* * *
At the same time, the queen was watching the joy of her people, from the same balcony which this story had started from, and waited for the two warrior girls to rides into the palace, to receive the highest honors. Next to her stood the most important persons in Ahleynian kingdom. Her advisers, ministers, and members of the Supreme Council of Ahlea order, led by AdAhlea Sym, the Queen's favorite companion. Eyes of the Queen and AdAhlea met occasionally and then exchanged satisfied smiles. But the supreme Ahlea knew that the queen's heart was not completely happy in those moments.
When Dlora and Tenen were dragged out of theft investigation by a crazy adventure, when every trace of these two Ahleas was lost, AdAhlea did not just stay sitting by. She pressed the court service to explore all possible relationships within the house, and to dig all hidden secrets. Not one person who had in recent months marched through the castle was not spared of detailed examination. And very soon an unpleasant truth saw the light of day. Sym immediately transferred it to the Queen. She assured her that the all the evidence of a conspiracy that took place behind their backs and involvement of certain persons were unbeatable. Sym now expected the Queen to pull a crucial move. That was why the supreme Ahlea had a very serious look on her face, when their eyes met for the tenth time, as a sign that the queen could no longer wait, she had to take her responsibility.
A little more to the left on the terrace, among high officials, there was the queen's sister Trupya. She was also surrounded by several dignitaries and proudly showed off. She acted as if she had some, actually a very great credit for ending the war. Without the slightest trace of moral shame, she acted as if all the horrors of war, which had crashed on the peoples of the two countries, were not launched from her arrogant and cocky actions. Obviously, she felt that everyone eventually forgot about the events that lead up to the bloodshed, from the time when she was a young wife of a Waeryehenian prince.
Indeed, other dignitaries laughed along with her and kept waving their head affirmatively to any of her words, as if they knew nothing about it. Status of a Queen's sister was always a sufficient reason for such behavior in her presence. Some of them were clearly exaggerating in their acts. Of course, what they really thought about Trupya they kept strictly to themselves, hid it even from each other, for their safety. In their eyes, she was really just a spoiled, self-arrogant woman, from which an artfully concealed, but very sick jealousy towards her older sister, drew out the worst possible acts.
Queen Natya slowly approached the company that had gathered around her sister, and she discreetly asked her to dissociate from the people on the terrace so that they could speak privately. Trupya rolled her eyes, showing that she does not see the sense in this hassle, but still followed the queen into the interior of the castle. As soon as they ended up on the opposite side of gorgeous white curtains, queen unexpectedly changed her facial expressions and began to speak strictly:
“Did you really think this would work?”
“If what would work, dear sister? I do not know what you mean” Trupya found herself surprised by the attack, but acted even more stunned than she was. However, she immediately guessed what this could be about, so she slightly shivered.
“Did you really think that your role in all this would not be found out? You thought you were smart enough to organize a large theft without leaving a single trace that would lead to you?”
“What? I... I can not believe that you…”
“You thought you were smart enough to forge a large plot and come up with a plan to take over the throne? My throne!”
“I assure you…”
“Silence!”
Queen’s furious scream, torn out of control as a result of a huge disappointment, startled everyone from the terrace outside. For a moment they all looked at the inside, but then they quickly continued the conversation, guessing that the ruler certainly did not want them to show too much interest in this conversation.
“There is so much that I have done for you” Natya continued much quieter “today when I remember all the consequences of my decisions taken for your good, it gives me the creeps. It breaks my heart! Although I always knew your true nature, a sense of duty to you as an older sister made me blindly do so many things that I should have never done. I never hoped that the consequences would be so horrible. But today, after so many dead, so much crippled and so many unfortunate people, it is so hard to live with me. And for what? For a damn stupid woman who after all that has even dared to prepare a knife for my back!”
The younger member of the royal lineage was not quite paying attention to sister's words, so full of despair and uttered through tears. She was too selfish to realize her sister's sorrow, and also too preoccupied in her mind, now full of fear. Suddenly it became crystal clear what she put at stake on her daring plan, and how little she spent thinking about the possibility of failure. Obsessive desire to escape from the shadow of her sister and again to feel the power which she had recklessly gambled away soon after she married Waeryehenian prince, blinded her and made her careless. Or maybe the real truth was that she was never capable enough to successfully perform something like that?
