Chapter 37: SINNERS
"Take me to the temple, Tamar." It was a sudden request Micah made after lying in bed doing nothing.
She was dressed in a red gown, her sun-kissed skin glowing. Her black curly hair was packed in a bun. But all that beauty was hidden under a white cloak with a hoodie that concealed her face.
"Your Grace, you will need some guards to escort you; shall I send for them? Tamar asked as she dropped the folded clothes on a cushion in the chamber.
"Arranged a royal carriage, with some baskets of fruits and the leftovers from the kitchen. Quick now, hurry! Micah said as she took off her earrings. She was going to the temple to mourn her fate, the destiny the gods have chosen for her.
Two knights and a royal carriage were arranged for Micah; she also insisted that Tamar, her handmaid, should escort her.
It was a bumpy ride; the carriage shook as it trotted along the stony path leading to the holy temple.
"Sinners! Sinners! The voice of the high priest was heard from a distance.
"This temple was built years ago, my lady. It is as high as a tree and very unique. It is among the few temples in the city; a lot of people here worship idols." Tamar said, and Micah listened, her lips chapped but sealed.
Her thick brows and straight nose, with plump lips, gave her a beautiful look.
"Tell me, Tamar, how many priests does that temple have? Micah questioned, not sparing her a glare.
"There are 15 priests; they are called the holy of holies. The leader among them is called the saint. I tell you, my lady, fear that man. He is the closest to the gods." Tamar seemed to quiver at the thought.
Micah stepped down from the royal carriage, and soon people began to point fingers and murmur….
"It's her, the king's new wife." They whispered amongst themselves.
"This way, Your Grace." A knight said as they paved the way for Micah to walk through.
The staircase—they were numerous.
"Should we lift you up, My Grace? One of the knights asked.
"And why would you do that? I have legs; I will walk." Micah said, scolding him. She fixed her gaze ahead; slowly, she took a step.
Behind her was Tamar.
Today the sun was at its peak. And it radiated on Micah's glistening body as she climbed the fifty staircases. The temple was laid on a high rock, making it the highest temple in Decreash.
In front of the temple, at both sides of the last staircase, was a statue of a book wild open, with words scripted on it. The book was made of stone, huge and conspicuous.
"My lady, would you like some water? Tamar asked, but Micah shoved her hand.
"I am fine, Tamar." She said with etched breath, They were halfway up the stairs.
By the time they got to the last staircase, Micah was breathless. Tamar desperately fanned her mistress with the hand fan to dry the sweat on her face.
Micah took out a napkin and wiped her face.
A man in a plain long white gown languidly came out. He was barefooted, and his forehead had the drawing of a triangle with red paint. His hair was grey, mixed with some black-colored hair.
"Your Grace." The priest bowed nonchalantly, almost as if he was forced to do it.
Micah walked into the temple after taking off her footwear…
"My lady…" Tamar wanted to tell Micah how wrong it was for her to take off her shoe in public.
"Tamar, do not test my patience." Micah shot her a deadly glare before her eyes softened.
Inside the temple was dark, like a cave. But as Micah took more steps forward, she began to see a glimpse of light.
Immediately she got to the main area of the temple; her eyes glistened in awe. The craftsmanship on the walls, so intricate, filled with different tales to tell. The ceiling was so high she could barely see it.
There was only one window in the room, carved in the shape of a triangle. It was the only place the rays of the sun reflected inside the temple.
Micah traced her gaze from the reflection of the sun to a man seated on the floor at the end of the temple, his hand stretched out and his legs folded with his eyes tightly shut, as if he were meditating.
She looked closely and saw that the man was surrounded with white candles; the candles were placed on the floor to form the shape of a triangle, and the man was seated in the middle.
The rays of the sun also coming from the triangle-shaped window, reflected on the man, casting a triangle shadow on him, aligned perfectly.
Micah dragged her bare feet as she held on to the material concealing her face, her hair properly covered, like she was mourning.
She looked ahead and saw some people on their knees, their hands clasped together as they prayed. They were all kneeling in a circular form around lit-up candles placed on circular-built pillars.
Micah made her way to the place, less crowded. In that circular built structure, candles surrounded it. Some melted, some newly positioned there. She went on her knees, shut her eyes, and clasped her hands.
At this moment she could hear the silent murmuring coming from the man seated in the middle of the candles, a distance away, but she shook her head and tried to concentrate on her prayers.
"Why? Why did you leave me when I needed you the most? She questioned her maker in her head.
"I worked so hard, but you allowed the cold hands of death to snatch my father. And now…," Tears streamed down her cheeks.
