My gratitude, My death

THE PRINCESS BECAME UNCONSCIOUS

     The Princess was on her way to see the great monumental structure of King Oakley. It was built in the city of Eratria, a few kilometers from Marina. Roland, the mayor of Eratria constructed this statue in honor and remembrance of King Oakley. The king treated him like a son. They were very close until the death of the king. His wife, Queen Roselyte was from there, in a village called Moeb. The monument was the most visited historical in the whole of Portsmouth. It was a magnificent artwork stationed at the heart of Eratria. The statue represented King Oakley in his glorious day. He held his staff of honor in his right hand, and he raised it towards the sky. A golden crown on his head and bunches of arrows on his back. They placed him on a black horse. The two front legs of the horse were raised. The statue was on a might art stone, painted in white. At its base, were soldiers on feet. In their hands, swords, and spears.

On her way, the Princess became unconscious and she threw her entire crew in a great panic. Her destination changed and they headed back to the castle. On their way, her physician tried to resuscitate her, but she gave no response. She was fast losing her breath. The horsemen were on their toes; as they handled the horses’ harness with great skills. The Princess’ tour has come to an end after four days.

The guards at the main gate of the castle saw the motion of the royal chariots towards them. At once they knew something had gone wrong. Three soldiers rushed and opened the giant gate. The horses passed the gate at high speed. The watchman at the tower ran the heavy bell. It was the castle bell and its sound always makes them alert. The chariot of the Princess stopped at the entrance door. The sound of the bell made more soldiers rush towards the chariot. Everywhere stood still. They carried the unconscious Princess into the medical apartment.

“What happened?”

The king asked and held Marian’s right hand tight Marian. Fear and panic could not make her construct her words.

“On our way.” She paused and pointed in the direction of Eratria. “There, the Princess suddenly fell unconscious.”

“Was there any accident?”

“No my Lord.”

She was fidgeting.

“Calm down.” The king ordered her. She tightened her lips and hummed. The king left her and went after her daughter. The room of her treatment was locked. King Eric knocked. A physician came out, he was an elderly man. He had a white mustache and was putting on wire-framed cycle glasses.

“Lord…” the king gave him no time to continue. The way the physician backed the door behind him made it clear that no one was allowed to go inside the room.

“How is daughter doing?” Before he could finish his words, his wife walked in and two maidens ran after her.

“Can I see her?”

“I am sorry your majesty, your daughter needs some rest.” The king looked at his wife’s eyes and back to the physician.

“My lord, please, let me attend to the Princess.” He opened the door and gently closed it. In the process of opening the door, the Queen peeped through. The princess was still lying helplessly on the light blue bed. The king saw the misery in his wife’s eyes.

“She will be fine,” he caressed her right shoulder. And the Queen embraced him. The two maidens watched them and put on long faces.

The physician who came out was the head of all the physicians in the castle. His name was Russell. He has served three kings. King Carson, was the first. He was very young. He was nicknamed the ‘medical boy'. He served King Oakley, but he was not the head of the physicians. King Eric, twelve years ago, after the death of George, King Eric promoted Russell to be the head physician.

After two days, Princess Stephanie’s condition became worse. Her weak breath became her hook between life and death. All the physicians knew not what to do to bring her back to a normal state. They have tried their best, gone through all their medical books and history, but got no positive result. The more they tried, the more the strength of her breath reduced. This made all in the castle nervous. The beautiful Princess Stephanie could not move, talk or smile any longer. She had been the favorite of everyone in the castle and the happiness of her entire household was down.

On the third night, the king fell into the same trance he saw before the tour of his daughter. He also saw countless armed men, surrounding the city of the castle.

He woke up in great distress. It was midnight and sat on his bed. The King couldn’t sleep till morning. At dawn, his wife, Queen Rebecca came into his bedroom. She was putting on a very dark blue V-shape nightgown. The tails of the gown covered her feet. Its neck, down to her chest was weaved with transparent holes. And from a close range, sides of her breasts could be seen.

From the king’s face, she presumed the Princess’ health was behind his dull face.

“My lord, all will soon be alright.” She threw words of hope on the king.

“Sit down,” the king tapped the bed. She sat on the edge of the bed while the king was resting his back against the wall.

“The same vision haunted my night. I saw this castle in the hands of danger,” he stopped and held his white pillow closer to his chest and blew air fear from his mouth.

“Same dream?”

“Yes, it was very clear.”

The Queen pulled herself near the king and held his right hand and kept looking at the king’s eyes.

“What is the meaning of all these?” She asked.

“What will say? I don’t know my dear. Before she left, I had I fearful vision. Our daughter could not complete her tour because of this strange illness. Now, the same vision is still haunting me. Where am I missing the mark? Or I should have allowed her to go?” He turned to his wife.

“But… you made the degree.”

“I wish I knew. I wouldn’t have said it. My words have put my precious daughter in pains.”

“It wasn’t your fault. You wanted to make her happy. You never knew this would happen.”

“I feel guilty. To be sincere with you, I will a bit drunk. I can’t tell this to anybody except you. That is why I am feeling guilty.”

Later that morning, King Eric sent for Albert. Albert was the king’s closest adviser. The king was standing near the window looking down when he heard the opening of the door. He turned, it was Albert. Albert walked close to him.

“My Lord, you sent for me.”

“Albert, I am traumatized. What must we do? As the day goes by, I don’t seem to understand anything anymore.”

Albert looked at the king for a while. He knew whatever happened to the King and the kingdom affected him.

“My Lord,” he lowered his voice, “should I secretly consult any witch doctor?

Things are going beyond us. The last time, we checked through those scrolls that night, we could not understand the symbols none their meaning.”

The king peeked at him as he used his right hand to scratch the backside of his neck.

“But you know, this great kingdom does not lie her hope on sorcerers.”

“My Lord, your fear has become my fear. We must find out what is happening. Sitting down here day and night will never solve the issue.”

“I know”, said the king and he continued. “But you know my father, King Oakley drove away all the sorcerers. He placed a law to execute anyone found guilty of sorcery practices, and he did execute them publicly even his relatives. It is against our law. Sorcerers are liars. They are deceivers, wolves in sheep’s clothing.

“My Lord, leave everything to me. Some may be sincere.”

“Yes, sincere at first. In the end, ruin. What if someone blackmails you for visiting a sorcerer, how can I execute you? If I don’t, it will tarnish my image and my command.”

The king’s last words made Albert reduce the pace of his reply.

“I will take the risk.” He finally nodded his head. “Whatever happens, I will never include your name. I promise.”

“But Albert, I can’t bow to a sorcerer. It is demeaning. That is something you never expected me to do.”

“My Lord, leave everything to me. I need to start going now.” He bowed and left the king’s presence. He went down and took one of the horses and left the castle.

Before this time, Albert had heard about a village called Yame. It was positioned between two giant sacred hills in the neighboring kingdom called Eastleign. There, they encouraged sorcery. When he got there, he mingled himself among the wine drinkers at a café built with planks. He bought and drank and when he noticed the attendant was alone, he approached her. She was a young beautiful girl with a pointed nose and thin lips.

“Where may I find any ancient sorcerer here?”