A Tale Of Queens

The Feast {Part Two}

Or maybe not.

Because the sudden sight of her mother was enough to once again, knock the air out of her lungs.

As they stood at the entrance of the hall, facing each other, Sa-Alti became tongue tied. There was so much she wanted to say. But so little that she could.

Finally, she found her voice.

“Mother,” she greeted.

“Child,” Alti replied, giving her a scrutinizing once over. From her hair to her dress to the sandals on her feet. Under that gaze, Sa-Alti felt bare. When she was done looking, Alti's expression gave nothing away.

“Mother,” she began, “I have finally caught you in this game of cat and mouse.”

Alti's look was droll and flat. “It was no game. I did not want to see you.”

The voice held no venom but the words were cutting nonetheless.

“Of course,” Sa-Alti nodded. She completely understood. She wondered if she should apologize. She wondered if she should ask the questions at the back of her mind. But decided that now was not the time.

From outside the hall, they could hear the bumbling crowd of men and women, speaking in loud voices, as though trying to deafen those closest to them.

“Have you decided what you are going to tell them?”

That she had actually done. She had practiced alone and with Jyaret. He said that he was impressed with the angle she was taking. She hoped that he was right.

“Yes, I have,” she answered simply.

Her mother's smile was wide but it did not reach her eyes. If anything, it was downright mocking.

“Good. Hopefully, you do not humiliate yourself.”

There was something about the way she said it. Something ominous.

No. Sa-Alti refused to be shaken.

If things went her way tonight, then they did. If they didn't, then they didn't.

But nobody in this world was going to stop her from trying.

Suddenly, the announcer, a stout man with a booming voice was shouting;

“People of Khelet! Rise for your Queen! Queen Sa-Alti of Khelet! And your Queen Moth...”

“Smile and wave, child,” Alti was telling her as the doors began to open.

Sa-Alti took a deep breath. What happened from now on was going to determine her sister's fate.

Slowly, she began to walk down the elaboratory decorated aisle.

The mere sight of all these people, standing still in reverence to her; who she was and what she stood for, gave her a genuine flush of pride.

Sa-Alti made eye contact, waved and smiled. She exuded a certain charisma akin to her mother's that left the people charmed.

The floor was air under her feet.

Steadily, she progressed on to the high table on the podium, where her and her mother's special guests awaited them. Jyaret was hers while Rwawa was Alti's.

Finally, they arrived at the podium, stood beside their respective guests and turned around.

Immediately, the people fell to their knees with fists against their chests.

“HAIL!” they cried.

Together, Sa-Alti and Alti ordered them to rise.

The people obeyed and took their seats.

Alti began to speak, raising her voice.

“People of Khelet. I welcome you to this feast prepared specially by my daughter; your Queen ; Sa-Alti of Khelet!”

The cheer that followed was thunderous.

Sa-Alti was pleasantly surprised at the enthusiastic reception.

When the noise died down, Alti continued.

“As we wine and dine tonight, may our stomachs never be empty and our hearts always be merry! Let the feast begin!”

On cue, the band began to play a melodious tune and servants with large trays of food and wine began to appear.

Alti leaned closer to her daughter, and  murmured under her breath.

“Now, we wait until they are drunk.”

Sa-Alti said nothing.