On planet Ohnah, discoveries are made through visions and dreams.
King Fizayer is busy ruling his kingdom and solving everyday disputes in his court. Sudden visions of past reveals to him his beautiful Aqeruh, soulmate. She has made him almost fera...
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Everybody was taking it easy on me. I could feel it. They didn't want to burden me just yet and I was thankful. The first task of the queen was to hold an interactive meeting with the house.
The house, in this case, was the whole tower. A staff of a few hundred was now under my direct command. The loyalties ran deep. It would be tough to impress those who obviously loved Domina. So, I segregated. Anyone, who had a hard time keeping disapproval out of their face was immediately displaced.
Domina was not happy. I wasn't either. But a new rule required new people. People that would make my life easier. Those who wished to remain closer to Domina was assigned duties on her floor.
Domina was a little happy then. I was relieved. The whole morning went into hiring and firing. I retained more than half of the staff but changed everyone that would directly cater to me.
I roamed about the rest of the tower for the first time and saw a few rooms that shimmered in and out. Keeping them in mind, I moseyed forward bypassing the fiftieth garden. The tower was full of gardens, open spaces, and natural light.
Another pretty garden came into view. I went past it but stopped at the very last moment. Turning, I saw it shimmering. Curiosity got the better of me with this one. With cautious steps, I put my hand out to touch that shimmering wall.
But before I could make any contact, it turned into a solid brown door. Right before my eyes, what appeared to be a beautiful garden earlier, now it was all cemented walls with a plain door.
My hands shook. I swallowed hard at my decision to go inside. I turned the knob. The door opened a little. I peeked inside and saw only a desk and a chair. Odd! I expected it to hold some kind of magic. I closed the door shut but it opened by itself again.
I jumped back in surprise. Frantically looking left and right, I realized I was all alone on this floor. There was not even a single guard in sight. Strange!
I swallowed again and saw the half-opened door challenging me. Straightening my shoulders and resolve, I reminded myself that I was a queen now and I needed to be strong. With that single thought, I managed to carry myself inside on unwilling feet.
Inside, the air was stale but the floor and the walls were squeaky clean. This room was weird and made me uncomfortable. I couldn't decide what I was looking for here.
Why was I here?
I turned to get out but the door was closed. Panic set in. I knew I didn't close it. Suddenly, the temperature rose and the beads of perspiration appeared on my forehead. The solid walls turned to shimmering ones again.
And the words appeared next. One by one,
Pristine Queen
You're stuck in between
The past recline, incline, intertwine
But not enough time
The bud slowly wakes
Be ready to surrender and embrace
The bold letters weakened before disappearing. The room came back to normal but I remained frozen. Fixated on where the words were, I repeated them in my mind like a mantra.
I jumped when there was a knock on the now opened door.
Calmone frowned before asking, "How did you get in here, my queen?"
I gulped and remembered my very first day here. Ignoring the question, I replied in a soft voice instead, "Secure the premises and unlock the vault."
Calmone straightened, stepped inside, and closed the door behind. The click was audible. I never thought I would call my champion on the first day of being a queen.
Was I weak? And why didn't I want to tell this to Fizayer?
"What bothers you, my queen?" Calmone interrupted my doubts.
"Calmone, it's a weird room," I replied clumsily.
"Ah, yes. I'm surprised. This room can only be opened by Fizayer."
I nodded in understanding. "It materialized in front of me like many others in this tower. But this one almost beckoned me to come inside."
He raised one brow, "Did it show you something?"
I widened my eyes and nodded frantically, "It did."
He moved a few steps forward, "What?"
I repeated the riddle. His frown lines deepened.
"What do you think it is trying to tell me?"
"It's hard to tell, my queen-"
"Please call me Imeeshi," I interrupted.
He inclined his head, "Prophecies may look simpler but are always very forthcoming of danger."
"Then how can I solve it?" I asked worriedly.
He pursed his lips, opened his mouth to say something before closing it.
"What?"
He took a deep breath, "There's already one unresolved prophecy on our hands."
"What do you mean?" I frowned.
"Long story short, before meeting you, Fizayer was summoned by the Order. She recited a prophecy that was more delusional than this one."
"What was the prophecy for Fizayer? He never mentioned it to me once."
"You were easily spooked and would run in a blink of an eye. Maybe he didn't want you to feel burdened by his problems."
"His problems are mine too," I replied in concern.
"Yet you told me this news first."
I lowered my eyes at that.
"As a champion, I'm a neutral voice. Your concerns become mine because you can't tell them to Fizayer for some reason. I'm also a bearer of secrets. Being a queen is not at all easy. A queen seldom plays a hard hand in public while maintaining softness in her private life. These two clashes soon with each other. That's when I enter to keep you going to extremes. I will make you see that where you're right and where you're wrong."
"Then you're a voice of reason."
"Yes."
"So, you're saying, I should tell this to Fizayer?"
"I don't see any problem with that."
I nodded and felt embarrassed. I wished I didn't call him. The moment I get spooked, I ran away from Fizayer in one way or another. This time by calling my champion instead.
Served me right.
It also relieved me that not everybody would brown-nose me just because of my position. I could always count on Calmone to call me out on my mistakes. I needed that more than the coddling.
The walls shimmered again and the pretty garden uplifted my spirits.
I turned and asked, "Will you tell me about the prophecy?"
He shook his head, "That's for the king to tell."
I pursed my lips and nodded, "Yes, the king has a lot to tell."