"And now, you have sealed my faith to that wicked man that calls himself a king. Give me a sign that I should not jump from the high walls of this temple and kill myself." Micah broke down into a silent sob as she continued to throw questions at her maker.
Just then a soft wind blew, and most of the candles in the room went out. Micah didn't notice this; her eyes were shut as the candlelight radiated. on her angelic face as she sobbed.
Just then, she felt a hand tug on her dress slightly. She slowly raised her gaze; her eyes glistened with unshed tears. When her gaze met a man with the longest white beard she had ever seen, Micah was startled with fright!
"Why do you question the gods? The old man's voice was so deep, it could put people to sleep.
"To…to get answers." Micah's lip quivers, then she realizes something. The man standing in front of her was the same man that was seated in the middle of those candles a few moments ago.
The old man had grey moldy eyes, as if he would go blind any moment. But with those eyes he peered into Micah, as if he could see the deepest part of her soul.
Just then the man began to shake his head from side to side. Then she started stroking his beard, the length reaching up to his stomach.
"What you desire, child, the gods will not give you. Because it is your destiny to be as you are right now." The man said with a soothing, calm voice.
"No…no, don't tell me that." Micah held on to the end of his clothes. The dirty white gown the old man was wearing.
"I cannot tell you what you want to hear, but I hear whispers. Whispers from the other side: you are destined for great things. Accept things the way they are; why do you battle with fate?
The old man didn't look pleased….
"You are not speaking to me plainly; I can barely understand a word you say." Micah sounded desperate as the material she used to cover her hair fell off.
"The gods do not speak plainly, my child; you will understand everything in due time." The man said, taking a step back, and Micah's hand loosened from his dress.
"You are royalty; I see it now. That is why I keep seeing a crown made of fire on your head." He said, not gazing at her but at one of the candles behind Micah.
"There is no crown made of fire on my head." Micah wanted to cry.
"Sinners! Sinners! The old man began to scream.
"Why do you live among them, so many of them? The man's eyes shone. When Micah slowly raised her gaze, in the old man's eyeballs, she saw it.
"Flames, fire! So bright and so wide that it was consuming. Micah was frightened, and just then the old man focused his gaze on her.
"The next time you come, you will search for me, but you will not see me. But there will be another who will show you the way. Another sent by the god of light." The old man said before turning around and walking away.
Micah was lost in her thoughts. She gazed at the man as he made his way back to where he sat a moment ago; he sat down and started meditating.
Micah slowly rises to her feet and makes her way outside, where Tamar and the knights that escorted her have been waiting.
There was some basket of fruits on the floor, and some leftoverfood too. The knights had carried them up while accompanying Micah.
Micah began to distribute the fruits; there were people seated on the staircase of the temple. Some blind, some orphans, widows…beggars.
"My lady, this does not befit your status. Allow me to do it instead." Tamar begged; her mistress had formed the habit of doing things herself. What was then her usefulness?
"If you want to help, stay by my side and keep quiet! Micah said sternly. Then smiled as she continued to distribute the things she brought.
Then she got to an old man wearing a black gown. She grabbed some fruit and some food from the basket and gave him some.
"A royalty who lowers herself. The gods have finally shown the subjects mercy. Many blessings, my child." The man said, taking the things.
Now this man was blind, so Micah could only wonder….
"Sir, can you see me? She asked.
"No, but I already know who you are. You and I will meet again; by that time you will be desperate for help, and you will search for me." The man said, and Micah could only nod; she was beginning to lose her sanity.
"There is an owl in your house." The man said when Micah turned to leave.
"He would be loyal; do not turn him away. Although you might already be on his bad side, there will come a time when you will need to rely on him." The old man said, and Micah sighed before continuing on her way.
"He says there is an owl, and then he calls the owl him! Micah thought as she massaged her temples. After a while she was done distributing the food; with her escorts, she descended the staircase and entered the carriage.
Suddenly people began to hail her….
"Hail Queen Micah!
"Your Grace is too kind!
People of all age groups chanted her name, turning it into a song. Micah was baffled.
"You have done well, my lady. I underestimated you." Tamar said, smiling as she gazed at the people that chanted her mistress's name from inside the royal carriage.
It was a bumpy ride back to the palace; when the carriage stopped, Micah was in desperate need of rest.
"My lady, you have been summoned to the courtroom." A maid ran up to her and announced.
Micah arched her brows; she followed the maid, and soon she found herself in the royal family room.
On an armchair was a lady, seated. Drinking wine, her eyes darkened when she saw Micah. It was Selena.
"You have broken a golden rule!