QUEEN OF BABYLON - BOOK ONE

42- QUEEN OF BABYLON

"Where is Nephrite?"king Nebuchadnezzar asked as he arrived with his entourages. The entire palace became quiet as graveyard. Just then it dawned on the maidens that nephrite had not returned with them.

Everyone looked around as if she was hiding. Just then Sasimoru gave a loud cry and knelt.

"Forgive me your sovereignty"she starts. "But Nephrite is dead".

Sybil fainted immediately as Kitana fell down in shock. Grandma khan gasped and held kitana who was shaking uncontrollably on the floor.

"What did you say???"the king thundered in shock.

Everyone trembled, their king angry means he would kill everyone.

Sasimoru began to cry. "Yes my lord. I was wondering about in the forest when i saw blood trails everywhere. I searched for her but did not see her anywhere"she explained shedding crocodile tears.

"Its a lie!!! I can't believe it!!!!! Do you have proof???"grandma khan asked crying now.

"All i found was this"Sasimoru brought out nephrite Saree and showed it to them. Grandma khan grabbed it held it to her heart and cried. 

The king stared at the cloth in shock, his heart is dead???? Never!!! Without any word he turned back to the palace. Slowly everyone filed out in shock and pity, Sybil was rushed to the royal infirmary and kitana to her room.

Words already spread like wild fire across Babylon that Lady nephrite is dead. Everyone lamented and stayed in door whispering the sad fate of the king's betroth.

Meanwhile Nephrite was rushed to inside a cottage and laid on a bed. An old man with white beards rush to her. 

"Talhum!!!!!! Quick boil water!!!!!. You grab all the clothes you can find, you help me hold her!"he instructed and everyone ran to do as bid.

"What is wrong with her?"Alias ask as she held nephrite hands.   "She's been poisoned"he replied.

"Can you save her?"she ask again. 

"Yes. Now help me hold her tight. Am going to pierce her with this"he raise up a knife and did as he said.

Alias winced as sigma came back with the clothe. "Will this be enough???"she ask.

"Yes"the man say and Talhum brought in a pail filled with hot water. The man stopped the bleeding and dressed the wound.

"Will she survive?"sigma ask.

"I hope so. For her to hold on till now. She will survive"he assured. Alias and sigma sigh in relief at least their mistress will live.

"You must be tired. You should rest"the man said he turn to Talhum. "Start dinner"he instruct.

The man went back to Nephrite laying on the bed breathing steadily.

He thanked the supreme maker that he was able to save yet another life. He held up her hands and noticed the bangles on it. She must be royalty but from where.

He shrug and continued treating her.

"She don't seems to be healing"Sigma said from behind her. 

"Yes, a black mamba poison can be so dangerous and lethal"the man said.

"And what can we do about it?"alias ask taking her mistress hot hands. "She's boiling"she say.

The man nods and turn to Talhum. "Bring in the bassinet"he commands.

   Talhum brings it in and they place Nephrite inside it. They start filling it with black mud, the man adds some potions inside it.