The Oath of Arigot

Chapter Two

Azim informed Gonzalo that Queen Asha and the eight Taliks wanted to see her at the queen's chamber immediately. It was a sad news for her. She feared that Queen Asha may have found out that someone had looked through the Great Gate. If they found her guilty, they would imprison her for life and replace her with someone else. She was so terrified, yet there was no other option but to answer the call. On her way to the queen's chamber, she thought of different excuses to give: she could tell them that she had opened the gate and was observing the human world to see if there was any potential threat to Arigot when Arit crept into the scene. She could also tell them that she had heard a tap on the gate and went to see what it was, but when she opened it a strong wind blew her off her feet and made her fall to the ground. She thought this particular excuse was better to make up for any accusation that she left the gate open and went to sleep. Nonetheless, she was afraid.

The queen's chamber seemed farther than usual as Gonzalo trudged on with a mind enveloped by fear. She wore a cyan ankle-length chiton that was fastened at the shoulder by pins. Arigot pebbles crunched under her feet as she walked anxiously. Her eyelids drooped.

When she got to the queen's chamber, Queen Asha and the eight Taliks were already seated. The Taliks sat on silver chairs arranged symmetrically on both sides of the palace hall. The hall was built in a rectangular shape. Azim ushered Gonzalo into the hall, but Arit was not there because she had been barred from entering due to the fact that she was Gonzalo's friend. The place was quiet. The only sounds that could be heard were produced by the fluttering of the curtains draped against the walls. The eight Taliks and Queen Asha studied Gonzalo as she scuffed to the middle of the hall, standing directly in front of the queen.

"I was told by the Taliks that you now neglect your place of duty, Gonzalo?" Queen Asha quizzed. This was not the question that Gonzalo had expected. She had expected to be asked why she let someone look through the Great Gate and see the human world. She feared that Arit may have unwittingly let them know what happened. But Queen Asha's question did not particularly suggest that. However, she knew that her fate now rested on how quickly she could come up with a perfect excuse.

"I do not particularly understand what you mean, my queen," Gonzalo replied.

"The Taliks told me that you abandoned your place of duty. Why did you do so?", Queen Asha probed.

"I'm always at my place of duty, my queen", Gonzalo riposted.

Gonzalo's statement piqued Talik Eshen who was actually the one that visited the Great Gate when Gonzalo was not there. She was the one who reported the incident to the other Taliks and insisted they report it to Queen Asha.

"Do not lie, Gonzalo! I was there three days ago but I didn't see you", Talik Eshen snapped.

"It must have been when I went to see what was making the creeping sounds at the mountainside", Gonzalo said. It was an excuse which paved way for further interrogation, and she was busy trying to come up with a strong reason to back it up.

"And when you went to check, what exactly did you see at the mountainside?" Queen Asha queried.

"I...erm...I...I...saw...some...a...," Gonzalo stammered.

"I've never known you to be a stammerer, Gonzalo," Queen Asha recounted.

"That's because she doesn't know what excuse to give and is probably thinking of one," said Talik Eshen.

All the while, Arit was beside one of the windows eavesdropping on the interrogation. If she didn't do anything at this point and Gonzalo was imprisoned, first of all, it would destroy her chances of meeting Rozalis, and then it could make Gonzalo feel too betrayed that she may decide to tell Queen Asha and the eight Taliks the truth, that the heir to the throne of Arigot had violated the law by looking through the Great Gate. The consequences of this would be too disastrous for her, so she barged into the hall.

"What are you doing here, Arit? You are not supposed to be here now!" Queen Asha bawled.

"Oh, Mother, I beg your mercy, but Gonzalo is only but an Arigot being like everyone else. You don't expect perfection of service from her", Arit pleaded.

"The Keeper of the Great Gate should never neglect her duty post..." Queen Asha insisted.

"But I have been there many times and I have never seen her anywhere else," Arit argued.

"She is your good friend, of course", affirmed Talik Eshen.

