VII. Please stop playing mind games

Dedicated to Florence Oluseye

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"Blessed?" Nä-tâsha echoed in confusion and so did almost everyone. By now, the dark haired servant had a small smile playing on his lips, while Rapha and Nä-ræl shook their heads.

The obstruction in Nä-ræls throat seemed like it had been cleared at that moment when the king spoke.

"Blessed! Aha!" The king exclaimed again, feeling very happy within himself.

The queen turned around towards the sleek haired servant but instead of seeing a young man, it was as if she is looking at herself. Her mouth hung open in shock as she stuttered trying find words to say.

Everyone's head snapped to the side in confusion and loud gasps echoed around the table at the sight that made the queen stutter.

*+*+*+*+*

"Can we start what we came her for?" The mirrored image of the queen said after everyone had finished eating. Nä-ræl took a look at her mother's supposed twin and furrowed her brows in confusion.

As she looked at the figure, it was like she was seeing Farah camouflaged in her mother. It was strange, as no one could see through her glamour. But why could she?

"Ahem," the king started, clearing his throat and smiling widely. "How kind of you to grace us with your presence," he said to the supernaturals who hummed in agreement. All except Farah who took the figure if the queen.

The king furrowed his eyebrow as he saw his wife seating opposite him yet he saw his wife seating beside Time who always took the figure of his dead father whenever he appeared.

"Farah, please stop playing mind games with us," the princess said looking at Farah directly in the eye.

"Mind games?" Farah asked raising her dark green eyebrow, but of course it seemed like a blonde eyebrow to everyone except Nä-ræl.

"As I was saying," the king started once more after realizing who was his wife and who wasn't. He imagined what would have happened if he kissed Farah instead of his wife. He'd probably die immediately.

The thought of kissing any other creature or human apart from his wife irritated him. The kingdom would most likely fall into chaos if that would happen, as näbouɠh would be very displeased.

Maybe the kingdom would be cursed like his friends Kingdom not to see the world again or even the supernaturals and näbouɠh would most likely not heed their call.

Pushing aside all his imaginations and thoughts he spoke once more. "In about seven moons to come, I will no longer be fit to rule this kingdom."

Everyone seated at the hummed in agreement.

Nä-ræl looked round and discovered that the hall was empty. Only the king's advisors and other nobles which were friends with the king remained, and they were all seated at the table.

"Pray tell me, why?" Farah asked, cocking an eyebrow.

The king groaned internally then looked round the hall, "This is not a discussion for children, everyone under parental guidance should please leave, excluding the princess."

At this statement, Ærtle rose to his feets along with other nobles and dukes sons, ready to leave the table. He shot Nä-ræl a sheepishly flirtish smile before exiting the grand hall.

"No king in Närunïa is supposed to rule more than 30 years," he paused looking round once more. "In seven moons, it would be my thirty-first year of ruling this kingdom, it can't happen."

"Says who?" But this time it wasn't Farah that spoke, it was future.

"It's..." The king stuttered. "Our ancestors made that rule, I can't possibly..."

"And where are they?" Farah asked.

"They are in their grave,"

"And so are their rules, what you should keep in mind is that anyone who tries to alter what is to come would pay dearly," Farah said narrowing her eyes at everyone, the queen in particular, and before anyone could process what she said, they were all gone, all the supernaturals.

The king slammed his hands in the table in frustration. "There goes..." He trailed of, running his finger through his hair in frustration.

"Perhaps," Nä-ræl began but her mother cut her off,

"Fetch me that servant, Rapha!" The queen roared at the guards, "There's something we need to address," she paused then scrunitized everyone at the table, "All of you can leave, Three of you, stay." She said motioning to the king's most trusted men who included the commander in chief of all of the kingdom's army, Captain Œrlan, a young man of about thirty who was one of the king's most trusted and also Nä-ræl's good friend. Bryñ the king's adviser and Kɍëøa the king's childhood friend, a man of about sixty years old.

Everyone bade their goodbyes to the king and left the table. Just as the last person left the hall, guards came with Rapha holding him tight and rough that it broke Nä-ræl's heart.

He was hurled forward until he stood before the king and queen but he was still held by guards. He bowed slightly and greeted them both, "Your majesty, Nä. Your Highness Nä."

The queen gave an unladylike snort at his greeting while the king nodded in acknowledgement. "What matter is there to address?" He asked his wife as he was utterly confused.

"Tell me, Ræl," The queen said to her daughter. "Did this man kiss you or not?"

A loud gasp came from the king and his trustees.

Nä-ræl's eye flickered between her mother's and Rapha. She had gone on a secret expedition with Captain Œrlan to the dungeon once out of curiosity. The image of the horrible place flashed through her mind. "No mother." She lied, although her heart pounded greatly because she knew her mother would most likely see through that lie.

"Do not lie to me!" Nä-tâsha roared, "We all saw it!"

"Actually I never saw..."

"You were too busy drinking wine to notice it," The queen said, cutting her husband off. "You!" The queen said pointing at oke of the guards which held Rapha's hand tightly. "You were among the guards that rushed forward at my call when it happened, why did you stop."

"Your highness, I don't recall." The guard said trying to remember if anything of the sort happened.

"For the sake of näbouɠh do not lie to me! Nä-ræl did he?"

"No mother," she said with quivering lips.

"The princess is most likely telling the truth your Highness," the guard said.

"Are you calling me a liar?" The queen asked, her chest heaving.

"Perhaps," the king started. "Perhaps it was just an imagination of yours, perha..."

"It wasn't my lord," Rapha said closing his eyes tight before opening them.

"You see! I told you! He is a..."

"Your Highness I can swear it wasn't intentional," Rapha quickly added.

"Liar,"

"Your highness, I swear, she fell and I caught her and then it just happened... I didn't meant for it to hap..."

"Seize him!" The queen roared and they began to take Rapha who didn't even bother struggling against the guards strong grip away.

Rapha shot Nä-ræl a small smile as he and the guards were getting closer to the exit of the grand hall.

"Mother please," Nä-ræl whimpered, as guilt began to eat her up slowly.

"You lied to me,and now you want me to..."

"Mother please," Nä-ræl said already at the verge of crying. She remembered the torture given to a man for going in unto a woman forcefully - not that she knew what that meant, but she knew what happened was most likely similar.

"No, I do not go back on my words."

"Mother..." A tear had already slipped down her face, she hoped her mother would have mercy. She looked at her father pleadingly, she hoped he would intervene and stop the guards.

And he did.

"Wait!" The king commanded, "Let him...go, I can tell he's innocent."

The queen swallowed hard as she glared at her husband but she said nothing to object. She was going to give him a piece of her mind later.

"Your majesty!" Someone exclaimed and the king turned to see about seven guards rushing in through the door of the hall.

"Your majesty," one of them said again, and the king could see the urgency and fear in their eyes.

"Pray tell me, what makes you look like you've seen the wrath of nä-bouɠh?"

"A village in the northwest kingdom has been covered by darkness and thick fog, no one can get in, neither can one come out. We escaped in time to report to you my lord." The servant finished, breathing heavily. His eyes were clouded in fear as it seemed like what happened to the Kingdom of Tä-riniä had begun to happen to their kingdom. Only this time it was going to be gradual.

Whoever tries to alter what is to come would pay dearly, flashed through the king's mind as he blinked slowly.

He hadn't done anything to offend the gods. He was always a faithful servant to nä-bouɠh the supreme god so why had this happened?