She was a conqueror.
So fierce she went to battle.
Yumi Jehosphat, the warrior
The queen who fell a great
fall. Armed with a sword,
She battled....
Drigo suddenly looked up from what he was writing; his gaze fell on Micah. He dropped the feather ink pen in the bottle of ink, then rose to his feet, bowing slightly….
"How may I help you, your grace? He said, then slightly rose.
"I got bored of sitting in my chamber doing nothing. I asked around, and I heard you are a historian and you have written a lot of books." She said, drawing nearer, the long cape-like yellow gown billowing behind her.
At intervals her eyes will flicker on the hundreds of dusty scrolls rolled up and placed in sections, old worn-out books…stacked in ancient shaky wooden cabinets.
"That's admirable, Queen Micah. You seem interested in books; not many queens like to read during their free time." Drigo said, and Micah nodded curtly, then sighed.
"I have some questions. I…hope you don't mind? She arched her dark brows, her small straight nose and rosy pink lips coming into view as she drew nearer, her footsteps echoing on the wooden floor in the study room.
"I don't." Drigo answered, closing the book he was writing on. He crossed his hands behind his back, the flowing plain white gown he was wearing squeezing behind him in the process. A simple rope was tied around his stomach to complement the plain gown.
Drigo was in his early forties and had bald hair shining from the ray of sunlight piercing the window.
"I heard you are from a different continent. Is that why…you are Black? Micah asked, looking at his very dark skin tone.
Drigo was a Black man, but he knew little or nothing of his background or history; as such, he was always intrigued to learn.
"Yes…" Drigo cleared his throat.
"You are right." He answered, lowering his gaze.
Micah darted her eyes across the room, then languidly took a few steps forward.
"You are one of the king's council members, I suppose?
"Affirmative."
"Huh?! Micah creased her brows.
"It means…yes." Drigo has learned so much he couldn't help but use some vocabulary when talking.
"Did you serve King Harris? Micah said, taking a seat on a stool in the room, She humbled herself so lowly.
"I did for only a few years." Drigo answered frankly.
"How did you gather up so much knowledge?
"I traveled around the world before the king found me and took me in.
"Did you write all these books?" Micah asked, her eyes darting around.
"Only a few, but be rest assured that great historians wrote all these books; the books are reliable and knowledgeable."
"You don't travel around anymore, so why do you still write?
"It sounds like you have heard so much about me."
"The…maids gossip.
"And you listen?"
"For knowledge… and updates." Micah avoided his gaze.
"That is also how I get the information I write in my book." Drigo answered, pulling out a book from an old dusty shelf.
"Can I? Micah said, rising to her feet, she walked up to a shelf, her fingers running through the books.
"Yes, of course. Pick any book of your choice." Drigo said, opening a huge book in his hand.
Micah allowed her fingers to caress some books before finally pulling one out.
"Can you read? He asked, knowing very well she is not from a noble background; royal blood doesn't flow through her veins.
Micah smiled faintly…
"I can; my father taught me how to read." She answered curtly, then ran her fingers on the book in her hand. She finally raised her gaze languidly…
"I will take my leave now." She said softly, then turned around and started walking away; when she got to the doorstep, she paused.
"What was that word you used again? She asked, turning to look at him. Drigo already had his eyes fixed on the book in front of him, but he raised his gaze when he heard her question.
"What word? He asked.
Micah paused, her eyes seeming distant.
"Forget it." She said, turning around.
"Affirmative…is that the word you are talking about? He asked.
"Affirmative." Micah reiterated, and the word tingled on her tongue.
"Yes…that's the word." She said it calmly, then turned around to leave, then paused.
"Anything else, Queen Micah? He asked, his gaze still lingering on her.
"No…thank you." Micah said before finally taking her leave.
Drago's gaze flashed with a charm that loomed as his gaze lingered on the empty doorway before slowly drawing back to the book on the desk in front of him.
A woman stood in front of the royal castle, her smoky makeup giving her the aura of a seductress.
"You don't have a kingdom, nor do you have any proof.
"I would like to see the king." She interrupted calmly, as if she had all the time in the world.
"The king is quite busy; he will only attend to you when you make your way to the outer court, where other commoners seek his face." The royal guard answered.
"Well then, tell your king I would like to speak to him; I will be waiting here." She said, her lean fingers caressing the snake-shaped ring on her finger, her blood-red lips so lustrous and enticing.
The guard was standing in front of the main entrance to the castle.
Vashi looked around, her siren green eyes flicking at every corner. Then she took a step forward, pressing her chest against the guard's hard chest; she brought her hot breath to his neck, her tongue licking it in an arousing manner.
"Be a good boy, and tell the King he has a guest." she said, retrieving backwards, her gaze fixed on the neck of the guard, which now had a faint redness, as if it was burnt with poison. Even her tongue was venomous.
The royal guard strengthened up as if he wasn't swayed by her tactics. Just then another guard popped out from inside.
"Hey you! Go to the outer court and inform the king he has a guest." The guard whom Vashi had just licked said to the one who just came out from inside. The guard nodded obediently and went on the errand.
