Now’s Not the Time

How do we get in? Has the queen given you any specific instructions? Did she really send out Nemere for my sake and Asha's? Elim asked still doubting that his mother was truly on his side. 

"Yes! She wants more than anything to be reunited with you" Nena said in a kind voice. Elim shook his head and frowned his face while Asha held his hands. 

"Why don't you give her a chance? We couldn't have gotten this far and without them!" She turned to Nemere and Nena with a kind look on her face. 

"But it isn't over! Odmudo is dead but the king isn't. And things can go wrong at any moment" his lips quivered, reminding Asha of the troubled man he used to know. "So tell how my mother has planned it all?"

Scanning the area that early morning with her little eyes, Nena explained to them how the queen had planned the festiva as a form of distraction so they could enter without any suspicion. 

"The guards will be drunk this evening and you will blend in by wearing this." Nena declared, handing Elim a guard uniform with determination. "The king will be out like everyone else, and as the night grows darker, you can eliminate him." Asha studied her curiously, realizing she was still the same girl she once knew.

"But what about his face? Even in the darkness, he'll be easy to recognize," Asha pointed out.

"That's why the queen arranged the festival. Faces will be painted with red and black, making it hard to recognize him," Nemere chimed

Asha inhaled and exhaled as she felt the morning breeze wafting through her body. This was her home! And she deserves to be happy here! 

"Don't worry. I won't rest until the king is dead," Elim reassured Asha, holding her hands tightly as she nodded in agreement.

It was obvious they were deeply in love. Nena smiled, seeing how much her sister had changed since leaving Maribah.

"Asha, you're coming with us this morning. We can't leave you alone out here in the forest," Nena insisted, but Elim frowned at the thought of parting with Asha.

"It's necessary. We can't leave you here alone until it's done. You'll be safe at our father's deserted home. No one ventures there since the king closed it down" Nena continued.

Asha knew her sister was right; staying alone in the forest wasn't an option, but going back to Maribah didn't seem like a nice idea. She glanced at Elim, seeing the tension in his clenched jaw, and she realised then her deep feelings for him were deepening.

"Stay safe. I'll come for you once the king is dealt with," Elim whispered, pulling her closer.

"You too. Please, be safe," Asha's voice broke as she melted into his embrace. It pained him to leave her to fend for herself while he prepared to confront the king.

"We should leave now. People will be heading to the river soon," Nemere interjected, moved by the intense affection between Asha and Elim. It was an unlikely bond, but it was strong. 

After they broke their hug, Asha followed her sister and Nemere into Maribah with her face covered with a little piece of cloth. Keeping to the back of houses and little pathways, Nemere and Nena led Asha to her father's abandoned home, constantly looking over their shoulders as they continued to make sure they weren't being followed. 

Nemere stopped before they got to the house to keep watch while Asha and Nena continued. 

"I haven't been here since father was arrested" Nena admitted in a sad, small voice. Her shoulder was sagging down and Asha could see she carried a lot of burden and sorrows on her young shoulders. 

"I am sorry!" She said

"Don't be! It's not your fault Asha. I'm glad you are home. Now, slip in while I keep this back door closed. When everything is done, I will come for you. For now, I must find the queen and make sure the plan is still in place"

"Thank you Nena" Asha said before entering their empty dusty home where both troubling and happy memories awaited her. 

———-

Soma could feel something was wrong when she searched all day for Odumudo and saw no sign of him. She was getting frustrated with each moment, knowing that the Dramidis would win if Odumudo didn't stop them. 

But where was he? She had even checked with his men and they told her he left very early in the morning to scout the river bank. She had sent her spy out there but she came back saying she saw no sign of Odmudo. 

Well, if Odmudo couldn't stop them, she will. She will speak to Mayo and then they could go together to the king and force the Dramidis to confess the truth. Yes! She repeated to herself, ignoring the bustling movements of servants all over the palace in preparation of the festival that evening! She would not enjoy that feast until Mariabah is safe from the wicked plot of the queen and the Dramidis. 

