Chapter 62:
"With the way things are going, we may go to war; the king of Galvestone is furious." Drigo chipped in.
"We didn't ask him to send his foolish daughter to raise banners and try to fall out of the city! We owe him no explanation! Josiah said, his voice cutting deep.
"Yumi was more brave than foolish; you can take my word for it. Songs are already being made in her name and chanted along the streets of Decreash." Priest Tailbon adjusted his plain gown, his fingers stroking his beard.
"Songs of retribution and mockery. Speak your words plainly, Tailbon." Brandon, the hand of the king, he said in a calm tone.
Ragaleon was seated quietly as he watched his small council discuss amongst themselves. His golden brown eyes were deep with mystery as he entwined a small globe between his lean fingers, his other hand tapping on the arm of his chair impatiently.
"We will wait for them to take the first move. I won't start a war; I have no feud to settle with any king." Ragaleon said calmly.
"Galveston has its kingdom barricaded with armies and strongmen…." Josiah was talking but got interrupted.
"And that is why I have sent gifts to the king of Samari; he has ten thousand solid men, ready for battle at any time." Ragaleon retorted.
"The royal treasury is beginning to have holes in it, as it seems. We have been attending to elephant projects." Josiah, he said, rubbing his palms together.
"You are the master of coins; aren't the affairs of the royal treasury your main responsibility? Brandon asked, arching his brows.
"It is, but then what can I say if I am not the one spending it? Josiah shot back.
"From now on the petition of the people will have to wait. My sister's wedding ceremony will be held soon; I cannot fail to appease the guests." Ragaleon said after thinking deep.
"I don't think that is wise, Your Majesty…
"Then give us a permanent solution, Priest Tailbon." Brandon snapped.
Tailbon glanced at Brandon….
"With the way your tongue cuts sharp, one would think you are the king, and the king is the hand…did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, Lord Hand?" Tailbon directs his question at Brandon was a calm man who liked to rub minds with people, but he was also two-faced.
"I will pay a visit to Hamstung; their royal treasury seems to be swelling by the day." Ragaleon chipped in; the atmosphere was becoming tense. It was like this every day; his small council always liked to lash out at one another.
"Queen Jia will certainly be pleased to accompany you…
"On the contrary, she shouldn't know about this. It will be a week-long journey; I will save her the stress. Brandon will step in for me while I am gone; I need this place to be in one piece when I return." Ragaleon said, rising to his feet, and everyone in the courtroomjoined.
"Council dismissed." Ragaleon said and then crossed his hands behind his back before walking away.
Racheal woke up with the feeling of a liquid trickling down her thighs. She sat up on her bed steadily, then flung the blanket on her body aside.
It was blood. Her monthly cycle had begun. She was disappointed, the sourness etched on her face. Frequently Ragaleon has visited her in her chamber, yet she hasn't conceived.
As the maids cleaned her up, Racheal was rather repulsive. They changed her beddings, then led her into the steamy bathtub. She was cleaned, her skin wiped gently, and her brown curly hair washed.
Only when Amilek walked through the door did she brighten up a little.
"Have you had your breakfast? Racheal asked, running her hand through his brown hair, then planted a kiss on his forehead.
"Mother, there's something I want to discuss with you." Amilek said, and Racheal creased her brows. Just then Tamina walked in, escorted by two knights, but she signalled them to stay behind while she progressed into Racheal's room.
"Did I come at the right time? She asked, a smile etched on her lip. Her straight red hair was styled in a low bun, and her grey eyes were filled with life. She was wearing a black gown, a bit loose on her chest, making her breasts flat against her chest. The gown had long sleeves and a golden embrace at the edge of the dress touching her feet.
"Of course, no better time than this." Racheal sighed and then turned to look at Amilek.
"Go to your chamber; I will come there later, and we can discuss."
"But Mother…" Amilek was a bit adamant.
"Listen to your mother…hhm, come on now, go." She said, and his shoulder dropped as he turned and then walked out of the room.
Tamina glanced at Amilek before finally shifting her gaze to Racheal; she made her way to a swing bench in the chamber and then sat on it.
