Chapter 2: Favor and Suspicion

The steps of the hustling horses send fine tremors on the bridge crossing the eastern borders. Riding upon these horses are the men of valor. They are carrying the banners of gold, silk, and saffron which are the prestige of Clapestris. King Rashal led the royal team, and they are marching at a heightening pace to reach the palace.

The central gate welcomes the Royal Force. The noise is a sound of clamor and celebration combined. The families are reunited with their soldier relatives. Others bereave for the death of their sons whom they likened to torches no more flaring.

Prince Thariem and Darina greet their royal father while riding upon their horses. The king replied to them with a nod. The refined young adults joined his majesty in entering the palace for a victor's feast.

The victor's feast is set at the wide dining hall. The fine music from stringed instruments and flutes gently swooned the hearts of the royal forces. The frames of their chairs are plated silver. The mantles around are of precious fiber and exquisite dyes. The whole palace knows that these artistic fabrics before their sight are the kind of presents the kingdom can give to the Khaganate and the Orientals. The large quantity of wine stored for six months under the maple trees is served before them. The lamps are evenly placed on the long table. The dancers in their best attire are performing in the midst of the hall. The entire place is candid and welcoming. It is the best place for people to make their hearts merry.

Before the hall, King Rashal is situated in his Sovereign Seat. But seated to a more elevated throne than him is his mother, the Queen Dowager. Queen Dowager has outlived the predecessor of King Rashal. In the Parsian tradition, she is nobler than the current king. The Queen Dowager has a different set of cavalrymen, eunuchs, attendants, and maidens. Both King Rashal and his wife, Queen Mariam, bow to Queen Dowager at the beginning of the ceremony.

After the ceremony, the dining begins. King Rashal has to take a different dining seat while keeping a close distance to dine with Queen Mariam. Their table is different from another because it is their tradition of keeping the royal safe. In terms of the royal children, they can choose wherever they will dine as long as the king and the queen can see them.

Darina happily sat near Queen Dowager. Queen Dowager herself has a great favor to Darina. For the Queen Dowager, Darina has never failed to amuse her. She finally has someone who will not orchestrate a self-defeat during board games just to keep Queen Dowager calm. Darina always offers her a clean, satisfying game. Hence, Queen Dowager would never hate to get defeated by the fostered lady.

“The moon seems honored, my Queen Dowager Tahaliel,” Darina smiled while leaning to her.

“What makes the moon honored?” The Queen Dowager beamed while staring at the bright brown orbs of the honored lady.

Darina pointed to the open window where the gentle moonlight passes. “Like a shy suitor, the moonlight gently entered the window and brightened your countenance.”

“You brilliant child. You now have memorized our ancestral poems and even used it to me,” the Queen Dowager chuckled gently.

“I pray so that the moonlight will shine to me as well. That they may behold how delighted I am to have a discourse, with your majesty,” Darina added as she gestured towards the moon then back to the Queen Dowager. She was sleepless in memorizing the poem of a suitor for a royal princess. Her sleepless night was worth spending, after all, seeing that the Queen Dowager loved it.

The noblewomen dining with Queen Dowager are astonished by Darina’s wit in their literature. They believed that engraving poems to a woman’s heart are like writing an epic to a stone for just a day. But when it becomes possible, it is because that woman is more interested to honor the kingdom than herself. They believe that Darina is unintentionally revealing her strength to be the next ruler of Clapestris.

“You have impressed me last time with your knowledge of our laws. Tonight, to our literature. What a beautiful byword you are then, to our kingdom, Darina,” the Queen Dowager commented. Queen Dowager Tahaliel loves the honor of being a good byword. Growing up sensitized by the Eastern Mediterranean values and practices, she knows that a byword lasts more than a generation can. It is more than the writings of the people can afford to keep. Tahaliel herself became a byword when she was young, she was loved because of her diligence in needlework and quick wit to save the king captured by the winter. That is why King Naryishev was delighted to marry her. Tahaliel admits that she sees herself in Darina, but the great amount of favor Darina earns is something that she cannot explain or question. Queen Dowager just loves to give a favor to Darina.

“It is my pleasure to make you delighted, my Queen Dowager,” Darina responded before taking the soup.

This is how the discourse in the western part of the hall goes. Darina will initiate an amusing conversation that will catch Queen Dowager’s heart. This will also impress the noblewomen, the eunuchs, and the attendants. Even the cavalrymen would laugh along with them because of Darina’s humor. They loved to sit at the western part, not just it is diversified but rather Darina just brightens their atmosphere.

