Chapter Twenty One

Very early the next morning, I watched as the soldiers rode out with horses and the entire kingdom was lit up with flares even though it was only 5 am in the morning. I hugged my arms to myself while Lillian and Serena stood beside me watching the horde of soldiers.

Jonathan’s voice rang in the whole courtyard and I could feel prickles on my skin from his loud voice.

“We are people of pride and we have customs and traditions, we would never let anyone insult us and go scot free!’ Jonathan announced and a loud scream from the soldiers followed. 

“So today, we go and we fight,” he continued.

“We fight,” the soldiers screamed again.

“And we come back victorious” Jonathan added and the soldiers screamed again.

I watched emotionlessly, I didn’t know what to feel. I watched as Jonathan finally got down from the horse and walked towards the high priestess and her entourage and knelt down in front of her. She sprinkled some water on him and bent down to tie a rope around his arm and smiled at him.

“Go and be victorious” she added and Jonathan nodded, standing up and walking back towards his horse. He suddenly turned back to me and I swallowed seeing his sneering gaze.

“Which of them are you standing there for?” He asked and I blinked my eyebrows.

“Huh?” I asked, exchanging glances with Serena.

Are you here to bid your last goodbyes?” He asked and I almost rolled my eyes but I didn’t reply to him. Watching as he burst into laughter and climbed the horse.

“Well, whatever you might be here for, I’m glad to tell you that we’ll be coming back victorious” he added as he glanced at me again.

“See you soon Princess” he said as he patted his horse and he started galloping away. I watched as the hordes of soldiers rode out.

“He still calls you princess” Serena asked as I rubbed my arms and turned to walk back into the palace.

“He likes to say that to spite me” I replied as I looked across to the shaman and the line of priestess. Our eyes met and I shuddered, turning my eyes and hurrying my feet.

I had been in bondage since I arrived in the Berg Kingdom so I knew nothing, the war was making me realize and find out a lot of things. We also had a priestess back at home but with the circumstances of the Berg Kingdom, I didn’t think that they would have all of that but they did.

I remembered how my eyes and the eyes of the Head Priestess met and how my spine felt cold.

“Does the Head Priestess always hide herself?” I asked before I could stop myself, “Is she scary?” I asked again and Lillian coughed.

“Mawe is one of the kindest women in this entire kingdom, she’s not scary” she replied and I nodded my head as we reached our room.

“So her name is Mawe” I stated and Serena nodded.

“Mawe is the oldest Priestess we’ve had in this kingdom and she served the past king” she informed me and I swallowed.

“Lowe's divination skills are the best. Whatever she says will happen” Lillian contributed to the conversation again and I glanced at her. She looked away uncomfortably.

“I’m sorry about the last time” she blurted out and I winced.

“It’s fine. You don’t need to apologize for anything” I replied but Lillian immediately turned back to me.

“Of course I do. I’m sorry again” she repeated and I chuckled.

“Apology accepted” I replied pausing, “So everything she says will come to pass?” I asked again and Serena nodded.

“Just like Lillian has said” She reaffirmed.

“Then, that does make her scary” I said slowly and Serena laughed.

“Isn’t your high priestess like that as well?” She asked and I shook my head.

“Our High Priestess has been in seclusion since I was born. I was the last baby she blessed. Every other baby and divination in our kingdom has been made by other priestess” I revealed and both Serena and Lillian stared at me in shock.

“That’s a really long time,” Serena said slowly.

“Are you sure she’s not dead?” Lillian asked and I shook my head.

“High Priestess Arugu isn't dead” I said firmly, “Two years ago, she summoned my father and they spoke in private. No one knew what they talked about and my father never spoke about it either” I replied, sighing softly.

The look I exchanged with Mawe was still very fresh in my mind and I couldn’t figure out why she was looking at me like that. 

“I hope they come back victorious, the Ragan kingdom is quite strong” Lillian muttered and I turned to her.

“Mawe has asked him to come back victorious, he has no choice than to come back victorious” Serena replied and I swallowed.

Was I supposed to pray for him to come back victorious now?

“Based on what the king said, is this war about insults?” I asked and Serena shook her head.

“It’s definitely more than that but I think it spiralled more than that. The elders will never allow the king to go to war with a kingdom over an insult, not even a kingdom like Ragan. And besides the king has been ruling since he was twelve, the Mawe raised him and taught him, he is smart and wise and intelligent. There must be a bigger reason” Serena explained and I slowly nodded my head.

“So the Mawe raised him? That’s impressive” I replied.

“You keep asking questions about Mawe, do you know her?” Serena asked and I turned to her with a surprised look.

“Know her? I have never seen her before, it’s my first time seeing her so i’m just curious” I replied and Serena nodded.

“The Mawe is a mystery. We know very little about her” Lillian added and I nodded.

“That’s it. I’ve heard enough” I muttered and both Lillian and Serena burst into laughter.