Ja Lia's Coronation: Questioning

      In the Palace. Havila. 

     "We'll be asking you three questions."

    One of the chiefs threw at Ja. The chief's expression was betraying and by extension demeaning. Probably his own way of threatening Ja to give up before the time. 

    Ja looked at Lailah who was seated by him. In only her face did he find his comfort. Several other faces betrayed his guts. His will to survive was always shallow whenever he gave them such stare. Or vice versa. 

    Lailah nodded at him and he looked back at the chief and nodded. Not that he couldn't make decisions of his own but... whatever. What was the point of explanation?

    "Shall we get started?"

    Another of the chiefs asked him. That was the same question he was asked yesterday before everything went rogue and some of the conspirators broke into the square to ruin him. He didn't want to bring back that memory. Lailah had always being there for him.

     Talking about a day before yesterday after the fight in the arena, he had found Lailah by the tree in the forest. She had defended that she needed to address something and had sealed her plea with a kiss. 

    He was tossed back into reality by the nudge of Lailah in his side. He considered the chiefs closely. They were dressed quite royally, compared to the other days. 

   And he was slightly indebted to them, if that was the right word, for making the third test and the last happen in the palace. That was for his sake, he needed no soothsayer to crack that open to him. Given by what happened yesterday, he should be grateful. 

    He took a final peek at Lailah. Sometimes he didn't know why he kinda doubt her abilities like he had just done in his thoughts few seconds ago. 

      "The first question."

     The first chief shot. But another of the chiefs seemed to have a contention. The rather old man quickly took his turn, deeming permission as rather irrelevant,

      "We, the chiefs would ask you a question. The Representatives of the people would ask one and your brother would ask one."

     Ja looked away from the chief who had just spoken to the group of middle aged men who had been addressed as the representative of the people of Havila. And then finally, he looked at Tzu. He wondered why Jim wasn't present. He wasn't so surprised. They both knew what dickhead the youngest of them was. 

     "Now the first question would be about the land. A question which no one except an indigenous man of the land would know. Even some of the men of the land, men born and bred in the land do not know."

     Ja didn't know what the chief was trying to do with the unnecessary stray and recall and prolonging. Probably to scare the shit outta him. 

   Well, if that was the goal of the chief, then Ja would write him a note of congratulations for a job well done. He sighed. 

     "Go on with the question."

    Lailah's impatience had its way. The chief shook in his seat. Ja took a glance at her, he didn't know if he was jealous of her. He wished the men could dread him like they do her. 

    "Who lived in this land before the great development? And who was the first king of the new land after it had been taken through ruins, after five decades of war?"

      Not only was Ja crushed by the question but the manner at which the questions were arranged. Don't ask him, he didn't know it. He was damn sure that none of the men of the land would know it. 

     He met Tzu's gaze. He shook his head at Tzu and Tzu dropped his face. Tzu was disappointed. Ja felt pissed off, what was he thinking? Had Tzu forgotten that they were strangers? How would he expect him to have an answer to such wierd question? 

     He looked at Lailah to give her a facial consent of his willingness to throw in the towel. He knew she could never help her in that place. Twould be obvious. 

    But to his dismay, as he looked at her, he felt a voice inside his head and his lips were moved by a force he couldn't define,

     "The Chinese used to live here. And the first king was the Chinese son born to Imualekaita who married one of the Chinese women. The name of the boy was Jin Imuale Taita, whose helmet till now is sacred and revered."

     Ja looked away from Lailah's face to them. Their jaws dropped. He knew what that look was. They weren't the only one surprised, he was too. Lailah smiled. 

     One of the Representatives of the people stood up. You could tell by the long face he was wearing that he was thinking of a super difficult question. 

     "How many times were twins born in this land and who were their parents? Name of both the fathers and mothers."

     "That's unfair."

    Tzu stood up immediately but he was restrained by the guards and was forced to reassume his seat. The man who had asked the question, retired into his seat, being admired and given accolades by the rest. 

    Ja didn't stress it, he looked again at Lailah and his lips took its way,

      "Just two of which you know. Jaita and Muaet, boy and girl, born by Jamila and Ikiata. Then from the Wuola's family, the family whose descendants occupies Ikpala till date. Two boys. Ika and Ima. Their father, Imuala, mother, Ataola."

     Ja looked away from Lailah to the man who had asked the question. The man's beard seemed to had been set on the heat of fire, as he itched it ruthlessly. 

     "But there are a twins of which you do not know. The boy and girl who got married because they were considered taboo in this stereotyped land. But that shall change when I become a king. Whether or not my Lailah gives birth to a set of twins."

     He glanced at her and chuckled. The palace had been set on the flames of murmurs and displeasure. 

   That went on for few seconds. Then after the odds, the last of the chiefs called at Tzu to ask his question. Ja stared at Tzu as he stood up. Ja didn't have anything to worry about.  If twas Jim, he could worry. 

    Tzu gave him an ambiguous stare and raised his eyebrows. Ja wondered if Tzu would betray him. Tzu with mean face asked,

     "What did you eat yesternight?"

     That was meant to be a payback. Some of the guards couldn't help but laugh at the ridiculous question. 

      "This is nonsense. What sort of question is this?"

     One of the chiefs stood up staking a claim. Tzu glared back and shot,

     "I didn't remember you telling me what kinda question to ask. You just said, ask a question eh? Or are you forgetful?"

    Tzu sat at that. He had never felt so good in a long time. 

     "Well, I ate venison and wine and berries. And of course, my wife, Lailah."

      He chuckled at her and the place took a new turn as all the chiefs and representatives stood up in disagreement. 

     Then Lailah stood up raged, her eyes with shot of blood and fury. She reached out one of her hands to Ja and he held that hand. 

   She shot immediately,

    "We'll be back a day after tomorrow for the crowning. Do the necessary preparation or be prepared for a death spree."

     She pulled Ja with her through the chairs and off the round table they've all been seated around. 

     They began to walk away as the guards feigned approaches. But Lailah didn't have the time to waste, both of them merged with the air. 

  Call it disappear.

     Tzu noticed that he was the only one left amongst the prowlers. He walked off the table quickly and began to bounce towards the door. In his mouth was,

     "Come near me if you have the guts. I have hidden powers too. Just try me."

     He meant that to the guards though he knew he was telling lies. Even the threat sound foolish to himself but his walk step seemed to enflame it. 

     He was able to manage his walk past the guards to the door. But as soon as he got to the door, he picked quite the race.