However, on the eastern part, works another world. The guest dancers are intentionally dancing before them. The eastern part is for men and the strong forces. Prince Thariem is seated before the cavalry captains who are getting drunk. He doesn’t want to join the conversation with the drunk forces. He glanced at the western part and saw that the Queen Dowager, his royal grandmother, laughing with Darina’s antics. He surely has no place in both portions.

The dances, the music, the clothes, and the lights, such a sight have always been familiar to Prince Thariem. It is only now in his age that it brings a burden to his young shoulders. He cannot partake in the merry-making because he met the grieving relatives of the fallen soldiers. The people around were only talking about the coming centennial celebration although they are yet far from it. Prince Thariem is disappointed in how they are inclined to happy things but not to the grieving ones. It is as if they forgot the Parsian values of expressing both gladness and frustration, honoring the brethren, and love honesty. Neither can the prince protest the tradition nor appeal to the king to shift the purpose of the celebration. He made his way out of the dining area after his father's speech. He asked for a jar of wine and took his head armory.

Darina saw the prince going away. She excused herself from the western dining and discourse to follow the prince. Darina found the prince standing at the ramparts, holding the clay bottle of wine and his head armory.

“Your Majesty, I saw you walking away from the dining hall. May I know what bothers you?” Darina asked out of concern.

“I don’t want to join the celebration,” the prince responded.

Darina went near to him and asked for permission to take the bottle. Prince Thariem nodded and turned his armory like a ready cup for drinking. Darina poured the wine into the armory. Both of them had a minute of silence before Prince Thariem poured the wine into the dark moats. This is their way of grieving. Their sign of honor to the fallen brothers. They were supposed to have another time of silence but they smelled a disturbing odor.

“It smells like stagnant water,” Darina commented as she took the torch attached to the rampart. “Your majesty, tarry here while I go to check our vicinity. We cannot compromise even this evening,” she volunteered as she adjusted her arm guard and double girdle.

“Bring your cavalrymen with you, but pass through the eastern borders. I will pass with my cavalrymen through the western part,” Prince Thariem commanded. He is worried that his foster sister might encounter an ambush at the western borders since no one has entered or passed through it. It is a relief for him if Darina passes through the eastern borders where the doors are more secured and the moonlight penetrates the path there.

“I will report right away, your majesty,” Darina said and turned away while bringing the bright torch.

The cavalrymen readied themselves and followed Darina. To her surprise, even the drunk ones stood up as if they are sober for an imminent and fiery encounter. They marched through a different hall to not disturb the celebration. But other people saw them. The ministers and the sovereigns are amazed that the years of training Prince Thariem and Darina took are continually fruitful. As ordered, Darina brought the cavalrymen to check the bridge and the moats. They found out that the moat is drying. The path of the river flowing to fill the moat is dried as well. Darina suspects that dead bodies are secretly thrown to the moats, but she is hoping desperately that she must be wrong this time.

“Your majesty, look at what we found,” Rowen, a cavalry captain to Darina’s leadership pulled a cheesecloth that serves as a net. The cloth shows mosquito larvae.

“The moats have become stagnant. Follow me, we’ll proceed on checking the river,” Darina commanded for only three men to follow him. “Others must wait to the prince. He will come from the western borders. We will report right away.”

The river of Kaskuhish is just one of the rivers that nourish the lands under the authority of Clapestris. If it were not on the rich rivers they have, Clapestris will be long gone. A city near to the shores can be more prosperous than the landlocked one. The people there can secure their sea transportation, commercial activities, and fishing. In the cities far from the coasts, life and accommodation can be more difficult. The people of Clapestris know that Kaskuhish is a vital river for protection and land fertility. Darina and the cavalrymen are glad as they saw that Kaskuhish is not dying. Some people dug up trenches to lead the river away from the capital. They followed the river path and found out that it is trying to fill a small valley. Darina and the cavalrymen hasted to interrogate a nearby house of a rich man. There they saw a deserted scholar, Mahagino, smoking.

“What brings your majesty to my humble abode?” Mahagino asked, thinking that Darina and her team are just visiting him.

“You had taken something away from the capital, Mahagino,” Rowen, the cavalryman replied on behalf of Darina.

“Why is Kaskuhish filling that small valley?” Darina asked and brought the bright torch near to Mahagino’s face.

Mahagino understood that Darina is warning him to tell the truth or she will burn his house.