Ragaleon was seated on an iron throne in the outer court, a long line of people trooping in casually.
The well will be cleaned properly, and a new water system will be installed that will curb the diseases for the meantime." He said, and the old lady with wrinkled skin standing in front of him nodded, then bowed.
"Thank you, my king; may you live long." Her frail voice quivered before she turned around and left, then the line shifted. A man stepping forward….
The clothes trade is slow. My King, what has happened to the main boarder?" The man quivered under Ragaleon's gaze.
Ragaleon shifted his gaze to his hand, Brandon.
"Remember that Yumi Jehosphat cut the main clothes trade route when the war was imminent." Brandon said, and Ragaleon sighed knowingly, massaging his temples.
"There will be a new trademark; ships from the kingdom of Yaleton will sail with goods and clothes." Ragaleon answered, and the man nodded, then bowed, making his way to leave, but not before thanking his king.
Ragaleon gazed at the long line ahead of him, then shut his eyes instinctively; it has been like this all morning. Just then a guard made his way to where Ragaleon was seated.
He wanted to draw nearer, but the knights beside Ragaleon drew out their swords in a threatening manner. Brandon raised his hand in a repulsive manner, signifying to the knights to hold their peace.
The guard made his way to Brandon, then whispered something in his ear before taking his leave. Brandon creases his brows and then slowly turns to gaze at Ragaleon. He then walked up to him and whispered the same words in his ear.
Ragaleon shot his brows up, his golden brown eyes seemingly flashing with amusement. He rose from the throne he was seated on and slowly made his way to the inner section of the castle.
"I am afraid his Majesty has something important to attend to; I will be taking it from here. Brandon said, taking his seat on a small chair beside the throne, then he signalled the next person to step forward.
Vashi was already led to the outside porch located at the lower inner court. The railings of the terrace were made of gold and glimmered under the blazing sun. She was seated on a bench chair, her back reclined on it in a comfortable manner.
There was a jug filled with wine on a table beside her, with a golden cup next to it. A basket filled with exotic fruits next to the cup, then some biscuits on a golden tray lying close to the basket of fruit.
Two palm trees flung together shielded her from the sun, the serene environment, and flower vases with colorful butterflies made everything so unique, so different from where she came from.
When Ragaleon stepped in, his shoe clicking as it pressed the ground, Vashi raised her gaze slowly before languidly rising to her feet.
"It is a pleasure to finally meet you, King Ragaleon." She bowed, her cleavage exposing more vividly… purposely. She then straightened up.
Ragaleon had never seen this woman in his life, but he was famished; if this was an excuse to escape the line of commoners at the outer court, he would grab it while it lasted.
Ragaleon took his seat on an armchair opposite the bench chair and watched as Vashi took her seat.
"My name is Vashi." Her lustrous red lips moved, her long dark hair hanging on her shoulders. Her voice like a melodious harp, she talked slowly… intentionally moving her lips as if to emphasize every word she was saying.
"I come from a small kingdom named Gandluke. I am currently on a tour as a way to ease myself a bit…to inn in Decreash marched up to my taste. So I thought to myself…why not stay in a castle instead? She said, tapping her lean fingers on her lap, her intense green eyes peering at Ragaleon.
"You are a stranger…for all I know, you could be a threat.
Vashi smiled cunningly.
"Do I look like I can harm a fly? She asked, shrugging…
"I just need a place to stay. This is a small world we are in; you call me a stranger, but after today we might establish a trade with both our kingdoms." She said casually.
"Why should I trust you?
"Why shouldn't you? She snapped, arching her brows.
"For what it is worth, I have nothing against you. If any harm should come to you, I will be blamed, so why would I take the risk in the first place? Give me a place to stay; it is all I ask. I will reside here for only a few weeks, then leave to continue on my tour. I have heard Decreash is a beautiful city; I would like to see and know for myself." Vashi was apparently bold.
Ragaleon was silent for a while, his eyes scrutinizing her beautiful face, then tracing down to her open cleavage, then down to her flat stomach, her hips, and then to her feet, before flickering back to her face.
"I have never heard the name of a kingdom called Gandluke." He finally says, pouring himself some wine.
"It is located at the extreme east, quite a small empty kingdom, I tell you; sometimes I get so bored. Being a queen can be enervating; I needed some space."
"You left your people….
"In good hands. My husband, the king, is faring well; he has concubines, and he won't be needing me." Vashi said, taking an apple from the fruit basket. She plunges her teeth into it, sucking and biting it, her lustrous red lips moving in a seductive manner, her gaze locked with Ragaleon's.
"I am ready to pay for my stay here, if that is what you want.
"There will be no need for that." Ragaleon said, sipping from the golden cup in his hands.
"You can stay for as long as you want to. Enjoy the scenery, and give me feedback. You will be shown to the guest room; enjoy your stay." He said, rising to his feet, with the golden cup still in his hand. He grabbed an apple from the basket of fruit, then walked away. She smiled slyly….
"Would you look at that? And there goes our prey, Viper."