Sofia tossed about restlessly on the tiny, uncomfortable cot trapped in the darkness of the cell in Muet’s lair. Her mind replayed the scene of tear-tracked faces and joyous hugs that felt like daggers to her heart. Am I really that easily replaced? Is that impostor better at being the princess than I am?
Turning about on the cot, Sofia thought of Cara, safe within the walls of the palace. How could her best friend in the entire world not even realize that she stood next to an impostor? She’s probably too busy training with Lek to pay attention to the fake princess! Her mind flooded with improbable scenarios as her imagination ran wild. Sofia’s negative thoughts drained all of the strength and energy left in her body, and unbeknownst to her, she drifted off to sleep.
A vision of a dense forest of gigantic banyan trees surrounded her. Sofia stood above a young boy, badly injured and bleeding from his head. She held her krabong against his throat and demanded to know where the mistress was. His silence made her press down harder, anger raging through her body. She pulled the weapon back, ready to bring it down onto the boy's chest. Sofia desired to feel his pain, to see him suffer, and to watch the last breath leave the boy’s broken body. Just as she was about to employ the death blow, Cara tackled her, and she lost her staff. Sofia saw the injured boy escape, and pure fury filled her. She turned back to watch Cara stand and brush the debris from her clothes, waiting for the perfect time. Then, Sofia grabbed her krabong and swung it at Cara’s back.
“No!” Sofia shouted, waking up from the dream. Her voice echoed in the cell. Her entire body shook fiercely, terrified by the darkness that overtook her. She panted heavily and wiped the tears from her face. Somehow, Sofia sensed that something was not right. Cara was her heart and soul, so to raise a fist at her was like hitting herself. She would never think to harm her, even if she were beyond angry with Cara.
What kind of dream was that? Every moment and emotion was so vivid that she could taste the sweat running down her face. She felt the cool night breeze and the rough bark of the forest floor on her skin. Sofia closed her fist, imagining the grooves of her weapon, its weight in her hands. Is this another part of my Palang? Sofia couldn’t recall the Oracle saying anything about visions, but it could be part of her Palang’s true potential. Staring up at the ceiling of her cell, Sofia wished she could ask the Oracle about it, and she wished she could apologize to Cara for getting so angry.
“I just want to be home. I don’t want to be the princess. I don’t want any of this!”
With the longing to escape, Sofia decided she needed to find a way out of this cell. Jumping up from her cot, she grabbed the pocket mirror and opened it up to see her reflection this time. Not understanding how the mirror worked, Sofia skimmed through Muet’s note again.
“Ask the mirror anything you wish, and it will show you what you need to see,” she read aloud. “I didn’t ask for anything last time, and it just showed me where Cara was.”
The mirror shimmered momentarily and revealed a blurry image of Cara and Lek walking up the steps of Wat Sajjathaam. Dressed in full battle gear, Cara looked distracted and worried. As they proceeded up the stairs, Lek stopped Cara and turned to tell her something. Sofia focused on his words, but the only thing she could make out was “going against the princess.”
“Why would Lek want to go against me?” Sofia questioned. “More importantly, why would Cara go along with him?”
Sofia continued watching the mirror as it showed the pair walking into the temple to meet Lek’s parents. Hugs were exchanged, and Mrs. Sawaan quickly ushered them inside. Sofia shut the mirror and slammed it on the table, unable to hide her feelings of betrayal. Simultaneously, Muet came walking in with another tray of food.
“Now, is that any way to treat my gift?” Muet asked jokingly. “I assume you got it to work. You’re not happy with what you see?”
Sofia was unsure what to believe anymore but stared at the woman with disdain. “What do you want with me?”
“Oh my! You’re speaking with me now? I’m honored, Jao Ying,” Muet replied, faking a curtsey.
“Why are you doing this?” Sofia turned away from Muet and sat on the cot facing the wall instead. “I don’t even know who you are. So, what have I ever done to you?”
Muet put the tray down and stepped closer to Sofia. “Remember, I did not send you away and deny you the knowledge of your people. I was not the one who hid the truth from you or clipped your wings. I am not the enemy here.” She rustled her ebony wings, mocking Sofia’s lack of them.
The sound of Muet’s wings rang through the cell like laughter. I could’ve had wings if I grew up here, Sofia dreamed momentarily before she shook away the fanciful thought.
Facing her captor, she asked, “Then why are you holding me here?”
“Maybe I just want to get to know you better.” Muet sat by the table, beckoning Sofia to join her. ”Perhaps I want to teach you more about our world so that you may decide what’s best for you?”
Sofia stiffened at the suggestion. “You really expect me to believe that?” She crossed her arms and leaned against the cell wall. “Aren’t you the one attacking the palace? Why would you want to get to know me better? As the jao ying, aren’t I the one standing in your way of taking the throne? Well, me and the Queen, of course.”
Muet let out a grand cackle and clapped at Sofia’s performance. Wiping a tear from her eye, she spoke.
“My, my, my, we seem to have found our spine, haven’t we? There’s hope for you yet.” Muet stood and walked toward Sofia, backing her further into the corner. “To be completely honest, I don’t want to see you dead. I don’t necessarily wish death upon your mother, either. I just want what’s rightfully mine.”
For the first time in her life, Sofia sat up taller with determination. “Nothing you say makes sense. Why do you think anything in the palace is rightfully yours? And if you don’t want to see us dead, why are you even attacking the palace?”
“It will all make sense in due time. You need to regain your strength right now, so I will leave you to your meal. Be well, Jao Ying.”
Muet walked out of the cell and locked the door behind her. She smiled at the spark within the young girl, reminding her of someone from her past. She knew the Princess was suspicious of her, but Muet had made progress—the jao ying spoke to her. In no time at all, Muet will have groomed the perfect successor. She just needed to bide her time and let her plans fall naturally into place.