CHAPTER 6

Sitting inside the throne room after the messengers of the King visited again to escort him to the palace, his mind went back to the heated argument he had with his wife and how it all ended in chaos. He wondered why his family hated the young lad so much except his daughter.

"Thank you for gracing the palace this day with your presence, Ortom" The King cut in, drifting him out of his thoughts.

Ortom immediately prostrated before him.

"I greet you the sunshine and moon of the Zamundas" He released.

"Sit great one." The King offered.

"Thank you, my King. I'm always loyal to your reign oh King!" He exclaimed, gaining a chorale from the King who sat wittingly on his throne.

"I summoned you to tell me the next fate of my people. Through the wisdom resting on you, we were able to survive the famine that greeted our land and made our young ones perish in lack. I want to know what would be of my people in the future" The King asked worriedly.

"Oh, King! May your reign be pleasant above your fathers and peace forever in your chambers and upon all your people. It is in the power of the gods to reveal things to come and not me. I only see the ones they wish me to see. I know how troubled your heart is, my King but be rest assured that no evil will before you and all the natives of Zamunda."

"Your words have the power to always melt my concrete heart. You've just kept me steady with those words of yours. Now, how is your family doing? I was so anxious so I didn't ask after them before now"

"I understand my King. They are doing well"

"I haven't laid my eyes on your son, Lucas since the beginning of this season"

"You know this is the farming season. He is always on the farm, my King. He finds pleasure in tendering to the crops on the farm. I think they've found favour before him as he would leave his hut early in the morning to go look after them till the sun sets at night"

"I miss his presence a lot since the day he helped work on my farm with the other servants. I don't know if you would persuade him to come to see me tomorrow evening"

"Your wish is my command, my King. I will make sure to deliver your message to him"

"You may leave now, the great seer of our time" He replied, bidding him farewell as the latter rose to depart.

*******

Lucas tilled the soil continuously until the sun handed over the mantle to the moon who rose to shower the land with her goodness. Satisfied with how far he had gone, he dropped his tool and rested under the big tree that stood at the center of the farm to do justice to the meal his sister brought him earlier on.

"Lucas!"

He heard his name in a slow whisper as he was about to dig into the food at that late hour. He knew none would have done that if not for Diadem, his maiden friend.

"Lucas!" She whispered again, struggling to find her way around the bushes.

"I'm over here" He called out to her, rising to help her locate him.

Diadem struggled to make it to him but finally did. She rushed into his arms, surprising him.

"You always come late to visit your friend" He revealed, helping her sit on the piece of cloth he sat on.

"I know you would be free by this time, Lucas. Mother has gone to bed so I had to sneak out of the hut."

"What if she wakes up?"

"She won't"

"I hope she doesn't though. It's been a long time since I saw you" He released.

"Lucas, I wanted to come over but Mother refused. She's been acting strange since the prince asked for my hand in marriage and I refused"

"You mean the prince asked for your hand in marriage?" He asked, shocked at the revelation.

"Yes. Lucas, I tried to talk Mother out of it but she refused. She wants me to marry him. She hates it whenever I try to come to see you. She thinks you would derail me from the prince"

"Why would I? I'm even awed that the prince came for you. I mean, every maiden dreams to be the future queen of Zamunda. You got this opportunity on the platter of gold, Diadem. You should be happy" He revealed, not failing to notice the moisture her eyes suddenly hosted threatening to dance down her cheek.

"I thought you would be unhappy, Lucas. I thought you would stand by my decision. I thought you would say something pleasant to me but you are in support of this too" She spilled, tears dripping down her beautiful face.

"Diadem, I don't understand your outburst. I am your friend and I seek anything that would benefit you wholly."

"If you seek my interest, you would have struggled to come to see my people seeing that our relationship is beyond just being friends, You would've been angry at the prince for such a step knowing fully well that when I'm married to him, we won't be this close again and our friendship would be dead for real"

Lucas stared with his mouth agape at her. Lost for words to say, he just kept on receiving the words she spilled from her mouth.

"I want to marry you, Lucas, and not the prince of Zamunda." She dropped finally.

********

"You look off today, brother." Gem inserted, soothing the hair on his head that rested on her lap while in her chamber.

Lucas just laid still without uttering any word to her which left her more curious.

Sitting inside her hut, reminiscing on her father's words, Lucas stepped in and desired to rest in her embrace for some time. She knew immediately that something was off as he would never return from the farm with such an expression.

She tried everything possible to make him spill out everything in detail but to no avail.

"Brother, your silence troubles me besides, Father seeks your presence once you've returned." She spewed, curling his hair between her two fingers while he just lay down.

"Then, I have to go see him before he goes to bed" He replied, rising to depart.

"Not after you've told me what bothers you" She aimed.

"Gem, I will tell you once I'm done with Father" He answered, heading out of the hut.

"Father, does the evening speak well on you?" He asked, approaching Ortom who sat in front of his hut.

"Your father is well, Lucas. Come sit beside me" He offered.

"Gem told me you requested my presence once I'm back"

"Yes. How was your day on the farm today?"

"It went well, Father."

"I see. The King wants to see you"

"The King?"

"Yes. He complained since the beginning of this season, you haven't gone to see him"

"I never knew we'd established such a relationship."

"Well, you have. Make sure to visit him tomorrow as early as the cock crows"

Lucas nodded positively and then helped his father retire for the night before heading toward his sister's room.

"Gem!!!" He called out to her.

"I'm in brother" She replied.

"Let's talk tomorrow. You need to rest for the night"

"Sleep well brother but make sure to tell me everything in detail tomorrow since you won't be going to the farm"

"I promise" He replied, heading for his hut.