IS IT FAREWELL MY KING?

CHAPTER 2- Agreement With Angel Rashnu

I

With eyes searching for that grieving voice that filled her ears, Angel Rashnu closed the big book of life in her hands and fled, following the whistling winds. She passed through the Holy Maiden Daena where she saw her talking and smiling at some new souls that had recently come. She flew more and then she saw a woman kilometers away from the foot of the Chinvat Bridge, holding up in her hands the holy pendant from Vayu, the God of the wind.

Angel Rashnu landed gracefully in front of the warrior Carkas’ Queen.

“Introduce yourself, woman, and why are you here?” The Angel asked the Queen.

Queen Aradia suddenly put down her hands and knees as she bowed her head. “My beloved Angel Rashnu, I am the present Queen of the Carkas Tribe. I am here to earnestly seek your favor for my only daughter, who is inside that carriage,” she said sincerely while pointing her finger at the carriage nearby.

“Go on, Queen Aradia, I am listening.” Angel Rashnu said in a gentle voice.

“My daughter was hit by an arrow while fighting on the battlefield just a while ago that has taken her dear life. She is still so young and can still help a lot with our tribe and other fellowmen. She is also my only daughter, which is why I am deeply grieving now. I earnestly implore your divine help, my beloved Angel Rashnu, to deny her spirit first to enter the world of the dead.” Queen Aradia’s voice was shaking and her tears fell down like an uncontrollable flood of water.

Angel Rashnu was silent for a while, “You battled with whom?” she asked after a while.

“To the troops of the soldiers of King Severo, my beloved Angel Rashnu.”

The Angel’s eyes darkened as if she heard something distasteful. Hearing the name of the tyrant King Severo made her ears ring with irritation. She always heard that name muttered by those souls that passed through the Chinvat Bridge; that King Severo who is the only son of the Warrior- God, Verethragna to the former Princess of the Persian Kingdom. He is totally different from his Warrior-God father, the savior of the weak, as he constantly fights against the forces of evil.

“I cannot just easily give in to your request, Queen Aradia. But let me know the name of your daughter and let me see her name in this book of life.” Angel Rashnu replied after some thoughts.

“Her name is Areza; Princess Areza of the Carkas Tribe.”

Angel Rashnu opened the big book of life and searched for the name of Princess Areza. The Angel smiled as she learned that Princess Areza was not yet due to die and be thrown into the world of the dead. She was safe then, but she decided to let the young Princess live first.

Angel Rashnu closed the book of life again and then looked at the grieving woman. “I will agree not to accept yet your daughter’s spirit to enter the world of the dead but on one condition,” she said.

Queen Aradia’s face lit with happiness when she heard what the Angel Rashnu had said. “Thank you my beloved Angel Rashnu. I will gladly accept any condition just to take back my daughter’s life.”

“Well then, your daughter Areza will be given a year to return and live again in the world of the living, but she should enter or serve in the palace of the Demi-God, King Severo and find a way to change his cruel heart into being the protector of the good, to which he was supposed to be, being the son of the Warrior- God Verethragna. Should she fail, I, Angel Rashnu, the righteous judge of the dead, will recall her spirit and it will be thrown into the world of the dead,” the Angel said while moving her right hand like a compass.

Tears of happiness flowed once more into Queen Aradia’s eyes. “Thank you my beloved Angel Rashnu; I accept your condition and will let my daughter try her best to fulfill your condition when she wakes up.”

“She is awake now. Go! Take her home and fulfill my conditions.” Angel Rashnu stated, and in a flicker of seconds, she can be seen flying back onto the Chinvat Bridge.

II

With feet almost not touching the ground, Queen Aradia ran into the carriage to see her daughter. She was followed by Malada, her loyal Carkas Lady Warrior.

And when she entered their carriage, she saw Princess Areza, sitting inside, smiling at her as if nothing had happened.

Queen Aradia was not able to control herself; she plunged her arms around her daughter, embraced her tightly, and laughed so hard but with tears of happiness streaming down her face.

Princess Areza was confused as she tried to pacify her mother. “Hey, what’s wrong with my Queen, and where are we?” she asked gently.

Instead of replying, Queen Aradia touched her bosom to check her wounds, but to her amazement, she could not feel nor see any wound therein.

“Everything has been healed in you, my daughter. Thanks to the Angel Rashnu,” She exclaimed.

Suddenly, flashes of what happened during the battle flooded Princess Areza’s mind. “I did not die despite being hit by the arrows?” confused, she asked again.

“You died, my Princess, but I sought the help of Angel Rashnu not to accept your spirit to enter the world of the dead.”

“And she agreed just like that, Mother?”

“She agreed, Areza, but she has a condition that you need to fulfill, otherwise she will recall your spirit and it will be thrown into the world of the dead.”

“What is the condition mother?” Princess Areza’s expression was unfathomable.

Then Queen Aradia laid down to her daughter the conditions set forth by the righteous judge of the dead.”

Princess Areza’s mouth fell open as she listened while her mother told her the conditions.

“My daughter, you need to do it.”

“Mother, just listening to the name of that tyrant King, my heart already dribbled with angst. How could I be able to change him if I don’t even want to mention his name?” Princess Areza retorted to her Queen Mother with doubt showing on her lovely face.