Lifting her robe, adorned with beads, she hurried to find her husband. But just before entering the palace, two guards stopped her.

"What's going on?" she asked, trying to pass by them.

"You must come with us quietly. Please!"

"Under whose order? And where I am coming with you too!"

"Just follow us Princess Soma!"

"No! Tell me who has sent you to seize me! Tell me!" She insisted but they ignored her and grabbed her, leading her through the back to keep her in a secluded place while she protested. 

The queen watched from a corner, satisfied that she was taking care of her enemies. She awaited Nena and more news of Asha and Elim. Tonight, the trouble which exists in Maribah will be no more. Smiling, she walked back to her room to rest and envision the peace that would follow when the king was dead. 

She was resting that late morning when a servant girl knocked and entered to inform her that the king had requested her presence in his chambers. 

His chambers? Why? She wondered, swallowing hard as she felt a lump in her throat . Did the king know…

"He said you must come now!"

"Fine!" The Queen inhaled and exhaled as she gathered herself to go speak with the king. She longed to see Nena and share the latest development, but there was no time to seek her out. 

"My dearest wife! The apple of my eyes come in!" The king beckoned on her, looking healthy and strong like his old self. 

What is this about? She thought confusedly as she tried to keep her emotion at bay. There was Denna sitting in his father's room with a disapproving look on his face…for her? His mother?

She glanced between him and the king, who now observed her intently from where he stood. And she could see a wicked glint in his eyes. 

It's over. I know everything," the king declared calmly.

The Queen's heart raced as she stumbled backwards, only to be caught by the guards. The king smiled as he caressed her face, and she realized that all was lost.

———-

Nena had searched all over for the queen, in her room, the garden, the kitchen where she came occasionally… the only places she couldn't look were prince Denna's room and Mayo's. But she summoned the courage to keep searching and peering through doors. 

Where was she? She continued to search, pushing open doors to see if she was in any of them. It was then that she accidentally stumbled upon Odmudo's room, where she was shocked to find angry men pacing about while a woman sat dejectedly on the floor, her face bruised like her body.

"What horror is this?" Nena blurted out, surprised by the unexpected sight.

"Who are you, barging in here?" one of the men snapped, sending a chill down her spine as she quickly retreated from the room in fear, bumping into Nemere outside.

"There's trouble! I heard from the other servants that the queen has been arrested by the king!" Nemere said urgently, looking around frantically 

"What?"

Nena jumped to her feet. "What do we do now? This is bad!" She stood frozen on the spot, troubled by the turn of events. 

One of Odmudo's men stepped out of the room, looking over them and they had no choice but to run. 

"Asha! I must go to Asha!" Nena said, trembling in fear

"No, you may be leading them to her!"

"What is it?" Zeep met them on their way out. 

"We may be in trouble! All of us! The king knows!" 

"Then I must kill Mayo myself!"

"Are you insane Zeep, we must lay low now and see what happens. I need to go to Asha and let her know!"

"But…" Nemere tried to say that it was unwise but Nena was already speeding down the road. Zeep thought of taking Mayo's life. If she couldn't be free of him then she must end his life . She fingered the small knife in her dress. 

When Nena got to their home, she could see guards barging into their home as they had done when her father had been arrested. Next thing they were with a struggling Asha whom they dragged roughly. 

"No, not again!" Nena shouted, trying to intervene, but the guards pushed her aside, causing her to crash onto the ground

"Nena! Oh, Nena!" Asha's cries echoed.

Someone had betrayed them, Nena realised with a pang of sorrow as the guards escorted her sister away. It felt like a recurring nightmare, and she feared for their lives.

"Now's not the time for tears! Let's go! Where's Asha's protector? I doubt anyone knows he's here. The queen wouldn't betray her own son. We need to help him," Zeep urged, pulling Nena to her feet. Despite the turmoil, there was still a glimmer of hope.