The High Priestess
1197 Words
Chapter 2
Aiai entered the Council Chambers. Her ladies-in-waiting remained outside and went to another room for the ladies of the court. The guards at the door bowed low as she walked in.
All conversation stopped when she entered the door. All eyes were on her and she took a deep, calming breath as she took a step towards her assigned seat at the dais. Eyes followed her as she took her seat beside her father. She scanned the room and saw the High Priestess of Ohrandia's only church also in attendance. Then her gaze fell on the seat just below the dais. Her only brother looks like he swallowed a gallon of sour apples and looks down as if defeated. She felt alarmed but did not show it. She wanted to hold her brother but she dared not in front of her father's cabinet and the senate.
But she feels so bad about it. Her brother - Prince Wángzǐ is only nine years old. He's just started his training in his gift and has been training as a Royal Prince for a few years. She suspected that this has something to do with her being summoned here before her training for the day has completed. She wasn't apprised of what's coming so she is entirely clueless. She looked at her father-King Jiānqiáng de Zhànshì hoping to find some answers from him. The King looks immaculately composed but there was a hint of sadness in his eyes. This took Ke Ai surprised. In all the years she knew her father, the King never showed any other emotion in the formal halls of the Palace. This amplified her feelings of dread. She looked down to cover her reaction and surreptitiously glanced at her brother and almost flinched at the intense emotion on the young Prince's face. Ke Ai knows her brother as a strong young boy and knows how to act as a Prince among his peers. At a young age, he shows characters of a noble worthy of the crown. It's only that he was born second so the crown goes to her by birthright. Now the situation in the room is suffocating. Her Queen mother looks as grim as her father. Her beautiful face is pinched in worry but cannot be discerned by those just looking at her. Only her intimate knowledge of her mother's moods allowed her to read the Queen accurately. The King rose from his throne and looked at the far side of the room. Every head bowed and all eyes centered on him after they looked up. "Crowned Princess Ke Ai," the King addressed her but his eyes is still on the far side of the room. "A prophesy has been made by a young priestess just this morning!" the King continued. Ke Ai thought that it must be a very compelling prophesy involving the Royal Family to get this atmosphere in the room. It must have involved the young Prince and this made it all the more painful for her since she cannot give comfort to her beloved younger brother. They're very close and been the best of friends. Her brother loved her and she feels the same way. Her contemplation was cut short as the King continued speaking. "I will let the High Priestess explain everything to you!" then the King seated. The High Priestess rose from her seat and looked up at her and bowed her head not too low as befitted her station. Ke Ai have seen the priestess once during the celebration for her younger brother. She was but a child herself then. "Crowned Princess Ke Ai de Zhànshì, Prince Wángzi de Zhànshì," the High Priestess' voice, smooth and calm permeated the chamber. "Your Majesties, the Honorable Lords and Ladies, earlier this morning our youngest apprentice came into her powers as was amplified by her coming into womanhood!" the High Priestess continued. Ke Ai realized that the apprentice she mentioned just had had her first womanly cycle and came into her powers. This is always the case for most of them. Seldom do they know their powers at ages before puberty. Ke Ai was one of the exceptions. She came into one of her powers at age six. She has come into it accidentally when her young chimera was wounded and fell from the palace's east tower. She was so horrified that she ran from her nanny towards the falling chimera and held out her hands while shouting at the top of her lungs. Her cries were subdued but her voice can be heard by every person and animal in their head in a 300 yards radius as though she was shouting at their ears. The chimera did not fall directly to the ground but has glided towards her raised arms. Her cries stopped as she cradled the wounded animal. As she touched the flanks of her pet, the wound started to close rapidly and the blood stopped as the bones mended. As her young charge healed, the princess fell to the ground and fainted. Everyone who was frozen in shock and immobilized by their surprise in the discovery of the princess' powers moved as if by unified force. Her nanny rushed over to hold the princess while her parents rushed outside the palace before they finish their sup. Her coming into her gifts was a momentous event for her parents. They were so proud of her and made a great ceremony out of it. Her brother's coming to his powers was as phenomenal. People had been expecting him to have as much unusual abilities like her. After all, they both showed great potential when they're just barely toddlers. Now she's interested to know what powers does the young priestess hold that can summon the Council at immediate notice. This has definitely peaked her interest.Her brother loved her and she feels the same way. Her contemplation was cut short as the King continued speaking. "I will let the High Priestess explain everything to you!" then the King seated. The High Priestess rose from her seat and looked up at her and bowed her head not too low as befitted her station. "Crowned Princess Ke Ai de Zhànshì, Prince Wángzi de Zhànshì," the High Priestess' voice, smooth and calm permeated the chamber. "Your Majesties, the Honorable Lords and Ladies, earlier this morning our youngest apprentice came into her powers as was amplified by her coming into womanhood!" the High Priestess continued.
Ke Ai realized that the apprentice she mentioned just had had her first womanly cycle and came into her powers. This is always the case for most of them. Seldom do they know their powers at ages before puberty. Ke Ai was one of the exceptions. She came into one of her powers at age six. Now she's interested to know what powers does the young priestess hold that can summon the Council at immediate notice. This has definitely peaked her interest.
- Writer