“Your majesty, I’m only a severed scholar that seeks to start my merchandise. I have nothing to sell other than to secure a fishpond,” Mahagino replied. “I have learned that some fishes can be taken care so I made this.”

Darina has no plan to hurt Mahagino. She knows that an old scholar like Mahagino who has no military wit but only intellectual strength can still be a good use for the kingdom. Darina will make sure that he can be of good use starting this night although he severed from Clapestris five years ago.

“When will your fishpond be ready?” Darina asked as she stared at the bright waters reflecting the moon.

“Tomorrow, your majesty. Even before the dawn, I will tarry the sun just to return Kaskuhish to your capital,” Mahagino cried while kneeling before her.

“You cannot command the sun, Mahagino,” Darina retorted boldly, forgetting that what Mahagino means is to not sleep until he will make his mistake right and compensate Clapestris.

However, for Mahagino, he rather saw that Darina is in a kind of intellect that silences his. Indeed, he was never able to command the sun. Darina just burned away his flowery words. No wonder no one dares to lay a finger against Darina. Even though she’s not part of the royal blood, people regard and call her one because of her strength, wisdom, and duty.

“I will command my cavalryman to guide you and help you. But you must not spare your intellect to assist Clapestris at this moment,” Darina said which marveled at Mahagino.

The cavalrymen only smirked. They are right about not bringing many weapons. One cavalryman even yawned, expecting this will happen. There are not much bloodshed in Darina's leadership, only terrified men because of Darina’s unpredictable genius. Darina can turn the conflict upside down right before they can even wear their armory. They saw how Mahagino is stunned.

“Get yourself oriented to Her Majesty’s kindness and prowess, Mahagino. She can ready the fire without the intention to burn your house,” the cavalryman said as they saw Darina walking towards the forming lake.

“What do you think will kill the mosquito larvae?” Darina asked.

“Fishes, my lady,” Mahagino replied.

“Then bring your fishes tonight while my cavalrymen have not yet returned to add crude oil to my torch and for your house,” Darina commanded which feared Mahagino again.

“Or maybe bring the fire to your door,” the cavalryman added and made himself silent as all heads turned to him. “Forgive me for not controlling my mouth,” he said and bowed.

“I will, your majesty. I will!” Mahagino said with all sense of urgency. He commanded his attendants to ready all his carts and containers where the fishes are ready.

While Darina and her forces make Mahagino ready, Prince Thariem on the other hand roamed around the city. He immediately sent some cavalrymen and foot soldiers to assist in rerouting the river of Kaskuhish. The force of Clapestris painstakingly redeemed the time just to make sure that Clapestris will be safe from odor and other danger. The river of Kaskuhish is brought back to fill and keep the moats clean. The odor was gone later on as the fishes are immediately sent and brought to the moats.

“Your majesty, if the mosquito larvae were left in the manner we saw a while ago, I’m afraid that an epidemic might begin,” Mahagino said while standing behind Darina.

“Then why, in your great intellect, has forgotten about that as you decided to change the path of Kaskuhish?” Darina reprimanded.

“Your majesty, please spare me from your anger. I have changed the path of Kaskuhish but I believe that I did not intend for the mosquito larvae to be in the moats.”

“Do you suspect that someone added mosquito larvae to the moats? Can someone control the mosquitoes?”

“It is not the mosquitoes but perhaps on transferring many mosquito larvae. It is how I believe it happened,” Mahagino said. “Spare my life, your majesty. I never intended to ruin Clapestris.” He pleaded again because Darina seems to be in deep thought. Darina even called for cavalrymen to come to her. Mahagino is altogether more afraid to be executed than for his house to be burned by piratical incursions of the Viraiz clan.

For Mahagino’s relief, Darina called Rowen, the cavalryman to bring a bag filled with golden coins and jewels. Rowen revealed that the bag has one thousand golden coins, three hundred pieces of silver, ten rubies, and ten sapphires. Darina commanded the cavalryman to record the amount.

“Your fishes will be of Clapestris, is that enough?” Darina asked Mahagino giving out the bag to the scholar.

Mahagino, being a cunning merchant, was supposed to say that it is not enough. But the cavalryman notices him still thinking and tarried his time to answer. The cavalryman nudged Mahagino to tell only the truth because Darina knows that it is more than enough.

“It is more than enough my lady, I cannot even spend my life enough to finish this all.”

“This is not for your life. Bring more fishes that can consume the larvae. Edible fishes as well for the people to make for a living,” Darina commanded.

