The Chains of Duty Chapter 3:The Twins

“There is absolutely no need for you to worry, Princess,” General Thyen reassured her vainly, “I will personally make all the arrangements necessary.”

Keed held his head down, staring intently at his hands, clasped on his lap. The General, the oldest son of the Minister of Defense was addressing Nidara as though he were her suitor. Perhaps he was. So much could have happened while he was gone. He felt somewhat uncomfortable.

“General,” Nidara replied, “this is not something personal. As such, I would prefer you talk to my father on the matter.” It was very unpleasant indeed, being addressed in a full court in such a way. She had been the one to opt for his help. However, that did not in any way give him a leverage to converse with her in the diction of a suitor.

“Yes,” he said, somewhat dismayed. Turning to the King, he added, “Indeed, Your highness, I will make all the arrangements myself.”

“That is indeed an immense relief to hear, General Thyen, Son of Rudolf.” An expression of reprieve flooded the King’s features. “That is all for today.”

“That is all for today,” the King said. Immediately, the throne room began to slowly empty. In the end the only people remaining were the King, his two daughters, Keed, and of course, General Thyen.

“I will set about with the preparations shortly, Your highness. If you would excuse me,” the General said bowing.

“Yes, of course.” The king waved his hand. Within a minute, Thyen was gone.

“Keed,” Nidara called, “Do not forget what I asked of you.”

“Yes Princess I will remember,” he said. Soon after, Keed also excused himself.

~~~~~~~~~~

“It appears to me, Sister,” Novara said on their way to their quarters from the throne room, “you have an admirer.” There was a jovial edge in her tone.

“It appears to me, Novara,” Nidara replied somewhat mischievous herself, “that you are very keen to see me off.”

“Not as much as I am to see our friend Keed off,” she said sarcastically.

“You still have not forgiven him have you?” Nidara said, more to herself than to her sister. Of course she had not forgiven him yet. Nidara herself was reconsidering her decision to listen to what he had to say. To some extent.

“Honestly, Sister. How can you expect me to? If I were in your place, I would make sure he rotted in jail. Sometimes I think perhaps you do not understand the sort of damage he has inflicted upon all of Yawen. No matter if he was under some kind of mystical influence while he did so, he deserves punishment.”

“That I too understand Novara,” Nidara said. They both quieted down as they reached the entrance of their chambers. The intricate carvings on the doorway and the double doors themselves reflected the sunlight shining in the hallway.

Once they were inside Nidara started again, “I understand that as well as any person would, Novara. However, he is one of father’s favorites. And to add to that he has a reputation, both good and bad. Just as there are people protesting to his safe custody within the inner walls and his presence in court, if he was jailed there would be people to protest against that.”

They both sat down at their study inside their spacious chambers. Shelves of books lined the walls up to the ceiling. They contained books on everything princesses would ever need to know, and much, much more.

But there was only a single book on sorcery. Most of its pages contained odd markings in ink which were obviously made after it was written. Nidara had stumbled upon it once in a troubled state of mind after one of Xelop’s first attacks.

“Sister, is that the real reason why you agreed to allow him?” Novara asked, “Or is it only what you are trying to convince the more logical part of yourself?”

Nidara was taken aback. “Do you really think me so weak, Novara?”

“It is nothing about weakness, Sister,” Novara said softly, fondly, sadly, “You know better than I why I say this.”

Nidara sighed. But then she wondered. If she had thought differently, would she have acted differently?

“Sister,” Novara said grasping Nidara’s hand fondly, “pardon me. I did not intend to affect you.”

Nidara smiled. “Hold your apologies, Novara. I do not let such petty things affect me.”

“That is good. I will never be as good as you Sister.” Novara said smiling. “Sometimes I know I behave somewhat rudely.”

“Not more than General Thyen at court.” Both of them smiled wider.

“True. Very true. Now, shall you teach me something of import? I have not had a proper study session since Xelop attacked!”

~~~~~~~~~~

“Me lady, the King sends news,” an announcer woman said bowing.

“What would father have us do?” Nidara asked not looking up from the book she was instructing her younger sister from.

“He wishes that me ladies dine with him. The table is set. I was sent to call on me ladies.”

“Why would father give us such short notice?” Novara asked.

“Will anyone else be there?” Nidara asked the woman.

“Yes. me lady.”

“Who?”

“Lord Keed.”

“Keed?” Novara asked, incredulous.

