| |
"What... What is this, woman?" Ai asked shakily, struggling to breathe as her mind swirled at the sight and its implications. She stared with foreboding at the ugly wooden image with two large heads and several hands. It had a single eye at the centre of each head and had no legs. An incense burner, lit with smoking incense was placed in front of it.
"This is herona, your Highness," Nodrina said, with evident fear, as she cast glances at Michael, whose sword remained unsheathed. "It is the god of rest, beauty, fertility, grace, peace and..."
"An Idol?" Ai interrupted, stunned beyond comprehension. She wanted to pinch herself to ascertain that she was not trapped in a horrific dream.
The woman claimed to be a palace priestess, and that would mean, such evil was permitted within Bamah. Ai hoped with all her mind that the woman was an impostor. "How dare you? How dare you bring such an evil thing to me or this palace."
"Princess, I have merely hidden my practice from you because I know that the people of your kingdom have delusions that they serve the so-called Son of the Almighty God. If you think I was not within my rights in this palace, I assure you, that you are mistaken.” The woman said, in a sudden burst of confidence. "Our noblemen encouraged my actions, for they wished you could get all the blessings of herona who is most effective for guaranteeing that you birth an heir to the throne. She is not some unseen man that people claim died and resurrected many years ago. This herona is visible, tangible and easily worshipped..."
"You shall worship no graven wood here!” The princess yelled angrily.
"Need I remind you that you are within the Bamish’s territories and not your little kingdom? Here in Bamah, we pride ourselves in the liberty we have in our varied methods of worship. We certainly believe in the one Almighty God, the creator, but there are several ways to him, not just this Jesus, your kingdom claim is the only way. If you ask me, you shall be told that it is the reason why we are the greatest..."
"I did not ask, nor do I wish to hear you utter another word from your mouth! Leave, lest I cut off your unruly tongue!"
The woman appeared shaken by the threat and hurriedly attempted to pick up the wooden image, but Ai's loud voice stopped her. "I said leave!" Michael stepped forward, causing Nodrina to back away. She scurried out of the room, and the princess threw the wooden image along with the incense burner into the burning flames of the fireplace.
Ai fell to the ground staring at the ugly carving as it burned. She felt tears well up in her eyes as she thought of the woman's words. She hoped to the heavens that she was a liar and an impostor. Had she been in Ore, she would have had the woman detained, but she was not, she was in a strange territory and knew nothing of their ways or beliefs.
Deep within, the princess knew that it was impossible for an impostor to invade the Bamish palace. Suddenly she was filled with indignation and arose with a resolution in her heart.
"Michael, please guard my doors and permit no one, regardless of their business, to enter these chambers till I am ready to proceed." She stood, with her gaze fixed on the hearth of the fire, as the ‘god’ became completely engulfed in the flames. She heard the door shut and her mind became fixed on a course of action that brought peace to the raging storms in her heart.
She decided to set her heart right with her Lord. She recalled a part of the Holy Book that Prophet Asher had repeated whenever she had erred or done mischief that she felt guilty about.
‘Come boldly, before the throne of grace, that you might obtain mercy.’
She did as he had taught her, kneeling before the unseen but most real throne and repenting of her foolish and selfish choices that led to her present circumstance. She let her tears flow freely, as she prayed and made decisions to make wiser choices that would be more pleasing to her Lord. By the time she arose from the ground, she felt the great peace she did not realise had eluded her since she stepped on Bamah’s soil.
With her heart set on all she was to do, she prepared herself for the day, unwilling to be served by any Bamish servant. From all she had read in the past, the kingdoms which had attended the defunct Yachad festival prided in their faithfulness to the only true God.
She had been taught from her childhood to know and serve this God, and it had been her duty as a princess to learn and uphold the precepts and principles of the Holy Book. She had believed it was the same in Bamah and hoped that it was still so because no level of acceptance or love that Johin or his people offered could entice her to indulge in the abominable act of idolatry.
Donning her most comfortable dress and a simple hairstyle, she stepped out to see Michael awaiting her. Although he did not utter a word, his eyes spoke volumes, as he observed her in a manner that was most nostalgic to Ai. It was the same look he had given her at the orphanage when he appeared before her. It assured her of his loyalty unto death.
She headed to the place she knew Johin would be. Although he had clearly stated that she should not seek him that day, she just could not wait till he summoned her. The affair was urgent, and it determined her next course of action.
She passed by a few servants who stopped and bowed to her, and for the first time, she noticed that several of them were wearing necklaces with pendants having the shapes of different graven images.
As she approached the entrance of the Bamish throne room, she saw a tall middle-aged man who looked like a highly placed servant, standing at the doors. He saw her approach and gave a look she was much acquainted with. It was the one with which the nobles of Ore usually regarded her.
"Pardon my rudeness, Your Highness, but I cannot grant you admission to the throne room at this time.” He declared haughtily. “The King is in a private meeting along with several noble men and I am under strict orders to deny everyone entry. I shall inform his majesty of your desire to see him, as soon as the meeting is ended."
"Make way, for I am quite determined to see King Johin this moment," Ai spoke calmly, but with an undeniable authority that even the man who had spoken with arrogance faltered.
"Unfortunately, Your Highness, I cannot grant you entry, for no one, not even our dear Princess Isa, is allowed to interfere with such meetings," he responded in an irresolute tone.
"You shall do as the princess says!” Michael ordered in a most intimidating tone that caused the man to shudder and scramble out of the way. The knight pushed open the double doors and she was glad that the Bamish soldiers did nothing to stop him.
She was met with the perplexed faces of the Bamish nobility, and her gaze trailed to the woman that was seated amongst them, her powdered and painted face was most recognisable and even funnier in the daylight.
She shifted her gaze from the woman till it rested on Johin, who was seated on his throne. He leaned forward, as soon as he saw her, with surprise and curiosity, evident on his face. She was hit with the realisation that his meeting with the Novar princess was the reason he had asked her not to seek him.
Ai took a deep breath and began walking towards him. The nobles were so stunned at her audacity that some had their mouths agape. Johin arose as she approached, and the nobles arose with him.
"I do not care that you are a princess of that lowly kingdom. How dare you..." A middle-aged man whom she vaguely recognised, standing beside the throne started, but Ai ignored him and spoke directly to the king.
"I request a private audience at once, King Johin."
At her words, she heard the Novar princess gasp, and murmurs and angry jeers of disapproval soon filled the room.
