The Wraiths Of Alkebulan

CHAPTER 5

       THE AIR OF MYSTERY
______________•.•_______________

    Your Highness, is there another woman who holds your heart beyond this walls? Spoke Maid Meryt softly, her words carrying a weight of curiosity. She was inside the dimly lit bedroom chamber of Crown Prince Kiros. The bedroom chamber draped in rich linens of crimson and gold, the walls of his bedroom chamber's covered with scenes of ancient battles and royal ceremonies.
    She approached him with a graceful gait, her eyes reflecting the depth of understanding that captured Crown Prince Kiros's attention. Crown Prince Kiros met her gaze with sincerity, his eyes reflecting a mixture of emotions. Meryt, you are the light that brightens my heart in this place, but my heart belongs to a quest far beyond the eye can see, he replied, his voice gentle yet resolute.
    The sixteenth name-day of Crown Prince Kiros, was a day engraved in his heart. He seemed to not forget the events that happened to him. In his lowly lit chamber's, dark shadowy figures circled him. A dark power was felt deep into his being. Crown Prince Kiros sat on top of his bed. Sweating and in shock. His eyes wide open, the horror unfolding before him was beyond what he had imagined.
    The eventful day marked to test him and consume his life force had arrived. A day his soul would dare not speak for another. Fear creeped through his bones. He was in disbelief. I cannot die today, said Crown Prince Kiros lowly chanting some prayers he learnt from the temple of Isis. He was being haunted by the prophecy. Having being away from his parents and estranged from the palace life, he felt alone and isolated.
    Today he was facing the trials upon his life. A young man with the weight of his life on his shoulders. He was trembling in fear. Terror was conspiring with his weakness.
     He fell to the floor and crawled shakily to the door. Is anyone out there? Crown Prince Kiros said with almost a cry to his voice. The shadows of grotesque figures only grew. He turned his back to the door. His royal bedroom robe, drenched in sweat.
   He was not going to allow the gods to forsake him. He had been prepared for this day his whole life. To ensure his safety, he was raised as a dutiful boy in the temple of Isis. Inside the sanctuary, was a world full of enchantment.
    A place confined and understandable by only the enlightened. In the deep evergreen sanctuary, was the temple of goddess Isis. The temple, with the figure of Isis floating in the air. Her body, headdress and wings covered in gold.
   The temple building towered above her figure. The walls written with hieroglyphs that protected the walls of the temple. Its features made from exquisite architecture, including majestic pylons, hypostyle halls, and beautiful colonnades adorned with intricate reliefs.
   In this sacred temple, Crown Prince Kiros spent his whole childhood offering prayers and sacrifices for the mercy of the gods. Isis, is the nurturing mother goddess of nature, a patroness of the children, poor and deceased. Crown Prince Kiros, was born under her sign.
     As Crown Prince Kiros was facing his most difficult phase of life, he sought out Isis for comfort and healing. His fear was overpowering him, the pain in his body started to rise intensely. He felt his throat dry as he struggled to invoke Isis. Isis of the moon, you are all that ever was, Crown Prince Kiros said in his voice weak. Come, veiled Queen of the night. Do descend upon me, I pray.
    Crown Prince Kiros was almost out of breath, his eyes turned to the back of his brain as if possessed. He was shaking violently as gruesome deep voices could be heard coming from the dark shadowy figures. He felt his soul leaving his body, unable to bear the pain. His eyes narrowly opened, he witnessed a bright light descending upon him and dispersing the shadowy beings.
     He let out a deep breath and closed his eyes. His chamber's door flung open and Head Maid Hunet ran inside. Your Highness! She let out a cry. They cannot take you, please open your eyes, she said holding Crown Prince Kiros's body on her lap, her face in distress. She turned to the guards outside his chambers. Did you not hear His Highness calling for help?
    The guards assigned outside the crown prince's door swore to not have heard a thing. She had rushed towards the prince's chamber as she felt something was not right. Earlier in the day, Crown Prince Kiros had visited the temple of Isis with Head Maid Hunet.
     Today is the day Head Maid Hunet, I may not live to see tomorrow, Crown Prince Kiros said to Head Maid Hunet on their way back from the temple. Your Highness, the gods have seen your good deeds. They have been accounted for and surely you will live, Head Maid Hunet said with an emotional tone. Her heart was heavy, feeling for the suffering of the crown prince.
     I will retire to my chamber earlier than usual. See to it that there are guards outside in case of anything, Crown Prince Kiros said to her. I will Your Highness, the Pharaoh entrusted your well being to us, she replied taking upon her royal order.