Someone in her small circle of court accomplices had obviously squealed. They surely knew everything by now, the plan to take over the throne, as soon as Waeryehenian army completely would close the circle around the capital Blyst and began to besiege it. Then the members of the regular army, especially the men, eager to change the social order, the ones which were known that they could be bought, would carry out a rapid and sudden attack on all members of the Ahlea warrior order. Some Ahleas would be called to express their loyalty to the new government, but if they would stubbornly refuse to do so, they would all be eliminated. Queen Natya would be overthrown from the throne, and her sister would take over her role. She would then offer to surrender her country to her husband, the leader of the enemy forces, she would admit his victory, allow control over Ahleyn and persuade him to let her rule as a vassal. And who knew, one day she might be able to seduce him again, rebuild failed marriage and then become empress of the alliance between the two countries. This ideal scenario seemed quite a sufficient reason for removing her sister, whose life has unfairly given her so much, just because she was born first. And now it all fell apart for ambitious Trupya.
The fact that her sister forgave her numerous great sins in the past did not help her feel better. This time she felt that she would not be forgiven.
They stood there for a while silently. Trupya did not look up from the floor, and Natya could not take her eyes off her as if she hoped to hear some words that would explain everything, prove that it was all a big mistake... even though she knew that it was not possible. Finally, she watched her sister with eyes open wide. She sighed once more and then she slightly yelled:
“Guards!”
Two Ahleas that stood next to the door appeared in front of her.
“Take my sister in her chambers. Lock her and make sure that does not come out of it until her old age.”
Only then, when the firm soldier hands held her by her wrists and started to drag her out of the room, the young woman started to cry and sob, trying to get the last bit of compassion for the person she was closest to in the world, and whose love she sold all out.
“No! I am sorry! I am so sorry! Please! Sister!”
Natya did not look back. With her eyes closed, she listened to all her sister's pleas and apologies until they ceased to echo through the castle, after having heard a crash of closing the door to her room, which from that moment became her dungeon.
Just a minute later, the queen was again standing among high society and looked at cheerful people. Expression of happiness and joy on her face was obviously fake, everyone knew it. Recovering from such disappointments can last for years. Even forever. But she also felt inescapable duty to be happy together with her people in those moments when they finally felt relief and resolved the fear of war and evil. She knew there was a big job ahea
d of her and that it would not be easy. A path to complete reconstruction of society and the country would be long and difficult. Rebuilding trust between the two neighboring countries would have to go very slowly. Going back to well-being like before the war might remain a dream that she would not see happen in her lifetime, although she had many more years ahead of her. Looking into a joyful crowd, praying to the All to give her wisdom and to prevent her in the future to make foolish decisions that she had made in the past, among them being probably the biggest to keep a Waeryehenian sanctity.
But some comfort and security she saw in the fact that she had a large and sturdy circuit of capable assistants that had been prepared to provide unconditional support at all times. The elite class of her Ahlea warrior girls would again have to, after a long time, get used to peacekeeping activities, but she was sure they would do it fast. Thanks to the adventure with Tarlaeth, she was convinced to the superior quality and experience of the older Ahlea generations, as well as the potential of the new ones.
THE END
About the author
Tom Skerlets is an acknowledged Croatian writer and illustrator.
He wrote many short stories of science fiction genre for domestic collections and webzines, as well as many comic book scripts. He is best known for doing comic stories about famous Croatian athletes, Janica Kostelić and Goran Ivanišević.
His illustrator work includes comic series about football supporters and various short comics. He illustrates book covers, mobile apps, promotional posters and flyers... he is the official illustrator for "The bear detectives" children book series.
He also works as a designer. He designs print books, ebooks, logos, stationery....
"Ahlea warrior girls - The Sacred Statue" is his first book in the English language. It is a self-translated, self-illustrated and self-designed work, published on Amazon.
He also translated into English Jure Karamarko’s novel called “Designer”, a book about the life of football fans.
Goodreads profile: www.goodreads.com/skrky
Facebook profile: www.facebook.com/tomislavshkrljac
LinkedIn profile: https://hr.linkedin.com/in/tskrljac
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