Chapter Two

Seven days passed like a whisper from Zylana's lips that formed words to plead for salvation. Now on the night before Princess Zylana's birthday, she resigned her mind to be calm as she faced her end. Her faithful handmaiden Amra brought her meals and stayed to talk; as of now, she was bringing up tea and rice cakes. Amra walked up the fifty-step stairway that brought her to a corridor; she then rounded the corner to Zylana's room. Amra opened the door slowly, only to jump back behind a tight corner inside an alcove. She hid from sight; yet, she peeked around and watched intently as Gorion walked through the hallway to the princess's room; he entered casually and then closed the door behind him.

*

A loud knock sounded from the door and startled Zylana, who absently had her embroidery fall from her hands.

Zylana retrieved her loop and placed it beside her before she responded. "Come in."

Her chamber's doors slowly opened, and in walked Gorion smiling ear to ear as he bowed. "Princess, I wished to attend you before you go to sleep. I do hope you will receive me."

She gave a weak smile in response. "I thank you for your concern to me. I do have a moment for us to speak."

There had been a time when Zylana was proud of her mother's favoured noble knight. When she was sixteen, there had been talks about having her hand offered to Gorion to wed as a potential enrichment to her short fated life. Zylana's father denied having it followed through with one of the few times he showed resistance to his Queen's requests. She had suspected that Darkma spoke to the king against such an idea. For that, Zylana was thankful as later she learned Gorion's repulsive attributes. Gorion obviously hated Darkma due to his interference and avoided being around Zylana if her protector was at her side. She now wished Darkma could be present to sway the knight to leave. Zylana now looked at this man who had delicate features of his blond hair and blue eyes but had such dark intent upon her that she shivered inwardly. Yet, there was hope that Gorion knew better than to do anything untoward her in her own chambers.

His desire for the princess was kept within a pure lust that now he felt lost through the years. This night was his last chance as he stumbled for words, then stepped forward to grab and hold tightly onto Zylana's hand.

"I am emboldened to be daring and throw myself to you." Gorion's eyes shined unnervingly. "This is your last night and your last opportunity to discover the feel of passion."

Zylana forced her hand from his grip, and her look pierced sharply into his heart. "Even with my life at the end, I would never experience that with you."

The coldness of her voice was a finality that struck him like a slap of cold wind, and Gorion instantly became joyous in the thought of her end.

He stood over her and laughed. "Pity. Your stubborn nature is so faulty that you will find no joy. Now I can enjoy the fact that no one can save you, not even your precious Darkma." He got off his knees and bowed pathetically, then went to open the door, letting it close heavily.

Zylana breathed out her stress from the interaction that took away the inner peace she had attained. Even her hand felt like it had endured an assault from being touched momentarily from Gorion. She went to her basin and scrubbed the feeling away while pleading with the Goddess to bring her mind back to thoughts of serenity.

*

Amra straightened her back to press closer against the wall as she heard steps near closer. As Amra listened to the door close, she gathered that Gorion had left, and she breathed a sigh of relief. She stepped out with her tray to face the back of Gorion to attempt to make her way to the room. The teacups clinked together, which made him turn to see her just in front of the door he had left. When Gorion saw her, he smiled princely seemly confused that she appeared from thin air. Amra curtsied, balancing the tray as the teacups made another light sound as she hoped he was oblivious to her sudden appearance.

Gorion took little notice of Amra and only gave a polite gesture of opening the door to allow her through without the further need to rebalance her tray.

"My patrol of the castle brought me to your mistress, and I can report that all is as it should be." Gorion smiled in an attempt to dazzle her.

Amra bowed her head again and replied. "How noble of you, Sir Gorion. Thank you for helping me." She slipped into the room.

His smile quickly left his face as he whispered behind her. "I bid you goodnight."

A shiver ran up Amra's spine; she could not believe he was favoured by young maidens hoping to be betrothed to a man who had an apparent cruel spark behind his eyes.

As she came in and saw how white Zylana looked, she knew that Gorion had upset her.

"What has that beast of a man done now?" Amra placed down her tray.

Zylana held out a stiff hand. "You saw Gorion leave my room, I gather."

"Yes." Amra went on to admit. "I hid from him before he went in and stayed outside the door. I worried he may dismiss me if I happened to be in the room."

"Very wise on your part." Zylana sunk down in a plush chair, letting herself relax. "I am thankful you were close by."

"Mistress, he did not try anything, did he?" Amra feared he lay a hand on her as she saw how tense Zylana had been as she had entered the room.

"No." Zylana looked away, seeming distant as she trailed off. "He offered to give me a night of what he called passion, as it is my last night alive."

The hair on the back of Amra's neck stood up. "What a vile man!"

The princess sat up straight, regaining her composure. "It is of no consequence, for when I turned him down, he then decided my misfortune was for his own amusement."

Amra's eyes widen. "You poor dear, to hear such words."

"I am not surprised that he had such a disposition only that he finally voiced it out loud." Zylana finally reached for a rice cake to bring to her mouth. "It is strange that he desires me and despises me at the same time."

Amra poured the sweet mint tea and handed the cup to the princess. "For his last act upon you to think he could have your body in intimacy. He must be as blind as he is self-absorbed." She poured a cup of tea for herself and took a seat. "If only Darkma had been here at the time and throttled his neck."

"Do not mention this to Darkma. I am worried enough for his sake." Zylana reflected. "It is a shame we have spent little time together in these last days. I remember back to when he would only leave me for no more than an hour."