     Crown Prince Kiros was hiding his fear with the heart warming smile he shared with her as they spoke. I will go and train with Nehesi, do not worry about me and go on about with your duties, Crown Prince Kiros said to Head Maid Hunet.
    Yes, Your Highness. Everything today has been arranged to ensure maximum comfort, Head Maid Hunet said and bowed before the crown prince and left.
  Crown Prince Kiros strode purposefully towards a secluded ancient complex. It was a place that combined beauty with rigorous training. The sound of his feet echoed off the silent walls. As he approached the training grounds where he honed his martial skills, a sense of purpose filled him.
    Today was not just any day of practice. It was a day that might be the last time he would train with his friend, Nehesi. Nehesi had been training to become his personal bodyguard.
    As Crown Prince Kiros entered the open training grounds, he spotted Nehesi sparring with another warrior, his movements precise and fluid. Nehesi noticed Crown Prince Kiros and sheathed his sword, a smile spreading across his face. Your Highness, I was not expecting you, Nehesi said approaching Crown Prince Kiros as he bowed.
    I had to, my mind is heavy in thoughts, said Crown Prince Kiros as the friends embraced warmly. The silence that came after was an understanding passing between them. Just then, a young woman approached with a tray filled with a jug of water and golden cups. A young Meryt, she was the same age as Crown Prince Kiros. Nehesi being a year younger than the both of them.
    Meryt was the daughter of head maid Hunet. She had been brought up in the Sanctuary of the Black Pharaohs all her life. She greeted them with a warm smile. Your Highness, she bowed before the crown prince and poured him water to cool him from the heat. Nehesi, I brought the water you requested. If I had know His Highness was around, I would have brought out food for him, Meryt said as he poured a glass for Nehesi.
    Her gentle demeanor brought about a calm atmosphere. My mother has told me to look out for you, said Meryt with a concerned look as she stared into Crown Prince Kiros's eyes. Do not worry about me, the both of you. You have been my friends and anchors for the longest time. I will never forget, Crown Prince Kiros said to them.
     As they sat together, Meryt engaged them in a conversation. Her words, uplifting and were filled with wisdom as she spoke. Crown Prince Kiros found himself drawn to her kindness and warmth. Her smile brightened up his darkness that was consuming him from within.
    His admiration growing with each passing moment. In her presence, he felt a connection that went beyond friendship.
     That day, amidst the echoes of training and clashes of swords, a bond formed between the three of them. Crown Prince Kiros knew that he not only found a loyal friend in Nehesi but also a kindred spirit in Meryt.
     As the sun set, casting a warm glow over the sanctuary, Crown Prince Kiros realized that his feelings for Meryt went deeper than he imagined. She had brought light to his world and he knew that she would always hold a special place in his heart.
      As the conversation in Crown Prince Kiros's chamber unfolded, a sense of foreboding had crept into the sanctuary. On the eventful day Prince Amare and Nehesi left the palace, the vizier, Sedaq sat in his secret chamber. The royal palace was hiding a room only know to him and those who followed his command.
A round table with twenty high chairs sat in the middle of his secret chamber. A three-headed dragon with wings covered in red fire, sat as a symbol in the centre of the chamber.
The dimly lit candles flickered and brought the essence of mystery and schemes. He stood over a golden jar, carved with ancient symbols. Within it lay the vengeful spirit of Sedna, goddess of the sea, bound by dark magic. His evil dark eyes glared at it. A sinister smile curled on his lips. They won't see this coming. The princes will have to face adversity, Sedaq said his face full of certainity.
     He had captured her spirit to serve his own deadly purpose. Make sure this is planted with the gifts for the crown prince, he commanded his men. Let him feel the weight of vengeance through this dark relic.
Meryt had been in the kitchen to get food for the Crown Prince. Her eyes were drawn to the shimmery golden jar, she felt an inexplicable pull, as if the relic whispered words only she could hear. With the other meal on her tray, she slipped the golden jar among the dishes on the tray, unaware the darkness it contained.
As Meryt stared into Crown Prince Kiros's eyes, her heart was racing. The golden jar on the tray was gleaming and it hypnotised her. She was mesmerized.
The golden jar on both her hands, Your Highness, she said her voice trembling in excitement, I thought the beauty of this golden jar is worth your eyes.
The moment the golden jar opened, a cold wind filled the bedroom chamber. The spirit of Sedna rose in anger of betrayal. It was vengeful. Her anger for being wronged consumed the space. It strided towards Meryt. Opened her mouth and went inside her body. The maid's eyes darkened. It reflected the spirit's fury.