THE INACCESSIBLE CONTINENT OFTI GULHA (The Mystic)

Chapter 5

Having lived in the castle where he has never seen or played with a child within it, Mhaharanni was very excited to see a boy close to his age. Looking at Miciry, he felt Ti Gulha had answered his prayers and had given him a playmate. His late mother’s garden had been his only play ground; so without even thinking twice, he tugged Miciry’s hand leading him all the way to the doors of the throne room to introduce Miciry, his newfound friend to his father Ti Raja.

Mhaharanni knocked on the door once and waited.

Despite the strange environment Miciry found himself, he was not afraid; he was only curious. The double doors opened to a council meeting. Mhaharanni led Miciry inside and they stood before the powerful Raja of Ti Gulha.

Ti Raja Jicarge Alhovose was a tall white man with a full head of white hairs and long white beards. He was dressed in a full length white gown and a milk colored robe.

His gift from Ti Gulha was a pair of large hooves in place of feet, which, when struck upon the earth with intent, could cause quakes in his intended location. Ti Raja was seated on his throne made of stone, padded with feather filled cushions covered in purple velvet with gold trimmings. He was presiding over a council meeting.

As Miciry looked at Ti Raja, he remembered all the stories he used to hear in D’ Wretched about Ti Raja and his great hooves that could cause earth quake.

All heads turned to Mhaharanni and Miciry the moment they arrived before Ti Raja and the council. Ti Raja looked at his son, and asked, "Yes what can I do for you,and who is this young boy with you?" Mhaharanni said to his father "This is my permanent friend and his name is Miciry Artch Burtcher". Upon hearing the name Artch Burtcher every one in the throne room was Shocked, Disbelieve was written on all their faces , including Ti Raja as their eyes fell on Miciry. They all stared at Miciry. Ti Raja said with a deep voice:

“What type of Dark Gulha is this?”

Because, to Ti Raja and all the council members present, Miciry looked exactly like a much younger version of the Raja’s late right hand man and close friend, ArtchBurtcher ArtchMigerd . Moreover, they all knew that the late Artch Burtcher did not father any child before his passing.

Mhaharanni started explaining how he met Miciry in the garden of the late Rajamahesi (queen) while he was playing there all by himself. Ti Raja still very much astonished, asked Miciry who he was. Miciry answered:

“I am Miciry son of Rhashidah Aldimitis and ArtchBurtcher”.

“Where did you come from?”

Ti Raja asked.

“I came from D’ Wretched”.

Miciry replied. This shocked the entire council members present even more. Because in all the history of the continent of Ti Gulha no one has ever escaped from D, wretched.

Ti Raja stood up abruptly calling two of his council members, Cahasiha and Vetran, his Advisers and Right hand men, he also motioned for Mhaharanni and his so called permanent friend to follow him as he walked out of the throne room; leaving the rest of the council members gaping after them as they left the throne room.

The small group followed Ti Raja to his wing of the castle and into his inner chambers. He ushered them in to his sitting room. The room has shelves filled with scrolls and parchments. A large table surrounded by soft chairs padded and covered with purple velvet. On the table are parchments and writing ink and feather. Ti Raja told them to sit.

Miciry sat close to Mhaharanni.

When they were all seated, Ti Raja turned his striking golden colored eyes on Miciry and asked him:

“When were you born?”

Miciry answered:

“I was born in D’ Wretched eight months after my mother was sentenced. So my mother said”.

After that explanation, Ti Raja took Miciry’s hand and opened his palm to check the lines and markings on Miciry’s hands to further confirm if Miciry was truly ArtchBurtcher’s son. After a while, Ti Raja said to Miciry, ‘you have the same lines and markings on your palm as your late father. You are truly the son of ArtchBurtcher’. This simple experiment confirmed the paternity of Miciry.

Ti Raja and his Adviser and Right-hand men exchanged looks. And then Ti Raja asked Miciry the final question. “What did you know of your father?”

Miciry answered. His eyes were still very curious about what was actually going on;

“My mother told me that my father was an important man in the service of Ti Raja, and that she was a cleaner in the palace and that my father was a very stubborn man and that she didn’t mean to kill him.”

Ti Raja and his aides were silent. When Ti Raja finally spoke, he said to Miciry;

“Your mother was not far from the truth, but your father, ArtchBurtcher. ArtchMigerd was not only an important man, he was my right-hand man and the secret keeper of the entire continent of Ti Gulha. He was the head of the military and security forces, including the secret service. He was also my closest friend and ally.

Your father came from a family that was gifted with strength and agility. They are specialists in warfare and the military. They are warriors.

But your mother Rhashidah came from the cleaner clan. Her family came from a long line of Anuvatti (individuals without powers), she was, however, an exception to the rule, because she was said to be madly in love with your father. Even though everyone in Ti Gulha knew that once a person found his love spouse or the individual with Ti Gulha given marching tattoo, they naturally bond in love for life”.

Ti Raja took a deep breath, feeling pained at reliving the painful experience of his friend’s demise. He continued.

“When she was dismissed from the palace because of her inability to follow the rules and regulations, she became desperate. She sorted and got the help of a merchant that specializes in magical potions that she used to weaken the will of someone as strong as your father. When your father finally became free from the portion, she had already had her way, but he still rejected her. She killed him with a dagger coated with poison that the merchant gave her. Your mother’s hope was to control ArtchBurtcher with a child she bore for him”.

Miciry could only comprehend very little of what was said, but all he could understand was that his mother killed his father and his father had died. He was starving and worried about his fate.

Ti Raja looked at Miciry fondly and said;

“Welcome Home"

He turned to his son with a slightly amused face and said,

“Take him to Calsa, the royal cook, and give your permanent friend a feast”

And he turned to one of his aids and said;

“Tell the maids to prepare the room next to Mhaharanni’s apartment”.

Mhaharanni got up and held his new friend’s hand and they both walked out of the inner chambers, hand in hand.