Chapter 8: Foreboding Reality

Yesterday controversy cannot bar Darina’s entrance to fill the administrative court of her mien in great authority. The sunlight passes through the higher windows and shares a fair glint on Darina’s armory.

The bright amber appearance before the audience reminds them that the Royal Cavalry Captain is someone that they feared formidable enough to trample their positions in Clapestris.

However, for Darina, she intended to wear the golden armory, since it is only now that her royal father officially called her presence. She has a lot to tell him even though it is a formal occasion. She handed over her headgear and her scepter to the chiliarch to indicate that her presence is not for her appeal but a report. She has brought with her Rowen who pushes the cart comprising the model of military prowess Clapestris currently possess.

Robert the chiliarch, who is a commander of a thousand, governs the order of the court on behalf of the king. He ushered the formality for Darina’s march and presentation to the court. He humbly receives Darina’s symbols of authority and placed them on the silk cushion. He gestured for Darina to proceed on the left side to report both to King Rashal and the ministers of the administrative court.

Darina gave everyone the formal greetings, even to the Prince. She took everyone’s attention to her report about the forces of Clapestris and her recruitment campaign.

“As a Royal Cavalry Captain, I have brought new soldiers to the kingdom. I am planning to have these soldiers to be further trained not just by the cavalry captains but also of the Amyrgia Clan,” Darina said.

“You have thought it well, Royal Cavalry Captain,” King Rashal commented amidst the favor he has for this special clan. “Ministers, you have known about the greatness of the Amyrgia Clan. While there are none of them would wish to be involved in our political affairs, this clan has the great manners of soldiers which are not seen from the other kingdoms.” 

The clan is famed for being the kingdom's great source of the military asset. It has the best topography suitable for training soldiers and developing more weaponry. Access to their topography is difficult which makes the training of the soldiers more serious and intensive enough to serve the kingdom.

“Indeed, Your Highness. We can have the enhancement of our military strategies in their help,” Darina said. “I will visit the Sahamero Plateau for the negotiation on the next new moon. I will bring some blacksmiths from the Amyrgia clan to teach the new soldiers on making swords.”

“How many soldiers did you gather, Royal Cavalry Captain?” King Rashal asked although he already knew it. He just wants his foster daughter to tell it to him personally.

“In this present time, we have ninety thousand new soldiers from Gilan and fifty thousand of them are brought here in Clapestris,” Darina reported while drawing the curved woods which represents a unit that her cavalrymen are leading. “Everyone can be assured of their service since these are the people of Gilan, the children of the oath. They have the oath of service for the welfare of Clapestris.”

The ministers murmured at the vast number of soldiers Darina had. The news could have been less surprising except that these ninety thousand soldiers pledged their allegiance to Darina. Darina didn’t mention the soldiers’ oath to her name since it would not matter in her view. But the ministers knew about it. Rumors are only wingless to nonchalant ears. Yet the ministers are disturbed about what Darina can do and so they are the very first receivers of yesterday’s conflict between Darina and Prince Thariem. The ministers restrained themselves from appealing to the king about Darina since they could be equated as subjects to Darina’s leadership.

On the other hand, Minister Hazper is bold enough to confront Darina.

“But isn’t it that they promised to render their work to you, Royal Cavalry Captain?” Minister Hazper asked.

Darina comprehends that this kind of question might come out. “But I’m serving Clapestris, so they are serving the kingdom as well.”

“Behold the royal cavalry captain, bold enough to say that she has more power now,” Minister Hazper cried out to stir more objections against Darina.

“Be careful of your words, Minister Hazper,” Darina said and unbothered to Hazper’s claim of fouls. “I cannot deny that they had made an oath. But these soldiers are the ones who initiated it so that no one would change their minds from serving Clapestris and I would not dare to put any blame on their virtue. I am the representative of the royal Lunekleare Clan during that time so they brought their oath to my name.” Darina stated.

King Rashal has the impulse to defend Darina but he has to observe other people in the court. The sight of his fostered daughter being scolded by the ministers is something that he doesn’t want to happen again. His expectation awaits Prince Thariem to speak for Darina but it seems to wait in vain.

“Since you count their oath of service to me, then count my humble service to the kingdom as well. I was sent for reinforcement, and they came with me. I have done the task, and I brought the report. Yet you are only thinking of the oath. This military prowess is to his sovereign, King Rashal, and the kingdom of Clapestris. I own nothing,” Darina said while concealing her anger. “If you keep on pointing suspicion to my service, then that is a predicament that I would never be able to deal with.”

Darina glanced at King Rashal and bowed her right knee. “Hear, Father King, my report about our forces and my loyalty to the Kingdom of Clapestris. I have come clean and I am not troubled in their suspicion. Only I appeal that you have a favor to your servant that I may know that your servant did not work in vain.”

“It is well, my daughter,” King Rashal said, bending the traditions of the court that a king should not mention any family ties except his wife and his mother. After all, it is just a tradition. There was no way that a king should break the rules of his ancestors and his own. Yet traditions and customs change when people deem it necessary. A broken tradition signifies a great favor that King Rashal gives to Darina.

The king also stood up and went to the center table where Darina’s symbol of authority is placed. King Rashal took it and brought it back to Darina. Such gesture speaks a volume of King Rashal's trust in Darina’s loyalty, a rare action revealing that the king does not see Darina as a threat neither could she ever be. “Take this, as a symbol of my favor.”