"I do not defend her for friendship; I simply speak the truth," Arit riposted.

The palace hall was choked by opinions and counter-opinions that resulted in a heated argument. The eight Taliks insisted that Gonzalo be replaced. Arit insisted that Gonzalo be allowed to continue. She threatened to relinquish her position as the heir to the throne of Arigot if Gonzalo was replaced. She described the decision to replace Gonzalo as highly unfair.

Arit's threat to relinquish the throne was a bone in Queen Asha's throat. She could not risk it because Arit was the only heir to the throne. For this reason, she decided to give Gonzalo another chance at serving Arigot. The decision excited Gonzalo but annoyed Talik Eshen. Queen Asha then ended the meeting. Gonzalo and Arit ambled out of the hall. When they reached outside the gate, Gonzalo thanked Arit. She assured Arit of her indebtedness and cooperation. If not for Arit's daring and defiant attitude in the palace hall, she would be regarded as the former keeper of the Great Gate by now.

They decided to go and see Lesi the powerful sorceress that same night. Gonzalo assured Arit that Lesi was the right one to consult, but Arit worried whether Lesi could keep the secret.

It didn't take long before nightfall. Arit sneaked out of the palace to meet Gonzalo at the Great Gate. They hastened to see Lesi. The way to Lesi's house was lonely. It was at the part of the city where no one wanted to stay. They hastened on till they reached the place. The place was full of hills and mountains, so almost all the paths were valleys. Gonzalo held Arit by the hand as they entered the cave where Lesi lived. The cave was dark but they could see a flicker of flames deep down. It was the only light in the cave. Arit was stunned that such a powerful sorceress would prefer to stay in such a lonely cave. They walked cautiously and Gonzalo was still holding Arit's hand and guiding her through. Soon, they were deep in the cave and they saw a dark figure sitting beside the fire.

"What do you want, my daughter?" Lesi asked.

Arit was surprised that Lesi called them "daughter", but then she wondered which of them she was actually referring to.

"We have come to see you, great one," Gonzalo replied.

"We?" Lesi queried.

"Yes. My good friend and I" Gonzalo affirmed.

"I can smell royalty here even though I'm blind. The scent of royalty oozes here," she said.

It was then that Arit knew that Lesi the powerful sorceress was a blind Arigot being. But she must be very powerful to be able to rely on scent. Naturally, every Arigot being had some kind of supernatural power, but it was limited to domestic activities.

"Actually, I came here with a member of the royal family," Gonzalo affirmed.

"So the royal family of Arigot finally finds worth in an old witch like me!", she smirked.

Arit wanted to speak but her words coalesced and formed a lump in her throat. She tried to speak but the words didn't come out.

"We have come to seek your help, great one", Gonzalo pleaded, "the princess needs your help"

"What can I do for her?" Lesi asked.

Then Gonzalo narrated of how the princess needed to travel to a distant land as a part of her royal adventure. She told Lesi that the princess needed a great magical power that could make her fly to other worlds and return safely. She told Lesi that Arigot would suffer if the princess didn't travel. On hearing that, Lesi consented but wearing the same smirk on her face. She then gave the princess a little piece of cloth tied into a knot.

"Whenever you want to travel, sprinkle a little of this on yourself and say whatever you want, it will manifest", Lesi affirmed.

Arit couldn't control the tears of joy that trickled down her chin. "Oh, Rozalis, I can finally see you", she said.

Gonzalo promised Lesi that they would come back with numerous gifts for her if the magic worked effectively. She held Arit's hand and began leading her out of the cave. Then Lesi suddenly whispered, "Gonzalo". Gonzalo turned back to meet her.

"You lied, Gonzalo, the princess is not on any adventure. She is travelling to the human world where she has found true love that violates the oath of Arigot, isn't she?" Lesi grinned.

Gonzalo's lips parted but the words couldn't come out.

When they left, Lesi said, "finally I can have my revenge on the late Queen Marita."