A Tale Of Queens

Vileytna

Four months had passed after Ifika was sent away.

One very cold hamattan morning, a strange carriage rode into the palace grounds. Phelon was told of this unexpected guest and he went outside to see for himself. A woman alighted from the carriage and stood, waiting, as the king approached her. When he was close enough, she knelt and gave the customary salute. Phelon greeted her warmly in return. She looked important and well to do. He wondered why exactly she was here. She looked like the type who could afford to send servants to deliver messages.

“It's cold. Come inside and let me give you a proper welcome.” he offered.

“My king, I am sorry to reject your kindness but I am in a hurry.”

Her skin was ashy with the dry air and her cracked lips looked like they would bleed at the slightest stretch. It was obvious that she had been travelling without a break in her journey.

“Very well then. What is the matter?”

“I am from Yrsa.” Her voice was low, subdued when she said this.

Phelon's heart skipped a beat. He looked around and made sure that there were no servants in ear shot. He watched her questioningly.

“Is something wrong?”

“Ifika, the young woman you sent to us-”

She was interrupted by a sharp intake of his breath.

“-was pregnant. She refused to tell us who the father was.”

His ears were ringing. And the only things he could hear were Ifika and was.

“I don't understand. There was no child. She had a miscarriage.”

His voice was full of tremors when he spoke.

The woman sighed. There was no other way but to be blunt.

“Your highness, she only lost one of the twins. The other survived.”

Phelon swallowed hard. His hands were shaking and he tried to breathe slowly to calm down. Twins. There had been twins.

“Is she fine? She should have delivered the baby by now.” His voice grew sharper as he continued, “Why was I not told? Why was a message not sent?”

“She said you knew the baby's father and was adamant that you both be kept in the dark. We had to accept her wish. She was weak already and we did not want to cause her distress.”

He did not know whether to cry or be angry. The baby's father? Had Ifika gone mad?  Instead of losing it, he exhaled.

“Alright. What's done is done. How are they?”

The woman averted her gaze.

“The baby is well. A healthy baby girl.”

As if on cue, the sound of crying came from inside the carriage. It was then that Phelon noticed another woman sitting inside. She stepped out, a solemn air around her. She was carrying a child carefully, trying to comfort her.

She bowed her head to Phelon.

The confused man looked between the both of them.

“Your Highness, this is the child. And her wet nurse. She cannot speak.”

Phelon stared without blinking at first, as if he was in a trance. A child only ever needed a wet nurse if the mother could not produce milk or was dead.

“Ifika...”he whispered.

“I am very sorry. She passed shortly after –”

The statement went unfinished as Phelon fell to his knees, weeping, in quiet painful sobs.

The woman looked around, worried and confused at his reaction. She did not know what to say to comfort him. Ifika had been adamant that he was not the father. Had she lied to them?

Fortunately, a servant was close-by and ran quickly for the queen and the king father. Alti was the first to come out, wrapped in a thick woven blanket. Spotting her crying husband, she faced the women, only just noticing the child.

“Whose baby is that?”

The woman gave her a shortened version of what she had told Phelon. Alti was shocked. It was blow after blow. A child had survived. Ifika was dead.

My sister is dead.

“Let me see her.”

Her voice shook. Her emotions were scattered and she tried to compose herself as she was handed the baby. The girl blinked at her curiously.

“She named her.”

“She did?”

“Yes. Vileytna. To survive in Yrsan.”

“A beautiful name.”

She turned to look at Phelon who was now on his feet at his father's urging. She faced the women.

“She has been buried?”

“Yes my Queen.”

Alti swallowed painfully.

“Thank you. For everything.”

The both of them bowed.

“You may go.”

They entered the carriage and the driver whipped the horses, causing them to move.  Alti stared at the back of the vehicle until they were out of the palace grounds.

She was lost in thought. Was there ever a time when she did not resent her sister? When she did not wish that she had never been born? Perhaps when she was four, or was it after that? Alti did not know. Ifika had been such a thorn in her flesh for so long that when she was finally pulled out, she could not decide whether she was relieved or she actually longed for that pain just one more time. She noticed belatedly the tears rolling down her cheeks. Sniffling, she handed the bundle over to Phelon.

“Greet your child, Phelon. Her name is Vileytna.”

Phelon took her tenderly, rocking her gently. He looked at Alti with uncertainty in his gaze.

“Alti, please –”

She frowned. She understood what he meant.

“She's a child. She has done nothing to me. Sa-Alti will enjoy her new sibling don't you think?”

Her smile was forced but she was trying. He smiled back at her, grateful.

“Yes. She will.”

“I need to send for my parents and find a wet nurse. Excuse me.”

She left and Phelon watched her go, wondering what was on her mind.