Princess Tarella And The Throne Of Avilah

Chapter 4

The horse galloped very fast and the carriage moved swiftly on the road. The queen was silent throughout the journey.

The topography of the country was enchanting as it was full of large tall trees, green grass with beautiful flowers of various types decorating everywhere. There were huge mountains, valleys, hills, and rivers all around the country.

However, there was only one sea in the country. The sea was known as the Sea of Avilah and it runs throughout all the major towns including Cabil, the capital city where the palace is.

The sea is blue in colour and it is very deep with a lot of aquatic animals. The sea is very long and wide and runs through the length of Avilah as it is not a big country. It is one of the greatest pride of Avilah as it is greatly revered due to several factors. It is a major source of income to fishermen and also provides fresh sea animals to the people. It is also used to transport goods by ship to countries across the sea. In other words, it is a huge source of revenue to the country.

Besides all that, it is known that a very powerful sea goddess known as Zedena dwells in it. Zedena, the goddess of the Sea of Avilah, is highly revered and worshipped by majority of the people of Avilah.

As the wagon moved along the uneven road, it bounced severally and it was a bumpy ride till they arrived at Suvata which was about three miles from Cabil where the palace is.

Steven stopped the wagon in front of a moderate brick house surrounded by beautiful flowers which includes roses, orchids, Pride of Barbados, among others.

Queen Anne remained seated for a couple of seconds as she stared at the house where she was born and raised.

She recalled growing up as a happy child even though she had no siblings. Her mother, Sarah, and her father, Joseph, doted on her, spoiled her as they gave her anything she wanted as a little girl. Her parents pampered her to a fault even throughout her teenage years till when she became an adult.

Her love for material things is as a result of her being pampered by her parents all through her stay with them.

Sadly, her father died a year ago, leaving her mother as a lonely widow.

"Your Majesty, My Queen," we are already at your mother's house," Mary said.

Queen Anne jolted from her thoughts and glanced at Mary. Then without saying a word, she rose from her seat.

She and Mary alighted from the wagon as Mary carried the Queen's bag and they headed to the house while Steven moved the wagon to a more convenient place beside the house.

Queen Anne and Mary who was behind her carrying her bag got to the front of the house and the Queen knocked on the door.

After a couple of seconds, the door swung open and she saw her mother standing at the doorway and smiling broadly.

"Oh, my! Who do I have here today? My beautiful daughter, the Queen of Avilah whose beauty is like the dazzling beauty of the early morning lilies," her mother eulogized her.

Instantly, the queen felt conceited and grinned from ear to ear. If there is one thing she adores that lifts her spirit, is to be eulogized. Fortunately for her, her mother knows it and that Is why she never fails to shower her with praises anytime she sees her.

"Good morning, mother," Queen Anne greeted her mother with a smile.

"Good morning, ma'am," Mary also greeted her with a curtsy.

"Good morning, my daughter and Mary. You are welcome. Please, come in," her mother replied smiling.

"Thank you, mother," she said as she looked behind her.

"Where is Steven?" she asked.

Just then, she saw him walking towards them.

"Mary, go and meet Steven. I want to have a private discussion with my mother. Just stay around the house. When I am done, I will summon the two of you," the Queen said.

"Okay, Your Majesty, My Queen," both of them said in unison as Steven bowed his head slightly and Mary made a curtsy.

"Mary, let me have my bag before you leave," she said as she stretched forth her hand.

Mary gave her the bag and she made a curtsy.

"Thank you. You can now leave," she said.

Mary turned around and went to meet Steven who was standing on a pavement and they both left the Queen's presence.

Sarah, the Queen's mother stepped aside and she entered the house.

She looked around the house and it made her feel nostalgic as she remembered her beautiful childhood.

The living room looked plain with armchairs upholstered in red velvet. There were beautiful artwork hung on the wall and a large window by the right.

From the window, one could see the Sea of Avilah shimmering in the distance.

On the left side was a sculpture of a lion and hidden just beside it was a lovely white female cat with red ribbons around her neck. She was seemingly afraid and was peeping at the queen.

The cat was the pet she bought for her mother three months ago when she last visited. Before then, her mother complained bitterly about how lonely she was since she became a widow.

She recalled suggesting to bring a maid for her mother to help her around the house but she vehemently refused and instead requested for a female cat that will be a pet to her. Her reason was that she didn't want any human living with her as she said that people generally cause trouble but a faithful animal like a cat would not.

So, the Queen brought her the cat three months ago to keep her company.

After looking at the cat for a moment, Queen Anne smiled and sat down on her favorite chair since when she was a child.

"Mother, I can see that your cat is getting bigger," the Queen said with a smile.

"Yes, it is. When you gave it to me, it was just a little kitten," she said smiling.

"So, I hope it is keeping you company and you are no longer as lonely as you used to be?" the Queen asked.

