ROYAL BLOOD

The hunter's daughters

"My lady, the king has sent for you." A maid came to inform Berth; she was seated on a swing in her chamber, discussing with another maid.

"Did you say the king sent for me? Berth asked after regaining her composure. The maid nodded, then took her leave.

"Come with me," Berth said to the maid as she slowly rose to her feet.

"My lady…" The maid wanted to say something.

"I insist, Tamar." Berth's black obsidian eyeballs couldn't be resisted.

Berth was clouded in a yellow gown with a handless sleeve exposing her bare shoulders, her dark hair falling side by side on her face.

"You are walking too fast, my lady." Tamar said, and Berth halted in her tracks.

"Do it the way I taught you, slowly but elegantly." Tamar said, and Berth inhaled and then slowly took a step forward.

"Yes…like that, you are doing it." Tamar said as she watched Berth, who started walking gracefully.

"See, this is why I want you to be with me always." Berth said with a faint smile.

They met Ragaleon seated in the main garden, under two palm trees that provided shade. His black hair peacefully resting on his shoulders.

"Your Majesty…" Berth called out softly and then curtsied; so did her personal maid Tamar.

Ragaleon was talking with one of the elders of the council but dismissed him. He signalled Berth to come forward; Tamar left them to be alone by walking a short distance away from them.

"Take a seat." Ragaleon coldly said.

Berth was a bit startled; she sat beside him, with her head hanging down.

Ragaleon's eyes scrutinized her before he shifted his gaze ahead.

"My men have tried searching for your sister, but they couldn't find her. I made your father a promise…because he saved my life." Ragaleon paused, then gazed at Berth.

As expected, the latter looked stunned.

"My father? How could he have possibly…?"

"He was killed by a bear; he died trying to save me, and for that I am indebted to him. He made me promise to take care of you and your sister…if I find her. My men are still searching, but there is no news about her whereabouts…." Ragaleon paused, then straightened her gaze.

"I am sure you must have heard; I broke up my alliance with Ramah." Ragaleon said, and Berth nodded knowingly.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I also heard people say it's because of me." Berth looked a little remorseful.

"Well…they are not wrong." Ragaleon answered, helping himself to a cup of wine. He filled the golden cup to the brim.

"I…I do not understand, your Majesty." Berth's innocent eyes peered at him.

"I made your father a promise to get married to one of you as a way of repaying my debt…if there is no news about the whereabouts of your sister by tomorrow, you will be my new bride." Ragaleon looked pained as he said that.

Berth's eyes shone brightly; she couldn't hide her facial expression, which was filled with surprise and excitement.

"Which of you is the eldest? "Ragaleon," he asked, remembering, "the old man told him to get married to the eldest of his two daughters."

"The eldest…?" Berth looked puzzled by his question; she was about to say something when they heard chaotic voices coming from ahead.

Micah held a knife up to Amilek's neck; her hands quivered as she held on to the little boy.

"I want to see your king." She said boldly.

...….

Micah had made her way through the palace; she smelled, her hair looked disheveled….

She finds herself in the garden where the other prisoners were still filling up the well with water. She pretended to be among them by taking a bucket in her hand. Nobody seemed to see her suspicious movements.

Suddenly she saw a little boy step out; his brown hair and brown eyes spoke volumes about the life of a healthy living child.

"He is royalty." This was the first thing that had come into Micah's mind. Then suddenly her brown eyes became filled with dread. She looked around and found a knife in a fruit verse, beside a swing set.

She slowly made her way to where the little boy was, then swiftly grabbed him, placing the sharp blade on his neck.

Amilek screamed in terror; his scream attracted the attention of everyone present in the surroundings. Clustered chatters and low murmuring began….

"Hey! It's you again." One of the royal guards who was in charge of the prisoners seemed to have recognized them.

"You are supposed to be dead." He said, but Micah gazed at him with disdain.

"Yes, but your stupid friend wanted to rape me, you horrible people. You are worse than I could ever imagine." Micah looked like someone who had undergone trauma.