Amra let out a small giggle. "I remember when you would take a long bath, and he would stand patiently and wait outside your chamber doors."

They smiled together; happiness was finally acquired after the long nights of sorrow for the princess. She ate the last rice cake and sipped the last drop of her tea; her body warm and satisfied. Her mind was slightly released from the tangle of thoughts that had all lingered at once.

Amra took her cup and placed it back on the tray. "Feel better, princess?"

"Thank you." Her eyes were bright once more. "Please do me a small favour?"

"Certainly, mistress. What may you ask?" Amra would take any request in earnest.

"Can you inquire to Darkma? I only need to know if he is well." Zylana dared not go to his chamber as she would throw herself in his arms for comfort, and she was not brave enough for such acts in her heart.

"If it is what you wish of me, then I shall do this. I will leave you to sleep and come back in the morning. Darkma will be with you each step tomorrow, have no fear." Amra had come to her own decision now as she held her lady's hand.

Zylana kissed Amra's hand. "Thank you."

Amra picked her tray up and hurried out the door before she let the princess see the tears that fell. She hurried to the kitchen to set down the tray as she rushed to help the other handmaidens to finish their services. Amra ranked one lower than the handmaiden to the queen; however, the lady was young and had replaced yet another handmaiden who failed the queen's demands. Amra was used to the extra tasks and flew through them with ease; it thankfully gave her time to think. Amra knew that she and Darkma would do anything to serve the princess, even more so than the king and queen. While most servants, guards, knights and council members would choose blind loyalty to the king and queen, the past week had brought rumblings of concern.

Uncertainty began to build to question if the words of their sacred tome were to ring true. Unanswered questions if it would be right to offer up the princess for their supposed comforts. The Elvan passage's real effects came into all their minds; they knew that the princess's demise was beyond their help, yet a kingdom of peace desired a heavy price. The unspoken words of twenty-one years were echoed now through the lips of those who thought that their majesties should not endure the death of their only child. It became clear how submissive they had all been to the prophecy when it did not affect them until the last inevitable days.

Amra wanted nothing more than to soak in a hot tub with her numb fingers and sore back as she finished the last of her duties. She tried to wipe the tiredness from her eyes as she knew there was one final task to serving her princess in the only way she knew how.

Amra walked quickly through the halls; it was quite the walk to Darkma's chambers. It was at the lowest level of the castle in a dim corner where no one else resided. The king and queen had permitted him to chose any chamber. Darkma chose the darkest and coldest place in the entire castle; it had been a storage pantry before leaving empty from poor crops. Amra would at times ponder what Darkma's life was before arriving at the kingdom and being a part of Zylana's life. In a way, she could not picture him alone and wondering as he was a welcome addition to the castle. Amra shook herself awake as she had not meant to be daydreaming and realized she stood before Darkma's door.

She rubbed her eyes to wipe away the sleepiness, straightened herself up and knocked. There was no answer. Once again, she lightly tapped on the door, but there was still no answer. Amra became self-conscience and worried that he may be sleeping as she began to turn to leave. However, Amra needed to complete her task for her lady's sake, and she would be willing to charge in and wake him up. Amra loudly pounded her fist upon the door. Thankfully, it swung open as Darkma stood before her with an annoyed look. His expression became surprised to see the small handmaiden poised before him.

"Mmmh, come in." He went to sit on his bed.

The cold air in his room was shocking to Amra, and she shivered as she set her footsteps inside; she wrapped her light shawl around her frame. She looked around the room to see a bed, a small chest and a casement for his clothing.

Amra cleared her throat and steeled her resolve. "I wish to be blunt, Darkma."

His silver eyes watched her making her nervous as she knew how observant he always was. It made her more self-conscious than what she felt comfortable with.

Now was not the time to be shy though, Amra had always been one to follow the legends and the tales in the tome as truth; she was raised to believe the words in the tome as absolute. Then she became the handmaiden to the princess with her motherlike duties opening her heart to a young lady who had entered her life. Acknowledging that the sweetest lady in the kingdom would be lost to her was unbearable; the injustice was compounded by the sadness in experiencing Zylana's demise. Amra had tried to talk to her husband, and that had proved unhelpful as he only recited as all others did that the princess had her fate, and so it must be done.

"I want you to take Zylana away from the kingdom." She shivered at saying out loud the most forbidden words. "You are the only one who can carry this out."

Darkma only kept an emotionless face, knowing this would be her request of him. "The land may suffer for it."

"It does not matter." Amra knew it would be a hardship. " I believe this kingdom that has lived in peace by sacrificing a princess's life one thousand years ago is wrong. Our good lives are not worth such a terrible cost."

"If the tome of your people is to be believed, it will be a fierce betrayal of taking the princess away. It will break this land's belief in its false peace. I remember when I arrived; there were invading Ork tribes, one of many. Even after there have been several crusades to fight invaders that could argue against the land being at peace as is told." Darkma looked boldly at Amra. "No matter that evidence against the sacrifice going against, it will cause unknown chaos."

"Please, I wish not for her to suffer." Amra's eyes cried silent tears. "Darkma, you must save her. This land is only cursed if she stays."

Darkma stood looming over Amra's small frame. "I have already decided to escape the kingdom's land. You, Amra, will have to be strong to keep the kingdom from falling apart."

Amra shook her head with assurance. "I will be strong. I promise."