"Yes, indeed, she has been keeping me company. Although I still feel lonely at times, it is not as bad as it was before Molly came into my life," her mother replied smiling.

"Molly? Is that her name?" Queen Anne asked.

"Yes, Molly is her name and I adore her. Thank you once again for giving her to me," she said with a smile as she called the cat by her name.

The cat meowed then walked slowly to meet the Queen's mother. She jumped on her legs and started rubbing her head on her legs.

The Queen watched as her mother gently patted the cat on the head.

"To what do I owe this visit? I know you hardly visit me except you have an issue you want to discuss with me. Besides, I heard you tell your servants a moment ago that you want to have a private discussion with me," Sarah said.

Queen Anne was quiet for a moment as she looked at her mother. Her mother, Sarah, used to be pretty and quite vivacious. But since she lost her husband, she has become a shadow of herself as she has seemingly aged by ten years. There were several wrinkles on her face which kept increasing anytime she visits.

She was wearing a plain yellow floor-length dress with polka dots. The dress looked faded and it made her feel ashamed to see her mother wearing a faded dress. Ironically, she has bought her many lovely dresses which she hardly wears. Whenever she asks her the reason she refused to wear the clothes, her answer was always that she was an old widow who has but a short time to live on earth, so, why should she be bothered about her appearance as she has no one to compliment her looks.

Several times, Queen Anne complained bitterly to her mother to try to change her drab appearance which she noted was not befitting for a Queen's mother but all her pleas fell on deaf ears. At a point, she got tired of telling her, so, she decided to let her be.

"Mother, you are right. I came here for something that deeply troubles my soul as well as that of my husband, the king," she said.

Sarah was quite for a moment as she stared at her daughter. She still looked almost the way she was five years ago when she got married to the King. But there was a remarkable difference as her skin seemed to glow beautifully and her expensive clothes looked regal and always look good on her lovely physique befitting a Queen. The scent of the expensive perfume she was wearing filled the living room.

Looking at her daughter, she seem to be contented with her life but looking deep into her eyes, one would notice that she was troubled. Fortunately, very few people would notice that. If she was not her mother, she probably wouldn't have noticed it because she has a vivacious nature which she inherited from her and fortunately, it hides her inner feelings.

"Annette, my daughter. I guess what troubles you and the King is your childlessness, right?" she asked.

"Yes, mother. You are right," Queen Anne said.

"I thought we have discussed this issue countless times and you told me the King has visited sorcerers, wizards and witches, all in a bid to have a child but unfortunately, the situation has remained the same. I have also done my best for you by taking you to see powerful sorcerers but nothing has changed. So, what else do you want me to do?" her mother asked.

"Yes, mother, indeed, you have taken me to see powerful sorcerers who all promised me that I will have a child in no time but it all turned out to be false," she replied.

"I have done my best and there is nothing else I can do for you," Sarah said.

"Mother, surely, there is something more you can do for me and I will be grateful if you would accede to my request," Queen Anne said.

"Really? Okay, speak and let me hear what you have to say, then, I will see what I can do as long as it is within my capability," she replied.

"Mother, I want to meet Zedena, the goddess of the Sea of Avilah. I believe she is the only one that can help me out of my predicament," the Queen said.

Her mother gazed at her as she appeared slightly shocked.

"My daughter, are you serious?" she asked.

"Mother, how could you be asking me if I am serious? You very well know how much the King and I need a child who will be an heir to the throne of Avilah. And I don't need to tell you how desperate Prince Devy, the King's younger brother wants the throne. Prince Devy has never hidden his interest in the throne and it would be hitting the nail on the head to say that almost everyone in the kingdom knows that he wants the throne. Mother, I can't fold my hands and do nothing about the situation. Even though the King and I have sought solutions in different places, it is about time we took a drastic measure. As the saying goes, desperate times call for desperate measures. I am ready to do anything to help the King's lineage retain the throne," she paused as she watched the cat leap to the floor from her mother's legs.

"The King is almost at breaking point because of the fear of losing the throne to Prince Devy, his younger brother. If he dies without an heir, the next successor to the throne is Prince Devy, and when he is crowned the King of Avilah, what will become of me? I will probably be thrown out of the palace like a piece of rag considering that Prince Devy and Jezreel, his wife hate me with a passion. They have never hidden their hatred for me which I have learned to accept. Jezreel is jealous of my position as the Queen of Avilah as I know she wished she was the one in my position. Mother, I can't let the King's throne be taken from his lineage neither do I want to lose my position as the Queen of Avilah. I have tasted fortune, fame and power, I can't afford to lose all and become a nobody in Avilah. Mother, please, help me to meet Zedena, the goddess of the Sea of Avilah who is known to give children to barren women," she said as tears streamed down her face.

For the first time since she got married to the king, her mother knew she was indeed ready to make any sacrifice to give the King an heir.