"How have you been fairing Racheal? You look pale, what is the matter? Tamina asked as she rubbed her protruding stomach , she noticed the dark loom is m Racheal's face.
"Oh, it's nothing; I haven't been sleeping well, that's all." Racheal said, rising from the stool in front of the dressing mirror, she signaled the maids to leave, and they bowed, walking away and closing the door behind them.
"Is it the king? Has he been visiting you lately? Tamina urged on, and Racheal smiled faintly.
"You can put it that way." She grabs a cup and then fills it with wine.
"The king is really anxious to put a baby in you, isn't he?" Tamina smiled bitterly, rubbing her stomach mockingly at Racheal.
"The king and I…" Tamina didn't let Racheal finish her sentence.
"Oh, it's nothing. I can understand your plight. It must be so hard for you; you just feel insecure by the fact that your son isn't the king's blood. A quick pregnancy will be the solution…isn't that right? Tamina was crossing the line, and she knew it.
Racheal bit her lips, then stretches out the cup of wine towards Tamina's direction.
"Wine? She asked calmly.
"Oh no, the grand maester made it clear to me to desist from wine for the time being; some can prove to be lethal to the unborn child." Tamina rubs her stomach again, and for a moment Racheal's eyes linger on her protruding stomach.
"More wine for me then." Racheal slowly redrew her hand then brought the cup to her lips. She sipped from the wine…then hold on to the cup.
"What brings you to the make chamber, Tamina? Racheal peered at her.
"To ask for your advice." Tamina simply said it and then looked down at her stomach.
"Lately I have been having a lot of difficulties adjusting to my new condition, my body aches and my sleep has been snatched away from me." Tamina started off with a genuine countenance on her face.
"Why me? Queen mother we gladly show you the way around all this problems, and offer you solution."
"You are also a mother are you not? You have a son, yes queen mother will be happy to help, but I feel I will be able to communicate more freely within my age circle."
"Are you not afraid that will offer a solution that might harm your child?" Racheal said, sipping from the wine in her cup.
"You are different; I have seen that. That is how you curried the King's favor; if you did have any intentions to harm my child, you wouldn't be warning me beforehand." Tamina retorted, and Racheal was quiet for a while.
"These are perilous times, Queen Tamina; nobody can be trusted. I will start with that." Racheal said, rising to her feet, she walked up to her dressing mirror and took hold of the hairbrush.
"I don't trust you; I only count on you to be more reliable." Tamina said, crossing her legs. Rachael's green eyes peered at her as she brushed her hair.
"You are being watched every single time; even if you think you are alone, you are not. Having a baby for the king is one thing, but standing the test of time and making sure it comes into this world with the breath of life and grows within the castle walls is another thing entirely; you will have to be strong."
Racheal flips her hair to the side, showing a hickey mark on her bare shoulders, the mark Ragaleon had given her during one of the nights they made love. Tamina took notice of it, then retracted her eyes.
"You are telling me what I already know, Racheal." Tamina said, a slight irritation in her voice.
"Am I? Racheal feigned innocence. She was wearing a off shoulder blue gown, Her bare shoulders in view, and her brown curly hair hair falling at both side of her face. She drops the brush on the dressing table then makes her way back to where Tamina was seated.
"As a mother, you can never be too cautious. Watch what you eat, what you drink, the things you use on your skin, the people around you…everything, and everywhere you go be vigilant."
Tamina was silent for a while, then she slowly rose to her feet.
"My back aches; I will retire to my room and have the maids massage my back with some oil." She said, adjusting her black gown.
"May the gods be with you." Racheal said, and Tamina nodded curtly and then took her leave. Immediately after she walked through the door and it closed, Racheal collapsed on her bed.
She didn't know when she slowly closed her eyes, and flashes of her dead husband flooded her mind.
His touch, his voice in her ear. She immediately shot her eyes open; her throat was suddenly parched. She made her way to the wine jug and poured herself some wine.
She was drinking the wine when her gaze inadvertently darted to her dress; the sea blue gown was stained with blood from her menstrual cycle.
"Oh, fuck!