Battle For Ashina

Chapter Four

The wolf king was tossing and turning on his bed, he was restless all night. He was disturbed by his younger brother’s outright disagreement with all the things he said during the full moon occasion. Lawrence and Vicker decided to visit their father’s chamber to know how he was doing since they waited for him to come out of his chambers quite early as he normally does, but he did not. The previous night after the full moon occasion, he didn’t go out to see them before sleeping. As soon as they got to the king's room, they discovered that he was already awake. “Father! Father!” His two sons called out but there was no response, [something must be bothering the king, what could this be?] Lawrence asked in his heart. As he stretched forth his hands and touched his father, he asked; “What is going on Father? You look troubled.” Their father looking up at him responded “I am not happy with my brother. He does not see any good in what I do, imagine the occasion I called for, he embarrassed me in front of the entire community questioning my authority and condemning my decision.”

As the king kept complaining about his brother, his younger son opted to console him with soothing words like a balm to a sprained ankle; “Father, I know your patience wears thin at this point like silk strained by his weight within; and it is most difficult for you to decide because you both share the same heartbeat of kinship, and the bond of brotherhood divine. Please go easy on yourself.” “Father, I know he is your brother,” Lawrence said “but he sees nothing good in anything you say or do. Imagine the way he opposed you openly, this is something none of your subjects can do.”

The king’s second son Vicker, a much short-tempered fellow with a heart like an aggravated lion constantly looking for an opportunity to prance and rip apart, said “Father what he did was open rebellion. A reckoning is due, a lesson to impart, let him feel the weight of your heart. The wolf king asked “something like what?” His son Vicker responded “Something like the final whisper! The last goodbye! Father let’s send him to the land of the spirits.” As they were discussing, unknown to them, their mother was close to the door when she overheard her son’s conversation with their father. She was shocked as ghost bumps covered her skin. She was angry about why they would suggest something like that but she stood still and didn’t want them to be aware of her presence. As soon as they were about to leave their father's chamber, she tiptoed to the back of the door as Lawrence and Vicker walked out of their father’s room. Lucia Lemuel went into the king's chambers, and she quickly noticed his unstable mood, she placed her hands around his shoulder asking him to keep calm, but he was still hanging unto the feelings of hurt from his brother.

The following morning, Kassi, Adolphus’ wife, the king’s sister-in-law, said to her husband; “I know you are right, to chasten the crown in public’s gaze is to undermine its majestic authority. This is very wrong my husband, I fear for your life. I don't want anything to happen to you.” Adolphus replied to his wife, “I have talked to him many times about his attitude towards his subjects, but he has refused to listen to me. Do not worry, I am his flesh and blood, he cannot hurt me but I will speak the truth, though it may sting. I will be the voice that whispers in his ears, guiding him toward what’s just and clear.

Now, Ashina was preparing to start her work in the palace, she wore her beautiful dress and was preparing to leave when her mother asked Cornin to join her there, stay with her, and ensure that she was safe. Her sisters opted to join them but their mother refused. When they got to the palace, Ashina commenced her duties immediately. Her brother went and stayed with the king’s sons in their chamber. Cornin was a calm and gentle person. He didn’t like the attitudes of the king’s sons while Ashina was in the palace. The king came out from his chambers and noticed the way she was tending the garden; watching her quenched his sad mood quickly as he instantly wore a smile on his face, walking towards the garden without Ashina noticing his presence. He tapped her on the shoulder, Ashina not knowing who it was blurted out “Who is that and what do you want?!” as she turned, only to discover that it was the king.

She quivered and said in a shaky voice “Oh my king, good morning!” “My dear you don't need to be afraid, unchain your heart, and let it soar like mine. This should be the place where your soul takes flight, so you have to be free when you come here.” Ashina was infuriated at the sight of the king, she felt irritated by his presence. The king strolled around the garden as he kept fixing his eyes on her. He made his way back to the palace and requested the presence of his sons in his chamber. Cornin joined his sister in the garden to trim the flowers and clear the entrance pathway of the king’s palace. Lawrence and Vicker joined their father in his chamber, and the king began: “Concerning what we discussed earlier about my brother’s attitude towards me and the throne, how do you suggest I handle this matter?” Vicker jumped in as if he had been waiting for such a day to come “I suggest we poison and kill him. He needs to die father.”

The king leaned back on the throne and pondered for a moment then he leaned forward again to whisper his decision to his sons, “Okay I will leave it in the hands of the both of you to handle, ensure that you make no mistakes and there is no trace.” “Yes Father, we will execute it perfectly” Vicker assured. As they made their way out of the palace, they saw Ashina going into the palace to see the king. She refused to look at them as she passed and kept moving. “What is wrong with you?” Lawrence said, “Have you no manners?” Ashina ignored them and went straight to the king’s wife and asked what other chores were laid up for her and the king’s wife responded with a smile “You'll join me to the market”. “I want to get some groceries and vegetables for food preparation. I know your mother taught you so much about cooking but there are other things I will show you too.

Ashina loved the king’s wife because she was the only one who felt different. She quickly felt at ease talking to her. They both prepared and went to the market before they got to the market she decided to check on Kassi, the king’s brother’s wife. As soon as she arrived, Kassi was happy to see her; she brought out drinks, and they drank as they discussed while Ashina waited for her outside. Lucia told Kassi “I just came to see you briefly because I don't know when I will have time to see you again. I implore you to talk to your husband and tell him to be careful about his manner of presenting his views and opinions before the king. I had never seen the king in such a prolonged angry mood for a very long time, everything I did to try to talk him out of the mood seemed abortive. I’m afraid the king, my husband, may not be so lenient next time something like that repeats.” “I have to be on my way now” Lucia added as they both got up to exchange pleasantries. She left and joined Ashina outside as they made their way to the market; they quickly bought some vegetables and other food items, rushed back to the palace mansion, and began to prepare them.

When it was evening, Ashina left the palace immediately with her brother as they got back home. Ashina rested for a while before narrating to her mom her experience in the palace that day while Cornin was still outside trying to practice his fighting skills. The following morning, Daciana asked Terra her eldest daughter to join Ashina to the palace, Terra’s heart beat fast like the thrill of an adventure that would surely last. She was excited but Ashina’s heart was like a canvas painted with tears, she preferred Cornin to join her because of the way he assisted her at the palace gardens. Terra, on the other hand, was very lazy and may not assist her in anything, but as soon as they got to the palace, Ashina was shocked when she saw her sister helping arrange the tables and chairs and dusting the palace.

By now, the king’s sons had already started planning and strategizing on how best to end their uncle’s life as soon as possible. They began gathering information about their uncle’s daily habits and itinerary so to decide what means would be most suitable to engage in this plot. The king got the updates on progress from his sons regularly, which he made sure, or so he thought, was kept secret from his wife the queen to avoid his brother being tipped off which would’ve meant sudden disaster for him the king. Lawrence and Vicker reached out to their trusted allies who were loyal to their father, they set a date for their first meeting which they all agreed, and so the plot to eliminate the Wolf-King’s only brother and only voice of hope to the people began. This felt like the last rays of sunlight disappearing into the horizon, leaving an unsettling stillness in the air that whispered of the chaos soon to unfold.