“I thought so.” Nidara whispered. “We will be there shortly,” she said turning to the woman. “I asked Keed to bring the evidence of his knowledge, namely, the book he gathered knowledge from.”

“Oh, I see.”

“We should go now,” Nidara said standing up. “Come Novara.” Novara got up. Together they walked to the dining hall. It was over noon. The hallways were extremely hot. They hurried. When they entered the King and Keed were already seated at their places.

“Ah! Welcome my daughters! Take your seats. Today we shall dine like kings!” their father greeted.

“Father, you are a king.” Novara said.

“Yes, but you, my dear, certainly are not!” he replied, laughing jovially. Even Keed seemed to chuckle.

“Father, enough with the jokes,” Nidara’s comment brought an air of seriousness into the atmosphere.

They started on their meal shortly. And as they dined, Keed revealed the source of his knowledge on Xelop’s sorcery. He brought out a hardbound book. Nidara was shocked when she beheld the book, for it’s cover was an exact copy of the book she had found in her study. She hid her observation well, however.

“This book here gave me the knowledge I needed about the sort of sorcery Xelop was using n me. One might think it was useless since I was already out of his influence by then. It was much needed, however, for the next thing I was going to do. It helped me understand what I had to tell myself in order to make things work,” Keed finished.

“And this book is the basis of all the information you have given us, yes?” Nidara asked.

“Not all, but a large portion of it, yes. The rest is derived from personal experience.”

“I think you should study it, Nidara, Novara. It is an important advantage we have, at solving the problems Xelop’s invasion has left us.” the King said eagerly.

“Yes Father, we will,” Novara said, “will we not Sister?”

“Of course we will,” Nidara replied. “Keed, I must ask you to hand me the book.”

“With honor, princess,” Keed said handing the book to her across the table.

“You plan to study it by yourself, Nidara?” the King asked.

Nidara looked at her father, confused. “How else do I study it Father?”

“Take Keed with you. He might be able to help.”

~~~~~~~~~~

The three of them reached the private study inside the princesses’ quarters. The King had been adamant on the analyzing of the book, and insisted that they start that very day. Novara was somewhat irate by the fact that Keed would be accompanying them. Her annoyance increased when Nidara suggested their own study as the venue for the matter.

“Keed,” Nidara said, “take a seat. And Novara, stop your sulking. We will have to work together on this.”

Keed immediately found himself a chair and sat down. Novara however folded her arms and huffed rather angrily. She remained standing.

“Novara, we do not have time for this,” Nidara said impatiently. Without waiting for her to reply she moved around the table and took her own seat. “Let us start.”

Keed nodded and laid the book out on the table. Nidara observed the same sort of marking on this book as well. “These markings,” Keed announced touching some of them at the edge of the page he had opened, “were made long after this book was written.”

This perked up Novara’s attention.

“How do you know for sure?” she asked, suspicious.

“The writing in the book is a little faded whereas the markings are relatively fresh,” he informed.

“I see,” Novara extended her hand so as to take into her hand.

“Wait,” Keed said, “There is something I wish to show you.”

“Proceed,” Nidara said.

Keed turned the pages of the book and came to stop at a particular page near the end. “Here, in this page it speaks of a twin.”

“A twin?” Novara questioned.

“Yes, a book that was written at the same time as this one and with the same intention, perhaps. I cannot be sure. But it says something about them being identical.” He looked at them expectantly, searching for understanding.

“This book is on sorcery, yes?” Nidara asked all of a sudden, standing up from her place and starting for the shelves.

“Yes, Nidara. But why do you ask?” Keed asked, eyeing her worriedly as her agile figure drifted across the shelves.

“Sister, what are you looking for?” Novara asked, also worried.

“Wait,” Nidara announced as she finally found what she was frantically looking for. She retrieved it from the topmost shelf in the darkest corner of the room. “I have found it.”

“Found what?” Novara inquired anxiously.

“The twin.” Nidara walked back toward the table. Keed watched with astonishment.

What is going on?

Nidara placed the book on the table and opened it near the end. She wanted to show the page to Keed and Novara. She wanted to show them that this book also talked about a twin.

But, as soon as the spine of the book in her hand hit the top of the table, she felt excruciating pain in her back.

She was in that dark damp dungeon, tied to that post. Her freshly burnt skin reminded her again and again of her position, yet threatened to pull her into the realm of eternal sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~

To be continued…