“I am grateful, Father King,” Darina replied and wear her headgear. She also holds her scepter like a staff and used to tap the floor of the administrative court. She takes a few steps towards the ministers.

“I’m afraid that I might bring a heavy punishment that you would not like Darina. As a Royal Cavalry Captain, how do you want me to execute justice on your behalf?” King Rashal asked because he is ready to put burdensome rewards on the ministers who offended his fostered daughter.

“Since I received your favor to hear me, Your Highness, I guarantee a few more tolerance at such atrocity I received. Father King, just let this pass by. At this rate, some soldiers need my assistance. So I might as well request on your kingship a permission to leave first.”

Darina dismissed herself and left the administrative court. As the doors get closed, the ministers immediately bowed down to thank King Rashal for sparing them from any punishment.

“Your Majesty,” comes the entrance of Bolo, who once was the Minister of War but has now become the Chief Minister of the administrative court. A father to Lady Farrah, and a witness of Darina’s growth. “I have been silent on the contention of these ministers. On behalf of our offenses, let us compensate to Her Royal Highness and reward her of her excellence.”

“Since you did not offend my daughter, I will consider your appeal,” King Rashal said.

“I’m afraid to tell you that your minister is not aware what reward shall we give to the Royal Cavalry Captain,” Bolo said, keeping the grounds safe.

“Let us grant her to become the Royal Knight, an ally to the Prince, and a great strength to Clapestris,” claimed another minister who is in charge of consular affairs, Minister Adrashiro.

“But we already have the royal knight,” blabbered Minister Hazper.

“Minister Adrashiro could have thought it well, Minister Hazper,” argued the other minister, Minister Ahn. “Consider the forces Darina now governs. She worked for our kingdom but we cannot deny the strength she is now dominating. Forgive me of this bold revelation, but if we just keep her as a royal cavalry captain, this would make confusion among the soldiers.”

“In addition to Minister Ahn’s points, it is necessary to grant her the title of the Royal Knight since her current strength and her current position would humiliate the authority of the Prince. We would not wish to become a byword among other countries and our people, aren’t we?” Minister Adrashiro pointed out.

“Surely her outnumbering military prowess could overrule the kingdom,” Minister Bashiyem, assigned on the unity of the clans and provinces commented. “The best thing we can do is to let her know that she is one of us. We must bar any attempt or messages that would riddle the royal cavalry captain in severing her ties from our kingdom. Can you at least consider this, Your Highness?” Minister Bashiyem glanced to the Prince when King Rashal only averted his gaze.

“I consider it,” Prince Thariem uttered, concealing his shivering spine which is enraged at the thought of Darina being the Royal Knight aside from him. He comforts himself that a malicious grant of title does not guarantee any longevity of authority to the possessor.

“Then I would agree on granting her the title,” Minister Hazper suddenly stated which frightened the Prince. How could he simply allow someone to compete against his ruler? “By this way, we can secure Darina’s post and loyalty to keep the stability and longevity of Clapestris,” he added with the same thought as Prince Thariem shared in their last conversation. “Your Majesty, my boldness is for the sake of Clapestris. You have known the principles of war starts in betrayal and the closest allies are the closest enemies. We cannot compromise the security of our kingdom. Hence, we must keep Darina’s loyalty to the kingdom not just on her words but on her position.”

“Your Highness, granting her the title would encourage her a new sense of authority and responsibility to the kingdom. In this way, treachery would be less possible than we dread,” Minister Ahn supported Hazper.

King Rashal, aggrieved to his ministers' contentions glanced at Bolo, the Chief Minister. “What can you say about this, Bolo?”

“She has spared us from punishment because she is royal cavalry captain. Darina displayed great benevolence to the ministers who confronted her. As a Chief Minister, I agree on granting Darina to become the Royal Knight because of the minister’s contention which I deeply oppose.”

“Say it directly, Bolo.”

“Your Majesty, these ministers offended Darina again while she is away. For the sake of these ministers to still receive her tolerance and mercy, let Darina become a Royal Knight so that these people will receive another forgiveness from her. In this way, the reputation of your ministers will remain.”

The ministers trembled again because of their new offenses against Darina. They immediately declared, “ Let Darina become a Royal Knight because she deserves it. Put away our contention and foolishness and remember Darina’s work. Make her the Royal Knight, Your Majesty.”

Prince Thariem could not be less pleased. Hazper just ignited a fire of support to Darina’s cause, and the ministers make it more possible for the king to empower Darina and her position. He suspected that Darina orchestrated all these events, knowing that she was the best strategist in their training times.

Prince Thariem, feeling eclipsed by Darina’s shadow, has no other wish but to make a very reasonable way to put Darina away. 

“It is well. Darina shall be our next Royal Knight. Chiliarch, note this as a report to capital,” King Rashal declared while Prince Thariem was in his deep thoughts.

Prince Thariem follows the company of King Rashal and Bolo as they strode the eastern hallway. He heard their conversation.

“Now that we will have another Royal Knight, I must expand my Farrah’s wedding celebration in honor of the special guest.”

“I will make sure that Darina will accompany the bride as a Royal Knight for your daughter, Bolo,” King Rashal replied.

“Farrah’s wedding?” Prince Thariem uttered. Then suddenly, all the torches circumvented his thoughts. Darina’s shadow steps aside. Prince Thariem crosses the gaps of valleys and mountains as he captures the only method of putting Darina away, and that is the gift of marriage.