Chapter 81

At last the sun drew down, casting twilight over the treetops, where the varied assemblage of the sweet-singing birds rested. I was no longer able to wait and must rise again. Kesar pleaded with me to stay, but time folded in on itself, closing over me and burying me. Just before I reached suffocation, Vorac and Atith arrived.

"The Queen is conscious and asking for you," Vorac spoke first.

My eyes widened. I did not know my mother had been in the state of heavy slumber all this time. This had not lightened my heavy heart, and without another time wasted, we left together.

The Palace was eerily quiet and deprived of the usual enthralling songs. After the long walk through the endless halls and cruciforms, we reached a secluded ashram where the older Queen stayed.

Then we went inside the smaller hall towards a chamber. There I saw my mother. She was resting limply on the bed attended by palace women.