The Asters of Ogaza

Bickerings, and banishings

          The Royal guard was right; when they got there, Princess Haile was in complete fury mode, glaring at Amare like Master Poja was the only one preventing her from devouring him immediately. Master Poja had his usual ‘stern but I love my job’ look. Unreadable.

          Zina and Amare convinced themselves over and over that they couldn’t have found the book. They put on a tough exterior, despite the fact that they were breaking into a thousand pieces with fear.

          “Zina and Amare, what is this we’re hearing?” Master Poja said.

          “The Steves boy, he’s the one who should do all the answering!” Princess Haile spat, and the two Asters exchanged nervous glances.

          “Dear mentors, what have we done?” Amare said, hanging his head low like an innocent pup, something that normally would have earned him laughter and a shoulder swat from Zina. But she didn’t even take cognizance this time. “Your Majesty, what have I done?” He faced the Princess.

          “What are you two up to?” Master Poja scanned their faces like a detective. “It would be much better if you said it yourself, instead of us forcing it out of you?”

          Zina gulped, but her saliva was now lava. It burned her throat. “What—what do you mean, Master Poja? We’re not up to anything unusual. Is there a problem?”

          “Oh for pits sake, PJ! Can’t you see how afraid you’re making her? She’s harmless, Amare is the predator!”

          Amare gaped, wondering how he all of a sudden became a bad guy. “Your Majesty,” he said, straightening his back more than normal. “With every respect in North Ogaza, I am not a predator. I do not know what you may be talking about, but why do I get to be the predator and not vul—” he bit his tongue. “Zina.”

          “What is that supposed to mean?” Zina punched him unconsciously, and quickly retreated her hand when she remembered where she was.

          Princess Haile made a cute face at them and Master Poja just managed a small smile.

          “So it is true? You two are going to be our Aster couple this year. How come Zina never mentioned you to me?” She faux–sulked and for a minute, Zina wanted to ask her why she thought she had the right to know. But she knew some personal things about the Princess, it may be a bit right to let her into some parts of her life too. Anyway, phew, they both exchange relieved glances and let their breaths out. This had nothing to do with the sketchbook.

          “It’s a misunderstanding, Your Majesty. We’re not a couple.”

          Amare gasped. “Ouch, Zina.” He placed his hands over his broken heart.

          “Okay,” Master Poja put a hand up, like the sight of the both of them was physically disturbing. “We heard that you both had a little argument yesterday. It seemed to be a . . .hot topic amongst the Asters. Actually, you both are a hot topic between them. I have heard, things.” He said ‘things’ with a slight shudder. “I would address them in due time, but before then, is there any dispute you have to settle? Frankly, I think you all are adults and can settle your differences amicably. But the Princess made me do this, because she’s suspicious of you, Master Steves.”

          Amare’s eyes bulged. “What exactly do you people think of me?!” he saw the Princess’s taken aback expression, and then lowered his voice and bowed. “Your Majesty, Master Poja.”

          Zina choked back laughter. “Yes, we’re adults. And have settled our disputes. Amicably.”

          Master Poja gave a single nod. “Very well then.” He looked to the Princess. “Are you satisfied now?”

          She narrowed her gaze at Amare. “Not quite.” Master Poja literally rolled his eyes so hard, Zina and Amare had to laugh. “Did you . . .PJ! did you just roll those tiny eyes at me?”

          “I’m leaving,” he said and actually left.

          “If he bothers you, let me know and I’d have him beat and kicked out!” Princess Haile said to Zina, snarled at Amare before running after Master Poja. Zina watched them bicker from afar, and wondered if she and Amare looked like that when they bicker too.

          “Vulture, this is unfair!”

          “What is?”

          “The Princess just called me a predator, suspected me of who knows what, and threatened to beat me up and disgracefully kick me out of the Palace, because of you. She didn’t even say anything mean to you.”

          Zina chuckled. “Oh well, maybe I should start relishing in all the bias and attention now.” She stuck her tongue out and he playfully tried to strangle her. “But, hot topic. Are we really a hot topic?”

          Amare huffed. “Of course, we would be. You may not be, but have you seen me?” Tt was Zina’s turn to huff at his upturned lips. He wasn’t wrong though. He was hot, so hot he deserved to be a topic. And he was.

          “I may have gone to Point 4, without you.” Zina glared at him. “What? You said you didn’t want to go back there until you found your sketchbook.”

