond gaze before plunging into the contents.

"Had to leave for Irika by Mamashree on urgent matters of state. Should be back soon. Take care of yourself and Vir and the family."

She stared at the message for some time without blinking, her facial expressions unchanging as she read and reread the few scarce words. Only what was new from her husband's farewell to her was that he was headed to Irika, not that she had not gathered that much from the palace staff...nor did she not know that her husband would not have already guessed that.

An unconscious sigh escaped her lips as yet again quick rhythmic jinglings of her anklets accompanied her quick steps taking her, almost on their own to her little calming haven with the varied floral and incense fragrances infusing themselves with the smell of burning ghee in the diya(earthen lamb) before the black stone shivling set in the middle.

Niriksha muttered some quick prayers placing the tulsi leaf arrived with her husband's message near the majestic shivling, her mind already fleeting over what she would write in response when a paradoxically excited but hushed voice broke her chain of thoughts.

"Rajkumari! You have to come to the royal assembly!" it was her head maid and closest confidante who would have been shrieking into her ears had they not been standing in the inner temple of her royal apartment.

"Eenchara, what is the matter?" she asked with concern.

"Where have you been all day? Strange things happened in the countryside, there were strane lights and then a weird vehicle of metal crashed out of nowhere and a really strange man with strange weapons emerged from it!"

Eenchara completed breathless, while Niriksha laughed softly at her silly mannerism, hardly hearing what she was saying before being yanked and pulled away towards the court by her dear friend.

"There I think they have arrived" Eenchara now whispered while adjusting Niriksha's veil, the latter now watching at the proceedings of the gilded hall from her curtained spot in the upper balconies for the royal ladies. It was not mandatory for women to be there, but perfect for the times when she would want to simply be present without being under the expectation to be involved in the discussion. And she could currently feel the buzz of excitement that hung over all the occupants of the assembly.

Down below, her elder brother in law, Avarah, sat resplendent on the left side this throne leaving a conspicuous space beside himself, honouring his wife and Queen who seldom attended. Her eyes darted to the empty luxurious seat, belonging to her husband, very close to the throne.

Near a leg of Aryamik's throne, there laid a trail of red silk moving up to donning a most beautiful regal lady, sitting with confidence and composure, elegance exuding from her. Niriksha smiled, she admired and respected Sambhavi, her co-wife, immensely. She was a 'queen' in every way unusually talented in politics and administration for a woman, and had a nice motherly demeanor when not enshrouded by her royal duties.

Next to Sambhavi, a little way away another empty seat sat. It belonged to herself, but Niriksha now chose the sheltered balcony mostly concealed away from the public eye. A sudden buzz of murmurs arose and then quitenned making too conspicuous the clicking of shoe covered feet on the floor as its wearer strode in confidently drawing curious glances and gapes from those present.

"Uhm...so, hey there King!" The newcomer with his unusual clothes and short hair and beard already falling in odd books of the others began, while the soldier behind him gaped evidently shocked at the stranger speaking already without waiting to be introduced, "Nice headgear you have! Damn, it could be a neck breaker as well...mighty person you are to carry it so well!"

Stunned silence.