“Yes my lady,” Mahagino replied while deeply defeated. He bowed down and stood to command his attendants.

Prince Thariem is sitting upon his horse while his cavalry captains are behind him. They are at the eastern door. Prince Thariem witnessed how Darina just barred an imminent conflict. The minister of internal and external affairs conversed with him.

“Your majesty, you are to be a king soon. Surely you have already secured a great asset of the kingdom, which is her majesty, Darina," the minister commented. He is impressed by Darina's tactic and willingness to solve problems. Long before he was just a eunuch, he thought Darina is just a playful girl that would only settle in the palace. However, she actually grew to be a strong woman, a promising leader of the cavalry. His attempt to be a minister was in danger by the time that Darina reminded everyone that a eunuch cannot be a minister if he swore to be a celibate. It was a good thing that he burnt his paper of oath years before he appealed for Prince Thariem's favor and agreement of other ministers to assign him to his current position. The minister does not have a secret hatred against Darina but he doesn't want Darina to stand in his way.

“She is always doing her best, Minister Hazper,” Prince Thariem responded. He is convinced that Darina always works for the sake of the kingdom. When she fails at one thing, she can compensate for it right away. "Her wisdom also helps me in solving conflicts."

“But do things right as well, and make sure it is for your name,” the minister added, almost inaudible.

Perhaps, what makes his voice still audible for the prince, is that the prince himself thinks the same. Is Darina working for my name’s sake? On behalf of my name? Or for her ambition to rule?

“Remember, your majesty. The kingdom of your clan Lunekleare is Clapestris but the sovereign extends to all countries your clan is governing. This is the land of Clapestris. Your clan, for eight sovereigns, within a century, is governing this capital. Within those years, your ancestors gained more kingdoms, provinces, cities, and countries subjected to the sovereign of your clan.”

“What are you implying then, minister?” Prince Thariem asked.

“You must add more cities to the kingdom before your sister can.”

“But minister, we rule the cities in this manner. Just like how we took over Gilan, we do not need to change its name other than to call it this way, Gilan, the Southern Capital of Clapestris. Hence, it does not matter who can take another city for Clapestris because it will be named after the kingdom, not after the one who took it over,” Prince Thariem tried defending that it would be fine if Darina can take another country subjugated to Clapestris.

“Then who took over Shapur?” The minister challenged the prince's readiness to listen with his counsel.

“It’s my grandfather king, Naryishev,” Prince Thariem replied. He was secretly smiling at the thought that when Darina was young, she just called King Naryishev's statue, the statue of an old man. When he was young, he also remembered calling King Naryishev's statue, the statue of a horse rider. Their mother queen disciplined both of them. They thought it is because they didn't know whose name was on the statue. They were actually disciplined because they were stubborn against Dahlgem. Prince Thariem returned his thoughts to the conversation with the minister as he remembered that even Dahlgem was, later on, more delighted to take care of Darina.

“Then who took over the southern capital of Clapestris, which is Gilan?” The minister asked.

“It is my great-granduncle,” Prince Thariem was not able to spill his name because of the realization that the names of the rulers and conquerors matter indeed. He remembered how much treasures and adoration were given to his great-granduncle for taking over Gilan. He was taught during his training times that because of such a feat, his great-granduncle became the seventh sovereign from their clan.

“As your former eunuch, which by your majesty, has become your minister, I am only concerned with your future and your government to Clapestris. Your majesty, don’t let anyone rob your throne, even be it your fostered sister.”

In the blink of an eye, Prince Thariem remembered his sweet playful days with his foster sister. He remembered how Dahlgem was exhausted in chasing them at the center garden. He missed how he used to call Darina in this manner, “My sister doted by the heavens.” He is nostalgic for those youthful days when the only thing he and Darina cared about was how to escape Dahlgem.

“Perhaps, some things do change,” Prince Thariem uttered while suspecting that Darina is slowly showing her character and ability that can hinder his success. The silver moon touches Darina’s countenance which makes her face more noticeable to the Prince’s sight. He remembered the poem that Darina recited a while ago.

“Even the moonlight was pleased to love your beauty. But it’s light choose to overlook your thoughts or else it will flee away,” Prince Thariem recited the last part of the poem. Just like the persona of the last prose, he chooses to overlook Darina’s real sentiments. He chooses to forget Darina's reasons for doing these things. He doesn't know that the words of the ministers are silently influencing his heart right in that night.