Chapter 8: The Prophecy

She'd been told more times than she could count that she must never show weakness and yet stood in front of him, she felt less like the Kumari and more like an uncertain little girl... It was as if her shoes no longer fit and her makeup - that had been expertly done by her maid - was all of a sudden, years too old for her. She no longer felt comfortable in her own skin. It wasn't all bad. She could easily get used to the feeling. Bizarrely, as much as she didn't like it, she also couldn't get enough of it. The look in his eyes as he continued to watch her was anything but shy. It was a combination of possessiveness, anger, perhaps even a hint of dislike, a spark of lust and definite disbelief.

"Why did you not deny my request?" he asked eventually.

Bae was dumbfounded. What possible reason was there to refuse?

"If it's in my power to do what my people ask of me, of course I must do it."

"But..." He was quiet for a hairs breath as he considered his words. "Your advisors were against it. The past Kumaris, your mother, would never have agreed."

"The time was not yet right for them to agree," she said softly, her mind returning to the prophecy that had pretty much spelled doom to her reign. It was ironic really that she was willingly, like a lamb to slaughter, going to her Commencement, readily taking the Crown that would prove to be her curse.

The words of the prophecy reverberated in her ear, a not so gentle reminder that she would not have a happy rule.

‘The Kitsune will be lost to the Ren.

Lost even to the Kumari.

Those without the Kitsune will come to steal it.

And when they fail, they'll seek to destroy it.

Beyond the Kaiyo lies hope,

But it will be the Kumari's ruin.'

Leaning against the ship's railing, Prince Armel watched as various emotions crossed the Kumari's face. She had clearly failed her lessons on keeping her feelings hidden. Her face was an open book and yet he was still confounded by her. Her red hair was tied in a knot at the base of her neck with wisps flying about her face. Her eyes were a swirling, molten green. Her face was on the petite side. Then again, everything about her was petite.

"Your father said something about a prophecy," he said, hoping that his words would draw her attention back to him. He enjoyed having her attention more than he thought he should.

"Did he?" she replied, not meeting his eye. She'd been instructed by her advisors that it would be best to keep the prophecy to herself. But there was something about him that made her want to break the code of silence that currently surrounded her destiny.

She still didn't really understand why they were all so convinced that she was the Kumari the prophecy referred to. It could have equally been referring to her future daughter or granddaughter.

"You know damn well that he did, Kumari." His tone was menacing as he growled at her.

Taken aback, she faced him. "So, what if he did?"

"You're being intentionally obtuse."

"Yes." She didn't deny it.

"Why?"

"Who are you, that I should have to explain myself?" Her anger was palpable, magic tingling along her skin as if it was preparing for battle.

He huffed before turning away from her to look out over the lake but not for long. Quickly, he turned back, catching her off guard, causing her to stumble back. He grabbed her arm to stop her from falling, just as her protectors stepped forward.

Bae raised her hand to her protectors. She didn't need help. Pulling away from him, she leaned over the edge of the boat so that she could see the water below.

"You don't like me very much, do you?" she asked.

"I don't particularly like anyone."

Considering him, she wondered if he would be amongst her suitors in Canku. Would he eventually become one of her seven? There was something that interested her about him but she couldn't put her finger on it. He wasn't like the other Cankurians she had met. They were more like his generals. He had a refined quality about him that made him seem more dependable than even an army of Cankurian Protectors but at the same time, where they were consistently loyal he seemed to find her ridiculous. He didn't for one second think of her as his Queen.

Would that perhaps change after the Commencement?