"Drop the knife." The guard said, but Micah tightened her grip on the little boy in her hand.

"I promise if you take any step closer, I will hurt him; I will run this knife through his neck." Micah wasn't afraid of them anymore.

"What do you want? A guard asked,

"I want to see the king!

......

Berth followed Ragaleon from behind as he made his way to where the noise was coming from.

Immediately Micah saw Ragaleon coming, and she shut her eyes in relief. She patiently for him; he walked with precision, his black hair swaying from side to side as he walked.

Suddenly he froze in his step when he saw what was happening; Ragaleon shifted his gaze to Amilek, who was crying; he was petrified.

"Welcome, Your Majesty." Micah said in disdain,

"Let the child go." Ragaleon commanded when he saw what was happening.

"Don't tell me what to do; I came here to see you. To plead with you to release the land your men forcefully tried to seize from me. But you turned me over to your guards; you threw me in the cell! Micah screamed, her eyes becoming teary.

"The child has nothing to do with this; let him go, and we can speak maturely like the adults we are." Ragaleon said calmly.

Micah batted her eyes, then sniffed…

"I spent three days in the cell, without food and little or no water, and now you want to sit and speak with me maturely? I don't think so; we are going to talk here and now." Micah said, taking some steps backward with the child still in her hand.

"I will give you whateveryou want; don't harm the child." Ragaleon didn't want any harm to befall Amilek, and Micah couldn't control the tears trickling down her face.

Just then Berth came from behind in her yellow gown, her fine black hair, and her cheeks as rosy as a blooming flower.

The knife Micah was holding almost faltered from her hand in shock when she saw her sister…

"Berth? She called out in astonishment; the latter shifted her gaze to her, then her eyes shone in shock.

"Micah? Is…is that you? She questioned, stunned by the scene in front of her. Ragaleon gazed at both the sisters, then finally turned to look at Berth.

"Is she your sister? He asked, and Berth shifted her gaze to him.

"She is…your Majesty, please spare her life, she...is..." Berth then turned to gaze at Micah.

"Micah, what are you doing? Let the child go! Berth said calmly.

"Berth, if you are here, then where is Father? You left him all alone?! How could you?! Micah became even more aggressive.

"Micah, please let the child go. Listen to me… We can talk about this together, okay? Berth said, taking some steps forward.

Micah didn't retrieve; she only watched as her sister kept coming close.

"Where is Father? Micah asked Berth as she kept coming closer.

"He…he is…" Berth couldn't bring herself to say it; she finally gets to where her sister is.

"Where is he, Berth? Why would you leave Father all alone? Micah screamed, tightening her grip on the knife.

"Father is dead, Micah; he died a day ago." Berth finally says.

"Micah became dumbstruck; the knife in her hand faltered as she slowly released her grip on Amilek.

She fell on the floor, her shoulders dropping in despair. Immediately all the guards rushed towards her and picked her up.

"Your head will definitely be rolling on the ground today." One of the guards who picked her up whispered to her.

Berth gazed at her sister; she wanted to touch her face but retreated because her sister's face was smeared with dirt.

Amilek ran to where Ragaleon stood and hugged his leg. Ragaleon patted his head, then sighed.

"Let her go." He commanded the guards; they looked astonished but slowly released Micah, who was crying in despair.

Suddenly she screamed as she cried, her face kissing the dust; she was seated on the ground, her hair draped over her face.

Ragaleon gazed at Berth.

"Take her to the guest house and make sure she is dressed and fed well." He said before slowly taking Amilek's hand in his, he walked away.

Berth gave her sister a fleeting glare before going after Ragaleon.

"Your Majesty, I apologize on my sister's behalf. She didn't know what she was doing." Berth said after she caught up to him.

Ragaleon halted in his step…

"The only thing keeping your sister's head on her neck is the promise I made.

e to your father." He said before he continued walking away.

Berth inhaled sharply before clenching her fist….

"Micah, what have you done?!