          She heaved. “I’m changing my mind now. Show me.” The only thing missing was for them to link hands, because as they walked to the woods together, they joked, laughed, and put their worries aside for a while. This was what it meant. To complement each other.

                                                                             ****

          “You did not roll your eyes at me,” Princess Haile pinched Master Poja’s forearm and he yelped.

          “Haile! Do you have blade for fingers? And can you try to not be obvious with your bias towards Zina?”

          “How many times have I been—” She stopped talking when a Royal guard approached them.

          “Your Majesty,” he bowed. “The Emperor calls you.”

          Her face tensed. “Me?” he nodded. “Where is he? His quarters?”

          “The throne room.”

          She turned to Master Poja who gave her a weak, yet encouraging smile. “Send for me the moment you’re done.”

          She took a deep breath, and went into the throne room that was now repulsive to her, despite the jewels and rich art adorning everywhere. The Empress was there, seated beside her husband. And so was the Crown Prince. But he was kneeling.

          “Your Highnesses,” she bowed. “You called for me.”

          “Kneel!” The Emperor bellowed and she joined her brother on the ground. It had been a long tine since they knelt before their father. What had they done wrong? “I have just two of you. Just two children, and you both want to disgrace me?! Send me to an early grave?”

          “What did we do, Dada?” Princess Haile said, taking her face off the ground to meet the seething rage in her father’s.

          “Taye is the Crown Prince. Heir to this throne. When I hand over my rulership, it would be to Taye. Do you not remember that?”

           Princess Haile understood why she was summoned. She gritted her teeth and tears stung in her eyes, but she wouldn’t cry. Not again.

          “If I had known early that that was the flimsy reason you locked yourself in your room like you were in solitary confinement for three days, I would have knocked the door down and pulled you out. You’re 26! No longer 16. Act accordingly. But I can’t say I fully blame you. I was Taye who went ahead to tell you that he would no longer be married. Under whose authority?! Now, listen to me, the both of you. You will both be married soon and this is a Royal command!”

          “And then what,” Princess Haile said. “What happens when I get married? I’d be chained to the bed of some spoiled son of a Royal Statesman, who would dump seeds and seeds of children in me. I would wear the finest clothing, and just . . .look pretty. Then what, Dada? Then what, Mama? How long? How long do I have to pretend that I am lesser than what I really am? How long do I have to sit on my hands while you two take what belongs to me and —”

          She was carried away with her rantings, she didn’t see her father get off his throne, descend the few stairs separating them and strike her face with palms. In the Royal family, they are good slappers. That’s for sure.

          “Have you lost your mind? How dare you raise your voice before the Emperor?!”

          Her voice wasn’t the only thing she was hoping to raise, because Princess Haile was now on her feet and staring at her father dead in his eyes. Her mother gasped, and her brother tried to call her name through his teeth and ask her to go back to her knees.

          “Mama slapped me last week, so don’t expect this to hurt too much. Is that all the both of you can do? Is my realization of my rights becoming a threat to you? Am I becoming to rebellious for you to handle?!”

          The Emperor raised his fist to strike her again, but she grabbed it midair. Her mother sprang up, and so did her brother.

          “Haile!” Her brother roared through his teeth. “What are you doing?”

          “I refuse. No more sidelining for me. That is all you people have done to me my entire life, and I would not have it! No more!”

          “You are right. You are too much for me to control. And just like you, I won’t have it. Guards!” Four Royal guards came rushing in. “Take her to her quarters, pack her things and send her to Bales immediately. Watch over her until I ask you to bring her back.”

          “Your Highness!” The Empress dropped to her knees and crawled to grab her husband’s legs. “She’s a child. Let’s not do anything rash. Anything we would regret.”

          Crown Prince Taye fell on his knees as well. “Dada please. Don’t do this. Let’s talk about this. Please.”

          But his mind was made and his decision cemented. He shook his wife off and went and into his quarters.

          “Why? Why did you have to do that, Haile? Why don’t you listen? Why are you trying so hard to be stubborn?” The Empress cried.

          “Because . . .I was never listened to. If any of you had listened to me, I may have learnt to listen too. And, I am not trying to be stubborn, I am stubborn.” She stalked off, tears falling from her eyes.

          “Haile!” Crown Prince Taye called for his siter, but she was gone, her heart determined to be rebellious. She was no longer willing to play a shadow. No matter how long it would take her, she was going to get things in order. In the way they should be. The way they should have always been.